On the previous pages which are not available on the preview, Her Grace told that they had crammed two 'burly' Chatsworth farm men into livery to ride as attendants.
'Stoker' is the couple's son (the current duke) who carried the train of his grandmother 'Moucher', Mistress of the Robes.
Due to her important role, Moucher wore the family's peeress robe. Among the treasures of Chatsworth another robe was found for the Duchess but since it was off-the-shoulder, the Queen's permission was gained to wear it, thus the bare shoulders comment above.
on February 6, 2012, 5:37 pm, in reply to "