The Gown(70)

“We’ll hide it.”

“I know,” Miriam said. “We will take those empty frames, the ones that are stacked in the corner, and set them up along the wall there, and then we will put whatever we must hide underneath. Then we will cover all of it with, ah . . .”

“We’ve those old sheets. The ones we’re meant to put up if we notice anyone trying to take pictures from the opposite windows.” Then another idea occurred to Ann. “Do we have the samples back again from the queen and Princess Elizabeth?”

“Yes,” Miss Duley said promptly. “They’re in Mr. Hartnell’s office. I saw them there yesterday.”

“Let’s see if we can fetch them back. We can set them up on the table by the stairs, and we’ll put Mr. Hartnell’s sketches there, too. In case he wants to show them.”

“Good. Yes, that’s a splendid idea,” Miss Duley said. “Thank you, Ann.”

“Are you feeling better? Why don’t you stay put for now? We’ll take care of sorting everything out.”

It only took an hour to set everything to rights, although they had to work straight through their morning break to ensure everything was tidy and clean. Just as they were finishing there was another small panic, this time over everyone’s appearance. But Miss Duley, now herself again, was not to be moved. No, lipstick was not allowed under any circumstance, and no, the queen and other royal ladies would not notice what any of them were wearing.

“I can’t believe I’m going to meet the queen and I’m dressed in any old thing,” Ruthie complained. Ann, who was wearing her least favorite blouse and skirt under her coveralls, wisely said nothing.

“You’d look ridiculous if you were dressed up in your Sunday best,” Miss Duley reasoned. “Besides, they’re not coming to see us—they want to see the gown. We’ll be part of the scenery, no more.”

As soon as the workroom was ready for inspection, Miss Duley pulled out her box Brownie camera, which made Ann wonder if perhaps she had been hoping for a visit from the royal ladies, and had one of the girls from the sewing workroom take a photograph from the top of the steps of everyone at their places. That accomplished, there was just enough time for dinner, and for Ann to run over to the models’ cloakroom to return Carmen’s frock and coat.

“I promise to tell you everything later, but I have to rush back—the royals are coming.”

“I heard. Good luck! And don’t forget your coat.”

A dropped pin would have sounded like a falling anvil in the workroom that afternoon. Ann resolved to focus only on the work before her, and did so with such success that she nearly jumped out of her skin when the telephone on Miss Duley’s desk began to ring.

“Yes, Mrs. Price. Thank you. We’ll be ready.” Miss Duley set down the receiver and stood. “They’ll be here in five minutes. Please line up in front of the frames, ladies, and mind you don’t brush against them and knock off the coverings.”

They all did as she suggested, and then, frowning, she beckoned Ann and Miriam to come forward. “I want you to stand at your chairs. Just in case they wish to see a demonstration.”

Approaching Ann, her hands fluttering over her hair, Miss Duley asked worriedly, “How do I look?” She had added a white lace collar to her usual black dress, and her hair was in an even tighter bun than usual.

“Very nice,” Ann said. “Now off you go and I’ll make sure everyone is ready when the door opens.”

Miss Duley vanished out the door, they took their places, and Ann slowly became aware of how nervous she was. She even had to wipe her hands on her coverall several times. The younger girls broke into giggles after a few minutes of aching silence, but a good hard glare was enough to quiet them.

At last they heard the noises of people in the corridor. The door opening, creaking on its hinges, and there were the queen and Princess Elizabeth and Queen Mary, and just behind them Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Gloucester. They stood at the landing for a long moment, and the queen looked down at all the girls with a dazzling smile.

Ann bent her knees into a curtsy, and the others followed but not quite at the same time, which made for a rather comical effect as their heads bobbed up and down at intervals. But the queen didn’t notice, or rather was too polite to take notice, and instead she and the others swept down the stairs and into the workroom.

Mr. Hartnell and Miss Duley and Mam’selle followed just behind, and he showed the royal ladies the samples that Ann and Miriam had worked, and explained that the gown itself was next door in the sewing workroom.

“Having completed the principal embroidery on Your Royal Highness’s gown, we are now working on the train. Miss Hughes and Miss Dassin are my two most senior embroiderers, and they have led the way in the embroidery on both the gown and the train. Would Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses care to observe them at work for a moment or two?”

“I should like that very much,” said the queen with another wonderful smile, her cornflower-blue eyes so friendly and warm, and Ann sat in her chair and picked up her needle and began to work.

“They begin by attaching the satin appliqué pieces to the tulle, after which they affix the pearls and other decorations, and all the while they must take great care to ensure that every stitch is invisible,” Mr. Hartnell said in his most serious voice.