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Queen’s Presence Chamber, as my hair simply refused to co-operate.No sooner had one lock been pinned up than another fell down. Why does hair do that some days? For once, even Lady Sarah was ready before me. Finally, I had my damask on and my hair dressed with my rope of pearls through it, and I rushed to the Presence Chamber.
    Thank the Lord, the Queen was not there when I puffed in and sat down. Lady Sarah had already arrived and taken my favourite cushion, so I had to have the small hard one. She is clearly quite recovered! I noticed that she had Captain Drake’s posy pinned to her bodice and the pearl bracelet on her right wrist. She and Lady Jane were sitting with their backs to each other like sulking cats, as usual.
    “Where is the Queen?” I asked, squeezing in next to plump Mary Shelton. “What did I miss?” I could see her face was pink with the effort of not laughing.
    “Her Majesty has withdrawn before she gives audience to Mr. Hawkins. She is very annoyed with Lady Sarah and Lady Jane,” Mary whispered. “Lady Sarah came in and accidentally on purpose trod on the edge of Lady Jane’s kirtle and it ripped a bit. … And Sarah said, ‘Oh dear, not very well-made, is it? Perhaps I could recommend you a good tailor?’ And then Lady Jane said, ‘I know you can’t help yourclumsiness, dear Lady Sarah, because you can’t see where your feet are going …’ And then the Queen threw one shoe at Lady Jane and one at Lady Sarah and told them to stop squabbling like a pair of geese!”
    Just then, there was a flourish of trumpets and four of the Gentlemen of the Queen’s Guard came in and stood there looking handsome with their halberds, which is their job. The Queen swept in, wearing black velvet and white samite, and we saw that Mr. Hawkins was with her, attended by the two Captains.
    As he passed, Captain Drake nodded and smiled at Lady Sarah, and she looked very pleased with herself. Unlike Lady Jane, who looked like she had sucked a lemon.
    “My dear Mr. Hawkins,” said the Queen in the sort of ringing voice she uses for public announcements that are pretending to be private, “we are so grateful to you for showing us the state of our Royal Father’s naval yards and docks. For otherwise we might have gone on for years being cozened out of our Navy, whereas now we most truly intend to make repair and rebuild all that has gone to rack and ruin.”
    Right on cue, Hawkins, Drake, and Derby kneeled.
    “Now, it would be against all right dealing, and clean contrary to precedent, for us to make the sweeping changes that you have been urging, but we can at least make a start. We shall cause to have painted a portrait of our Royal Self, with ships and docks in the background, as it were in signal of our loving watchfulness for the Navy.”
    I caught Drake and Derby exchanging glances, looking very disappointed. In fact, Drake rolled his eyes. Luckily the Queen didn’t see.
    “We shall also begin to reform the docks themselves. Or rather, you shall, Mr. Hawkins. For by this patent I hereby make you Counsel Extraordinary to the Navy until the post of Secretary becomes vacant.”
    Mr. Hawkins bowed low. “Your Majesty shall find me the best adviser—”
    “All in good time, Mr. Hawkins,” the Queen interrupted impatiently. “For the moment, please continue as you have done, and by all means make friends among the shipwrights. But wait until you have the Secretaryship before you make changes, do you understand?”
    “I am certain to have the Secretaryship?” Mr. Hawkins asked, sounding delighted.
    “As soon as the greedy idle fat pudding of a manwho has it now consents to die or step down,” said the Queen with a ferocious smile. “But all must be done smoothly and politically or the Royal Docks will end up the worse for it.”
    Hawkins smiled back and nodded. “Aye, Your Majesty, it shall be as you say.”
    “Excellent. That is all for now.” And Her Majesty dismissed Mr. Hawkins and the two