In Brief Authority Part 30

"Why, I married Mus...o...b..--the Marquis, don't you know. I dare say you knew before that I was Verity Stilton of the Vivacity. I was working my way up to quite important parts. You may have seen me in some of them?"

"I have not had that advantage. I seldom visit a theatre, and when I do----"

"You like to go and see something stuffy? _I_ know. And I expect you've got quite a wrong idea of Musical Comedy. Most of us in the Chorus at the Vivacity were ladies by birth. And we didn't mix with the others, off the stage. We were most particular, too. I a.s.sure you I never went to sup alone with Nibbles--I call Mus...o...b.. 'Nibbles,' you know--he's so exactly like a white mouse--I never supped with him alone till after we were regularly engaged."

"That is most interesting," said the d.u.c.h.ess, "and entirely to your credit, but it doesn't explain how we came to be here together."

"All I can say is that a queerly dressed old freak suddenly burst into my flat, just as I was going to dine at the Carlton, and told me you were waiting outside in a car to take me on a visit to the Queen."

"And did not that strike you as slightly improbable?"

"Oh, for anything _I_ knew, you might be another of Nibbles's aunts. I haven't nearly worked through all his relations yet. But I said at once that I couldn't throw over my Carlton party to oblige any d.u.c.h.ess on earth. And then the old creature put on a cap and vanished. And the _next_ thing I knew was that a cloak was thrown over my head and I was being lifted up and bundled out kicking--and that's all I remember. I don't know what they thought of me in Mount Street, or why n.o.body interfered."

"Much the same thing happened to _me_," said the d.u.c.h.ess. "Only I was told that the Queen wished to see me at once on an urgent matter. Of course, as the messenger's appearance did not inspire me with confidence, I insisted on seeing his credentials. And then he disappeared, and I found myself caught up and carried off. I suppose none of my people were in the hall, or else they were too afraid to come to my rescue. And Stratford Place is very quiet, so my smothered cries attracted no attention. Besides, I fancy I must have been chloroformed."

"I expect we both were. Nibbles would be furious if he knew--luckily he doesn't. We had a tiff, and he went off to Monte, all on his little lone. But I wish I had any idea where we are."

"I have certainly no recollection of ever having been in such a place as this before in my life," said the d.u.c.h.ess.

Daphne returned in time to offer what explanations she could.

"I know it must seem a little strange at first," she said, coming forward, "but this is the Palace of the Queen of Marchenland."

"Marchenland?" repeated the d.u.c.h.ess. "And where may _that_ be? Never heard of such a country!"

"Well," said Daphne, "it's a long way from everywhere, and it's the place where most of the stories one used to think were only Fairy Tales really happened."

"I never expected to find myself in Fairyland," the d.u.c.h.ess remarked.

"Tell me--are you the Queen of this country? You look as if you might be."

"Oh no," replied Daphne, with a little laugh. "I'm only one of her ladies-in-waiting. She hasn't long been Queen. We were all carried here from England in a big car drawn by flying storks--the one that brought _you_, I expect. I don't know, of course," she added dubiously, "but you may have met Queen Selina when she lived at Gablehurst--her former name was Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson."

"Wibberley-Stimpson?" repeated the d.u.c.h.ess thoughtfully. "No, I can't say I remember anyone of that name."

"Nor I," said Lady Mus...o...b.. languidly. "Don't know _any_ one at Gablehurst."

"But if she is half as charming as you, my dear," added the d.u.c.h.ess graciously, "it will give me much pleasure to make her acquaintance, though I am curious to know why she seems to have taken so much trouble to cultivate mine."

At this moment Queen Selina herself arrived, very much out of breath.

"Your Grace!" she began, "My lady Marchioness!"

"Ah, here is the housekeeper!" said the d.u.c.h.ess, before Daphne could enlighten her. "Can you tell us, my good woman, when and where her Majesty will receive us?"

"I--I _am_ her Majesty!" said Queen Selina, wishing she had devoted more pains to her morning toilet.

"Oh, to be sure," said the d.u.c.h.ess. "You must forgive my blunder, Ma'am, but my sight is not what it was."

"It is of no consequence, my dear d.u.c.h.ess--pray don't mention it. Miss Heritage, I find I _shall_ require that skirt after all. You will be good enough to see to it at once, and not come down till it is finished," said the Queen sharply, feeling it more imperative than ever to prevent any account of this meeting from being communicated to the Court.... "No, Baron, I shall not require _you_," she went on, as he appeared at the entrance. "You have done quite enough." And Daphne and the Baron withdrew accordingly.

"I'm so distressed, your Grace, by this unfortunate--er--_contretemps_,"

said Queen Selina, as soon as she had her guests to herself. "I really hardly know how to apologise. I'm afraid my old Court Chamberlain has taken a most unpardonable liberty."

