Grenwood laughed, the devil. But when he saw her expression he sobered. “You realize that could happen to anyone.”
“Especially to my sister because many things make her sneeze, particularly feathers. But we were taught to hold in any coughs or sneezes or other untoward bodily . . . sounds, no matter what. Sneezing in Her Majesty’s face is considered unacceptable behavior.”
“God help us all if that’s what passes for unacceptable these days,” he muttered.
She ignored his remark. “We of course have schooled Rosy the same way we were schooled. And we’ve had her practice walking backward with a train multiple times a day. It’s harder than you may think.”
“Trust me, I can only imagine how hard it must be.”
Pasting a reassuring smile on her lips, she patted his arm. “But everything will be fine. Rosy is a quick study. I’m sure she will make a great impression.”
He covered her hand before she could pull it away from his arm. “Earlier, you were worried.”
She wasn’t worried now, not with his large, warm hand encompassing hers. She was trying not to read too much into his kind gesture. “I’m always worried. Ask my sisters. I get fidgety on the day of the presentation. And I don’t want Rosy to lose her confidence.”
Sliding her hand from beneath his, she curled her fingers into her palm, trying to keep his touch somehow in her grasp. “You must go. You’ll barely have time to do what you require.”
“I thought the Queen’s Drawing Room didn’t begin until two.”
“Yes, but there will be a dreadful line of carriages, so it’s best to go early.”
He arched an eyebrow. “How early?”
“Noon?”
He groaned. “I shall see you then.”
“No, earlier than that, because you must change clothes.”
“Fine. Eleven.”
She beamed at him. “Perfect!”
When she turned to go, he stopped her with one hand. “You may have to dress me after all, Diana. Because you’re right, that barely leaves me time to do what I must.”
She looked down her nose at him. “Then you’d best hurry, Your Grace, hadn’t you?” And resisting the urge to watch his reaction to that, she walked away smiling.