Victoria & Violet by Rachel Brimble

Author:Rachel Brimble [Brimble, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Queen Victoria; royal courts; scandals; forbidden love; historical fiction
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

James entered the queen’s drawing room behind Melbourne and bowed.

“Your Majesty.” The minister brushed past Lehzen where she stood in the center of the grand room and stopped in front of the queen. He kissed her outstretched hand. “You are looking decidedly happy this morning, ma’am.”

“Well, I am now, Lord Melbourne. I am now.” The queen walked to the sofa and sat, arranging the skirts of her navy-blue dress around her. “But I most certainly was not before I received a wonderfully reassuring letter from dear Albert in today’s post.”

“Oh?”

“Oh, indeed. If you consider the continuing debates surrounding the popularity of our union, the paltry income he has been allowed and how suspicion constantly encircles him, it would come as no surprise if he called the marriage off. Wouldn’t you agree, Lord Melbourne?”

The minister glanced at James, his expression clearly conveying his disquiet at having his assistant stand witness to Melbourne’s potential dressing down from the queen. “The duke is entirely in love with you, ma’am. He would never do such a thing,” Melbourne said, facing the queen. “However, might I suggest that, if you wish to discuss private matters regarding the duke’s feelings, we—”

“Of course, he would never do such a thing as call off the marriage! It is not I whom vexes him. It is you and your government.” She pinned him with a glare. “All this opposition. It’s not just dear Albert’s income but a hundred other things, including doubt about his credentials as a Protestant. It is insufferable.”

“The concerns of Parliament might be troublesome, ma’am, but they must be attended to. If the beginning of your marriage is to be free of grievance, it is best that these issues are resolved beforehand.”

“That may well be, but it makes the stubbornness of certain ministers no less palatable.”

James bit back a smile knowing full well how Melbourne’s frustration with the queen grew the more beguiled she became with her future as Albert’s wife. In fact, the minister’s impatience seemed thinner with each passing day. It was becoming usual that Melbourne spoke of little else as he paced left, right, and center through his office, barking orders at James and anyone else brave enough to intrude on the prime minister’s time. The situation was far from funny but still…

“Alas, it is testament to my future husband’s wonderful personality,” Victoria continued. “That Albert is willing to concede to Parliament’s request that he only appoint English staff to his household rather than his own preferred German. A sacrifice I suspect will be accepted with blasé assumption by government.”

“He has agreed?”

“Yes. He has also accepted Mr. George Anson as his appointed private secretary.”

“Well, that is excellent news, ma’am. I will inform government—”

“But on one condition.” Victoria turned to Lehzen, who stood at attention at the queen’s elbow. “Kindly ask Parker to fetch the letter from atop of my bedside table, would you, Lehzen? The one sealed and for the attention of Mr. Greene.”

James pulled back his shoulders, fought to hide his surprise.

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