Charlotte had to force herself to wait her turn to step decorously out of the coach after the Empress, the Princess, and the Prince’s niece and her companion, instead of shoving her way directly out and gasping for fresh air. That or simply running away . . . “Delightful,” the Empress pronounced, once she’d been helped out of the carriage to stand in the sunlight. “Nikolaus, Marie, you’ve done wonders with the grounds. I am most impressed.” “It was nothing,” the Princess murmured, as she stepped out after the Empress. She flashed a barbed smile back at her husband. “Truly nothing.” An upper servant ran out of the palace to greet the carriage, but waited, hovering, until all the ladies had stepped out, followed by the six gentlemen in their ranked procession. As soon as the Prince appeared, the man hurried to his side, whispering frantically. The Prince stepped away from the rest to listen, frowning.
