The Princess Dilemma: A Victorian Royal Romance

by Heather Hiestand

  “The colonel’s regiment is stationed in Canada, ma’am. I cannot go in and out of waiting between London and Quebec. It would take too long to travel from one place to the other.”

  The queen looked up at Lord Melbourne, who stood at her side. “I do not wish to lose my cousin.”

  “She has made her choice. You have the throne, madam, and he has her,” the prime minister said laconically.

  Victoria’s face pinched, making her look incredibly young. Charlotte wished she could embrace the girl, but of course, that was not possible. For now though, she had to follow her own dreams.

  “I know it is utterly unfeeling of me to mention this, but there was a time, Your Majesty, when you mentioned doing something for me when I wed. A small dowry? I know, as it turns out, that I’ve only been in service with you for less than a year, but you know the colonel’s prospects, and he has some ideas on how to improve them. A little capital now might work wonders.” She stopped speaking when she saw the expression on Victoria’s face.

  “This might be the best way to do something for your brother,” Lord Melbourne said, unexpectedly taking Charlotte’s part.

  “I offered him a knighthood,” she said sulkily.

  “He keenly feels the honor,” Charlotte insisted. “We must return to Canada soon, because of the rebellion that is brewing. He needs to fight at his brothers’ sides, since he can do nothing more for you, ma’am.”

  Victoria’s expression was bleak as she stared up at Charlotte. “Nothing more,” she repeated.

  “Ma’am?”

  “Dear Charlotte, I fear I have a most dreadful headache. Find my mother, will you, and ask her to have one of her special teas brewed for me?”

  Charlotte curtsied and left to find the duchess, buried as she was in a far recess of the palace. She’d never known Victoria to seek her mother’s comfort before. Usually she wanted Baroness Lehzen. This must be an unusual headache.

  An Edward FitzPrince-sized headache.

  ~

  Edward chuckled, seeing the utter absurdity of it all. “Murdo, you must be joking!”

  His cousin turned away from his study window, which looked out over the back garden of his mansion. He had summoned Edward that morning and Edward had gone, to kill his nerves while he waited to hear from Quintin about passage for two to Canada. Quintin hadn’t suggested he come to attend them, which made Edward both happy and sad. He wasn’t sure Quintin could survive a Canadian winter, but he would miss the cranky old man.

  “I am not joking,” his cousin said earnestly. “Why not?”

  “I haven’t been to the Highlands in eleven years,” Edward said. “I know nothing about estate management.”

  “Ye must admit that estate manager is a respectable position for ye, however.”

  “Of course it is. Non-inheriting relatives often take such a position from their more fortunate relations,” Edward said. “But I’m going back to Canada now, with Charlotte.”

  “Ye can’t take her to bloody Canada,” Murdo protested.

  “A rebellion is coming. James said soon,” Edward said.

  “All the more reason not to go. Ye have a wife to protect. My God, man, ye can’t risk her. She took to the Highlands, she’ll be happy there. Ye can still plan your little business. Send the goods to James or Spencer. It’s a good idea, in fact. I’ve contacted that friend of mine who owns the hell for where he gets his supplies.”

  Edward laced his hands behind his head and groaned. “Too many choices. My blood is up, man. I’m ready to go back and fight.”

  “Ye can fight my tenants. They are Scotsmen, and a harder-headed lot ye’ll never find. Why, their accents alone will make your head spin. That’s why I’m staying safely here in London to spend all the money ye’ll make for me.”

  Edward swore. “At this rate, I’ll need the queen’s permission to stay. I’ll need to auction my commission, too. But only if Charlotte agrees to all of this.”

  “If she complains, send her to me. I’ll show her a few of James’s letters about winter in Quebec.”

  “You and James stayed in contact?”

  Murdo shrugged. “Why not? He’s a pleasant sort of fellow. Writes a good letter.”

  “I simply did not know. You are right. If I got to Scotland we shall definitely send the goods to my brothers. It won’t make up for deserting them, though.”

