Once upon a time that had been Beatrice’s job—at her father’s coronation, when she was eleven, she had been the first to approach the throne and lead the obeisance. She still remembered the girlish satin bow on her dress, which had been in the way when she knelt down. Beatrice had tugged at it futilely, then met her father’s gaze, and he’d winked at her—just once, but the wink was unmistakable.
Awww
