The Queen and Lord M (6 page)

The Duchess was in angry tears. In vain Lady Flora Hastings tried to comfort her.

‘When I think of all I’ve done! The ingratitude! From the time her father died I have sacrificed myself …’

Lady Flora made soothing sounds as she thrust the smelling salts under the Duchess’s quivering nose.

‘Perhaps at first she is feeling her power, Your Grace,’ suggested Flora. ‘She is so young.’

‘It is for this reason that she needs me. And to flout me in this way! First she wants to be alone. Then without consulting me she has her bed removed from my room. Why did I watch over her as I did? Because I cared so much for her safety! Why, Flora, there was a time when we feared for her life. That rogue Cumberland was capable of anything. And because I gave my life to her, now I am despised and flouted.’

‘She cannot despise Your Grace.’

‘There is no knowing what she will do. If Lord Melbourne tells her to be cruel to her mother, she will. She was always ready to be led by men. It was the same with my brother Leopold. She doted on him – still does. He only has to say something is so and she believes him.’

‘His Majesty always had her good in mind.’

‘I’m not so sure, Flora. Leopold always wanted to rule. He’s my brother, yes, but he sent Stockmar over and I must confess that I am not all that sure of Stockmar. There is only one man whom I can trust.’

Flora nodded. She shared the Duchess’s admiration for Sir John Conroy.

‘If Her Majesty were not so much under the influence of the Baroness …’

‘Ah!’ snapped the Duchess. ‘There you have it. The Baroness gives herself
airs
, and these have become more intolerable during the last weeks.’

‘The Baroness, Your Grace, is a woman of low birth and this is often apparent. It seems incongruous that the Queen’s confidante – who advises her against her real friends – should be the daughter of a pastor!’

‘We bestowed the title of Baroness on her when she had proved herself a good nurse as it was unseemly that an untitled person should wait on a Princess – as Victoria was then.’

‘She has the title but not the dignity of a Baroness,’ commented Lady Flora.

‘Sir John always wanted to be rid of her, but Victoria went into a storm at the merest mention of her departure and although she was malleable in some ways she was adamant in this.’

‘The pastor’s daughter always had a great influence with Her Majesty.’

‘
Has
, Flora, has!’

‘But Your Grace will not allow her influence with the Queen to supersede your own?’

‘I had thought that impossible, Flora, but to move her bed … without consulting me!’

‘If Her Majesty wishes to be alone she will not want the company of the Baroness.’

‘That’s true. But I feel there is a special animus towards
me
.’

‘Forgive me, Your Grace, but surely not towards her own mother!’

‘Victoria can be so stubborn and she is in the hands of these people. I had to protect her from that old buffoon William and insipid Adelaide. Heaven knows what ideas they would have put into her head … and now this!’

The Duchess was so distressed that Lady Flora suggested calling in Sir John, to which the Duchess readily agreed.

Without question Victoria’s bed had been removed.

I am truly the Queen! she thought triumphantly.

Lord Melbourne was asking if she would do him the honour of granting another audience.

‘With the utmost pleasure,’ she cried.

And there he was, her good Prime Minister, tears in his eyes, as he congratulated her on her performance at the Council meeting.

‘One would have thought Your Majesty had been attending Council Meetings every day of your life.’

‘If I did well it was entirely due to my Prime Minister’s thoughtful instructions.’

‘Everyone is commenting on your magnificent performance. You were every inch a queen.’

‘I fear there are very few inches. How I wish I were taller!’

‘Your small stature is very appealing, Ma’am. It but adds to your dignity. Now have I your permission to mention a little business?’

‘Pray do, Lord Melbourne.’

‘I must be brief as others of Your Majesty’s servants are waiting to present themselves. I hope you will give me permission to call on you later. This evening at half past eight o’clock would be agreeable to me if that suited Your Majesty.’

‘It would suit me very well, Lord Melbourne.’

‘Then we can talk comfortably, if Your Majesty wishes.’

She glowed with pleasure. What could be more enjoyable than a comfortable talk with her dear Prime Minister?

‘Your Majesty will wish to name your physician. Perhaps Sir James Clark? If you find him to your taste.’

‘I do indeed.’

‘And your Master of Horse – Albemarle perhaps?’

She was ready to think that anything Lord Melbourne suggested must be for the best.

‘Lord John Russell is waiting for an audience. So is the Archbishop of Canterbury. I fear Your Majesty is being overwhelmed by these duties.’

‘By no means, Lord Melbourne. Indeed, if I were not so sorrowful on account of Uncle’s death, I could feel stimulated … elated almost.’

Lord Melbourne’s eyes glazed with the inevitable tears and she thought: Oh, you dear good man!

‘Your Majesty was born to be a queen,’ he said with emotion.

‘Did you know, Lord Melbourne, that before I was born a gypsy told my father that his child would be a girl – he hoped for a boy of course – but, said the gypsy, a girl and a queen.’