  “They will understand. You have a wife. You could have children soon. It’s time to move on. Obscurity, my dear man. It is a wonderful thing. We cannot all be Pickwicks.”

  Edward laughed. “Immortal Pickwicks, indeed.”

  ~

  “I have consulted with my conscience, and my mother,” Victoria said the next day.

  Charlotte had a hard time focusing on her embroidery that morning. She’d left the palace the night before again and gone to Jermyn Street. Edward had welcomed her, a bit absent-mindedly. She’d entirely understood when she heard of Murdo’s suggestion. Oddly enough, she’d resisted at first. Like Edward, she’d been spoiling for the adventure of Canada. After all, she’d already seen the Highlands, and following the drum was not very ladylike. However, he’d promised he had not decided. Besides, Quintin had not yet found a ship with room for passengers.

  “Your mother?” Charlotte asked.

  “Yes. Your mother entrusted your care to her,” Victoria said.

  “Indeed,” the duchess interrupted, happy to be allowed into her daughter’s presence for a rare morning visit. “Your duties were very clear, Charlotte. We cannot let you leave service.”

  “My duty is to my husband, not to my mother,” Charlotte said. “My mother did not realize that I really was married, I am sure of it. I must follow my husband.”

  “We cannot allow you to leave England, not without consulting your mother.”

  “It will take weeks for the letters to go back and forth. Edward could be gone by then,” Charlotte said.

  The duchess lifted her hands and set them down again. Victoria stayed focused on Dash.

  “You must allow me to be your mother in this instance,” the duchess said. “I cannot allow you to go to war.”

  “What about Scotland?” Charlotte asked.

  Victoria’s head snapped up. “Scotland?”

  “Murdo Ogilvy has offered Edward the position of his estate manager at Linsee Castle in the Highlands. It is where they both grew up.”

  “My brother is no estate manager,” Victoria said.

  The duchess raised her eyebrows and her mouth pinched.

  “It is the other alternative,” Charlotte asked. “Mr. Ogilvy only offered him the position yesterday.”

  “Did he accept?”

  “No, ma’am. Nor has he found a ship to return to Canada.”

  “It is almost eleven a.m.,” Victoria said. “I shall ask Lord Melbourne to smooth the way for the colonel to auction his commission. That way he is available to stay here.”

  “Victoria!” her mother said.

  “If he stays here, Charlotte will not have to leave me.”

  Charlotte blinked. This entire issue of her life was going to come down to her cousin’s comfort? She’d rather Edward stay than Charlotte go?

  “But an estate manager?” the duchess said faintly.

  “We shall see.” Victoria scratched under Dash’s collar. “Lord Melbourne will advise me.”

  ~

  “I packed my bags,” Charlotte told Edward as they stood in the corridor outside Victoria’s council room at Buckingham Palace. “Today is the last day of August, and I plan to begin September as your wife.”

  “We don’t have a ship for Quebec, or a carriage for Scotland,” he said.

  “Or a decision from Victoria.”

  “What is going on? Why was I summoned?” he asked.

  “The Duchess of Kent said that I cannot go to Canada, that my mother would never allow it. Her Majesty wants us to go to Scotland, so that I can stay in waiting.”

  “That means we would be apart three mo
nths of the year plus travel time!” Edward protested. “I could come down maybe once a year, to consult with Murdo and see you, but we would still not see each other for long periods of time.”

  “I know,” said Charlotte. “But we’ll need the money, won’t we? If we stay here?”

  “We’ll need to money if I have to stay in London any length of time. We would be able to stay at Murdo’s home, particularly with me in his employ, but what a life. In thrall completely, both of us. I don’t like it.”

  “If we go to Quebec, it is only I who am free.”

  “At least it is a life I know. Although if we do go to Scotland, I look forward to rooting out that uncle of Murdo’s, Sir Bothan MacCall, and wringing the truth out of him, once and for all.”

  “What truth?” She frowned.

  “Someday, when we are far away from here, I’ll explain it to you,” he said, cupping her cheek. “It is not a tale for London’s ears.”

