The Captive of Kensington Palace Page 20

  ‘I hear some of the portraits are good. Lady Grey was telling me that one of Admiral Napier was especially so.’

  ‘Captain Napier!’ growled William. ‘And why do we want a picture of that fellow on show, I want to know.’

  ‘Because, I suppose, it’s rather a fine picture.’

  ‘Fine picture of a knave! He calls himself Admiral. Admiral of what? Of the Portuguese Navy? He proved himself not good enough for ours. By God, you forget I’m a sailor, Adelaide. I’m an Admiral myself. Lord High Admiral for a time … but that didn’t please them either. So this fellow becomes Admiral in the Portuguese Navy … and we make a fine picture of him and people here are expected to go and admire him. Captain Napier, I say! By God, I’ve no admiration for that fellow, I can tell you. But there are envious people in the Navy, Adelaide. You know what it was like when I tried to bring about reforms. You know what happened. That fellow Cockburn with his Board of Admiralty. Tried to tell me what to do. And Wellington … well, I was surprised at Wellington. I thought he was a man of good sense. Waterloo … Fine … fine … Great Victory. And George, he was on their side too. “Resign,” said George. “The only thing you can do, old fellow. Resign. Love you as a brother but can’t stand out against the Admiralty Board. Have to give way.”’

  ‘Oh, William, that is long ago.’

  ‘Maybe, maybe, but I don’t forget.’

  She listened to his voice without taking in the words and she asked herself: Is this how his father used to talk? She had never heard him. When she had come to England George III had been shut away from the world. Poor sad, mad King. But was William growing more and more like his father?

  She was relieved when they arrived at Somerset House where the President was waiting to receive them.

  ‘I trust Your Gracious Majesty will find plenty of interest in the Exhibition,’ said the President. ‘We are honoured and delighted that you have favoured us with a visit.’

  William beamed, his good temper restored.

  But it was almost as though a mischievous sprite was at the President’s elbow, thought Adelaide. Why did he have to lead them to that particular picture?

  ‘A very fine work, Sir. One of the best in the Exhibition. A portrait of Admiral Napier.’

  For a few seconds the King was speechless. Then the storm broke.

  ‘Admiral Napier. Oh no, sir. Captain Napier. And may Captain Napier be damned and you with him, sir. And if the Queen were not here with me, sir, I should kick you downstairs.’

  The King had spoken so loudly that everyone present heard each word clearly. The President could not understand what he had done to offend the King; and whatever his offence he certainly did not expect to be kicked downstairs.

  The King’s face had grown scarlet. He addressed the company on the shortcomings of Captain Napier and the President of the Royal Academy who had allowed a picture of the knave to be put on show.

  His audience averted their eyes; if it were possible they would have slipped away.

  Adelaide stood by shocked and trembling.

  Everyone was thinking: This is George III all over again. The King is going mad.

  * * *

  Victoria awoke on May 24th in the year 1833 and said to herself: ‘My fourteenth birthday! How very old!’

  As it was only half past five it was not time to get up yet, so she lay thinking about the day before her and wondering what her presents would be and what difference being fourteen would make. There would be letters as well, and surely one from dear Uncle Leopold and perhaps from Aunt Louise. And then the ball that the King and Queen were giving at St James’s for her. What fun that would be and Mamma could not prevent her going to it since it was her ball. A Juvenile Ball Aunt Adelaide had called it. But most important of all was the fact that she was fourteen years old – surely a milestone. Although she was not yet of age – there were another four years to go before that happy day – fourteen was no longer very young; and surely people could not continue to treat her as a child.

  It was so pleasant to lie in bed brooding. Mamma was not yet awake. Oh, how humiliating to have to sleep in one’s mother’s room. And when Mamma was not there Lehzen was.

  The first thing I shall do when I am of age is Be Alone she assured herself.

  And then she went on to think of the presents which would be hers. Mamma had been working rather secretly on something for the past weeks. She suspected it was a bag; in fact one or two people in the household had been hastily putting their work away when Victoria appeared.

