The visit came to an end all too soon and they must return to England, to the political conflicts and preoccupation with the war. That fortunately was now in its last stages. There was a conference in Paris which was to end in peace.
The Queen could not help being grateful to Lord Palmerston because she had to admit that when he had come to office things had begun to change. She was even ready to admit that had he remained at the foreign office there might not have been a war at all.
‘One must be just,’ said the Queen. ‘And it was a most unsatisfactory war.’
Chapter XXIII
A PROPOSAL FOR VICKY
As they walked in the gardens of Buckingham Palace arm in arm, Albert explained his plan to the Queen.
‘I want you to ask Prince Frederick of Prussia here for a visit … soon.’
‘But of course, Albert. That will be delightful. I love having visitors.’
‘This is rather more important than an ordinary visit,’ explained Albert. ‘I am thinking of Vicky.’
‘Vicky. And the Prince you mean? Vicky is only fourteen.’
‘It is very young,’ said the Prince. ‘Too young. But Fritz is twenty-four, which is not so young. I am afraid that if we wait too long a match might be made for him elsewhere.’
‘His mother was very pleased at the idea of a marriage between him and Vicky.’
‘Times change. Prussia has been aloof from the Crimean conflict. I should like to see Prussia and England close allies.’
‘Of course.’
‘I don’t trust Napoleon. I don’t trust the French.’
The Queen smiled at the memory of those delicious compliments Napoleon had whispered to her.
‘Don’t you, Albert?’
‘They are frivolous. One can’t trust them. The Emperor has tried to flatter us. I believe he should be watched. I am certain an alliance with Prussia is what we need. I want to see our Vicky on that throne.’
‘But fourteen, Albert!’
‘Oh, not yet, not yet. But why shouldn’t there be some understanding?’
‘A betrothal, you mean?’
‘An understanding. And then perhaps in a year …’
‘When she is fifteen.’
‘Two years perhaps …’
‘It’s heartbreaking when one’s children grow up,’ said the Queen; but she thought, if Vicky were not here I should see more of Albert. And she was vaguely pleased because it was he who had suggested the marriage which meant the departure of Vicky. Sometimes his doting on the child did irritate her. It was as though he thought there was no one in the world like his eldest daughter.
‘We will invite Fritz without delay,’ she said.
When Fritz arrived at Balmoral both the Queen and Albert were delighted with him.
‘He has not changed from that dear natural boy who took the children to your Exhibition, Albert,’ said the Queen, ‘except for his moustache which really makes him look so handsome and manly.’
Albert agreed; and it was so pleasant to be in the dear Highlands again with faithful servants like the head gillie John Grant, and John Brown who had a sort of uncouth charm which was very appealing.
Fritz was determined to make himself popular. He went stalking with Albert and showed his skill by bringing down a fine stag; he talked affectionately of his family to the Queen and of the army to the Prince of Wales; he played games with the younger children who all thought him wonderful; but of course his attention was focused on Vicky. He always seemed to be at her side; he wanted to talk to Vicky, alone if possible; he was always telling her about the Prussian Court and there was no doubt that Vicky was very interested.
Vicky had always been inclined to be a little coquettish, the Queen reminded herself, and had now and then been detected trying to call masculine attention to herself. Vicky was in a way as rebellious as the Prince of Wales but charmingly so. And Albert had only had to show his displeasure – he was hurt rather than angry at Vicky’s misdemeanours – for her to be immediately contrite. There was no doubt that the deep affection between Albert and Vicky was almost as strong on her side as on his; they had often been seen whispering together as though sharing some secret from which even the Queen was excluded.
Now Vicky was well aware that in Fritz’s eyes she was the most attractive member of the household – and she was revelling in the knowledge.
As for Fritz, he found Vicky attractive but she was only fourteen and he being twenty-four and not unworldly, he felt he must know her a little better before committing himself to marriage. But Vicky had always been old for her age; that was why poor Bertie had suffered so much in comparison; and in a few days Fritz was of the opinion that in view of her gay personality and her unusual intelligence she would make a very satisfactory wife.
He decided to speak to the Queen and Albert and chose breakfast time when they were alone.
The Queen said: ‘Well, Fritz, how are you enjoying Balmoral?’
Fritz said that he had never enjoyed a visit more. Then he plunged: ‘I want to ask your permission to talk to you on a very intimate matter.’
The Queen glanced at Albert who appeared to be almost aloof but was in fact very alert.
‘I have enjoyed being in the heart of your family,’ went on Fritz. ‘I should be very happy indeed if I might belong to it.’
The Queen’s eyes were filled with tears; she leaned towards him and taking his hand pressed it warmly.
‘My dear Fritz,’ she said, ‘it is a pleasure for us to welcome you into the family. Vicky is however only fourteen. There could not be any announcement yet.’
‘She is very young indeed,’ added Albert. ‘Next year she will be confirmed. Perhaps after that there might be a proposal. But I think Vicky should not be aware of these plans just yet.’
Fritz said he well understood. He hoped that he would be invited to come again later on and then he would make his formal proposal to Vicky.
‘That,’ said the Queen, ‘is what the Prince and I would desire more than anything.’
When they were alone together the Queen noticed how despondent Albert was. He looked quite ill. His rheumatism was very painful and yesterday he had found it difficult to hold a pen. The wig he occasionally wore to keep his head warm now accentuated the pallor of his skin. He was grieved of course at the prospect of his beloved daughter’s departure.
‘Of course it is what we want,’ the Queen reminded him.
‘Of course,’ said Albert sadly.
‘Stockmar sees no reason why the marriage should not take place quite soon. He thinks this alliance between us and Prussia to be essential to the strength of Europe. So … I suppose you agree with him.’
There was a little asperity in the Queen’s tone. She disliked Albert’s subservience to Stockmar. She could not bear Albert to care so much for people as he did for Stockmar … and of course Vicky. She felt it took away from her some of the love which should be hers. In her heart she knew that Albert was the very centre of her life. All the rest of her family together could not mean to her what he did. She was constantly trying to hide little jealousies and that was why her anger flared up.
‘Stockmar is one of the wisest men in the world.’
‘Only one of them?’ said the Queen ironically. ‘Sometimes I think he is more concerned with politics than human feelings. If Vicky does not love Fritz then I should not agree to the marriage.’