The Queen and Lord M

Chapter XIII VICTORIA IN LOVE

What an evening! There had never been one like it. How amusing, how delightful to get to know these fascinating cousins. Or should she say cousin? She had to admit that she, who usually noticed so much, was scarcely aware of Ernest. He was quite handsome, she believed; his eyes were very dark and he was pale. He was so different from Albert that one could scarcely believe they were brothers. But Albert … Albert was divine. She could scarcely wait to get to her Journal to record what she saw.

He was beautiful as an angel and yet every inch a man. And his greyhound was delightful.

‘How thoughtful of you, Cousin Albert, to bring him,’ she cried. ‘You must know how I love dogs. I am sure he and Dashy will be friends on sight. Islay is not nearly so good-tempered as Dashy. Do you think dear Eös will let me feed him? Oh, what a dear, docile creature.’

Albert did not speak much and they conversed in German which was easier for him and no trouble to her. Of course Albert spoke English. Uncle Leopold had insisted that he learn. Oh wise, wise Uncle Leopold!

Albert, it transpired, loved music.

‘How very exciting. Do you sing, cousin Albert?’

Yes, he sang.

‘Perhaps we can sing together … duets.’

Ernest said that Albert had composed some songs.

She clasped her hands together. ‘But that is so exciting. You must sing them to me, Cousin Albert. Perhaps we can sing them together.’

‘There will be time to do that,’ said Ernest.

Oh, what a happy, happy evening.

When she retired to her room that night she wrote in her Journal:‘It was with some emotion that I beheld Albert, who is beautiful.’

She wanted to be alone to think about this wonderful meeting. She wanted neither Lehzen’s motherly fussing, nor Lord Melbourne’s tender cynicism.

She knew something tremendous had happened and she wanted to be alone to consider it.

Another ecstatic day!

They had ridden together, Albert on one side of her and Ernest on the other. Lord Melbourne was just a little behind. There had never been such a ride. Her face was flushed with excitement, her little top hat rather jauntily askew with the veil flowing; her black velvet habit was becoming and she looked very pretty. She knew that she was always at her best on horseback and she was delighted that Albert should see her thus. He told her about the schloss in Coburg and she said that it was all quite fascinating. It was odd, she said, that he had no mother and she had no father; and they had been born in the same year. And all the time she was marvelling at his good looks. No man was ever quite so handsome, she was sure.

That evening they danced together. Albert was not so happy in the ballroom as he was out of doors. He was so manly, she supposed. That was the reason. But how she enjoyed dancing with him and when their hands touched a thrill ran through her. She hoped he felt the same.

Why had he not come before! She was appalled to think of all the time they had wasted; but what did it matter? Here he was at last and her mind was quite made up. There was none of the soul searching which she had expected. She only had to stand at the top of a staircase and look at him and she knew.

What joy! She wrote in her Journal:‘Albert has such beautiful blue eyes, an exquisite nose and such a pretty mouth with delicate moustachios and slight – but very slight – whiskers; a beautiful figure broad in the shoulder and a fine waist.’

She smiled as she wrote, visualising his perfections.

His voice was rather high pitched and not the sort of voice one would expect such a young man to have. Perhaps it was not the sort of voice a lot of people would admire – although they would all have to admit that his face was beautiful – but it was his voice and therefore to her the most pleasant in the world.

There had to be a session in the blue closet. Poor Lord Melbourne, he looked rather old and tired. Perhaps, she thought, that was because she was comparing his with Albert’s dear young face.

‘Dear Lord Melbourne.’ She felt very tender towards him.

‘I see that your cousins do not displease you,’ said Lord Melbourne.

‘Tell me do you think Albert beautiful?’

‘I would say that he is very good-looking.’

‘I think he is beautiful.’

‘So I had observed.’

‘Of course he’s much cleverer than Ernest.’

‘I would not say that,’ replied Lord Melbourne.

‘You can’t mean that you think Ernest has the better brain?’

‘Yes, the better brain I should say.’

The Queen was angry with Lord Melbourne. ‘That is nonsense,’ she cried imperiously. ‘Albert has by far the better brain. He is of course under a certain amount of strain at the moment.’

‘Very naturally,’ said Lord Melbourne. ‘I see that you no longer have the same aversion to the married state.’

‘No, I have felt different about marriage since the arrival of my cousins.’

‘Well, you have time to make up your mind completely. Perhaps in a week’s time …’

She was not listening. She was so happy. She started to talk about Albert, his love of music, his handsome greyhound, his cleverness and above all his appearance.

‘I have never seen such a beautiful young man,’ she said.

All that day Victoria lived in an ecstatic dream. She wrote to Uncle Leopold:‘Ernest is grown quite handsome; Albert’s beauty is most striking, and he is so amiable and unaffected – in short very fascinating.’