  It was very pleasant lying there speculating on the future – both immediate and distant – until it was time to get up.

  After breakfast the Duchess took her to the table which had been laid out with her gifts and she cried out in pleasure as she discovered the bracelet and ornament of topaz and turquoise besides the lovely bag Mamma had worked for her. There were dresses and handkerchiefs and books. The Duchess certainly did give the most delightful presents. Dear Lehzen’s gift was a china basket and a little china figure. ‘Oh, dearest Lehzen, they are exquisite!’ cried Victoria. No one had forgotten. Sir John had taken great pains to have a picture of Dash painted for her.

  ‘Oh, but it is lovely, and so like darling Dashy.’ Sir John was pleased.

  The Conroy children – all five of them – Jane, Victoire, Ed-Ward, Stephen and Henry – were eagerly watching while she unwrapped their joint offering. It proved to be an enamel watch chain.

  ‘Papa said it would please you,’ announced Henry, as though that settled the matter. Indeed, thought Victoria, Papa Conroy was a god in this household. But there must be no discordant notes on a birthday – especially a fourteenth birthday.

  It was no ordinary day. There were many calls during the morning, for it seemed that everyone must come to pay tribute to Victoria on her birthday.

  Poor Aunt Sophia toddled along with the bag she had made herself.

  What a lot of bags I have! thought Victoria, but one must be pleased however many there were, especially when they had been so beautifully worked.

  ‘You are growing old, my dear.’ Aunt Sophia held her fast in her elderly embrace, from which Victoria longed to escape. ‘Enjoy yourself while you are young. It is not always easy when you grow old.’

  Poor old Aunt Sophia! She was so often alone in her apartments and sat there peering at her embroidery and netting her purses. But she must like her lonely apartments because she had chosen them. There were whispers about a certain visitor … a man who was connected with her past. People did not realise that Victoria had a pair of ears and that she liked to use them.

  The Duchess of Cumberland called and Victoria immediately asked after poor dear George.

  ‘I am planning to take him to Germany,’ the Duchess told her. ‘There is a very good man there who will do something for him.’

  ‘Oh, I do hope so.’

  ‘He will,’ said the Duchess almost angrily. Poor sad Aunt Frederica who must deceive herself into thinking that her son would regain his sight!

  ‘He asked me to tell you that he hoped you would have a happy birthday.’

  ‘Oh, do please thank him.’

  ‘I have a gift for you from him.’

  ‘That is lovely.’

  ‘See it before you pass judgment,’ said Frederica with a laugh.

  Tears came into Victoria’s eyes as she looked at the turquoise pin which was George Cumberland’s present to her.

  ‘He says he hopes you will like it.’

  ‘Pray tell him, dear Aunt, that I love it, and every time I wear it, which shall be often, I shall think of him.’

  ‘That will be a great comfort to him.’

  ‘Dear, dear George. Oh, I do hope this German will be able to make him well again.’

  ‘He will,’ said Aunt Frederica with a return of her old fierceness. ‘Now look at the present from myself and your Uncle Ernest,’ she went on. It was a bracelet in turquoise to match George’s pin.

  When she had excl
aimed her pleasure she must leave the Duchess and turn to others to receive presents and give thanks. So many things, she thought. I must list them all and leave nothing out of my Journal, because Mamma is sure to have a list and will say I am ungrateful if I forget one.

  All day long visitors called, and dinner was early that day so that there might be plenty of time to prepare for the ball at St James’s.

  * * *

  The Queen was smiling at the young people. Tonight she was going to forget her anxieties about William, who was in good spirits too, though rather annoyed that Sir John Conroy had come with the party from Kensington Palace.

  ‘Why does that fellow always have to be there?’ he demanded of Adelaide. ‘Behaves as though he’s Victoria’s stepfather.’

  Adelaide did not say that that was what he assuredly felt himself to be because it would only disturb William. But she did wish the Duchess of Kent would have the sense to keep Sir John out of the King’s sight. But it was becoming clearer and clearer that the Duchess had no intention of placating the King.

