Bernard knocked on the heavy oak door, calling out, "It's only me, Father." As Pip was ushered into the grand, well-ordered room, he saw it was dominated by a huge desk covered in leather-bound books and red boxes filled with documents. It was the powerhouse of the kingdom, from where all laws and directives were given the royal seal of approval.

In his wildest dreams, Pip had never imagined he would one day meet the king in his private drawing room. It seemed far more real in broad daylight than sitting at his table at the banquet. King Peter was an older version of Bernard, with streaks of grey in his brown hair and beard, and a more assured demeanour, as if he was used to taking command.

"Father, this is Pip Lenoir, the young man I told you about."

Pip gave a deep bow, and murmured, "Your Highness." He wondered uneasily if the king could tell what Pip and Bernard had recently been doing.

"Ah, Mr Lenoir. I'm glad to meet you," said King Peter, slowly standing up and taking Pip's hand in a hearty handshake. He held Pip's hand very firmly, perhaps to help himself balance. "I'm so ashamed of what was done to you, and I hope you will accept my personal apology. Is there anything more I can do to help you?"

"You have been too generous already," said Pip shyly. "And please call me Pip, not Mr Lenoir."

"Of course, as long as you call me Peter, and not Your Highness," smiled the king, looking as if he was about to return to work. "I wish you well in your new life, Pip."

"Father, may Pip come to lunch with the family?" broke in Bernard.

"What an excellent idea," said King Peter politely. "Er, Bernard, could you perhaps find some suitable attire ...?" He waved a hand vaguely around the room.

"Yes, Father. Come with me, Pip." Bernard took Pip's arm, and led him firmly out of the drawing room, as everyone took leave of each other.

"That went well," Bernard said in a pleased voice, while they walked down an endless blue corridor lined with priceless artworks.

"I can't come to lunch!" Pip said in horror, gesturing at his kitchen uniform. "Look at me!"

"It's alright, I'll get you some clothes," Bernard said in his most soothing tones.

"And meeting your family ... the royal family ..."

"You already met them at my birthday party," Bernard pointed out.

"That was Raven."

"They'll like Pip even better," Bernard promised.

By now they had reached the palace living quarters, and Bernard bellowed out, "Lundy!"

Pip wished he wouldn't shout at servants to get their attention. They weren't deaf.

"Yes, sir?" said a tall, thin, bald man with a thick white moustache, popping out of his work rooms.

"Lundy, this is my friend, Mr Lenoir. Could you find him some suitable clothes to wear to lunch?"

"I'll do my best, sir," said Mr Lundy. "Please, come this way, sir."

Pip realised in a moment that he was the 'sir', and followed Mr Lundy into a dressing room filled with stacks piled high of men's clothing.

"Now, sir," said Mr Lundy, looking Pip over. "I don't have time for a full measurement, but I think I can guess your size. Very slim, neither tall nor short. A surprisingly full seat for someone so thin, and strong thighs. I expect you have played some sport, sir."

"Horse riding, Mr Lundy," Pip said. "Although, when I was a boy, I liked a game of football."

Mr Lundy had been sorting through various piles of clothing, and came back, looking diffident.

"If sir will try this suit, we'll see how it fits."

Pip felt embarrassed getting changed in front of someone so superior as Mr Lundy, but he wriggled out of his kitchen uniform and into the deep blue suit easily enough.

"Yes, that's nice actually," Pip said, examining himself in a long mirror. "Thank you, Mr Lundy."

"If sir would be so kind as to hold still," said Mr Lundy, as he carefully made some minor alterations to the suit.

At last he was satisfied, and stood back, saying, "The blue brings out the colour of your eyes, sir. And now I'll add a white silk scarf, as a contrast. Sir looks very well with the scarf in place of a tie, don't you agree? Now, try these shoes. A little heel, to give you height, sir. And some grey silk socks."

Even then he wouldn't let Pip leave, but brushed and styled his hair, tisking over it needing proper looking after.

"For the sake of the gods Lundy, aren't you finished yet?" Bernard fumed as he stuck his head around the door, now dressed in his own, rather baggy, suit. "We're going to be late."

"I do thank you for your patience, sir," said the unflappable Mr Lundy. "I've done what I can, and I think the young gentleman looks very suitable, sir."

"Yes, that's good," said Bernard, giving Pip a quick up and down. "Come on, Pip. We've got three minutes."

