Page 91 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

However, an attendant from the Queen went over to the judges and spoke to them privately. After that conference, the judges further announced, “Her Majesty, the Queen has been so delighted by this event she has awarded the victors the Queen’sgarter.”

A gasp escaped from thecrowd.

The attendant again whispered to the judges, and they further added, “Not the order of the Garter, which is an honor of the highest rank, but a garter from the Queen. She always carries a spare one just for occasions like this—or if onebreaks.”

The crowd appreciated that slightly bawdycomment.

Presently the Queen, who seemed to be getting into the spirit of the event, came over and stood before thetwins.

She held aloft a ladies’ garter and proclaimed, “I, Queen Alexandrina Victoria do hereby bestow the Queen’s garter upon…” she leaned in to get the contestants’ names which were whispered to her. “…Geoffrey and Miriam Sinclair for their victorious achievement in the three-legged race on this the twenty-second day of June in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three.”

Loud roars went up from the crowd and Geoffrey and Miriam were hoisted onto the shoulders of several local lads and paraded around thefield.

Diana was standing on the sidelines watching the procession when Robert cameover.

“A glorious day, is it not? First, your father gets his Order of Merit, and then your friends are honored as victors by the Queen. You will have a lot to jot down in your journal this evening, will younot?”

“I do not keep a journal, Robert. I have quite enough writing in my life without doing that as well,” sheanswered.

Diana’s Mother and Father came over tothem.

Father said, “Your mother is still a little weak from her illness and I have to admit I am fatigued as well. Do you think we might leavenow?”

“Certainly, Father.” She looked around to see where the twins were so she could say there wereleaving.

Robert suggested, “If you want to stay, I can have the carriage return your parents now and you and the twins can returnlater.”

Diana smiled. “What an excellent idea. I would hate to tear my friends away from their victorylaps.”

“I knew I invited them for a reason.” Robert said, “What a dull afternoon it would have been without them. Do you notthink?”

“I keep them on hand for just such occasions like this,” she said with agiggle.