A Lady in Waiting Peeks Over Her Fan with a Knowing Look
Every court has someone who sees and hears everything, and here she is. The Dalmatian lady in waiting turns her spotted head to the side, wearing a ruffled lace cap that fans out like a frilled halo. Her blue gown is richly embroidered with gold thread and edged in white lace, and one gloved paw holds a folded fan of cream-colored lace against her chest. Her dark eyes look sideways at the viewer with polite, knowing amusement.
The portrait does something sweet with her spots. They scatter across her cheeks and neck like ink flecks against the white and echo the lace patterns of the fan, tying the whole painting together.
Dalmatians are lively, loyal and intelligent, and their old role running alongside carriages shows in their stamina. Most need a long walk or run every day, along with training and games that give them a job to do. They shed quite a bit, so regular brushing helps keep the house manageable. Dalmatians usually love being part of the family and can be a little bouncy around small children, so supervision is a good idea. Ask your vet about diet, urinary health and hearing, which are worth keeping an eye on in this breed.
If the lady in waiting is ever asked what she has seen at the palace, she will no doubt shrug elegantly and say nothing at all.
