Page 1 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
Chapter 1
A Prince’s Delight
London, England, June 1813
“Good morning, Your Royal Highness. It is past ten and ‘tis a fine day,” said the Groom of the Chamber, The Honorable Percival Waverly.
Unlike the regular servants, he, as one of the personal head retainers to the Prince Regent, was permitted to wear his own clothing. Above him in position was the Gentleman of the Chamber who was generally derived from peers of a higher station, like earls or dukes. He was not present this day.
Sir Percival was perfectly attired in a navy-blue tailcoat with a white silk waistcoat that covered the top of the trouser. Underneath, he sported a crisp white linen shirt with a featured starched chin-high neck collar to accommodate his light blue neckcloth. Black shoes with silver buckles adorned his feet.
“Go away, Waverly. I need to sleep…oh, God, the pain,” croaked the Regent.
“As I said, Your Royal Highness, it is a fine morning. And the beginning of a splendiferous day for the knighthoods taking place later today.”
“Knighthoods?”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” insisted Sir Percival.
“Argh…the light! ‘Tis blinding me,” complained the Regent, shifting his prodigious bulk to one side in an attempt to escape from the stabs of sunlight coming through the sash window.
“Dawson, how many times did I tell you on the way over here that you are to wait for my order before opening the curtains. His Royal Highness is allergic to the light this early in the morning.” Waverly shook his head and looked down his long aquiline nose, “Tut tut, Dawson, really.”
“Sorry, Sir Percival. It won’t happen again.”
The young man dressed in the livery of a household servant hastily started to draw the heavy satin curtains shut. His attire was impeccably tailored and came at a great personal expense to the Regent.
His uniform consisted of a fancy red coat, knee breeches, silk calf-hugging stockings, and powdered hair. As this particular gentleman, like his fellows, was often in the presence of the Regent, special care was taken that he looked perfect. He had even been required to provide his height when advertising for the position, because it was considered absurd to have a pair of personal servants that didn’t match in tallness.
“Dawson, what are you doing now?”
“I am pulling the curtains shut, Sir Percival,” said the young man with the auburn hair and the freckles on his already reddening cheeks.
“Yes, that is what I thought you were doing. Dawson, please don’t bother. Come here. We are to dress His Royal Highness, the Prince.” Sir Percival waved his hand frantically. “Well, come on, boy.”
“Yes, Sir Percival.” He rushed over to where the other man stood.
“There’s no need to run. Don’t they teach you anything these days?”
“Sorry, Sir Percival.”
“Stop apologizing, man. It’s most unbecoming,” huffed Sir Percival. He resembled a pelican standing on one leg. His back was straight to a breaking point and his small head like the bird’s perched on his neck as if lingering for its mother bird to feed it.
“Thanks to your bickering, I am awake now,” rasped the Prince Regent, peering from under the quilted blankets on his bed with two beady eyes.
“My intention exactly, Your Royal Highness. Now, come along, you have a big day ahead of you.” Sir Percival clapped his hands theatrically.
“I still don’t see why bother. Knighting some plebs…for what…I say?”
“Because they have done their duty to their King, their Regent and the Empire, Your Royal Highness.” Sir Percival swiveled his attention to the other chamber servant, standing by the door. “Well, come on, Wallis, the Prince Regent isn’t going to dress himself.”
Chastened, the other man, robed identically to Dawson, dashed across the vast bedchamber toward the bed.
“It’s like teaching monkeys to juggle. No running in the Prince’s chambers,” said Sir Percival, rolling his eyes.
“Sorry, Sir,” said both young men simultaneously.
“I now have three of you looking at me. This is most disconcerting. Where’s Gussy? He’s much nicer to me in the mornings,” said the Regent still peering from under the coverlets. He referred to his Gentleman of the Chamber.
