Виктория Холт - The Queen and Lord M

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

‘Majesty!’ How nice to hear it. But I suppose, she thought, in time I shall become used to it.

Even the excitement of having become Queen of England could not interfere with Victoria’s appetite. She sat enjoying her breakfast while Lehzen hovered, adoring and marvelling, thinking how enchanting she looked with her fair hair and flushed cheeks which the rather dull black bombazine set off to perfection.

A letter had arrived for her Majesty. She read it as she ate.

‘It is from Lord Melbourne, my Prime Minister. He is going to call on me a little before nine.’

She smiled. A very exciting man, Lord Melbourne. My Prime Minister, she thought.

There was a knock on the door.

‘Is Your Majesty to have no peace?’ cried Lehzen in a martyred tone of voice which made Victoria want to giggle. But she remembered her dignity in time.

‘Pray see who is there, Lehzen dear.’

‘It is the Baron Stockmar,’ said Lehzen. ‘Her Majesty is at breakfast, Baron. Perhaps you would care to wait.’

‘No, no,’ cried Victoria. ‘Come in, dear Baron. You can talk to me while I eat.’

Stockmar entered and she rose, regal all at once, and held out her hand for him to kiss.

He kissed it, and as she commented afterwards to Lehzen, ‘His affection for me shone in his dear faithful eyes.’ Lehzen said she always thought the best of everyone, but so many people were kind and good. There were exceptions of course, and one of her first tasks would be to set about dismissing That Man.

‘Dear Baron, have you eaten? Can I give you breakfast?’

The Baron replied that he had breakfasted and like Lehzen was astonished to see her making such a good meal. Like Lehzen he had thought the smelling salts might have been more to her taste. He sat down smiling with admiration. She was so young. She did not realise the difficulties which lay ahead. But she was amenable and with him to guide her she would come through.

‘This is a great day in our lives,’ said Stockmar.

‘I hope it will be one which no one will ever regret,’ she said solemnly, and he thought the transition from frivolous girl to serious monarch was very endearing.

‘I will prophesy you will make a very great queen.’

‘Dear Baron! I know I shall have many kind helpers. Lord Melbourne will shortly be calling upon me.’

‘He has sent word of this?’

‘Yes, a charming note to say that he hopes it will be convenient for him to call just before nine.’

‘And will it be?’

‘Dear Baron, he is my Prime Minister.’

‘I believe His Majesty the King of the Belgians has confidence in him.’

‘Dear Uncle! As soon as I have finished breakfast I shall write to him and tell him it has happened, though I daresay he will not need me to tell him.’

‘He will be most eager to hear from you .’

‘It is wonderful to know that he is there.’

‘Your Majesty will have to be very discreet … now.’

‘Oh yes, Uncle is continually impressing that upon me.’

‘You will need a secretary. You will have to choose him with the utmost care.’

She laughed, girlish again. ‘I can tell you one thing, Baron, that secretary will not be Sir John Conroy. In fact I intend to rid myself of that man at the earliest possible moment.’

‘Have you mentioned this to your mother?’

‘No. I consider it to be my affair.’

Yes, the regality was undoubtedly there. Little Victoria might not be as easy to handle as some people had imagined. All the more reason why he should make known his desires as early as possible.

‘This matter of a secretary. Has Your Majesty anyone in mind for the post?’

‘I have not given the matter any thought yet.’

‘I have been your friend as much as that of your uncle. Your Majesty could trust me. Do you not think so?’

She was direct. She had never liked innuendo. ‘Are you suggesting yourself for the post, Baron?’

‘That was in my mind,’ said the Baron.

She was on the point of telling him that of course he must be her secretary. He was her dear friend and beloved Uncle Leopold doted on him and trusted him. Who better than Stockmar? But wait. She was no longer the impetuous Princess Victoria. She was the Queen of England. The decisions she made now were important.

‘I will consider it,’ she said.

Expecting immediate acquiescence, the Baron was dismayed. He had intended to get her promise before it became a matter for the Government; and now she, who had been his admiring pupil, and had loved and respected him because her Uncle Leopold had wished her to, was telling him that she would consider it.

She had finished her breakfast. She knew he would understand but she had some letters to write and the Prime Minister was calling shortly. Stockmar could only bow and retire. The Queen had spoken.

20th June 1839 Half past eight a.m.‘Dearest most beloved Uncle,’ wrote the Queen, ‘Two words only to tell you that my poor Uncle, the King, expired this morning at twelve minutes past two. The melancholy news was brought to me by Lord Conyngham and the Archbishop of Canterbury at six. I expect Lord Melbourne almost immediately and I shall hold a Council at eleven. Ever my beloved Uncle your devoted and attached niece,Victoria R.’

What a comfort, she thought as she sealed the letter, to know that dear Uncle Leopold was there to guide her.

And now a word to her half sister, dear Feodora, who in her German castle would be so happy to have a note from her on this day. How Victoria had loved her sister when they were together in Kensington and how heartbroken she had been when darling Feddy had married and gone away! They had only their letters to comfort each other for their absence – so she must write and tell her that she was now the Queen.

She was sealing the letters when Lord Melbourne arrived.

‘I will receive him as I intend to receive all my ministers … alone .’ she said.

As soon as he came into the room she was aware of a lifting of her spirits. He was tall and very good-looking and because of the solemnity of the occasion he was in Court dress. She noticed the hair beginning to whiten at the temples, the thick dark eyebrows, the sensitive lips. He bowed and as she gave him her hand to kiss and he murmured ‘Your Majesty’, she saw that his eyes filled with tears and she was won immediately by those tears. She thought: He is beautiful and more than beautiful, he is good .

‘Your Majesty is kind to receive me at such an early hour.’ His eyes were expressing admiration, and she felt herself blushing. How she wished she could conquer that ridiculous childish habit – so absurd in a queen .

‘I wish to tell you, Lord Melbourne, that it is my intention to retain you and the rest of the present Ministry at the head of affairs.’

He bowed his head, and how gracefully he did it. She was comparing him with Sir John Conroy. It was the contrast which struck her so forcibly. There could not be two men less alike.

‘And I am sure,’ she said warmly, ‘that it could not be in better hands.’

‘Your Majesty is gracious,’ he said, with the most beautiful smile which conveyed that while he was every bit as respectful as any subject could be to his Queen, he was secretly aware of her youth and inexperience and was ready to place himself entirely at her service. How fortunate I am, she thought, to have such a man at the head of affairs. My Prime Minister!

‘I have prepared the Declaration which Your Majesty will read to the Council. Would you like me to read it now so that you may give it your approval?’