  The door to the room opened and a footman gestured them in. Flanked around the queen, Edward saw her mother, Lord Melbourne, and several members of the Privy Council, standing around a long table.

  “Colonel, Princess Charlotte,” Lord Melbourne said, gesturing them to be seated. “We have spent this morning’s Privy Council meeting discussing your case.”

  They were seated on lyre-back chairs next to each other, across from the queen. Edward reached for Charlotte’s hand as the rest of the party finished seating themselves, wondering if this was the last time he would hold it. Could they tear his marriage apart, these politicians and British royals?

  Charlotte squeezed back. He turned and saw her smile at him. Forcing his own lips to curve up, he bent and kissed the back of her hand. If he left this room in one piece, he was going to hire a carriage and drive them both to Inverurie if he had to.

  “Our case?” Edward asked, straightening.

  “Yes. You have shown remarkable restraint in attempting to prove your legitimacy. No matter how misguided, you have never let the matter reach public ears,” said Lord Conyngham, the Lord Chamberlain.

  So far, so good. Edward inclined his head as Charlotte squeezed his hand again.

  “You have also shown delicacy in not claiming your wife, when our queen needed her cousin at her side,” Lord Conyngham continued.

  Victoria looked down demurely. But Edward knew a con when he saw it. Victoria had no intention of giving up her cousin completely. Anything that would be offered now was a bargain. He took the prize and she kept his wife close to her.

  “We understand you can either return to your post in the 32nd,” Lord Melbourne said, “or we can help you auction your commission so that you can take up a post as estate manager for your grandfather’s heir, Murdo Ogilvy.”

  “Those are the two opportunities that present themselves, yes,” Edward said.

  “The first option does not suit the queen,” Lord Melbourne said.

  “But it allows me to continue my career.”

  “Allow me to change the course of your life.” Lord Melbourne pushed a formal-looking document across the table. It had an ornately engraved border, and along the top, Edward saw, in large letters, “Victoria, by the Grace of God.”

  “What is it?”

  “Letters patent,” said Lord Melbourne. “Naming you, Edward FitzPrince, the Earl of Linsee.”

  Edward’s head pivoted to Charlotte, who looked as shocked as he felt. “A British peerage?”

  Lord Melbourne nodded. “And Scottish. Effective today, my lord.”

  Edward felt the blood drain from his face. Victoria had made him an earl. He would be a politician, a lawmaker. But what would they live on? Charlotte’s salary? His not yet started business with his brothers? As an earl, he shouldn’t engage in trade. He put his free fist to his chin and was caught by the sight of his tattoo peeking up out of his sleeve. This was right for Charlotte. His princess wife. Their marriage. He would have to stay in London because of this. He’d have the money from the auction of his commission. They would be fine.

  They would be together.

  “I take it that Her Majesty does not want me to take the position with my cousin?” he said dryly.

  Charlotte smiled, as did the queen, and two of the Privy Councilors chuckled.

  “We’ll allow you an apartment at Kensington Palace,” the queen said. “No one will be surprised, since dear Charlotte is our cousin and is known to be impoverished. We merely ask that you keep certain details of your ancestry to yourself as much as possible.”

  Edward glanced at Charlotte, who nodded. “We shall do as you ask, madam. I will never call you ‘sister’ in public.”

  “Very well,” Lord Melbourne said. “Then our business is done, my lord, Your Serene Highness. I will have all of the pertinent information delivered to Princess Charlotte’s apartments and she can share the details with you later on today.”

  Edward stood and bowed. Charlotte curtsied. They walked out of the room, arm in arm, in a daze. Charlotte led him out of the palace, onto the rear terrace, looking out on the gardens.

  Edward grinned and let out a whoop of joy. Not caring who was looking, he reached for his wife and spun her around in a circle. She clutched at his arms, laughing.

  “Did you expect this?” he asked.

  “No,” she giggled. “My lord. No, I never saw it coming. The Earl of Linsee. Well, sir, you may consider one brother to be the gambler and the other to be the lover, but you’ve been a gambler and a lover both, and taken the prize.”

