Petticoats and Gowns

"I think," said their tall, tuxedoed Butler stepped back, arms laden with unwanted frocks, "...that you ought to choose the pink frock with the red petticoat, Miss."

"I really would..." she replied, "rather - NOT!" He smiled as she pulled on a new favourite - the polka dot petticoat and spun around in a blue gown. But a new idea dawned on her. "It's missing a parasol!"

The Butler eyed his pocket watch doubtfully, "I'm not sure it is Miss, but we can certainly try the teal perhaps?" The Princess rummaged about and pulled out a beautiful sunshine yellow one from the drawer then popped it open.

He smiled. "Lovely! You look just like a sunset!"

The Princess gasped, all gowns and upcoming Balls forgotten. "Oh! the swimming pool, it must be warm by now!" She ran for the bay windows, curtains closed against the afternoon sun, and flung them wide, squealing in delight. "Bertie, stop the Ball -" The Butler froze mid folding, "We simply MUST go swimming right now!"

To the Butler's upmost relief, at that point the maid hurried in from the nursery next door. "The Prince would like his tea." She called as she passed him by, surveying the scene before her - a Princess half dressed, the Queen due to arrive, and a Royal Ball not ten minutes away.

The room was filled with giggles and laughing calls of "Swimming! Swimming! Swimming – oops." The Princess fell to the floor, dizzy. The maid rushed across the room while Bertie the Butler departed for tea with the tiny Prince.

"Must we do this every day my dear?" came a gentle voice from the adjoining parlour. An elegant woman entered the room, soft green silks flowing about her, elbow high gloves in hand.

The Princess looked up from the floor. "But Mama, I must play in the pool, I must!" she wailed as the maid tried valiantly to both prop the Princess up and curtesy to the Queen as she arrived in the room. Her mother shook her head "Not today darling," she smiled, donning her gloves, "but how about you choose three bows to take to the Ball? Perhaps the Duchess will be attending?" The Princess jumped up in delight and ran to her closet.

The Queen hesitated before a gold mirror, adjusting her hair, "Bernice?" 

"Yes Your Majesty?" The maid replied.

"Do you think these pearls say 'I am in charge of the main course tonight' - or should I have chosen the sapphires?"

"Oh pearls for the afternoon Your Majesty, always, it's like my mother always says, if you aren't - " The Maid froze as an almighty yowl came from the nursery and the Princess' door was flung open. A small boy came barreling in, a muddy ginger cat in his arms, flower pot atop his head. The Queens' face paled at the sight of his new linen trousers. "What," she began faintly, "are you doing with Mr Featherbottom dear?" she asked. 

"TIGER!" He beamed.

Well, the Queen was quite undone.

The Maid, seeing this quickly becoming the unravelling of all things tidy took charge. She whisked a chair under the Queen, and flew to extract a very grateful cat, who bolted out the door. "And into the bath we go!" she said cheerily steering the tiny Prince back towards the nursery. "Take the sapphires in your gown pocket Your Majesty, just in case!" she called over her shoulder as she tossed a pair of gold slippers to the Princess and left the room.

The Butler returned to announce that their guests had arrived and awaited their descent down the velvet stairs, should they be ready? The Queen smiled at her daughter. "Well, shall we go and dance?" she asked. The Princess nodded, bows at the ready. There was a splash next door.

The Queen smiled, "Wonderful!" She rose from her seat. "Bertie, please have our usual lattes ready at eleven - and ah, perhaps tell the staff no more Mr Featherbottom at the tea parties?"

As the sound of a waltz drifted up the stairs, a happy Princess spun her parasol, the Queen slipped a favourite sapphire necklace into her pocket, and a content Mr Featherbottom was fed treats in the kitchen by a watchful Butler. Because sometimes, despite unexpected hiccups, the day can still go to plan.