The Queen and Lord M Read Online Free PDF

sitting-room,’ said the Duchess. ‘We should go to them at once.’
    ‘I will go alone, Mamma,’ said Victoria firmly in a voice which struck the Duchess like a blow and warmed the heart of Lehzen.
    ‘My darling!’ began the Duchess.
    Victoria said firmly: ‘Yes, Mamma. Alone .’
    They went down that awkward staircase, the three of them. Victoria had been forbidden even to walk down it alone and even at such a moment remembered this, for to be a queen meant to be free and freedom was one of the sweetest things her crown would bring her.
    She glanced at the two women at the door of the sitting-room and her look was regal. Then alone she entered the room.
    The two men were momentarily startled by the sight of the childlike figure, for with her bare feet thrust into heelless slippers she was very tiny indeed; and with her long fair hair hanging about her shoulders and her cotton dressing gown falling loosely about her she looked even less than her eighteen years.
    But there was nothing childlike in the manner in which she received these men, and as soon as Lord Conyngham knelt and began ‘Your Majesty’ she held out her hand for him to kiss as though she had all her life been accustomed to the homage paid to a queen.
    Conyngham immediately kissed the proffered hand and went on to tell her that His Majesty King William IV had died at ten minutes past two that morning.
    Then it was the Archbishop’s turn. He too knelt and was given a small hand to kiss.
    ‘Queen Adelaide desired that I should come and give Your Majesty details of the King’s last hours,’ said the Archbishop. ‘His sufferings were not great at the end and he died in a happy state of mind.’
    ‘How relieved I am to hear that!’ She was the affectionate niece then, her eyes full of tears remembering the kindness of dear Uncle William and Aunt Adelaide.
    But there was no time for grief. Events would begin to move very fast and she must be prepared.
    She thanked the Lord Chamberlain and the Archbishop for coming so promptly to acquaint her with the sad news from Windsor, and charging the Lord Chamberlain to return at once to the Castle to convey her condolences and sorrow to Queen Adelaide, she left the men.
    Her mother was waiting for her at the door, Lehzen hovering, still clutching the smelling salts.
    ‘Oh, Mamma,’ said Victoria. ‘Poor Uncle William!’
    ‘My love!’
    The Duchess took her daughter into her arms and laying her head on the maternal shoulder Victoria wept.
    She needs comfort from her mother, thought the Duchess exultantly, but Victoria’s next words dispelled that hope.
    ‘I did not say goodbye to him. I did not visit him when he was so ill. He will think I did not care .’
    That was a reproach, for who had prevented her visiting her uncle? Who had kept up a feud between Windsor and Kensington? Almost the last time the King had appeared in public he had delivered a reproach to the Duchess which had caused a great scandal.
    The Duchess thought: I am losing her. Have I lost her already?
    Her Majesty disengaged herself and saw Lehzen waiting.
    ‘Dearest Lehzen,’ she said, her tone becoming warm and affectionate, ‘come with me. I must dress immediately.’
    So she and Lehzen went back to the bedroom shared with the Duchess (for the last time, Victoria assured herself) and Lehzen took the black bombazine from the cupboard.
    ‘Dear Uncle, I shall mourn him sadly, Lehzen.’
    ‘Your heart does Your Majesty credit.’
    ‘Your Majesty!’ Victoria giggled. ‘It’s the first time you’ve said it, Lehzen.’
    Lehzen turned away to hide her emotion and Victoria, to whom it never occurred to hide hers, seized her firmly and hugged her.
    ‘Nothing … simply nothing … will make any difference to us, dear Lehzen.’
    Lehzen sobbed. ‘I’m so proud of you … so proud.’
    Victoria smiled and was immediately serious. ‘I am so young, Lehzen, and perhaps in many ways – though not in all things – inexperienced. But I