The day went on much as usual. She found it hard to concentrate on prayers, which was such a pity, for the Rev. Mr Pittman – who substituted for the poor Dean whose little daughter had died of scarlet fever so that the poor man was too overcome to take prayers – gave an excellent sermon, his text being ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ She had trained herself to remember such details, for Mamma expected to see them all recorded in her Journal, which, she admitted to herself, was very good training for her.

At three o’clock in the afternoon the cousins arrived, and from the moment she saw them she was enchanted with them. They were so tall and handsome and vied with each other to charm their little cousin. The Duchess was delighted with them, too, and she took them into her drawing-room and asked all sorts of questions about the family, which Victoria found most interesting. Later they went for a drive in the park and were back at the Palace in time for dinner.

Victoria confided to Lehzen that night that she was fond of them already.

‘I am very pleased to hear it,’ said Lehzen. ‘And I am sure they are ready to be as fond of you … very fond.’

It was so pleasant to be admired.

‘They are extremely tall,’ said Victoria with a laugh. ‘And Alexander is very handsome.’

‘So you prefer Alexander?’

‘Well, Ernest has a very kind expression; but I think they are both extremely amiable.’

Lehzen looked more pleased than ever and Victoria added that she thought she was going to be very much amused.


* * *

‘So,’ said William to Adelaide, ‘that woman has brought her relations over. Those two young men! You know what this is for, eh?’

‘I suppose she feels she wants to look around for a husband. Victoria is fourteen now. She may well be married in four years’ time.’

‘She’ll have to have my consent,’ said the King grimly. ‘And Victoria is to have George.’

The Queen sighed. ‘I hope so. But I daresay if Victoria wanted someone else you would not be the one to withhold your consent.’

‘That’s what that woman knows, Adelaide. She wants to lead the child not where she wants to go but what suits my lady Duchess best, and I won’t have it. I want the child to be happy, as you know. But that woman would force her into a marriage whether she wished it or not.’

‘Perhaps you would like to have a look at these young men.’

‘I should.’

‘Then I will give a ball for them and we will invite the entire Kensington party.’

‘You do that, Adelaide; and I shall let that woman know that she is not going to bring one of her miserable nephews over here to be the consort of the Queen of England.’


* * *

When the Duchess received the invitation to St James’s she was furious.

‘You know what this means,’ she cried to Sir John. ‘They want to look them over. I should not be surprised if that old buffoon isn’t planning some discourtesy to my nephews.’

‘He suspects, of course, that you have asked them here as possible suitors for Victoria.’

‘Then he suspects rightly.’

‘You will have to go carefully. Remember that his consent would have to be given. There is that Royal Marriage Bill to consider.’

‘Marriage for Victoria is some years away.’

‘That’s true. But he and the Queen want her to take young Cambridge. That’s why they want to see Victoria and the Prince together.’

‘Impertinence!’ said the Duchess.

‘But you will accept the invitation. It is, after all, in the nature of a royal command.’

‘I shall accept, but there shall be no nonsense. If he behaves indecorously I shall simply retire and take my party with me.’


* * *

‘A ball at St James’s!’ Victoria was excited. ‘You will love it,’ she told the cousins. ‘The Queen gives such wonderful balls. She thinks of everything to please her guests. She gave me such a beautiful ball for my birthday.’

The amiable cousins said they were greatly looking forward to meeting their Majesties.

It was a ceremonial occasion and the King and Queen seated on gilt chairs received their guests under a canopy. They kept Victoria with them and the King asked her how she was enjoying this visit of her German cousins.

Victoria declared that she was enjoying it immensely. Her cousins were so amusing and so friendly; she was going to miss them sadly when they went home.

‘You ought to come and see your Cousin George. He is very interesting and amiable too.’

‘I know; and I love to be with him. And with my cousin George Cumberland. I daresay he needs cheering up.’

‘I will arrange some parties for you,’ said Adelaide.

Victoria was longing to dance but it seemed she was expected to sit with the King and Queen and talk; and just as she believed she was going to dance, the Duchess of Kent swept up and told their Majesties that the Kensington party was about to leave.

