‘What does he mean by that?’
‘He feels that to be kept hanging about and then refused would perhaps spoil his chances elsewhere.’
‘He seems to be rather calculating.’
‘You misjudge him.’
Leopold was thinking how obstinate she had grown since those days when she was such an enchanting little girl who had adored him and been so eager to please him in every way. And she had become somewhat regal in her manner too, as though she were reminding him that although he might be the King of the Belgians she was Queen of a somewhat more important country.
He abandoned the discussion for the time being and decided to come back to it later.
Uncle Leopold’s visit coincided with that of another Coburg uncle – Leopold’s and Mamma’s own brother Ferdinand with his sons, Augustus and Leopold, and his daughter Victoire. They also brought with them another Coburg cousin, Alexander, whom Victoria thought was quite fascinating. She was soon on nickname terms with them all and they played games which Uncle Leopold would have thought quite childish but which to her were the greatest fun. Even Lord Melbourne could not play such games.
She told them about the visit of the Tsarevitch of Russia who had been so amusing, and had danced so beautifully.
‘There is a German dance. Perhaps you know it. The men have to jump over a pocket handkerchief.’
They all declared they did know it.
‘And each lady and gentleman has to duck under the pocket handkerchief. I rarely saw anything so amusing in my life.’
So they all danced it and there was a great deal of laughter. Victoria enjoyed dancing most with Alexander as her partner.
‘What a charming young man Alexander is,’ said the Queen in her chat with Lord Melbourne. Lord Melbourne said yes, he was. He was the son of the Princess Sophia of Saxe-Coburg and a French émigré and so therefore not entirely German. That, suggested Lord Melbourne, might be why he was more attractive.
‘Uncle Leopold would not be pleased to hear you say that,’ said the Queen. ‘He has a very high opinion of the Germans.’
‘That is natural,’ said Lord Melbourne, ‘because he is one of them and we all have high opinions of ourselves.’
She did enjoy discussing her cousins with Lord Melbourne but to tell the truth he seemed a little old in comparison with them.
What a sad day it was when the cousins said goodbye. The Queen declared that she was going to be quite heartbroken without them. She went down to Woolwich to see them off accompanied by Mamma and Lehzen, and of course Lord Melbourne was present. The Duchess was in tears; she had been very unhappy since the departure of Conroy. There was no one with whom to scheme for her daughter’s discomfiture and now even the Flora Hastings affair had lost its impact. The Duchess would have liked to be taken back into her daughter’s favour. However it seemed it was too late for that. But this farewell was a family affair and outwardly Victoria was affectionate to her mother. Many tears were shed and Victoria exchanged handkerchiefs with Victoire to remind her of ‘our handkerchief dance’. It was all very, very sad, and the journey back to the Palace was silent and sorrowful. The only person who was unaffected was Lord Melbourne, who didn’t like Germans and had found the cousins too childishly boisterous for his taste. However at this stage he kept his feelings to himself and smiled sympathetically at the Queen whenever she looked his way.
Uncle Leopold would be leaving a few days later and he had made very little headway for he had counted on getting a definite promise from Victoria that she would accept Albert. He had not anticipated this difficulty, but he was learning that this was a new Victoria.
He came back again and again to the subject of the marriage.
It was necessary. It was her duty. Had she looked at it from that angle?
Yes, she had looked at it from every angle.
And did she realise that if she did not marry and have children the throne would go to the Cumberlands?
She was years younger than Uncle Cumberland and she did not think she was going to die yet. No, Uncle Leopold could rest assured that Cumberland would spend his days as King of Hanover. It was not that she was against marriage, but that as she was only twenty she thought she had plenty of time and did not wish to hurry into such a state which was so very important not only to herself but to the country.
‘It is not exactly seemly for a young female monarch to live alone.’
‘Alone, dearest Uncle! I am surrounded by people.’
‘And your Prime Minister even lives at the Palace!’
‘He has private rooms there of his own because it makes it so much easier when we have to discuss State matters.’
‘That seems to me to be rather inviting criticism.’
Victoria flushed hotly. Cries of ‘Mrs Melbourne’ echoed in her mind.
‘Lord Melbourne is my Prime Minister, Uncle. Naturally he has a suite in the Palace. I cannot see anything to criticise in that.’
‘Yet am I right in assuming that there has been criticism?’
‘There has been a great deal of senseless criticism. This distressing affair of Flora Hastings, for instance …’
‘I was thinking more of the affair of the Bedchamber Ladies. You know it was said that you acted as you did because you were so fond of Lord Melbourne that you were ready to go to any lengths to keep on intimate terms with him.’
‘What a wicked scandal!’
‘It is, but we have to reckon with wicked scandals. A sovereign is in the arena to be shot at. A sovereign has to make sure that he – or she – gives no opportunities to people to cast slurs. You understand what I mean. Marriage is what you need, my precious angel. And soon.’
She was a little shaken but adamant. The fiery temper showed itself in her eyes though her voice was tender as always for dear Uncle Leopold.
‘Dearest Uncle,’ she said, ‘I should never allow unworthy gossip to drive me into a situation which was abhorrent to me.’
‘Abhorrent!’ cried Uncle Leopold in horror.
‘I was speaking generally, dear Uncle. Of course Albert is not abhorrent to me. I love all my cousins. Dear Alexander was delightful. So were Augustus and Leopold. I am wretched at the thought of parting with them. And I am sure Albert and Ernest are equally pleasant. I merely mean that I will not allow malicious people to dictate my actions.’
Nor even beloved uncles, she was implying.
Oh, she had indeed changed; and it was necessary to get Albert to England as soon as possible.
Uncle Leopold could stay no longer. He and Aunt Louise were due to start very early in the morning to catch the tide. Victoria, who had determined to say goodbye once more before they left although they had already said their farewells the previous night, arose at a quarter past four and went to their apartments. They were sitting in their travelling clothes ready for departure, eating their breakfast by the light of several candles. Sad as she was, Victoria’s mouth watered at the sight of thin bread and butter and eggs and she could not resist joining them in their breakfast.
This was not the time, even Uncle Leopold realised, to indulge in further persuasion so he contented himself with a tender farewell; and from her bedroom window the Queen tearfully watched them leave.
How very sad it was, to say goodbye to dear relations; but her sorrow was tinged with apprehension. Very soon Cousin Albert would be arriving and then she would have to make her decision.
She was touchy and irritable with Lord Melbourne.
‘I believe you are pleased to see my cousins depart,’ she accused him peevishly.