The Queen and Lord M Read Online Free PDF Page B

shall do my utmost to fulfil my duty to my country. And even though I am young and shall make so many mistakes, nobody could have more goodwill and a desire to do what is right than I have.’
    ‘Spoken like a queen … my Queen,’ said Lehzen.
    And they clung together until Victoria said: ‘Why, Lehzen, how foolish we are. I have business with my ministers. Come, I must dress. They will soon be here and I must be ready for them.’
    ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’
    ‘Majesty!’ How nice to hear it. But I suppose, she thought, in time I shall become used to it.

Chapter II
    THE FIRST DAY
    E ven the excitement of having become Queen of England could not interfere with Victoria’s appetite. She sat enjoying her breakfast while Lehzen hovered, adoring and marvelling, thinking how enchanting she looked with her fair hair and flushed cheeks which the rather dull black bombazine set off to perfection.
    A letter had arrived for her Majesty. She read it as she ate.
    ‘It is from Lord Melbourne, my Prime Minister. He is going to call on me a little before nine.’
    She smiled. A very exciting man, Lord Melbourne. My Prime Minister, she thought.
    There was a knock on the door.
    ‘Is Your Majesty to have no peace?’ cried Lehzen in a martyred tone of voice which made Victoria want to giggle. But she remembered her dignity in time.
    ‘Pray see who is there, Lehzen dear.’
    ‘It is the Baron Stockmar,’ said Lehzen. ‘Her Majesty is at breakfast, Baron. Perhaps you would care to wait.’
    ‘No, no,’ cried Victoria. ‘Come in, dear Baron. You can talk to me while I eat.’
    Stockmar entered and she rose, regal all at once, and held out her hand for him to kiss.
    He kissed it, and as she commented afterwards to Lehzen, ‘His affection for me shone in his dear faithful eyes.’ Lehzen said she always thought the best of everyone, but so many people were kind and good. There were exceptions of course, and one of her first tasks would be to set about dismissing That Man.
    ‘Dear Baron, have you eaten? Can I give you breakfast?’
    The Baron replied that he had breakfasted and like Lehzen was astonished to see her making such a good meal. Like Lehzen he had thought the smelling salts might have been more to her taste. He sat down smiling with admiration. She was so young. She did not realise the difficulties which lay ahead. But she was amenable and with him to guide her she would come through.
    ‘This is a great day in our lives,’ said Stockmar.
    ‘I hope it will be one which no one will ever regret,’ she said solemnly, and he thought the transition from frivolous girl to serious monarch was very endearing.
    ‘I will prophesy you will make a very great queen.’
    ‘Dear Baron! I know I shall have many kind helpers. Lord Melbourne will shortly be calling upon me.’
    ‘He has sent word of this?’
    ‘Yes, a charming note to say that he hopes it will be convenient for him to call just before nine.’
    ‘And will it be?’
    ‘Dear Baron, he is my Prime Minister.’
    ‘I believe His Majesty the King of the Belgians has confidence in him.’
    ‘Dear Uncle! As soon as I have finished breakfast I shall write to him and tell him it has happened, though I daresay he will not need me to tell him.’
    ‘He will be most eager to hear from you .’
    ‘It is wonderful to know that he is there.’
    ‘Your Majesty will have to be very discreet … now.’
    ‘Oh yes, Uncle is continually impressing that upon me.’
    ‘You will need a secretary. You will have to choose him with the utmost care.’
    She laughed, girlish again. ‘I can tell you one thing, Baron, that secretary will not be Sir John Conroy. In fact I intend to rid myself of that man at the earliest possible moment.’
    ‘Have you mentioned this to your mother?’
    ‘No. I consider it to be my affair.’
    Yes, the regality was undoubtedly there. Little Victoria might not be as easy to handle as some people had imagined. All the more reason why he should make known