Victoria Victorious: The Story of Queen Victoria

by Виктория Холт

  The blow came in May—the month of my twenty-second birthday.

  The government's budget, which leaned toward free trade and reduced the tax on sugar, was defeated by a majority of thirty-six. Sir Robert Peel immediately called for a vote of no confidence in the government and he won. It was true by only one vote. But that was enough.

  Albert was very grave. “This will mean an election,” he said.

  “I pray the Whigs will succeed,” I replied fervently.

  “I think, my love, that is most unlikely.”

  “Oh Albert, I cannot bear to think of those terrible Tories in power.”

  “My dearest, Sir Robert Peel is one of the finest statesmen in the country—I might say the finest.”

  I hated those sly references to Lord Melbourne and I felt my anger rising.

  “I cannot endure the man,” I said shortly.

  “I think if you give him a chance you will change your mind. When he came to see you he was aware of your animosity and that must have made him a little nervous. I think if you would set aside your dislike, you would get to know him very well.”

  “How can one set aside one's dislikes!”

  “By taking an unjaundiced view, by looking at the man as he is and not merely as the opponent of one whom you want to keep in office.”

  “My dear Albert, you have no idea what I have suffered through that man. He wanted to turn out my bedchamber women. I cannot go through all that again…at this time…in my condition.”

  Albert soothed me. “Come and sit down, Liebchen. I want to talk to you and I want you to listen carefully and promise not to be angry.”

  “Angry… with you!”

  He nodded. “I want you to know that everything I have done is for your good…to make you happy…to make life easy for you during these months that I know are trying for you.”

  I lay against him. I loved to hear him talk like that.

  “I know, dearest Albert, that you are so good to me. I have a hot temper. I am impulsive… and not always appreciative. But I do know … yes, I do, that you love me and that this love between us is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “I believe that, too. My dear one, we have to face facts. There is going to be an election and the Tories are going to win.”

  “How can you be so sure of that? I could not bear it.”

  “It is almost a certainty. For a long time the government has been on the verge of collapse. It has come now.”

  “Then the new Prime Minister will be Sir Robert Peel.”

  Albert nodded.

  “Albert, I cannot bear it. The trouble I had last time…I managed to get rid of them.”

  “You managed postponement, but can you again? My dearest, you know that it is inevitable and it is for the country—not the Queen—to choose its government; and the country will choose the Tories.”

  “To happen now … when I am in this state. It is too bad! There will be trouble about the household… just as there was before.”

  “No,” said Albert.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I have arranged that there shall be no trouble.”

  “Peel gave up last time because he could not remove my bedchamber ladies.”

  Albert hesitated, took a deep breath and said, “I have made arrangements about that.”

  “About my ladies?”

  “My dearest, be calm. Remember, I think only of you. You must not excite yourself now. What has to be must be accepted.”

  “If he brings in his Tory women, how foolish will I look? Being forced to obey my Prime Minister.”

  “I have worked it so that this will not be the case.”

  “But the ladies will have to go.”

  “Yes… they will go, but they will resign…now.”

  “They never would.”

  “Yes, they will. The Duchess of Sutherland, the Duchess of Bedford and Lady Normanby will resign… before the election.”

  I could not help but feel relieved. I dreaded another confrontation with Sir Robert Peel. I knew that he would not accept my entirely Whig household; and I knew, also, that I could not, without great humiliation, dismiss my Whig ladies and accept those with Tory leanings. I had dreaded the conflict … But if they resigned, that would be another matter.

  “Albert, you have arranged this!”

  “Thinking solely of you, my dearest. I understand perfectly your feelings and how, after what you had gone through before, you could not be subjected to the humiliation of accepting now what you would not previously. So …I have arranged this. The ladies are willing. They understand perfectly. They will resign, and when the government is formed, it will be a matter for you to discuss your new household with the Prime Minister. You could not, in all reasonableness, have an entirely Whig household as before. But you might have a sprinkling of Whig ladies.”

  “You arranged all this! Oh …Albert!”

  He said, “I was not going to have you disturbed. I would not have done this, but just now it is of particular importance.”

  I was so grateful for all his care. I did not want to think of a change of government. I would lose my intimate relationship with Lord Melbourne, but now I had Albert, that would make a difference. It was not the same as it had been. Everything was different with Albert beside me.

  “Oh dear, dear Albert, what should I do without you!”

  He said modestly, “I did not bring this about on my own. I cannot take full credit. It was after many discussions with others… Anson, Stockmar…Lord Melbourne himself saw the wisdom of it.”

  “He did not mention it to me.”

  “We all thought it was wiser that you should not be upset until it was a fait accompli. The ladies are now ready to resign. They will do so before the result of the election is known. Sir Robert will be most understanding…as he has been all along; he would not add to your discomfort.”

  “Do you mean that he knows of this?”

  Albert hesitated for a second or so. “We thought it necessary to take him into our confidence. He is a most understanding…a most shrewd man. Believe me, he wants to make this transition as comfortable for you as he possibly can.”

