‘Ernest! This could have terrible implications.’

‘Oh, I believe Albert to be mine.’

‘It could not be otherwise. But it is criminal of her.’

‘I agree with you. That is why I am determined to bring the matter to a head.’

‘She was always frivolous and she is little more than a girl now. Ernest, what will you do?’

‘It remains to be seen. So much will depend on what we discover.’

‘If there were other children …’

‘I know you are thinking that we could not be sure that I was their father. Even so …’

‘No, don’t say it. Don’t even think it. Ernest is you in miniature and I am convinced that darling little Albert is your son.’

‘I feel so, too. But how could I be sure of any others?’

‘It is a scandalous situation.’

‘And will become more so.’

‘Does Leopold know?’

‘Not yet.’

‘He will be horrified.’

The Duke felt faintly resentful. His brother Leopold was his mother’s favourite son and regarded in the family as something of an oracle since he had succeeded in marrying the Princess Charlotte which, had she lived, would have meant that he was the husband of the Queen of one of the most important countries in the world – very different from the little dukedoms and principalities of Germany. But Leopold was far too ready to interfere in family matters. It was not as though he were an elder son either. Fortunately he was in England where he was paid a good income even though his position there was somewhat invidious. King George IV had never liked him and had not wanted him as a son-in-law. But Leopold was so good-looking and clever that Charlotte had insisted on marrying him, and by accounts – Leopold’s at any rate – she had been so enamoured of him that he had easily been able to subdue her will to his. What a glorious future it would have been for Leopold – and the house of Saxe-Coburg – if Charlotte had lived to be Queen.

Still, Leopold had not lost hope of governing England, for a very significant event had occurred at Kensington Palace three months before young Albert had been born. Their sister, who was Duchess of Kent, had given birth to a daughter – Alexandria Victoria – and if the King did not marry and produce an heir – which was scarcely possible considering his age and condition – and his brother William did not either – and he seemed in no state to do so – that little girl, Leopold’s niece, his own niece, would be Queen of England.

So Leopold stayed on in England hoping that since he had failed to be the husband of that country’s Queen, he might one day be her uncle.

Very clever of Leopold, but that was no reason why he should be considered an oracle who could solve the problems of Saxe-Coburg.

Of course his mother believed he could.

‘I think,’ she was saying now, ‘we should write to Leopold and ask his advice.’

‘Mother, this is a matter for me to settle.’

‘When he came over four years ago, he did mention that he thought Louise a little frivolous. He noticed, you see.’

‘We all knew the character of my wife, Mother. It was obvious.’

‘He came all the way from England then just to find me a house in Italy for the winter,’ said the Dowager Duchess fondly. ‘I am sure he would be willing to come on this far more important mission.’

‘I am of the opinion that I can deal with this affair.’

‘What do you propose to do?’

‘To bring the matter into the open. I may find it necessary to rid myself of her.’

‘Ernest, be careful. This could reflect on the children. You remember when Leopold was here, how taken he was with little Albert.’

‘They were taken with each other, I think.’

‘It is true. Albert could just toddle at the time, but although just a year old, he was very forward for his age. He followed Leopold everywhere. I remember how he sat on his knee watching his lips as he talked.’

‘I remember how enchanted Leopold was by such admiration.’

‘He said to me, “I have a dear little niece in Kensington Palace whom I love as much as I could love this little fellow.” And he went on to say that as soon as he had set eyes on our little Albert he had thought of his little niece in England. “She could be Queen of England,” he said. “And would it not be a wonderful arrangement if these two children could be brought together.” He said that, Ernest.’

‘No one makes plans for the family like Leopold.’

‘Oh, he is clever, so wise and so eager to bring good to the family. Just think – our little Albert could be King of England. It’s a possibility, Ernest. So you see, my son, how careful you will have to be. There must be no whisper against little Albert.’

‘I’ll see that there is not. At the same time I have no intention of allowing my wife to deceive me under my very own nose.’

‘I just cannot believe it of her.’

‘You will … when I produce the evidence.’

‘All I ask you, Ernest, is take care.’

‘You may rely on me to do that.’

She sighed. She hoped so. But all her children of course could not be as wise as Leopold.