  But the sight of the excited Princess restored William’s good humour. She was wearing the diamond ear-rings which he had sent to Kensington Palace for her and which were his own special present as well as the brooch of turquoise and gold which Adelaide had given her.

  She came into his closet next to the ballroom and embraced him.

  ‘It is so nice to see you Uncle privately like this. It means I can give you a really big hug.’

  William’s eyes filled with tears. A charming girl. Adelaide had always said so and he could trust Adelaide to be right. The only thing wrong with Victoria was that mother of hers.

  ‘The ear-rings are quite beautiful.’

  ‘So you like them, eh? And that’s a nice brooch you’re wearing. Turquoise, is it?’ He was looking sly. He knew it was Aunt Adelaide’s gift.

  ‘Yes, Uncle. Is it not beautiful?’

  ‘Your Aunt Adelaide always knows what you young people like. Now it’s time we went into the ballroom. We have to open it together, you know.’

  It was very pleasant going into the ballroom, hand in hand with the King; and even the Duchess was pleased. The Queen had taken the precaution of asking Victoria’s dancing mistress Madame Bourdin to the ball so that she could supervise the dancing.

  As soon as they were in the ballroom the Queen came up with George Cambridge.

  ‘I think it would be an excellent idea if you two danced the first dance.’

  George Cambridge said he thought so too and taking Victoria’s hand led her on to the floor. Flushed and happy Victoria was aware of Mamma’s eyes on her; the Duchess was none too pleased; she did not want the King and Queen to imagine that they could pair off Victoria with her cousin. However, Victoria did not care; she gave herself up to the pleasure of the dance which she enjoyed so much.

  ‘So here you are,’ said George, ‘at one of Aunt Adelaide’s parties at last. I’m so glad you came.’

  ‘But of course I came. It is my birthday. You must know that because you gave me that lovely lily-of-the-valley brooch. Do you realise I’m fourteen?’

  ‘I did, because we are almost the same age.’

  ‘We are getting so old,’ said Victoria gleefully. Then she added sadly: ‘The last time I saw you George Cumberland was there.’

  ‘He’s going blind they say.’

  ‘But he will recover. He is going to Germany to a doctor there.’

  They were silent for a second or so but it was too happy an occasion for sadness and Madame Bourdin was watching them to make sure that they danced the steps correctly.

  ‘Soon,’ said Victoria, ‘it will not be a children’s ball but a grown-up one.’

  ‘I shall claim the first dance at your first grown-up ball.’

  Victoria laughed. What fun it was to have a young and handsome cousin like George Cambridge. Poor George Cumberland was sadly afflicted, but there were other cousins in Germany. Mamma had spoken of them occasionally.

  The dance was at an end and she must not dance all the time with the same partner. The Queen brought to her those young gentlemen who had been selected for the honour of dancing with her and so the time passed until it was time for supper and the Queen took her to the King who led her to the supper room. There she sat between the King and the Queen and everyone drank her health and wished her long life and happiness which was very affecting.

  Then she went back to the ballroom to dance once more; it was such a happy ball she wished it would never come to an end. She noted gleefully that it was midnight and still she was dancing.

  But a few minutes later the ball was over and she was in the carriage driving back to Kensington. The Duchess sat beside her and Victoria closed her eyes and pretended to be sleepy because she was afraid that Mamma would talk disparagingly about the King and Queen and so spoil it all. She did not want to hear anything against anyone on that night. It was all so perfect and she wanted it to remain so.

  The next day she wrote an account of it in her Journal which she finished with the words: ‘I was very much amused.

  Chapter XII

  THE COUSINS FROM WÜRTTEMBERG

  There was a great deal of excitement in Kensington Palace that June because two of Victoria’s cousins, Alexander and Ernest, the Princes of Württemberg, who were the sons of the Duchess’s sister, were to visit England.

  ‘Of course,’ said the Duchess to Sir John, ‘there will be speculation at St James’s.’

