The Queen and Lord M (29 page)

‘We believed in our late Government,’ she said. ‘We approved
all
that they did.’

It was very difficult to talk to such an imperious Sovereign who had made up her mind so definitely, but Sir Robert must get down to the purpose of his visit.

‘I hope, Sir Robert,’ she said sternly, ‘that you are not going to
insist
on the dissolution of Parliament.’

‘Your Majesty will know that in the circumstances this seems a reasonable course of action.’

‘
We
should not wish that and I ask you to give me your assurance that you will not do so.’

Sir Robert was looking down at his feet and pointing his toe down on the carpet with his heels raised. He fidgeted. For all the world, thought Victoria maliciously, like some
dancing
master.

‘Your Majesty will understand that it is impossible for me to give you such an assurance.’

‘Impossible!
Why
impossible?’

‘It will be a matter for the Cabinet to decide.’

‘But if
we
do not wish it?’

Sir Robert continued to
prance
, as she called it. Lord Melbourne had told her that if they went to the country the Whigs would suffer a great defeat. At least, thought Victoria, they are not defeated yet; and she was going to resist this Sir Robert Peel with all her might.

‘I am afraid, Ma’am, I can give you no undertaking on this point.’

She was longing for the interview to end and when Sir Robert suggested that he form a list of likely Cabinet ministers and submit it for her approval, she seized the opportunity to bid him to do this and return later with it.

He took his awkward leave and she gave an exaggerated sigh of relief.

She went at once to Lehzen. ‘The dancing master has gone,’ she said. ‘What an unattractive creature! I still hope and pray that he will
never
be my Prime Minister.’

‘But the interview went off well, I hope?’ said Lehzen.

‘It went off,’ retorted Victoria with a burst of laughter.

‘At least he has made you laugh.’

‘With anger and horror to think that he should dare attempt to take Lord Melbourne’s place.’

‘It won’t be very easy for Sir Robert holding office without a majority.’

Victoria was almost gleeful. ‘That will show him! Oh, how dare he! I don’t like his manner. How different … how
dreadfully
different to the frank, open and most kind and warm manner of dear Lord Melbourne!’

After Peel had left Victoria did what she always did in moments of stress. She wrote to Lord Melbourne. Her facile pen flew over the paper; she was as effusive and impulsive in correspondence as her uncle King George IV. She told Melbourne how different Sir Robert Peel was from himself, how she disliked him, despised him and deeply resented his daring to take over from her dear Lord M.

Melbourne replied cautiously and tactfully. He begged her to try to overcome her dislike of Sir Robert, who was a very skilful politician. Her conduct, he wrote, was very proper and judicious but he must also admit that Sir Robert and Wellington appeared to have conducted themselves with propriety and sincerity. As for the dissolution of Parliament, he advised Her Majesty to reserve her opinion on that and not to give a promise to dissolve. At the same time she could scarcely say that she would not. He begged her not to judge Sir Robert by his manners. She must understand that he might in his consultations with her seem to harbour an animosity towards Lord Melbourne. This was not the case. When Sir Robert discussed Lord Melbourne – if he did – he spoke of him as the Leader of the Party to which he was in opposition. There was nothing personal. Sir Robert was cautious and very reserved. Few people really knew him but of one thing Lord Melbourne was sure – he was neither deceitful nor dishonest, and many people who appeared to be sincere were most definitely not so.

‘Dear Lord Melbourne!’ said the Queen on the verge of tears. ‘He is so gracious to his enemies. But nothing even he can say would make me like Sir Robert Peel.’

She wrote at once to thank him and tell him that as soon as Sir Robert had returned with his suggestions for his new Cabinet she would write and tell him who had been selected.

Sir Robert Peel was ushered into the yellow closet.

Victoria regarded him imperiously and bowing he told her he had come in accordance with her command to prepare a list of his Cabinet. He now presented this to her.

She took it from him and scanned it. She noted with relief that the Duke of Wellington’s name was mentioned as Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The Lord Chancellor was to be Lord Lyndhurst who had never been a friend of hers because he had supported the Duchess over the Regency Bill before her succession. Sir James Graham was the Home Secretary. A man I never liked, she had once told Lehzen, because he looks almost exactly like Sir John Conroy.

But of course, she thought, how could I possibly like any people who are trying to replace
my
Government.

She handed the list back to Sir Robert with a disdainful air and was delighted to see how embarrassed he was.