* * *

The book lay on Grandmama Saxe-Coburg’s lap and the two boys listened entranced as she read to them.

‘These two little boys you see here were Saxon Princes and one was named Ernest and one named Albert.’

‘Those are our names,’ cried Ernest.

‘Which one was Albert?’ asked Alberinchen.

Grandmama Saxe-Coburg showed them.

‘They were your ancestors, my darlings, and they lived in the Castle of Altenburg. Their father was Duke Frederick.’

‘Our Papa is Ernest,’ said Alberinchen.

‘That’s quite right,’ said Grandmama. ‘There are a lot of Fredericks in our family and Ernests too.’

‘And Alberts,’ put in Alberinchen. ‘There are a lot of Alberts too, Grandmama.’

‘There is one here now,’ said Grandmama, kissing him, which made him hunch his shoulders and laugh delightedly.

‘There’s a bad man coming in,’ said Ernest, placing a plump finger on the page.

‘Yes, there is a bad man. Now the Duke Frederick had a chamberlain named Kunz of Kaufungen and because Duke Frederick had made him give back land which he had stolen he decided to have his revenge. So one night he, and some wicked men who were helping him, crept into the castle where the two boys were sleeping and they seized Ernest.’

‘What about Albert?’ cried Alberinchen.

‘Well, there was another little boy, an attendant of the Princes, who was sleeping in a bed near that of Albert and they mistook him for Prince Albert and took him instead.’

Alberinchen’s face puckered. It seemed that Prince Albert was going to be left out of the adventure and he didn’t like that.

‘Albert was clever,’ said Grandmama quickly. ‘He saw at once that a mistake had been made, so he said nothing and when little Graf von Barby, the boy they had mistaken for Albert, was dragged away, he hid under the bed in case they came back.’

‘And what happened then?’

‘They discovered their mistake and came back for Albert. They found him under the bed.’

‘But he was clever to hide there,’ said Alberinchen.

‘It was very clever. Well, the good Duke Frederick was not going to allow his sons to be kidnapped, so he sent his trusty soldiers after the villains and they caught them and the boys were restored to their father. Now, that is a true story and it happened in the year 1455.’

‘I like that story,’ said Ernest.

‘So do I,’ Alberinchen laughed. ‘I liked it when Albert hid under the bed.’

‘It’s history,’ said Grandmama Saxe-Coburg. ‘Now you know how exciting history is you must pay great attention to your lessons.’

‘I like history when it’s about us,’ said Alberinchen.

‘That wasn’t about us was it, Grandmama?’ asked Ernest.

‘It was about our family. And as most royal families are connected with each other, history is about us.’

‘I like history,’ said Alberinchen. ‘I wish Mama would come. I want to tell her about how Prince Albert hid under the bed.’


* * *

They were playing the capture of the Princes. It was a good game because they could each play the part of a prince, but there were other exciting roles. They both wanted to be the wicked Kunz at the start of the game and Duke Frederick at the end. Ernest thought he should have the choice as he was the eldest, but Alberinchen did not agree with this and it seemed as though the game was going to end in a fight and the inevitable tears when their mother put her head round the door and said: ‘Are my boys pleased to see me?’

The game was forgotten. They dashed at her.

‘My darling, darling Alberinchen. Dearest Ernest!’

‘Oh, Mama, how beautiful you look.’

‘That’s because I’m pleased.’

‘Why are you pleased, Mama?’

‘Let’s sit down and I’ll tell you all about it. We’re going to have a children’s ball.’

‘What’s that, Mama?’ asked Ernest.

‘We’re going to dance.’

Alberinchen’s face puckered.

He didn’t like dancing, he said. It made him tired.

‘Tired!’ cried Mama. ‘Why I could dance all night and not be tired.’

‘So could I,’ said Ernest. ‘It’s only silly Albert who can’t.’

Alberinchen’s lips trembled and his mother hastily embraced him. ‘Albert is not silly, are you, Alberinchen?’

‘I’m clever like Albert who hid under the bed.’

‘Oh, that story, yes. It was interesting, wasn’t it, my pets? Now you’re going to love my ball and we’re all going to dress up. What would you like to be, Ernest?’

Ernest could not think but Alberinchen wanted to be Prince Albert who was nearly kidnapped.