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27 February 1912 — En route to Rome | |
Tuesday. 27th [February 1912]. The approach to Naples was lovely—sun shining brightly & a delightful temperature. We reached Naples at 12 & hoped to get away by 1.40 train to Rome. But the people on board the ship put so many obstacles in our way that we only got to the station with all the luggage a few minutes after the train left & we had to wait for the 3.15. Mr Ralli remained at Naples & went off to an hotel. Eda & I went on to Rome where we arrived at 8.16. There we parted at the station as I came to stay at the Queen Margherita’s. Eda went to Hotel Royal. The Queen’s courier met me at the station & put me into the royal motor & in a few minutes I got to the Palace & got into the lift to go to the apartment I always occupy on the 2nd floor. On getting to the 1st floor the lift was stopped by the Queen’s lady Marchesa di Villamarina who accompanied me to my room & explained that as the Queen was just sitting down to dinner & my luggage had not arrived she had ordered my dinner to be served upstairs. I dined at a small table in the great library in the same corridor as my rooms– I felt so small in such a big room that it almost took away my appetite. After dinner I dressed & waited for Mimi the Marchesa’s daughter who came to conduct me to the Queen’s drawing room on the 1st floor. As I came in the Queen rose & welcomed me very heartily kissing me on both cheeks & made me sit on the sofa near her armchair. I found the Dss of Laterano was the other lady in waiting. The men were Count Oldofredi and Count Guiccioli. The Queen was working at warm caps for the soldiers at the war. Mimi & the gentlemen were piecing together a jig saw puzzle & we sat just as if a year had not elapsed since I left to go to Egypt last winter. We sat chatting until 11.30 when the Queen now kissed me & said good night to all & retired to her room stopping at the open door of her room & turning to make us a last curtsey according to her custom. She does this in a wonderfully graceful manner quite peculiar to herself. | |
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