She listened with delight to the brothers’ playing. What a musician Albert was! She told him that the special treats of her childhood had been concerts and the opera, and that one of her birthday presents had been a concert at Kensington Palace and how she had learned Italian quickly because it was so useful for understanding the arias. Albert thought that very commendable.

Before the day was out she sent for Lord Melbourne.

‘Lord Melbourne,’ she said, ‘I have made up my mind about marrying Albert.’

‘Ah,’ said Lord Melbourne. ‘When will the marriage take place?’

‘You do not doubt that I have decided in his favour?’

‘I have no doubts on the matter whatsoever,’ said Lord Melbourne with a smile. ‘The question now is when will the marriage take place?’

‘Not for a year perhaps.’

‘That is too long,’ replied Lord Melbourne.

She was pleased. ‘Yes, it is far too long.’

‘Once it is announced it should be fairly soon.’

‘Yes,’ she agreed.

‘I believe it will be well received.’

‘The people are being difficult at the moment. Remember they threw those stones only a few nights ago.’

‘The people are easily swayed and there is nothing to sway them so quickly as a wedding. Give them a lavish ceremony, a young Queen-Bride and they’ll love you for a while.’

‘They are so fickle.’

‘But they’ll be faithful for a few weeks for a wedding, never fear. And after you will have the Prince to stand by you. You’ll be in a much more comfortable position then. A woman can’t stand alone for long.’

‘Queen Elizabeth stood alone.’

‘And I have no doubt that you would if the situation demanded you do so. But it doesn’t. You approve of the Prince and you have made your decision.’

‘Yes,’ said Victoria softly, ‘I have made my decision. Lord Melbourne do you think we are alike – Prince Albert and I?’

‘Yes, there is a resemblance. I noticed it at once.’

‘I am flattered. We shall be betrothed very soon.’

‘Is he going to ask you to marry him?’

‘There is a difficulty. Can he ask me … the Queen? It is a very awkward situation for him.’

Lord Melbourne smiled. ‘I daresay you will know how to handle such a situation.’

‘Oh, I shall find a way.’

Lord Melbourne looked at her rather sadly, but her thoughts were too full of Albert for her to notice.

Nothing pleased Victoria more than to dance into the early hours of the morning and to dance with Albert was perfect bliss.

How strange that she had been feeling so depressed and had suddenly been lifted to the heights of ecstasy by the arrival of this wonderful cousin. Every time she saw him his beauty impressed her afresh; and that he was clever and loved music and was obviously already fond of her added to her enchantment.

She wanted the whole world to know of her feelings; although Lord Melbourne had said they should be a little discreet at first. And the marriage should be soon. Early next year, Lord Melbourne had said, would be a good time. She was sure dear Albert would agree though as yet the darling did not know of his good fortune.

She walked into the ballroom carrying her bouquet of flowers. Lehzen had said she looked enchantingly pretty with that fresh colour in her cheeks and her eyes dancing with happiness. Of course, she thought, although I am a little like Albert I am not beautiful as he is. But … I am the Queen.

Albert was standing before her. How blue his eyes were and his lashes were magnificent. She had heard that he was the image of his mother, who had been rather a wayward woman. How wonderful of Albert to have inherited his mother’s beauty without her waywardness.

In an excess of love she took some flowers from her bouquet and gave them to him; Albert took them, bowed, and his blue eyes looked straight into hers. He was in uniform so that he had no buttonhole in which to put the flowers. He took a penknife and cut a hole in his coat to receive them and during the whole evening he wore them.

Just over his heart, the Queen noticed.

Oh, dear, gracious, gallant Albert!

The next morning she was in a fever of impatience to be up. She had made up her mind.

After breakfast, which she took in her room, she asked where the Princes were and heard that they had gone out riding.

From her window she watched their return; and then she sent for Albert to attend her in the blue closet.

Albert came and her eyes lit up when she saw him.

‘Dear cousin,’ she said, holding out her hand to him, ‘I trust you have enjoyed your ride this morning.’

Albert said that he had indeed and so had Ernest.

She said: ‘I think you must be aware of why I asked you to come here.’ Albert hesitated and she went on: ‘It would make me too happy if you would consent to what I wish.’

Albert understood at once. The uncertainties were over.

He found her enchanting; her adoration had been so obvious; all the fretful delays were forgotten. She loved him, there was no doubt of that; and he was more than ready to love her.

He took her hands in his; she threw herself into his arms; she was laughing and weeping. Albert kissed her; she returned his kisses fervently.

‘Oh, Albert,’ she cried, ‘life is so wonderful. Did you think it could ever be so wonderful?’

Albert had never dreamed that it could be.

They kissed again; she clung to him. ‘I am so happy. Everyone will be happy. Oh, dear Albert.’

And suddenly she was aware of an unaccustomed humility which astonished her. She had believed until this moment that she was honouring him and now she thought of all that being a consort to a reigning Queen implied.

