Among the latter was the Earl of Leicester, who was the queen's prime favorite.
Prior to the queen's announcement of her intention to visit Haddon Sir George had, with Dorothy's tacit consent, fixed a day upon which the Earl of Derby and his son, Lord James, should be received at the Hall for the purpose of signing the marriage contract.

Dorothy, of course, had no intention of signing the contract, but she put off the evil hour of refusal as far as possible, hoping something might occur in the meantime to help her out of the dilemma.

Something did occur at the last moment.

I am eager to tell you about it, but it must wait its turn.

Truly would the story of this ingenious girl's life make a romance if it were written by a poet.