  ‘Naturally, and with good reason,’ he replied.

  ‘I should certainly want Victoria to marry someone from my side of the family.’

  ‘Most certainly,’ agreed Sir John.

  ‘And these dear boys are charming. It will be interesting to watch Victoria’s reactions.’

  ‘She is inclined to react favourably to some members of her opposite sex.’

  ‘I certainly do not like her fondness for George Cambridge.’

  ‘And you can be sure Their Majesties are delighted by it.’

  ‘They will be shown,’ said the Duchess haughtily.

  She sent for Victoria to prime her about the visiting cousins.

  ‘You will want to be very hospitable to your cousins,’ she said. ‘And I am sure you will be on your best behaviour.’

  Victoria was silent. Did Mamma think she was a child, who did not know how to behave with visiting relatives?

  ‘I have planned some excursions for your cousins. They will naturally want to see as much of England as they can … and of us.’

  ‘Why yes, Mamma, I suppose that is why they are coming.’

  ‘They are coming, my dear, because I have invited them.’

  ‘But of course, Mamma.’

  The Duchess was becoming more and more uneasy about Victoria. Fortunately four more years must elapse before she was of age.

  The day of arrival was a Sunday and Victoria was overcome with impatience to see the cousins. She chatted to Lehzen about them. They were quite old … that was older than the Georges. They would be different, too, for the Georges were being brought up to be very English and the Württemberg cousins would be very German. It was most exciting to have male cousins. There were two others whom Mamma mentioned now and then – the sons of her brother, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha – Ernest and Albert. She hoped to meet them too one day.

  ‘You will,’ said Lehzen.

  ‘Oh, I do hope so. But in the meantime we have these dear cousins from Württemberg.’

  The day went on much as usual. She found it hard to concentrate on prayers, which was such a pity, for the Rev. Mr Pittman – who substituted for the poor Dean whose little daughter had died of scarlet fever so that the poor man was too overcome to take prayers – gave an excellent sermon, his text being ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ She had trained herself to remember such details, for Mamma expected to see them all recorded in her Journal, which, she admitted to herself, was very good training for her.

  At three o’clock in the aftern
oon the cousins arrived, and from the moment she saw them she was enchanted with them. They were so tall and handsome and vied with each other to charm their little cousin. The Duchess was delighted with them, too, and she took them into her drawing-room and asked all sorts of questions about the family, which Victoria found most interesting. Later they went for a drive in the park and were back at the Palace in time for dinner.

  Victoria confided to Lehzen that night that she was fond of them already.

  ‘I am very pleased to hear it,’ said Lehzen. ‘And I am sure they are ready to be as fond of you … very fond.’

  It was so pleasant to be admired.

  ‘They are extremely tall,’ said Victoria with a laugh. ‘And Alexander is very handsome.’

  ‘So you prefer Alexander?’

  ‘Well, Ernest has a very kind expression; but I think they are both extremely amiable.’

  Lehzen looked more pleased than ever and Victoria added that she thought she was going to be very much amused.

  * * *

  ‘So,’ said William to Adelaide, ‘that woman has brought her relations over. Those two young men! You know what this is for, eh?’

  ‘I suppose she feels she wants to look around for a husband. Victoria is fourteen now. She may well be married in four years’ time.’

  ‘She’ll have to have my consent,’ said the King grimly. ‘And Victoria is to have George.’

  The Queen sighed. ‘I hope so. But I daresay if Victoria wanted someone else you would not be the one to withhold your consent.’

  ‘That’s what that woman knows, Adelaide. She wants to lead the child not where she wants to go but what suits my lady Duchess best, and I won’t have it. I want the child to be happy, as you know. But that woman would force her into a marriage whether she wished it or not.’

  ‘Perhaps you would like to have a look at these young men.’

  ‘I should.’

  ‘Then I will give a ball for them and we will invite the entire Kensington party.’

  ‘You do that, Adelaide; and I shall let that woman know that she is not going to bring one of her miserable nephews over here to be the consort of the Queen of England.’