As she approached the Princess smiled at her; whereupon the girl, blushing in confusion, asked simply,—
“Is it the Crown Princess Claire? or am I mistaken?”
“Yes. And you are Leucha Redmayne,” answered her Highness, shaking hands with her, for from the first moment she became favourably impressed.
“Oh, your Highness, I really hope I have not kept you waiting,” she exclaimed concernedly. “But father’s letter describing you was rather hurried and vague, and I’ve seen several ladies alone with little girls, though none of them seemed to be—well, not one of them seemed to be a Princess—only yourself. Besides, you are wearing the little ladybird.”
Her Highness smiled, explained that she was very friendly with her father, who had suggested that she should enter her service as maid, and expressed a hope that she was willing.
“My father has entrusted to me a duty, Princess,” was the dark-eyed girl’s serious reply. “And I hope that you will not find me wanting in the fulfilment of it.”
And then they went together within the Customs barrier and claimed the baggage.
The way in which she did this showed the Princess at once that Leucha Redmayne was a perfectly trained maid.
How many ladies, she wondered, had lost their jewels after employing her?