The Week – Part Three

Allura was getting dressed for her round of engagements. She had three different places to visit, and then lunch with a town Assembly group. Dorcas was going over her schedule, and said "Well, Your Highness, you should be back by 2:00pm at the latest." As she said that she was putting the finishing touches on Allura's outfit.

It consisted of a skirt and jacket made from cream colored wool, all decorated with brown velvet cut out work, in a filigree design. The blouse was silk in the same shade of brown as the cut out work, and she smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. "I like this outfit a lot." She told Dorcas, who smiled at her. Nanny was up there also, to report on Lady Larmina and how she was feeling.

Nanny looked at her old charge and said in a disapproving voice "I think it is too old looking for you, Your Highness. You should really wear pink, it is so pretty." Allura turned to her and said "Nanny, I'm twenty-three, not thirteen!" She went on "When my Mother was my age she was already a mother. I'm not a little girl anymore!" Nanny sniffed, and said "Your Mother was married and a mother at your age." Allura met Nanny's eyes in the mirror, and said "Your point?"

"Will there be an announcement any time soon?" Nanny asked her. Allura smiled and said "You are starting to sound like Lance, Nanny!" Dorcas smiled and said "Commander McClain is certainly concerned about your engagement!" Allura smiled, and said "I have noticed!" Dorcas brought out her hat, which was an oversized brown chiffon model, with cream colored roses.

She smiled at her reflection, and then said to Nanny "Make sure Her Ladyship takes it easy today. I'll check on her when I get back." Dorcas said "It's too bad His Grace can't see you, you look beautiful!" Nanny sniffed again, and Allura was reminded of how glad she had been to pass Nanny onto Larmina.

Allura could tell that Nanny had a lot more to say, and she did not disappoint. "Your Highness, you don't need to rush into anything. I'm sure Lord Montrane can find you a suitable prince!" Dorcas got very busy at Allura's dressing table, while Allura herself narrowed her eyes.

"His Grace has done more for Arus than any foreign prince ever would! I suggest you keep that in mind, and the fact that he has Coran's blessing!" Allura said to her, in an even tone. She loved the old lady, and appreciated everything she had done for her. However, she was a woman now and was not going to put up with criticism about the man she loved.

Nanny realized she had gone too far, and said "Yes, Your Highness. I'll make sure Her Ladyship rests today." She curtsied and excused herself. Allura waited until the door was shut and then asked Dorcas "Does she make those remarks downstairs?"

Dorcas looked directly at the Princess and said "She is known to be very opinionated, Your Highness. However, because of her age and position people really don't take her seriously." Allura sighed, realizing that it might be time for Nanny to retire. She wasn't going to have Pidge disparaged by the servants, especially when he had done so much for them.

Dorcas knew immediately which way the Princess' mind was working, and didn't blame her one bit. Dorcas had always been fond of His Grace, even before he had done so much for Arus. She had always appreciated how happy he had made the Princess, and that was before they were in love.

Dorcas knew that almost everyone else felt the same way about His Grace. She also knew that Nanny occupied a special position in the household. Nanny had let known, on more than one occasion, her thoughts about His Grace and what a scandal it would be if the Princess married him. Dorcas had more experience in matters of the heart than Nanny, and had no doubt who would win at the end of the day.

"Dorcas, please keep me informed about this situation. It is not good for morale to have someone making negative remarks." Allura paused, and then said "I don't imagine I will have to do something right away, but I think that we might want to consider that Her Ladyship could use a proper lady's maid now that she is getting older. Nanny is not as young as she used to be, after all."

Dorcas smiled and said "I think you are handling the situation well, Your Highness. I will keep you informed about the matter." Allura smiled at her, and said "Thank you Dorcas, I don't know what I would do without you!"

Lance waited until after Allura was gone, and then went to see the Court Marshall upstairs. He had been more upset than he was willing to let on, with the suggestion that Pidge had already proposed, and they were just waiting to announce it. When he had started the pool he was sure that Pidge would propose quickly, and it would be common knowledge on where it happened. 'Leave it to those two to throw a wrench in the fun' he thought to himself.

Count Fredericks was surprised to see Commander McClain outside of his office. He asked him to come in and said "Commander McClain, how can I help you?" Lance smiled his most winning smile and said "I am wondering about the Crown Princess' engagement." Fredericks had always thought Commander McClain a charming scoundrel, and knew all about his betting pool. Fredericks was not above a bit of fun himself, thought he kept it well hidden. However, the Commander was too much of a willing target to resist.

"Do you mean her list of engagements for today? I can get them for you, but she should be back before dinner." Fredericks told him, and going on "Let me call her social secretary and get the list for you." Before Lance could stop him, he had sent a quick message. Lance sighed, and said "I meant her engagement to Pidge." He stopped, and waited for Fredericks to say something.

