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DuPree. And I do hope you are Lady Rebecca Marshall?”
    “Yes, but how did you know?”
    “We were told to expect you tomorrow. You make the fourth maid of honor assigned to the Duchess of Kent. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Marly is also one of us, which means we can’t avoid her as much as we might like to.”
    Evelyn was quite pretty with her sandy-brown hair and hazel eyes, and Rebecca guessed that she was a year or two younger than herself. Not all maids of honor needed to be of marriageable age. Their posts would last at least four years, or until the next general election.
    “So I’m not the only one she’s made no effort to be friends with?” Rebecca asked as they continued down the hall.
    “Goodness, no, I’m sure she dislikes everyone equally. It certainly does seem that way. She got here early and lords it over us, as if it gives her seniority, which of course it doesn’t.” But then Evelyn frowned. “Actually, she went overboard to be nasty to her first roommate last week, and from what I overheard in the Yellow Drawing Room just now, it sounds as if you have the unlucky distinction of being in that same position now.”
    Rebecca nodded with a wince. “And there’s no way around it either.”
    “Course there is,” Evelyn insisted. “Just ask for another room. She’ll end up making your life miserable if you don’t. It might take a few days to arrange it, but it would be worth the effort to get away from her for at least a portion of each day.”
    “I don’t dare do that,” Rebecca said, and explained what the footman had told her.
    “Well, that’s too bad, but you’re quite right,” Evelyn agreed. “Can’t have the queen thinking she erred in one of her suggestions.”
    “I’ll make the best of it,” Rebecca assured the girl. “Now that I know she’s a liar I won’t be so gullible again. But what happened with her other roommate?”
    “The girl went home in disgrace two days after she arrived. Elizabeth provoked her into causing a scandalous scene. There was shouting, and name-calling, and the poor girl was cryingall the while. I’ve never seen anyone quite that upset.” Then in a whisper, Evelyn added, “The girl even insulted Lady Sarah, who tried to intervene, and that was not a good idea.”
    “Would that be Sarah Wheeler? The lady I’m to report to in the morning?”
    “Yes, she has been given jurisdiction over us, and a good thing, too. At least she’s English. You did know the duchess is not? German is her native tongue. Most people barely understand the little English she speaks.”
    Rebecca grinned. “Yes, I knew that. German isn’t the second language I learned, but I expect we’ll learn to speak it while we’re here.”
    “Goodness, I hope not!” Evelyn said with feigned horror. “I was able to escape my last bit of schooling with this appointment, and I’d like to keep it that way! But we won’t have much to do with the duchess anyway, other than to spend most of our days in her quarters. Let her ladies of the bedchamber learn German in order to understand her. They’re her personal attendants. We’re just window dressing, as my mother would put it. If there’s an actual ceremony where she must make a public appearance, then, of course, we’ll be part of her entourage, but otherwise, we aren’t expected to be her companions unless she actually requests our company. Besides, she spends most of her time with the queen or in the nursery.” Evelyn chuckled. “She does so adore her granddaughter.”
    As they continued to walk, Rebecca’s thoughts returned to her roommate. Now she understood what John Keets, the footman, had meant with his subtle warning.
    “If Elizabeth’s former roommate was asked to leave because of a scene Elizabeth instigated, how is it that Elizabeth wasn’t dismissed as well?” Rebecca asked.
    “There was no dismissal,” Evelyn said. “She probably expected to be dismissed, so she flew the coop, as it were, and resigned