‘Your Majesty approves the list?’

She nodded faintly.

Sir Robert looked relieved and ceased to point his toe at the carpet for a moment.

‘Then I must broach the subject of Your Majesty’s household.’

‘My household?’ she cried.

‘The ladies, Ma’am.’

‘You mean my personal household … my bedchamber ladies?’

‘Precisely, Ma’am. The ladies of your household were chosen by Lord Melbourne and they all belong to Whig families. Your Majesty will see that it is impossible to continue with such a household.’

‘I see no such thing,’ said the Queen, her temper rising.

Sir Robert stood his ground firmly.

‘Your Majesty’s Government would require you to show your confidence in them, and a change of household would be necessary.’

‘Am I to understand, Sir Robert Peel, that you look to
ladies
for support in the House of Commons?’

Sir Robert looked as though she had struck him, and she immediately went into the attack.

‘I will not give up
any
of my ladies,’ she declared. ‘Please understand this. I have never imagined such a thing.’

‘Does Your Majesty intend to retain
all
?’ he asked in a shocked whisper.

‘
All
,’ retorted the Queen imperiously.

‘Your … Your Majesty means the Mistress of the Robes and the Mistress of the Bedchamber?’

‘All,’ repeated the Queen.

‘But they are the wives of the opponents of Your Majesty’s new Government.’

‘I cannot see that this is important and I never talk politics with my ladies. Some of them, in fact, are related to prominent Tories. This procedure has not been asked for before. It was never asked of Queen Adelaide.’

‘Your Majesty is a Queen Regnant. This makes a difference.’

‘
I
would never consent, and has it occurred to you, Sir Robert Peel, that in this hint that I should allow my ladies to interfere in politics there is an implication that
I
would intrigue against my own Government? That seems to me a gross insult and I cannot understand how anyone could suggest such a thing.’

Sir Robert Peel, amazed at the vehemence, seemed temporarily unable to stem the flood of royal indignation.

‘This is a matter which I feel I should convey to my colleagues,’ he said. ‘Would Your Majesty grant me leave to retire that I may consult the Duke of Wellington?’

‘With pleasure,’ said the Queen emphatically.

When he had gone she immediately sat down to write to Lord Melbourne:

‘The Queen writes one line to prepare Lord Melbourne for what
may
happen in a very few hours. Sir Robert Peel has behaved very ill and has insisted on my giving up my ladies to which I replied that I never would consent, and I never saw a man so frightened. He said he must go to the Duke of Wellington and consult him … This is
infamous …

I was calm but very decided and I think you would have been pleased to see my composure and great firmness; the Queen of England will not submit to trickery. Keep yourself in readiness …’

‘Lehzen,’ she cried, ‘what do you think that … that
dancing
master is trying to do now?’

She hastily gave Lehzen an account of what had happened. Lehzen’s face turned pale.

‘You know what they are trying to do. They are trying to take me away from you.’

‘Oh, no, Lehzen! That can’t be. You are not one of the Ladies. You have no official post. How wise we were not to give you a label! You are just my dearest friend.’

‘They have been constantly talking of foreign influence.’

The Queen’s eyes were flashing with the light of battle.

‘If this is true I am doubly determined.’

The Duke of Wellington arrived. The Queen received him graciously. After all, she had told Lord Melbourne, she
much
preferred him to Sir Robert Peel.

‘I trust,’ she said in a kindly voice, ‘that you will accept the post which Sir Robert Peel is offering you.’

The Duke said he would do so.

‘You do not feel it would be too much for you?’

‘Your Majesty is good to be concerned but I feel perfectly capable. I hear that there has been some difference between Your Majesty and Sir Robert.’

‘Oh, he started it.’

‘Sir Robert has explained to me what took place. The opinions of your ladies is not important. It is the principle of the matter.’

‘It seems to me that Sir Robert is so weak that even the ladies must be of his opinions.’

‘Your Majesty will discover that this is not the case.’

‘And Sir Robert must
discover
that I will not give up my ladies. I find the suggestion that I discuss politics with them quite offensive.’

‘I am certain that you would not do this, but the public might think that you did. To have a Tory Government and a Whig household could cause a great deal of dissension.’

The Duke could do nothing; he retired from her presence and consulted with Sir Robert who was waiting in the Palace for the result of the interview.

Sir Robert then returned to the Queen and told her that he would have to consult his Party and asked for a few hours’ grace in which to do this.