"Thank you so much, Mr Lundy," said Pip with a smile. "You're an absolute wizard with clothes."

"I do my best, sir," said Mr Lundy. "One can do no more."

**********************

Bernard and Pip arrived at lunch in a small dining room with white panelling to find everyone else already seated. They all turned and stared at Pip, except King Peter, who immediately said, "Ah, Bernard. You've brought your young friend to lunch."

"Um, everyone. This is a good friend of mine, Pip Lenoir," announced Bernard.

Pip waved, rather weakly, and received surprised but dignified bowed heads of acknowledgement from those already seated. Dorothea and Sybil offered mystified smiles.

"We're very informal here, Pip," said King Peter. "Please sit anywhere you like."

Bernard and Pip sat down next to each other, and Pip found himself near Alice, who was at the opposite end of the table to her father.

Alice immediately said, "Bernard, you've made another new friend since returning to Lindensea? You've only just got back."

"Oh, Pip and I knew each other before," said Bernard. "Before I went abroad, I mean."

"Really? Where did you meet my brother, Mr Lenoir?" asked Alice.

"Er, in the stables. I mean, through horse riding. And please call me Pip, Princess."

"If you will please call me Alice," the princess said with a charming smile. "But you must have been very young when you met Bernard."

"That's right," said Bernard, with a slightly hunted expression. "Childhood friends. That's what we are."

"Well, how very nice that you've run into each other again," said Alice, unfolding her napkin. "How did that happen?"

"Oh, we were ... out riding again," said Bernard. "There I was, galloping around on Cygnus, and there was Pip ... um."

"How interesting," said Alice sweetly. "And I suppose your horse is in the stables now, Pip?"

"No, actually Pip doesn't have a horse," said Bernard. "Look, Pip. Would you care for some fish and salad? Please, help yourself. As Father said, we're very informal here."

Pip helped himself to cold salmon, quail eggs, cucumber salad, and new potatoes in herb butter. Alice obligingly poured him a glass of cold water.

"I hope you don't mind how utterly simply we live," Alice said to Pip.

Pip looked around at the beautiful old panelling, the historic paintings on the walls, the delicate porcelain plates rimmed with gold. He thought Alice must be joking, before he realised that by royal standards, this was probably a casual family meal. He imagined the kitchen staff working to poach the salmon, coddle the quail eggs, dress the salad, and boil the potatoes.

"No, everything is delicious," Pip assured her.

"Actually Father, Pip is turning eighteen in a fortnight," Bernard suddenly said. "I was wondering if I could throw him a birthday party."

Alice looked stunned, but King Peter promptly said, "Wonderful idea. Have any kind of party you'd like, Bernard. Talk to ... oh, you know how to do it. Don't let me interfere."

Pip said in embarrassment, "That's very kind, but I don't need a party."

"My dear fellow, this couldn't be better timing," King Peter said kindly. "You wouldn't believe how difficult it is, keeping the court entertained during the Summer Season. They need constant parties and dances, or else they begin gossiping and intriguing until we end up with a horrible scandal of some sort."

"I love parties," said Prince Hugo, who had been taken up with eating until now. "I was about to go home tomorrow, but if there is to be a party, I will stay until then."

Alice smiled in delight at the news she was going to spend another two weeks with her betrothed, and she and Hugo began eagerly talking in Castilian together, apparently about a visit to the court of Castile Alice was to make in the autumn.

"And er, Father," said Bernard, taking advantage of his sister's distraction, "I thought perhaps Pip could stay here until his birthday. Just until he er, gets back on his feet."

"Of course," said King Peter, giving Pip a courteous nod of his head. "Dozens of rooms to choose from. Make yourself at home. My palace is your palace."

"That's so nice of you, but I don't want to be a nuisance." Pip gave Bernard an agonised look.

"Nonsense. The more the merrier," King Peter said genially. "It's nice having all you young people about. Bernard and Pip, Alice and Hugo, and Dorothea and Sybil. You must all stay as long as you like." The king beamed at everyone.

Pip thought the king was stretching things a bit, including Sybil and Dorothea as young people. He thought Sybil must be at least ten years older than he was, while Dorothea was even older than her. Perhaps that was still young, to someone King Peter's age.

Pip also recalled that his granny had told him that the king had been grieving since his wife's death. That was quite a few years ago, and Pip thought he appeared to be in good spirits now. He had Dorothea on one side, and Sybil on the other, and seemed to find their conversation greatly diverting.

