The Captive of Kensington Palace Read Online Free PDF Page A

tutors for a greater part of the day; she was taught music and dancing; but what, Feodora asked herself, did the child know of human relationships and life? She had almost blurted out the scandal just now concerning Uncle Ernest and his wife Louise; what if she had let slip that Louise was an unfaithful wife and that Uncle Ernest had divorced her? Mamma and Lehzen would have been furious. They wanted to protect Victoria; but could ignorance be considered a protection?
    And now she had betrayed the fact that Charles was heading for trouble. Well, what harm could there be if she told it discreetly?
    Victoria loved her half-brother Charles; it was wonderful to have a grown-up brother – he was three years older than Feodora. It was true she saw very little of him, but when she did, she thought him charming. He was often in Germany, which was after all his home, but she loved to have news of him.
    Feodora looked over her shoulder and whispered: ‘He is in love with Marie Klebelsberg and swears he’ll marry her. It will never be allowed.’
    ‘Who is Marie Klebelsberg?’ whispered Victoria.
    ‘She is the daughter of Count Klebelsberg. Aunt Louise … before … before she left the Court met her when she was travelling with Uncle Ernest and was so taken with her that she made her her lady-in-waiting. That was how Charles met her. He says nothing on earth will stop his marrying her.’
    ‘Not Grandmamma? Not Mamma?’
    ‘We shall have to see.’
    ‘Poor darling Charles! I believe people should marry for love.’
    She looked fondly at her dear Feodora and saw an idyllic picture – herself watering the flowers and Augustus and Feodora laughing under the trees and darling old Späth looking so pleased and happy.
    Feodora, fearful that she had said too much, went on quickly: ‘It’s a secret. You must not mention it. Mamma would be cross.’
    Victoria nodded conspiratorially; and Feodora, to take her mind from dangerous subjects, started to play the favourite game of ‘Do you remember?’
    Victoria enjoyed hearing stories that concerned herself; and because she was sad about the impending departure, Feodora decided to cheer her up. The story of Victoria and the Bishop never failed to delight the little girl.
    ‘He picked you up in his arms and you were not very pleased.’
    ‘No I was not,’ agreed Victoria. ‘And what did I do then, eh, Feodora?’
    ‘You pulled off his wig and started to pull the hair out of it.’
    ‘How … wicked of me,’ cried Victoria delightedly. ‘And what did he do?’
    ‘He could do nothing. Poor man, he was smothered in powder, and he only grew very red in the face and waited for Mamma to come to the rescue.’
    ‘Of course I was talked to very severely afterwards.’
    ‘Oh yes, there was quite a storm.’
    ‘Indeed I can be very wayward.’
    ‘Darling Vicky, you are often very good.’
    ‘Oh, am I?’
    ‘Do you remember when your Uncle York was dying how you used to send him a bunch of flowers every day?’
    ‘I picked them myself. I thought he would like to know I was thinking of him.’
    ‘There. It shows you can be kind and thoughtful.’
    ‘He gave me my beautiful donkey. Poor Uncle York! He was a very kind man. He was the heir to the throne then and now it is Uncle Clarence.’
    Feodora sighed. Did Victoria know who was next to Clarence in the succession? One did not mention it. Mamma and Lehzen had decided that since Victoria was so frank and apt to speak her mind, it was better if her future prospects were not made too clear to her. She must, said Mamma, be made to feel that life would offer her great responsibilities, but what these should be must, for the time being, be a little vague to her.
    ‘Darling Aunt Adelaide,’ said Victoria. ‘I love her very much. She gave me the Big Doll, you know. She is kind, although Mamma thinks her a little dowdy.’
    ‘Don’t mention that. Mamma would not be pleased.’
    ‘No, but I heard her mention it to Sir John.’
    Feodora