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10 November 1906 — Milan | |
Saturday. 10th [November 1906]. I paid Angela an early visit & found her more calm & the better for having talked over her troubles. She would not allow me to pay my hotel bill & sent “Fritz” to the station to see me off by the 10.15 train for Turin where I arrived about 2 o’clock. Queen Margherita’s motor car came to meet me & to take me to Stupinigi. Baker & the luggage came by the steam tram. I found the same lovely apartment prepared for me that I had the last time I was here 3 years ago. The large sitting room with white silk hangings worked by some Princesses of the house of Savoy set in a border of dark blue glass under gilt carving. The ceiling of that & my bedroom are beautifully painted by VanLoo. The Marchesa Villamarina soon appeared to greet me & brought the Queen’s Master of the Household Ct Colegno to present to me. They ordered lunch to be served to me in my apartment & for wh I was very thankful. At 3.30 I went to the room where the household & guests meet & thence the Marchesa took me into the Queen’s room. She received me with the greatest affection & repeatedly said how glad she was to have me here. She is excessively kind to me. After a little chat I returned to my rooms & found Baker & luggage so that I could dress to go out walking with H.M. She took us on the Turin road a little way & then turned into the woods wh lie all round the Castle & were evidently planted for shooting or hunting. It was damp under foot & the leaves are fast falling. After we had gone a little way one of H.M.’s motors came from the direction of Turin—stopped & a lady got out & joined us. She is a Baroness Sonnino and has come on a visit. A tall rather good looking & very talkative & energetic woman. Besides the Marchesa V. & her daughter Css Pez there is also Count Guiccioli & Duchesse Massimo of the Royal Household. The latter is half English & is pleasant & good humoured. There is a Genl & Countess Zuchini Del Mayno staying here. I sat next to him at dinner (at 8) & found him very pleasant. We had tea at 5.30 after wh H.M. talked to us all making me sit next to her. She also made me sit close by her after dinner & the ladies all sat round the table working & chatting. The Queen talked much sometimes in French sometimes in Italian & in English. I find it very difficult to follow her as she talks so extraordinarily quick. At 11 she rose & left the drawing room– We all followed her to the meeting room– She kissed all the ladies—the men kissed her hand. As she got to the door of her own room she turned & gave us a last reverence & disappeared. That was the signal for us all to disperse into our own apartments & to get to bed. | |
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