Pip listened to a bit, but it seemed to be about German philosophy. He couldn't think what the king found so amusing.

**********************

"This will be your bedroom, Pip," Bernard said, leading him into a beautifully appointed room with a huge four-poster bed and a view of Camden Bridge. "I have to sleep in a ridiculous tower, but this is right at the foot of the stairs, so you'll be as close as possible."

"Bernard, why am I living here now?" Pip asked urgently.

Bernard took his hands, and looked down into his eyes. "I love you, and I want you to get to know me properly, and to know my family. They already met you, but I want them to know you as Pip."

"They're not going to like it, me being a servant before," Pip said warningly.

"Nonsense. Father knows, and he couldn't be happier you're here," Bernard said. "I don't want Alice to know yet. She'd be terribly shocked and upset, and it really had nothing to do with her. She was only a little girl when it happened."

"None of you had anything to do with it," said Pip. "You did nothing wrong, and you've paid me back now. You don't have to keep giving me more things."

"Now, you'll need a valet," Bernard said, completely ignoring the last part. "Do you mind having old Lundy? He's going spare at the moment, and he's really very experienced."

"I'd love having Mr Lundy take care of me," said Pip. "Who's your valet?"

"Oh, you know me. Never could make one stick around," said Bernard. "I'll have some footmen fetch your things from the staff quarters."

"Wouldn't it be easier if I got them myself?" Pip asked.

"I won't have you fetching and carrying," said Bernard, in a determined voice. "We forced you into servitude once, and I'll never let it happen again, Pip."

Pip felt foolish explaining to two footmen how to find his belongings, and the exact hydrangea bush he'd kicked the other silver shoe under, but they listened seriously, and asked several questions to help them in their task. They didn't seem to think it was at all a waste of time they were getting Pip's things for him. Pip wondered what the kitchen staff would think when the footmen showed up.

He had considered asking to have Gilbert brought to him, but Bernard explained he would have to keep Gilbert in a cage in his room, and feed him himself. Pip thought that Gilbert was really better off running free in a kitchen and eating as much as he wanted, so he wrote a note to Viviane, explaining he was going to stay with an old friend for a while.

Pip thanked her for her friendship over the years, asking her to take care of Gilbert and pass on his best wishes to all the other kitchen staff. He enclosed two gold coins to help pay for Gilbert's needs – Bernard had put most of Pip's two thousand gold coins in the bank for him, and Pip had kept twenty of them. After a little thought, he added to the note:

PS I'm sorry I let you all down on the night of the banquet. I hope one day you will understand and be able to forgive me. Your friend, Pip.

Once Pip's meagre belongings had arrived, he looked through them with something like dismay as he realised most of them were useless to him now. He gazed at himself in the mirror, remembering how Iggy had once taunted him by saying he wasn't posh enough to live with the king. Now he actually had his own luxurious bedroom in the palace, but he still didn't feel posh enough.

Pip called Mr Lundy, explaining that he needed a lot of new clothes and shoes straight away.

"Of course, sir," Mr Lundy said. "May I ask sir, what you were hoping I could do for you, as your valet?"

"Sorry?"

"Well, some gentlemen simply wish to be kept clean and neat, and a few are satisfied merely to be clean, and one or two, I name no names sir, do not even aim so far," Mr Lundy said with a disapproving cough. "It would be of great assistance to me sir, if you could guide me as to your own wishes in regards to your personal appearance."

Pip thought to himself, then said hesitantly, "Well ... I don't know if this is possible, but ... do you think you would be able to make me look ... beautiful?"

Mr Lundy slowly walked around Pip, as if needing to examine him from every angle. His expression was very much like a sculptor being presented with a freshly quarried piece of marble, and wondering how it could be carved and polished to best effect.

It took him several minutes to complete his inspection, and then he said consideringly, "I believe so. Sir has a striking visage and singular physique, and there has been some hard wear due to sir's previous working conditions, but they do say that all the great beauties are unconventional in appearance."

Pip hesitated, then said in a low voice, "My nose is the least little bit too long."

"The lovely Callianthe, Queen of the Nile, was also blessed with a nose of generous proportions, sir."

A certain zeal shone out of Mr Lundy's pale eyes when Pip replied, "Then please Mr Lundy, that's what I want. Make me beautiful."