"Are they engaged? I hadn't heard!" Fredericks said, with surprise in his voice. He knew they weren't, but was enjoying this too much. Lance shook his head and said "That is just it, Your Excellency, they are not engaged yet. I was wondering though, when it does happen, doesn't the Royal Archive like to know all the details, for history?"

The Count now had to give the Commander high marks, for coming up with such a plausible reason for wanting to know the details. He had already warmed up to the Voltron pilots now that the Princess was not flying, but even before he had not minded the Red Lion pilot. He had been a good friend to the Princess and Arus those five years. He knew the Commander came from a good family, and really couldn't hold his womanizing against him. Fredericks had had a brother that was charming, with an eye for the ladies, and a quick wit.

"Actually, no, that is not a detail that is tracked, unless of course it is entered in a personal diary. But all diaries are sealed for 50 years after the death of the person." Fredericks smiled in sympathy at the Commander. Lance now tried a different tack, saying "Aren't you concerned about when Pidge is going to ask the Princess?" Fredericks decided that the Commander was a little desperate, to go down this route.

Fredericks said "No, I have complete confidence in Darrell, that when the time is right, he will ask Her Highness. Really, Commander McClain they have only been publically going out for a couple of weeks." Lance was almost ready to retreat, but had one last gambit up his sleeve.

He asked now "But what about all the media that is here in Arus, waiting for an announcement?" The Count positively beamed and said "Isn't it wonderful! Do you know how much money they are pumping into our economy?" Lance was now ready to admit defeat. The Count saw that and said "Commander McClain, I don't care where, when, or how Darrell proposes. Once he does, the show gets rolling, and until then we just need to wait."

Lance turned to leave and bumped into a young woman with the most incredible grey eyes he had ever seen. He looked at her and saw a heart shaped face, creamy skin with pink cheeks, framed by incredible deep auburn hair. She had just a tiny dusting of freckles across her nose, and a pleasant smile. Which he noticed, went away when she saw him.

"Excuse me, Miss, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you." Lance was stumbling over his words like a school boy. She stepped back a bit, and said in a cold tone "I am the Dowager Countess of Grantham." She walked around him and went over to the Count saying "You called for me, Count Fredericks?" Fredericks was now looking at Commander McClain with interest. He had never seen the Red Lion pilot at a loss for words before. In his mind he thought 'oh, this just gets better and better!'

Fredericks smiled and said "Sophie, thank you for coming. I thought Commander McClain here was looking for Her Highness' schedule, but I misunderstood him. Have you met him before?" Sophie looked with cold eyes at Lance and said "No, I have not had a personal introduction." Fredericks turned to Lance and said "Sophie is Her Highness' social secretary." Lance smiled and said "The Sophie that Allura is always talking to on her com link. Too bad about 'Terren Vogue' she would have an incredible cover shot!" He stopped, and then said "It is a pleasure to meet you Sophie."

She drew herself up, and Lance realized that she was tall and well built. Sophie said "You may call me Her Excellency." She turned to the Count, and said "If there is nothing else, I'll get back to my office." Fredericks though said "There are a couple of matters I need to run through with you, if you don't mind." He stopped, and said to Lance "Is there anything else, Commander McClain?" Lance excused himself, but didn't leave the third floor.

He waited in an alcove behind a potted plant, and watched Sophie leave the Count's office. When she turned the corner, he followed her long enough to know which office was hers. He waited several minutes, and then knocked on her open door. She looked up, ready to smile, and saw who it was; she said "May I help you Commander McClain?" Lance came in, and sat down in one of the chairs facing her desk. He smiled his most winning smile, and said "I think we got off on the wrong foot back there?"

"Commander McClain is there something you need?" Sophie asked him irritably. She had heard all about the Red Lion pilot, and had no patience for that kind of behavior. And why was it suddenly hard to breathe when he looked at her? Lance was sure that he would get around her, as he had every woman before. He said "I'm just curious about how one becomes a 'Dowager Countess?' at such a young age."

Sophie seethed to herself 'of course he picks the one subject I don't talk about!' She told him in a cold, formal voice "I'm a widow, Commander McClain; my husband was killed fighting the Drules." Lance wanted to kick himself, for handling it so badly. He said "I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure your husband was a great solider." She looked at him and said "So I've been told."

Lance was at a loss for words, which was a new experience for him. He wanted to stare at her eyes to see if they were really that gray. However, he knew that he needed to excuse himself, before he really blew it. Lance said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency." He withdrew, realizing that more research needed to be done.

Sophie sat there open mouth, not believing the audacity of Commander McClain, to follow her to her office. And she really wanted to know why she had problems breathing around him! Lance, as he headed downstairs realized that for the first time in several weeks he could have cared less about Pidge and Allura.