"Well, Ma'am," said the d.u.c.h.ess, "there's no doubt he kidnapped both myself and this lady here. On false pretences, too! I don't know yet whether he was acting on _your_ instructions?"

"Most decidedly not! Indeed I should never have ventured. The fact is, he must have confused you with two other ladies of t.i.tle who are great friends of mine. I expect he heard me mention them, and--it was most stupid and careless of him, I know--but he must have concluded I wanted to see _them_, and brought _you_ by mistake."

"I see," said the d.u.c.h.ess; "though I don't understand how he came to know our names and addresses, as he must have done to find us."

"Oh," said Queen Selina, with much presence of mind, "you're both of you public characters, you know. He's such an old blunderer, he probably couldn't find the right people, and thought you would do as well."

"I can only say," replied the d.u.c.h.ess, "that that impression of his has put me to a great deal of personal inconvenience."

"I was carried off without a chance of ringing them up at the Carlton, where I ought to have dined last night!" complained Lady Mus...o...b...

"If your Majesty will get a new Chamberlain--one who isn't an absolute idiot," said the d.u.c.h.ess severely, "your house-party would be in less danger of being recruited in this irregular manner."

"But I a.s.sure you I'm delighted to see your Grace, and you _too_, of course, Lady Mus...o...b..! I hope, now you _are_ here, you will stay as long as ever you can. Such a pleasure always to his Majesty and myself to welcome any of our own country-women! And now I will take you up to your rooms, and you will no doubt be glad of a little rest before you come down to lunch and meet the family."

"I cannot possibly appear at lunch in this dress," said the d.u.c.h.ess; "but I shall be glad if you will send me up some food, and then I must really start for home."

"So must I," declared Lady Mus...o...b..; "there'll be a fuss if I'm not back soon--and I simply _couldn't_ stay in any house without a single trunk, or a maid either! It isn't giving me a fair chance!"

"I'm afraid the storks won't be fit for such a long return journey just yet," said their hostess; "and it would be a pity to leave without seeing something of Marchenland, so I hope you will remain for at least a night, as a favour to me. I see no one of any real distinction _now_!

And as for clothes, I can lend you all you require. You will excuse their being out of the fashion--we don't get the latest Paris models here."

"You're very kind," said the d.u.c.h.ess. "Then I will accept your hospitality for the present."

"So will I--er--your Majesty, thanks," said Lady Mus...o...b... "It will be something to tell Mus...o...b..--when we're on speaking terms again."

"So very nice and friendly of you both!" said Queen Selina as she escorted them across the hall to the foot of the immense staircase. "I must apologise for asking you to come up all these steps, but there's no such thing as a lift here. The Astrologer Royal offered to try and procure us a flying carpet--but, of course, I wouldn't hear of that."

"Well," said the d.u.c.h.ess, as she toiled up, "this is certainly a wonderful Palace you live in--I have never seen one so splendid in my life!"

"Ah, my dear d.u.c.h.ess, it's much too large to be really comfortable, and all the arrangements, too, so unlike our English ways! I'm afraid I shall never get things done here according to _my_ ideas.... This is _your_ room, dear d.u.c.h.ess, and yours is next, Marchioness. I will send some of my waiting-women to you with everything necessary. You will find us a.s.sembled in the Throne Room before lunch.... Oh, and there's just one thing. My Court have got an impression--I'm sure I don't know why--that we're quite old friends. If you _wouldn't_ mind--er--addressing me as 'Selina' now and then.... Not at all, I a.s.sure you, I should consider it a compliment--from _you_.... Then I shall hope to see you later on in the Throne Room.... It's in the left wing, down the great corridor; you can't miss it because of the trumpeters at the doors."

After an interval the two visitors made their appearance in the Throne Room, arrayed in magnificent but rather fantastic robes of velvet and brocade with long hanging sleeves lined with ermine--a costume which suited Lady Mus...o...b.. better than the d.u.c.h.ess.

Queen Selina advanced to welcome them effusively. "So you've found your way here!" she said. "How very well you both look in those dresses! Most becoming, I a.s.sure you. By the bye, my dear d.u.c.h.ess, did you ever recover that tiara you lost in the train?"

"I never _did_ lose it," replied the d.u.c.h.ess, "I believe some story got into the papers, but it was a down-right lie."

"So glad! I must tell you that I don't as a rule wear my crown at lunch, but I thought, to-day being a gala occasion--"

"Quite right!" said the d.u.c.h.ess. "And quite regal!"

"I could lend both of you tiaras, if it would make you feel more at your ease."

"I feel perfectly at ease as I am, thank you," replied the d.u.c.h.ess shortly.