  I lay against Albert. I could sense his relief and how apprehensive he had been about telling me.

  But he was right, of course. I realized that. I loved Lord Melbourne; he was my dear friend; I wanted his government to stay in power so that he could continue to be my adviser. But, of course, it must be the people who decided who should govern them.

  I had to reconcile myself to change.

  I could… with Albert beside me. And once more I thanked God for giving me such a husband.

  * * *

  WHEN LORD MELBOURNE came to me I felt very emotional.

  I said, “Albert has talked to me. He has told me that you knew what he was doing.”

  “I do not feel so badly about leaving you,” replied Lord M, “as I know you have such a worthy man beside you.”

  “This is too sad for me to contemplate.”

  “Change has to come and we have been warding this off for a very long time.”

  “That man… that dancing master…in place of you!”

  “Of course, Your Majesty is not in need of a dancing master, but, Ma'am, you are in need of good ministers, and I do assure you that Peel is one of the best.”

  “That is what Albert says.”

  “Albert is wise.”

  “You will come to dine with us… often.”

  He bowed.

  “I shall write to you… long letters telling you just what I feel.”

  “Your Majesty is gracious to me…as ever.”

  “Oh dear Lord M, it is so cruel that this should happen when I am … when I am …”

  “I grieve for that, Ma'am.”

  “And all because of your wretched enemy making all that fuss about sugar.”

  “He is only my enemy in the House, Ma'am. Outside we are quite good friends. I firmly believe that when you g
et to know him, you will find that he is your very good friend.”

  I tried to forget that I might be on the point of losing my Prime Minister; I tried to forget that growing discomfort culminating in a painful ordeal lay before me.

  I thought of Albert's devotion and how he had worked so hard to save me from unpleasantness.

  Yes, it was not a very happy year.

  * * *

  ALBERT WAS TO be given an honorary degree at Oxford. I was to go with him to receive it and I was looking forward to the journey. I loved traveling and it was particularly enjoyable when honor was being done to Albert.

  There was one of those little differences between us that might have blown up into a quarrel, but somehow we managed to avoid it.

  Albert suggested that Lehzen should not accompany us.

  “Not come!” I cried. “But Albert, Lehzen always comes with me. I have never been separated from her.”

  “That was before your marriage.”

  “Well, that makes no difference.”

  Albert thought it did, and I was about to accuse him of being unfair to Lehzen when he said, “Pussy cannot come with us. She is too young for the journey. Is not Lehzen in charge of the nurseries?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Then how can she leave Pussy?”

  I saw this was a way of avoiding a great deal of unpleasantness. I was growing very uneasy about the conflict between Albert and Lehzen and in my condition I did not want to be involved in quarrels.

  I was so happy because Albert had arranged the difficult matter of the bedchamber ladies and I just wanted to be peaceful. I grew exhausted very quickly and my temper was more uncertain than ever. I did not want to provoke it. I was a little like Lord Melbourne who always wanted to leave it alone.

  “I shall hate being without you, Daisy,” I said, “but you cannot leave Pussy. She needs you more than I do.”

  It worked. Lehzen hated the thought of my going to Oxford without her, but on the other hand she loved to be thought indispensable in the nurseries. Albert had been very wise to bring up that point.

  She wavered. “I have never been away from you,” she said. “You were always my baby. I can't think why you have to be dragged to Oxford.”

  “I shan't be dragged, Daisy. I shall go in the carriage and I assure you I shall be well looked after.”

  “In your state…”

  “It is another five months before the baby is due. Surely I haven't got to live like a recluse until that time. I shall be all right.” I was going to say that Albert would look after me, but that would, of course, not help matters at all.

  So Albert and I went to Oxford where Albert received his honorary degree, with the Duke of Wellington as Chancellor of the University presiding.

  When we left Oxford we stayed at several houses on the way back— spending two nights at Chatsworth with the Devonshires and then going on to the Bedfords at Woburn and to Panshanger where we were entertained by Lord Cowper, Lord Melbourne's nephew.

  “All Whig houses,” said Albert. “Is that wise?”

  “They are my friends,” I retorted. “The country may choose the government but I will choose my friends.”

  After Panshanger we took luncheon with the dear man himself at his country home of Brocket Hall. What a pleasure it was to be entertained by Lord Melbourne. He was so delighted to have us there.

  “What an honor for me to entertain Your Majesty,” he said. “I, who have had so much royal hospitality.”

  “Dear Lord M,” I said. “I hope in spite of everything, things will remain as they are.”

  They did not. The election was in progress at the time and the result was a devastating defeat for the Whigs and a very large Tory majority.

  * * *

  IT WAS A very sad meeting.

  I held out my hand and he kissed it, then lifted his eyes to my face. He was trying to look his nonchalant self, but he was not managing it very well; and I loved him the more for his inability to do so.

  “It had to be,” he said. “It has been coming for a long while. It is a decisive victory for them. Three hundred and sixty-eight against our two hundred and ninety-two. There is no doubt that the country wants a new government. But for Your Majesty it would have happened before.”

