girl – he hoped for a boy of course – but, said the gypsy, a girl and a queen.’
Lord Melbourne did know of course. Lord Melbourne knew everything.
He added: ‘And I will tell Your Majesty something else. She also said: “A great Queen!” and now it is my turn to make a prophecy. It is this: Hers will be fulfilled in its entirety.’
How happy he made her feel and how sad that this interview must be short! And though worthy, how dull were Lord John, Albemarle and the Archbishop in comparison with dear Lord Melbourne!
The long day was drawing to its end. So many duties had been performed; she had seen all her important ministers and all alone (as I shall always see my ministers in future, she assured herself). She fancied that she had (prompted by Lord Melbourne, of course) made a favourable impression; she had written several letters and noted the day’s events in her Journal.
‘And now,’ she announced to the Baroness Lehzen. ‘I will take my dinner alone upstairs.’
No one questioned her order. How glorious to be a queen!
After dinner Baron Stockmar called and congratulated her on the day’s activities. She had done well and everyone was applauding her.
‘Lord Melbourne has already told me,’ she assured the Baron; and she could not help thinking how much more graciously and with what telling compliments and without ridiculous flattery. Of course, one could not expect poor Stockmar to compare with Lord Melbourne. Poor Stockmar? It was the first time she had ever thought of him thus. It must be because she was comparing him with the incomparable Lord Melbourne.
‘It is a great credit to yourself and to us all,’ said the Baron.
She wished they would not keep reminding her of all they had done for her.
The Baron went on: ‘You will have had time to think of that matter we discussed earlier today?’
‘Which matter?’
‘We agreed that you would need a secretary.’
‘My dear Baron, I have had no time to think of anything but my duties this day.’
‘Of course. Of course.’
And then because she could never prevaricate she said: ‘But it may well be that the people, knowing your connection with my Uncle Leopold and he being the King of a foreign power, might not feel that you would be a wise choice.’
Poor Baron! He looked so crestfallen but Lord Melbourne was certainly right. She went on kindly: ‘It is so different now that I am the Queen. I have to be very careful and you, dear Baron, will be the first to realise this.’
The Baron took a somewhat bewildered leave. He feared that the King of the Belgians would not be pleased. So did Victoria. But it is different now, she told herself; and of course Lord Melbourne is right.
She was delighted when that dear good lord himself appeared at twenty minutes to nine and after kissing her hand with such courteous gallantry settled down for a cosy talk. And it really was cosy. He was like an uncle or even a father far more than a Prime Minister. He complimented her again on her performance and begged her to let him know if at any time he could be of service to her in any capacity whatsoever. They would naturally have State business to discuss and as her Prime Minister he would wait on her every day. She had no secretary and he believed that for a while she should delay appointing one to that post for why should she need a secretary when her Prime Minister was at hand to explain all State business, to read all documents to her and to give her his counsel on any matter over which she felt she needed it. Certainly she did not need a secretary as yet.
‘In any matters of difficulty consult Lord Melbourne,’ he said with a gay laugh. He laughed a great deal, being not at all solemn. That was one of the things she liked so much; and he had a most amusing way of expressing himself. But best of all he made her feel that when he was beside her she had nothing to fear whatsoever.
Yes, that was a very comfortable interview.
She went straight to
Lord Melbourne did know of course. Lord Melbourne knew everything.
He added: ‘And I will tell Your Majesty something else. She also said: “A great Queen!” and now it is my turn to make a prophecy. It is this: Hers will be fulfilled in its entirety.’
How happy he made her feel and how sad that this interview must be short! And though worthy, how dull were Lord John, Albemarle and the Archbishop in comparison with dear Lord Melbourne!
The long day was drawing to its end. So many duties had been performed; she had seen all her important ministers and all alone (as I shall always see my ministers in future, she assured herself). She fancied that she had (prompted by Lord Melbourne, of course) made a favourable impression; she had written several letters and noted the day’s events in her Journal.
‘And now,’ she announced to the Baroness Lehzen. ‘I will take my dinner alone upstairs.’
No one questioned her order. How glorious to be a queen!
After dinner Baron Stockmar called and congratulated her on the day’s activities. She had done well and everyone was applauding her.
‘Lord Melbourne has already told me,’ she assured the Baron; and she could not help thinking how much more graciously and with what telling compliments and without ridiculous flattery. Of course, one could not expect poor Stockmar to compare with Lord Melbourne. Poor Stockmar? It was the first time she had ever thought of him thus. It must be because she was comparing him with the incomparable Lord Melbourne.
‘It is a great credit to yourself and to us all,’ said the Baron.
She wished they would not keep reminding her of all they had done for her.
The Baron went on: ‘You will have had time to think of that matter we discussed earlier today?’
‘Which matter?’
‘We agreed that you would need a secretary.’
‘My dear Baron, I have had no time to think of anything but my duties this day.’
‘Of course. Of course.’
And then because she could never prevaricate she said: ‘But it may well be that the people, knowing your connection with my Uncle Leopold and he being the King of a foreign power, might not feel that you would be a wise choice.’
Poor Baron! He looked so crestfallen but Lord Melbourne was certainly right. She went on kindly: ‘It is so different now that I am the Queen. I have to be very careful and you, dear Baron, will be the first to realise this.’
The Baron took a somewhat bewildered leave. He feared that the King of the Belgians would not be pleased. So did Victoria. But it is different now, she told herself; and of course Lord Melbourne is right.
She was delighted when that dear good lord himself appeared at twenty minutes to nine and after kissing her hand with such courteous gallantry settled down for a cosy talk. And it really was cosy. He was like an uncle or even a father far more than a Prime Minister. He complimented her again on her performance and begged her to let him know if at any time he could be of service to her in any capacity whatsoever. They would naturally have State business to discuss and as her Prime Minister he would wait on her every day. She had no secretary and he believed that for a while she should delay appointing one to that post for why should she need a secretary when her Prime Minister was at hand to explain all State business, to read all documents to her and to give her his counsel on any matter over which she felt she needed it. Certainly she did not need a secretary as yet.
‘In any matters of difficulty consult Lord Melbourne,’ he said with a gay laugh. He laughed a great deal, being not at all solemn. That was one of the things she liked so much; and he had a most amusing way of expressing himself. But best of all he made her feel that when he was beside her she had nothing to fear whatsoever.
Yes, that was a very comfortable interview.
She went straight to
Similar Books