‘Oh, Mamma …’ began Victoria, but a look from the Duchess silenced her.

The Queen was too bewildered to speak, because the ball which had been given in honour of the visitors, had scarcely begun.

‘The Princes are so fatigued,’ said the Duchess. They have been to a review in the park this afternoon.’

‘But they look …’ began the Queen.

‘Fatigued,’ said the Duchess promptly, and Victoria was startled that Mamma could so interrupt the Queen.

Fortunately the King, busy talking to one of his naval friends, had not heard this; and the Queen who hated any form of conflict was trying to hide how surprised she was. If the Duchess was going to make trouble, she wished to pass over it as quickly as possible. She could not allow the King to be upset on such an occasion. There was enough whispering about him as it was, and people had not yet forgotten that scene at the Royal Academy.

‘So,’ said the Duchess firmly, ‘we must leave without delay.’

‘I should like the Princes to come and stay for a few days at Windsor,’ said the Queen. ‘You must make up a little party from Kensington.’

‘I’m afraid we cannot do that,’ said the Duchess. ‘They have engagements.’

‘But they are not going to leave us just yet?’

‘They have engagements for the whole of their stay,’ said the Duchess almost rudely.

The Queen said nothing; and the Princes at the Duchess’s request came up to say good-bye to the King and Queen before they left.

The King’s looks were black as he remarked audibly he was always glad to see the back of that woman. Adelaide behaved as though it was perfectly normal for guests of honour to leave a ball almost as soon as it was started, and the Kensington party went to their carriages.

Victoria was silent as they drove along.

What a disappointment! She glanced at the Duchess who was seated in the carriage beside her, her hands clasped in her lap looking as though she was a General and had just won an important battle.


* * *

The Duchess laughed hilariously when she and Sir John were alone.

‘That will show them how big a part I intend they shall play in our affairs.’

‘The Queen was docile, of course,’ mused Sir John. ‘But there is the King to consider.’

‘He’s half mad. He’ll be put away soon. He can’t stay around much longer. And then …’

‘Ah, and then …’ said Sir John smiling into her eyes.

‘They will be asking us again before long, you see, and then …’

‘And then we shall not be here.’

‘Oh?’ Her eyes were alight with speculation.

‘The Princes will want to see something of the country before they leave. What about a trip to the Isle of Wight? We could take the Emerald and have a very pleasant time.’

‘An excellent idea! And by the time their Majesties command us to come to St James’s, we shall not be at home.’

‘It is well that the Princes should realise Victoria’s standing in the country. We’ll have royal salutes fired on every possible occasion and we’ll fly the Royal Standard over the Emerald to let all know that the future Queen is on board.’

The Duchess was gleeful.

‘We’ll show their ridiculous Majesties what we think of them. How amusing … no matter how furious they become they can never shift Victoria from her position.’

‘As usual,’ said Sir John blandly, ‘you put your finger on the real issue. I often think how carefully we should have to tread if they had that power.’

‘But they have not. That is why we can do exactly as we want. And that, my dear Sir John, is what I intend to do.’


* * *

What a gloriously exciting morning! Victoria had been up since just after five o’clock, for they were leaving Kensington Palace at seven. The Duchess and Sir John had made hasty plans which were to be kept secret because the Duchess wished it not to be known that they were going away until they had gone.

‘How I shall love to be on the dear Emerald,’ said Victoria to Lehzen over breakfast. ‘I have been telling Alexander about it.’

Alexander was the favourite, thought Lehzen; she must report this to the Duchess. Or should she? She had served the Duchess well but she did deplore her friendship with Sir John, and Sir John was no friend to Lehzen, any more than he had been to poor Späth. Späth was happy enough now with Feodora and her children, but she did feel the break with Victoria sadly; and as for Lehzen, there was no one in the world whom she could love as she loved Victoria and to be separated from her … I would prefer death, thought Lehzen dispassionately, for she was not given to dramatising situations and the fact was that she sincerely would. And Sir John had tried to separate them.