  “At least I kept you with me a little longer.”

  “Your Majesty's determination was fierce.”

  “As fierce as my choleric temper?”

  “That is certainly fierce, but it evaporates rather speedily and your determination persists.”

  “Oh, my dear Lord M, how I shall miss you!”

  “May I give you one piece of advice?”

  “Of course. I hope you will never cease to give me advice.”

  “Send for Peel at once. Be patient with him. I am sure you will soon be on excellent terms with him.”

  “He will remember that incident of the Bedchamber Ladies. He must hate me as much as I hate him.”

  “He is a loyal subject. He respects Your Majesty. Believe me, he understands the position. He wants affairs to run smoothly and will strive to win your confidence.”

  “He makes me uneasy with his dancing steps.”

  “It is only because you make him uneasy. Do not forget that you are the Queen.”

  “I do not forget.”

  “Be magnanimous. Give Peel a chance. That is all you need to do. He will give you excellent service for he is a dedicated man.”

  “It is strange to hear you speak like this about your most bitter opponent.”

  “Your Majesty, our enmity ceases to exist outside politics. We have different ideas as to how the country's affairs should be run. That does not mean that he is a villain… just because he does not agree with me. There are, in fact, many occasions when I see his point quite clearly. There are many sides to every question.”

  “Oh, Lord Melbourne, you are a very clever man…so astute…so polished. How I shall miss you!”

  I was almost in tears and so was he.

  “You have the Prince,” he reminded me. “I rejoice in the Prince. He will be beside you. He will help you. Listen to his advice for he is wise. When you married you made the best possible choice.”

  “I know.”

  “It comforts me greatly to know that you will have such a helper… right at your side…so close to you.”

  “He should be the King.”

  Lord Melbourne raised his eyebrows and smiled at me.

  “Don't forget what I told you. Governments should never attempt to make kings. If they did they would soon be trying their hands at unmaking them. It is better as it stands. You have the Prince. Let us rejoice in that.”

  “You will come to visit me. We shall write.”

  “Your Majesty is so good to an old man.”

  “As good as you were, I hope, to an inexperienced girl.”

  He was too emotional to speak… and so was I.

  This was the last time I should see Lord Melbourne as my Prime Minister.

  When he left I went to the room where I did my drawing and I inspected several of my favorites—ones he had admired.

  I sent them to him.

  His reply touched me deeply.

  He would treasure them and they would remind him of my kindness and regard, which he would cherish beyond measure.

  It was a very very sad time.

  * * *

  IT MADE IT harder to bear that following on that scene with Lord Melbourne I had to receive Sir Robert Peel.

  Albert talked to me before the meeting, extolling the virtues of the man, and telling me how eager he was for our relationship to run smoothly.

  It was not quite such an ordeal as I had feared. Sir Robert was less illat-ease than he had been on our previous meeting two years before. He was very respectful and obviously eager to please. Perhaps, I thought, I had misjudged him. He was not Lord Melbourne, of course. He never would be. There was only one Lord Melbourne. But he was not disagreeable.

  He showed me a
list of the people he proposed for the Cabinet and wanted to know if they had my approval.

  “I should need time to study them, Sir Robert,” I said. “But of course, Ma'am.”

  I noticed he did not fidget so much and there was none of that irritating pointing of toes.

  All the same I was pleased when he went, and I was delighted to have come through our first meeting without too much annoyance.

  I was unable to attend the prorogation in October. In fact I was not appearing in public as my confinement was getting very near. I was longing for it to be over. And then, I thought, there must be a long rest from this tiresome business.

  Albert was so kind. He understood how I hated to have all those people so close, just waiting for the moment when the baby was born. He said that they should not be told until right at the last moment, and that would avoid their being close at hand during the wretched preliminary period.

  I was greatly comforted by that; and although the entire business of childbearing was loathsome to me, for I hated that a queen should be made to feel like an animal, on this occasion it was not quite so humiliating because of the greater privacy.

  I was so relieved when it was over; and this time there was very special rejoicing. I had produced the longed-for boy.

  * * *

  THE WHOLE COUNTRY was delighted. What store they set on boys! They had not felt the same about poor Pussy.

  He was a lusty child, with large dark blue eyes, a rather big nose, but with a very pretty mouth. I was more accustomed to babies now and their original ugliness did not repel me quite so much because I knew it would change.

  Albert was overjoyed about the new baby. He kept talking about Our Boy or The Boy.

  I said, “I hope he will grow up just like you, Albert.”

  Albert modestly did not reply, but I am sure he hoped the same.

  “And,” I said, “he shall be called Albert.”

  Of course there was opposition to that. This boy was the heir to the throne and there had never been a King Albert of England. There had been Edwards—six of them—and the English always liked their kings to have the same names. I never forgot that some people had wanted me to be Elizabeth when it was known that I would almost certainly come to the throne. I had refused that very firmly.