‘Dearest Albert, do you understand what a sacrifice you are making in taking me for your wife?’

Albert laughed tenderly. All he knew was that he wanted Victoria to be his wife more than anything in the world.

‘I am the Queen of England, dearest Albert.’

‘To me you will be Victoria, my wife.’

What enchanting things dear Albert said!

Never in the whole of her life had she been so happy.

What glorious days followed! When she was not in his company she was impatient for a sight of him. She could come behind him and kiss the top of his head. Always demonstrative in her affections, she insisted on constant embraces. Not that Albert was loath. He was enchanted with her; and if she had fallen immediately and violently in love with him he was ready to follow at a more measured pace.

They talked about music and their respective childhoods, but they agreed that the past was unimportant compared with the future which they would share. What joy to dance with Albert, hands tightly clasped, smiling fondly. As she mentioned to Lehzen, she had never been so happy nor felt so humble. She had never thought it possible that she, the Queen, could be grateful to a man for marrying her.

‘Of course, he will have a very high position,’ she said.

‘He’ll also have his burdens,’ added Lehzen.

Poor darling Daisy, perhaps she did feel that she was being pushed a little into the background. Albert seemed to take over so much of what she had done in the past. He made sure that she was not in a draught; he put a shawl or a cape about her shoulders; he would whisper that she should not do this or that as it might not be good for her.

What joy to be so cherished! But dear Daisy would always have a place in her heart.

It was different with Lord Melbourne. He remained her dear Prime Minister however much she was in love with Albert, and she must still have her daily meetings with him. It was true she took up a lot of time in discussing the perfections of Albert.

One day she mentioned Albert’s reserve.

‘Of course, I find it delightful. Do you know, I believe he is quite unaware of any of the other ladies.’

‘Quite right and proper in the circumstances.’

‘Oh, yes, of course, but I do not believe he has ever looked at a woman before.’

‘That type often flirts later on,’ said Lord Melbourne rather waspishly.

‘That,’ cried the Queen angrily, ‘is nonsense.’

“Oh, no,’ insisted Lord Melbourne. ‘I have known many such cases. A man is quiet and reserved in his youth and when he gets to middle age he changes completely.’

‘Are you suggesting that Albert will do this?’

‘Well,’ said Lord Melbourne, ‘there is a possibility that he will conform to that type.’

The Queen stamped her foot. ‘That is a slanderous remark, Lord Melbourne.’

The Prime Minister looked startled.

‘And,’ said Victoria, the corners of her lips drawn down, her manner coldly regal, ‘I expect you to say that you were talking foolish nonsense.’

Lord Melbourne replied that he was talking of a type.

‘And you thought Albert might conform to this type?’

‘I am sure that was a misapprehension,’ said Lord Melbourne tactfully. And he added with one of his sly looks which Victoria was too put out – contemplating the possibility of Albert’s infidelity – to notice: ‘Albert is unique.’

‘Of course Albert would not be like that. He is too dignified and too loyal. He will realise what it means to be married to the Queen.’

‘Oh, yes, he will soon realise that,’ said Lord Melbourne significantly.

‘Albert is reserved, except with those he loves,’ said Victoria tenderly, ‘and he will always be like that.’

‘The Queen will command it,’ said Lord Melbourne with a courtly bow.

‘He is not in the least like the Grand Duke of Russia.’

‘Ah, there was a man whom Your Majesty admired very much.’

‘He has had so many love affairs.’

‘An affair before marriage is nothing,’ said Lord Melbourne. ‘As long as he doesn’t do it afterwards.’

‘I would never marry a man who had loved another woman,’ declared the Queen.

‘You wouldn’t think of that if you were in love with him.’

‘I should.’

‘Then all is well for there is no question of your reserved and gallant Prince having so indulged.’

‘There is no question at all,’ said Victoria, her happiness restored.

There was so much to talk over with Lord Melbourne. Sometimes she would think of something at odd times and would summon him to her.

Dear Lord Melbourne! What would she do without him?

Once she sent for him in the evening. He was to come to her at once, was her message to him. He came in a very strange costume – light white and grey calico trousers; and she knew that he had been in bed and had been awakened to come to her.

She was full of remorse. She feared that in her newly found happiness she had neglected this friend.

‘But you were sleeping,’ she said tenderly.

He denied this, but she didn’t believe him.

‘I only wished to discuss some item about the wedding,’ she told him.

‘A most important subject,’ he said with a smile.

‘Dear Lord M,’ she said. ‘I fear I may have been a little short with you lately. It is all this excitement coming after that wretched time. But Lord Melbourne, always remember that I love you more than any of your other friends do.’

He did not look at her and she saw that his eyes were full of tears.

Her own gushed forth.

‘My dear, dear friend,’ she murmured.

And she thought: My overwhelming love for my divine Albert does not make me love this dear friend less.