Lord Melbourne did know of course. Lord Melbourne knew everything.

He added: ‘And I will tell Your Majesty something else. She also said: “A
great
Queen!” and now it is my turn to make a prophecy. It is this: Hers will be fulfilled in its entirety.’

How happy he made her feel and how sad that this interview must be short! And though worthy, how dull were Lord John, Albemarle and the Archbishop in comparison with dear Lord Melbourne!

The long day was drawing to its end. So many duties had been performed; she had seen all her important ministers and all alone (as I shall
always
see my ministers in future, she assured herself). She fancied that she had (prompted by Lord Melbourne, of course) made a favourable impression; she had written several letters and noted the day’s events in her Journal.

‘And now,’ she announced to the Baroness Lehzen. ‘I will take my dinner
alone
upstairs.’

No one questioned her order. How glorious to be a queen!

After dinner Baron Stockmar called and congratulated her on the day’s activities. She had done well and everyone was applauding her.

‘Lord Melbourne has already told me,’ she assured the Baron; and she could not help thinking how much more graciously and with what
telling
compliments and without ridiculous flattery. Of course, one could not expect poor Stockmar to compare with Lord Melbourne.
Poor
Stockmar? It was the first time she had ever thought of him thus. It must be because she was comparing him with the incomparable Lord Melbourne.

‘It is a great credit to yourself and to us all,’ said the Baron.

She wished they would not keep reminding her of all they had done for her.

The Baron went on: ‘You will have had time to think of that matter we discussed earlier today?’

‘Which matter?’

‘We agreed that you would need a secretary.’

‘My dear Baron, I have had no time to think of anything but my duties this day.’

‘Of course. Of course.’

And then because she could never prevaricate she said: ‘But it may well be that the people, knowing your connection with my Uncle Leopold and he being the King of a foreign power, might not feel that you would be a wise choice.’

Poor Baron! He looked so crestfallen but Lord Melbourne was certainly right. She went on kindly: ‘It is so different now that I am the Queen. I have to be very careful and you, dear Baron, will be the first to realise this.’

The Baron took a somewhat bewildered leave. He feared that the King of the Belgians would not be pleased. So did Victoria. But it is different now, she told herself; and of course Lord Melbourne is right.

She was delighted when that dear good lord himself appeared at twenty minutes to nine and after kissing her hand with such courteous gallantry settled down for a cosy talk. And it really was cosy. He was like an uncle or even a father far more than a Prime Minister. He complimented her again on her performance and begged her to let him know if at any time he could be of service to her in any capacity whatsoever. They would naturally have State business to discuss and as her Prime Minister he would wait on her every day. She had no secretary and he believed that for a while she should delay appointing one to that post for why should she need a secretary when her Prime Minister was at hand to explain all State business, to read all documents to her and to give her his counsel on any matter over which she felt she needed it. Certainly she did not need a secretary as yet.

‘In any matters of difficulty consult Lord Melbourne,’ he said with a gay laugh. He laughed a great deal, being not at all solemn. That was one of the things she liked so much; and he had a most amusing way of expressing himself. But best of all he made her feel that when he was beside her she had nothing to fear whatsoever.

Yes, that was a very
comfortable
interview.

She went straight to her room when he left at ten o’clock and wrote in her Journal:

‘Each time I see him I feel more confidence in him. I find him very kind in his manner.’

Her thoughts were full of him. What, without him, would have seemed a formidable task, with him was an exciting adventure.

Lehzen came in and said anxiously that it had been such a long tiring day and she must be exhausted.

‘I feel exhilarated, Lehzen,’ replied Victoria. ‘But I agree that it has been the strangest day of my life. I thank God that I have the best of Prime Ministers to guide me. Lehzen, you must have some post in my household.’

‘I don’t think that would be right,’ said Lehzen slowly.

‘Lehzen! You’re not thinking of leaving me!’

‘Never while I can be of the slightest use to you.’

‘Use! Don’t talk of use! You are my friend and always will be. Do not imagine that the Queen will forget the Princess’s dearest friend.’

‘Your generosity and good nature touches me as always. Let me remain with you as your friend, to help you when you need help, to comfort you when you need comfort. That’s all I ask.’

Victoria threw her arms round Lehzen’s neck. ‘You are right,’ she said. ‘You shall always remain with me as my
friend
.’

Victoria suddenly remembered her mother.

‘I should go down to Mamma and say goodnight, I suppose, for after all she is my mother.’

Lehzen agreed, secretly delighting in the humiliation of the Duchess.

So the Queen descended to the Duchess’s apartments and bade goodnight to her mother. There was some display of affection because that was necessary, Victoria decided, but it was a very formal goodnight.

Then Victoria ascended the stairs to her own room. Gleefully she looked at the bed – the only bed in the room.