The Queen Dowager comes to visit, as promised, soon after the ball.
She sends a letter beforehand, and she comes with two ladies by her side. It's late to call for Melissa and Dorotea now, so I'll be here alone.
It's actually odd for a Queen to be alone at this time of the day. Oh, but I'm sure I've done worse.
«Welcome,» I say. «Please, have a seat.»
I don't even bother asking the maids for tea. Neither of us will drink it.
«Let's move on to the relevant matters,» she says, cutting the conversation short. She has no time to waste, contrarily to me. «I know what you want to do.»
«And what is that?» I have so many ideas, missions, troublesome plans... Which one exactly is troubling the Queen Dowager so much that she came here?
