Free When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens Page A

a waste of the champagne.) I was terribly nervous about the whole event! I certainly didn’t know what amount of force would be necessary to break the darned bottle. But an hour in Bye’s backyard and a thorough drenching in sparkling wine left me much more confident about the whole affair.
    On the day of the christening we rose early, almost before first light, so we (Father, Stepmother, and myself) would be in Jersey City promptly at seven. I doubt I could have slept later, I was so nervous about my performance. We ate breakfast whilst traveling, and I managed to lap up some tea and toast despite a jittery stomach.
    By half-past ten we arrived at the grand boat. I nervously made my way to the yacht, praying that I would remember exactly what I needed to say. “In the name of his Majesty the German Emperor I christen this yacht Meteor . ” There, I still remember it, and I did then too, speaking clearly and confidently and with a great smile. Next I took an ornamental knife and sliced the last bit of rope that kept it tethered. Edith held her breath beside me, afraid I’d slice my hands. Finally, with a great flourish, I smashed that bottle of fine champagne smack on the bow, sending a joyous spray of bubbly onto the yacht and the cheering onlookers. My parents said that I did a fabulous job and I believe them. Prince Henry made a point of congratulating me right in front of Edith. Euphoric, I felt as though I’d nipped at Bye’s liquor cabinet. But I swear on Ted I hadn’t.
    After the formal ceremony we went to the Hohenzollern , the emperor’s other yacht, and had a celebratory lunch. I sat next to Prince Henry, on his left, and had bully fun speaking with him. I didn’t even have to do Auntie Corinne’s elbow-in-the-soup treatment to hold his attention. Contrary to popular belief, not all princes are handsome—but Henry fit the dashing role. Before you get any ideas, Henry is much older than I and happily wed. Anyway, he took one of the lunch cards and drew a charming picture of his favorite stallion for me on it, signing it with his name. On behalf of the emperor, Prince Henry also gave me a beautiful diamond bracelet. He even fastened it to my dainty wrist himself, and I thought my stepmother would have to pull out the smelling salts. All of the fetching officers of the boat presented me with flowers as well. Even though the event intended to honor Prince Henry and the Kaiser, it sure felt as though everyone was honoring Princess Alice.
    The newspapers unanimously proclaimed that I did a tremendous job with my official duties. The New York Tribune said that I “seemed unaffected” by all the attention lavished on me (ha, ha) and that I “stood in the glare of the footlights without flinching.” As should a Roosevelt! The sole group unhappy with me is the WCTU. Can you believe that those dry nincompoops lobbied for me to use a nonalcoholic substitute for the champagne? You’d think the old biddies would be happy that all the drink went to waste.
    I am so proud that for once I could do something publicly that was a boon to my father’s presidency. Not that all of the attention I get for my debut or my social events is necessarily bad for him—despite what my stepmother thinks. It is, though, a distraction from whatever real work he does. I am pleased that I could be of diplomatic service. I also hope that now that I’ve proven what a charming asset I can be, this will be just the start of Alice’s political endeavors.
    To Thine Own Self Be True,
    Alice

Chapter 7
    I did not get diamond bracelets or champagne toasts out of our dinner with the German chancellor, but I did get a shopping trip with some staffers the next week. I picked out some new, oh-so-slightly more age-appropriate clothes and shoes, although my mom made it clear that she had veto power, especially concerning V-necks. One of the dresses I picked out was blue-gray, and I liked imagining that it was the exact shade of Alice blue.