It's the first.  They've been in the Sisterhood for a while and are now being selected by the Queen.<br/><br/>Quick question about them only meeting the queen now.  Potentially, the Queen has had dozens, if not hundreds, of girls to choose from.  Maybe the characters haven't met the Queen yet, but she should, at least, know of them by reputation.  Otherwise, why would she have chosen these women as possible companions for her son?   I don't think a Queen who cares about her son like Irish depicted would leave that to someone else.<br/><br/>Btw, the chemise works perfectly.  Very much along the lines of what I was thinking.  :)