‘A stone was thrown at one of the windows early this morning,’ she said.
‘How tiresome!’
‘There is not much damage done. Only a broken pane or two of glass.’
Victoria felt melancholy. How sad to think that some of her people disliked her so much that they were impelled to throw stones at her windows.
‘I feel a little sick. I wonder if Lord Melbourne feels well. We both ate pork last night.’
‘There is an “r” in the month so it should be all right,’ said Lehzen. ‘I’ll send to see if the Prime Minister is well.’
The message came back that Lord Melbourne was suffering from a little internal disturbance which he felt was due to the pork. He intended to walk it off this morning.
Victoria sent a message back. She would walk off her pork with Lord Melbourne while he walked off his.
They strolled through the grounds together discussing the pork and from that Victoria changed the subject to Albert’s imminent arrival.
‘I still feel very uneasy.’
‘It is so natural,’ said Lord Melbourne.
‘And if he does not think there is any hurry to see me I shall let him know that I feel no urgency to see him.’
‘I should do that,’ said Lord Melbourne.
‘Then he can go back and we shall hear no more of the matter. I wonder if he will be as fascinating as my cousin Alexander?’
‘Oh, that is hardly possible,’ said Lord Melbourne, with a hint of mockery.
‘Why, what do you mean?’
‘You always speak of that young man as though he were Adonis.’
‘Well, he is very handsome.’
‘And you were completely fascinated by his handsome looks.’
‘I like beautiful people. Beauty moves me deeply no matter in what form. I have always admired beauty.’
‘That is true,’ said Lord Melbourne. ‘And you particularly admired Coburg cousin Alexander’s.’
‘As you must have done if you admire beauty.’
‘Alas I must be insensible to it because Alexander’s did not make much of an impression.’
‘You were annoyed because you could not understand our conversation. You know you were. Well, never mind. This is very pleasant walking in the grounds here. Are you feeling better now?’
‘I am walking it off,’ said Lord Melbourne. ‘And Your Majesty?’
‘I am also walking it off.’
‘And look, there is one of the pages running towards us. It appears that he has urgent news for one of us.’
‘I daresay it is for you, Lord Melbourne. Some State business.’
‘In that case it will be for us both.’
The page had a letter for the Queen. ‘It’s from Uncle Leopold,’ she said. She read it.
‘They are on their way,’ she said, turning pale. ‘Albert and Ernest will be here tonight at seven o’clock.’
The rest of the day passed slowly. She and Lord Melbourne had another chat during which she reiterated her determination not to be hurried into marriage and they agreed on the desirability of waiting for a few years.
At six o’clock, Lehzen helped her dress.
‘They will be here soon, Lehzen.’
‘You should look upon them just as another pair of cousins.’
‘They will have to learn that I am the Queen and that I am the one who shall decide.’
‘You will see that they learn that fast enough,’ said Lehzen.
Seven o’clock. She went up to one of the towers and looked out. There was no sign of the arrival yet.
Should she send for dear Lord M and beguile the time in pleasant chat? No, she did not even want to be with him.
She went to her own room and thought of other delightful Coburg cousins who had visited her.
I shall give a ball for them, she told herself; but even the prospect of a ball gave her little pleasure.
Lehzen came in. It was nearly seven-thirty.
‘They are approaching the castle now,’ she said.
She had planned how she would receive him. She would stand at the top of the staircase and watch them ascend. She wondered whether she would know the difference between Ernest and Albert.
She rose slowly; she was in a regal mood. Albert must understand from the first that she was the Queen.
At the top of the stairs she waited. There were the two young men. Her heart began to beat so fiercely that the lace on her gown quivered.
He was mounting the stairs. She knew him at once. This was Albert. He was the most beautiful being she had ever beheld.
‘Albert!’ she said and held out her hands. And as soon as he touched her hand and lifted those beautiful blue eyes to hers she knew.
Ernest was there too but she did not see him. She saw only Albert, dear, beautiful Albert. There was no one else in the world.
She was quivering with excitement. Every little bit of resentment had disappeared. She was wildly, incredibly happy.
Nothing else mattered in the world but that Albert was here.
The Queen had fallen in love.
Chapter XIII
VICTORIA IN LOVE
What an evening! There had never been one like it. How amusing, how delightful to get to know these fascinating cousins. Or should she say cousin? She had to admit that she, who usually noticed so much, was scarcely aware of Ernest. He was quite handsome, she believed; his eyes were very dark and he was pale. He was so different from Albert that one could scarcely believe they were brothers. But Albert … Albert was divine. She could scarcely wait to get to her Journal to record what she saw.
He was beautiful as an angel and yet every inch a man. And his greyhound was delightful.
‘How thoughtful of you, Cousin Albert, to bring him,’ she cried. ‘You must know how I love dogs. I am sure he and Dashy will be friends on sight. Islay is not nearly so good-tempered as Dashy. Do you think dear Eös will let me feed him? Oh, what a dear, docile creature.’
Albert did not speak much and they conversed in German which was easier for him and no trouble to her. Of course Albert spoke English. Uncle Leopold had insisted that he learn. Oh wise, wise Uncle Leopold!
Albert, it transpired, loved music.
‘How very exciting. Do you sing, cousin Albert?’
Yes, he sang.
‘Perhaps we can sing together … duets.’
Ernest said that Albert had composed some songs.
She clasped her hands together. ‘But that is so exciting. You must sing them to me, Cousin Albert. Perhaps we can sing them together.’
‘There will be time to do that,’ said Ernest.
Oh, what a happy, happy evening.
When she retired to her room that night she wrote in her Journaclass="underline" ‘It was with some emotion that I beheld Albert, who is beautiful.’
She wanted to be alone to think about this wonderful meeting. She wanted neither Lehzen’s motherly fussing, nor Lord Melbourne’s tender cynicism.
She knew something tremendous had happened and she wanted to be alone to consider it.
Another ecstatic day!
They had ridden together, Albert on one side of her and Ernest on the other. Lord Melbourne was just a little behind. There had never been such a ride. Her face was flushed with excitement, her little top hat rather jauntily askew with the veil flowing; her black velvet habit was becoming and she looked very pretty. She knew that she was always at her best on horseback and she was delighted that Albert should see her thus. He told her about the schloss in Coburg and she said that it was all quite fascinating. It was odd, she said, that he had no mother and she had no father; and they had been born in the same year. And all the time she was marvelling at his good looks. No man was ever quite so handsome, she was sure.