‘You know what they are trying to do. They are trying to take me away from you.’
‘Oh, no, Lehzen! That can’t be. You are not one of the Ladies. You have no official post. How wise we were not to give you a label! You are just my dearest friend.’
‘They have been constantly talking of foreign influence.’
The Queen’s eyes were flashing with the light of battle.
‘If this is true I am doubly determined.’
The Duke of Wellington arrived. The Queen received him graciously. After all, she had told Lord Melbourne, she much preferred him to Sir Robert Peel.
‘I trust,’ she said in a kindly voice, ‘that you will accept the post which Sir Robert Peel is offering you.’
The Duke said he would do so.
‘You do not feel it would be too much for you?’
‘Your Majesty is good to be concerned but I feel perfectly capable. I hear that there has been some difference between Your Majesty and Sir Robert.’
‘Oh, he started it.’
‘Sir Robert has explained to me what took place. The opinions of your ladies is not important. It is the principle of the matter.’
‘It seems to me that Sir Robert is so weak that even the ladies must be of his opinions.’
‘Your Majesty will discover that this is not the case.’
‘And Sir Robert must discover that I will not give up my ladies. I find the suggestion that I discuss politics with them quite offensive.’
‘I am certain that you would not do this, but the public might think that you did. To have a Tory Government and a Whig household could cause a great deal of dissension.’
The Duke could do nothing; he retired from her presence and consulted with Sir Robert who was waiting in the Palace for the result of the interview.
Sir Robert then returned to the Queen and told her that he would have to consult his Party and asked for a few hours’ grace in which to do this.
Meanwhile Lord Melbourne had received her letters and, knowing his imperious, obstinate and shrewd Sovereign, and also understanding what the effect of this obstinacy would have on Sir Robert, decided that action was needed.
He must call together his Cabinet immediately for a discussion, for naturally he could not act without them.
It seemed to him very possible that he and his Party might well be back in power, for unless Sir Robert could bring the Queen to his way of thinking he would be unable to form a Government.
They were scattered but by great effort he managed to assemble the greater proportion of them.
The position was invidious, said some. Of what advantage would it be to resume office when they had such a small majority? What would happen if they went to the country? Let Peel take over and see what he could do with a minority.
Melbourne read them the Queen’s letters and the company was moved by them.
‘How,’ it was demanded, ‘could they abandon such a queen and a woman?’
As a result of that meeting, Lord Melbourne was writing to the Queen:‘The Cabinet … after much discussion, advises Your Majesty to return the following answer to Sir Robert Peeclass="underline" “The Queen having considered the proposals made her yesterday by Sir Robert Peel to remove the Ladies of her Bedchamber cannot consent to adopt a course which she conceives to be contrary to usage and which is repugnant to her feelings.”’
When Victoria received that letter she was triumphant. Lord Melbourne and his Government were behind her. She was sure she had routed Sir Robert Peel.
She was right. Sir Robert believed that unless there were some changes in the Queen’s household he must decline her offer to form a Government.
‘We have won,’ cried the elated Queen and seizing the Baroness began dancing round the room.
The Baroness cried: ‘Is this the way for a Queen to behave! Is this the same one who was being so very much the Queen in the yellow closet with Sir Robert Peel a few hours ago?’
‘One and the same,’ cried the Queen. ‘You see our dancing master is a coward. I knew he was afraid of me from the start. Now I shall write to dear Lord Melbourne and command him to wait on me at once.’
Lehzen was astonished at the cleverness of her darling and said so.
‘It is the way you brought me up, dearest Daisy,’ said the Queen.
At two o’clock Lord Melbourne arrived.
‘Victory!’ cried Victoria.
Lord Melbourne smiled admiringly.
‘You always said I was stubborn. You said I was choleric. You know you did. Well, those qualities have served me well.’
‘I salute them,’ said Lord Melbourne; and she burst out laughing. Oh how good it was to laugh with pleasure again.
‘Now I will show you our dancing master’s letter. He regrets that in the circumstances he has to reject my offer to form a Government. He knows full well with what reluctance that offer was made.’
‘Yes,’ said Lord Melbourne, ‘you made that very clear.’
Lord Melbourne took Sir Robert’s letter and read it. He paused and looked at the Queen with some consternation.
‘He says here that you refuse to make some alterations in the Bedchamber.’
‘Yes, of course he does.’
‘But you said that he was insisting on your changing them all.’
Victoria looked testy. ‘All or some, what is the difference?’
‘It could be a great deal.’
‘Oh, don’t let us quibble about such a small thing.’
‘I’m afraid I must consult the Cabinet on this. They might not agree to support this since Sir Robert says some. It is in fact a very different matter from all.’
‘It is exactly the same,’ said the Queen petulantly.
‘Nevertheless,’ said Lord Melbourne, ‘I must consult my colleagues.’
‘How tiresome,’ cried the Queen, but she was uneasy.
‘Peel has met you half way,’ said Melbourne. ‘He is clever. Don’t underestimate him. This could beat us.’
The Queen answered fiercely: ‘I will never yield. And I will never apply to Peel again.’
Lord Melbourne looked dubious and said he would tell his colleagues how she felt.
With that skilful oratory, never fiery but witty, sentimental and nonchalant, of which he was master – Melbourne persuaded his Cabinet.
The Queen was adamant. If Her Majesty could see no difference in ‘some’ and ‘all’, he suggested they should look at the matter from the same angle. The Queen felt she had been insulted by the suggestions that she would intrigue with the ladies against her Government. It was intolerable. He appealed to them. Could they desert such a gallant young Queen?
They decided they could not and Melbourne was able to tell her that his Cabinet were with him. Peel’s refusal could be accepted.
‘Then everything is as before this ridiculous affair occurred!’ cried the Queen.
But of course it was not. For the country knew what had taken place. Nothing would ever be the same again. In the eyes of the people the dear little duck of a Queen had proved to be a forceful young woman, who had been arrogant and offensive to one of the senior Statesmen, Sir Robert Peel; and had defied that doughty old warrior, the Duke of Wellington. And she was not yet twenty. And why? Was it for the sake of the country? Certainly not. It was so that her relationship with Lord Melbourne might not be changed.
And what was the relationship?
The speculation which had been trivial before the Bedchamber affair flared up. Everywhere people were talking of the Queen and Lord Melbourne.