  “You are my prize,” he said, lowering his head for a kiss. Against her lips, he murmured, “I never needed anything but you.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him enthusiastically, until he heard a little scream in front of him and lifted his head to see they had witnesses, three of Charlotte’s fellow ladies-in-waiting. Charlotte’s hands slid from his neck but he tucked them against his chest, keeping her close.

  “Do not worry yourselves, ladies,” he said politely, a huge grin stealing over his face. “This princess is my wife.”

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you for reading The Princess Dilemma! I’ve always loved the Victorians, and this novel is a peek into the very start of the age. The Queen Victoria we remember in old age was considerably different from the girl who took the throne in 1837 and I hope I did her justice.

  If you like this early Victorian novel, you might want to check out my Redcakes series, set in the 1880s and 1890s in London.

  My wonderful beta readers included Madeline Pruett and Judy Di Canio. Eilis Flynn provided professional copyediting services. Research support came from the Romance Writers of America’s Beau Monde chapter and the classes they hold, especially Nancy Mayer. All mistakes made are of course my own. Moral support came abundantly from these ladies as well as my agent, Laurie McLean, Delle Jacobs, who lent me Princess Charlotte’s family from one of her own novels, and my writing group buddies, Melissa McClone, Peggy Bird, and Marilyn Hull.

  Thank you so much, dear readers who leave reviews. It’s difficult to send the word out about new releases without them. Good, bad, or indifferent, reviews are an author’s lifeline. Please leave them, especially if you enjoyed the book, so that other readers can find out what you are enjoying!

  More From Heather Hiestand

  Novels:

  The Marquess of Cake (The Redcakes)

  One Taste of Scandal (The Redcakes)

  His Wicked Smile (The Redcakes)

  Christmas Delights (The Redcakes)

  Wedding Matilda (The Redcakes)

  Trifling Favors (The Redcakes)

  If I Had You (The Grand Russe Hotel)

  I Wanna Be Loved By You (The Grand Russe Hotel) (February 2017)

  Lady Be Good (The Grand Russe Hotel) (September 2017)

  The Rock Star’s Christmas Reunion (Charisma Series, The Connollys #1)

  Cards Never Lie

  Wear Black (with Eilis Flynn)

  The Charisma Series:

&nb
sp; Laguna Beach Kindle Worlds: A Treasure in Laguna (Charisma Series, The Ericksons #1)

  Laguna Beach Kindle Worlds: That Gold in Laguna (Charisma Series, The Ericksons #2)

  The Rock Star’s Christmas Reunion (Charisma Series, The Connollys #1)

  Novellas:

  Dancing in Red (with Eilis Flynn)

  The Kidnapped Bride (The Redcakes)

  Victoriana Adventure

  Steampunk Smugglers 1: Captain Andrew’s Flying Christmas

  Steampunk Smugglers 2: Captain Fenna’s Dirigible Valentine

  Steampunk Smugglers 3: Captain Gravenor’s Airship Equinox

  Laguna Beach Kindle Worlds: A Treasure in Laguna

  Laguna Beach Kindle Worlds: That Gold in Laguna

  Anthologies:

  “The Burro” in Murder Across the Map

  “Victoriana” in Holiday in the Heart

  www.heatherhiestand.com

  Amazon Author Page | Newsletter

  About the Author

  Heather Hiestand was born in Illinois, but her family migrated west before she started school. Since then she has claimed Washington State as home, except for a few years in California. She wrote her first story at age seven and went on to major in creative writing at the University of Washington. Her first published fiction was a mystery short story. Heather’s first published romance short story was set in the Victorian period, and she continues to return to historical fiction as well as other subgenres. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. With her husband and son, she makes her home in a small town and supposedly works out of her tiny office, though she mostly writes in her easy chair in the living room.

  Website: http://www.heatherhiestand.com

  Blog: http://heatherhiestand.com/blog/

  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-HiestandAnh-Leod/24271017921?ref=br_tf