The invitation implied not to bring a friend unless pre-approved. There would be plenty of people to talk to. So first things first: what was she to wear? What does a twenty-one year old wear to a Royal Garden Party? She could hardly wear one of those silly hats.
They would go to the palace by bus. She was to board the bus at a very specific time at the Rosewood Garden entrance. The day couldn’t come soon enough. She had told her boyfriend about it a thousand times. He always looked a little bored and said he wouldn’t go even if he was paid. “Who wants to go to an event where there’s 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake?”
“But,” said Miranda, “Lady Boadicea Hannigan-Winthrop is your aunt. I thought you would enjoy such a royal occasion.”
Oh happy day! It was sunny. It was mild! It was so exciting! Would she meet the king? she wondered. She had practised saying, “How do you do, Your Majesty,” but she didn’t need to use it. But there was Lady Boadicea Hannigan-Winthrop. She chatted pleasantly about nothing, and then she said, “There’s someone over there I’d like you to meet.”
They moved a few yards away and there was … her boyfriend! He went down on one knee and said, “Miranda, will you marry me?”
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