The Queen's Husband by Jean Plaidy Page B

really exhausted; and she had not got over the feverish cold which to her – and everyone else’s – consternation had attacked her a week ago. She must be well for her wedding night. She threw off her tiredness and went down to the drawing-room.
    Albert was seated at the piano, playing divinely and looking even more divine.
    He stopped playing when she entered and rose to embrace her. What bliss, she thought. How I love dear Albert.
    ‘But, dearest Albert, I interrupted your playing and it was so wonderful.’
    He continued to play.
    Afterwards he came and sat on a footstool at her feet and they talked of the future. She told him how happy she was to have such a wonderful husband and that she had never spent such a happy evening in the whole of her life in spite of the fact that she could still feel the effects of her recent fever and had had such an exhausting time.
    She must retire early, said Albert, and submissively she agreed.

    They rose early next morning and before breakfast they took a walk in what Albert called the wonderful fresh air.
    February air was indeed fresh, commented Victoria, but it did not matter because she glowed from the warmth of Albert’s love; and she told him that there was nowhere she would rather be than walking in the gardens at Windsor on a cold February morning with her dearest husband at her side.
    She was so hungry, she told him; she was ready for a good breakfast.
    Albert smiled indulgently and said she was like a child.
    ‘Don’t forget, Albert,’ she laughed. ‘I am three months older than you.’
    ‘No one would believe it,’ he said.
    ‘They know it.’ She was solemn suddenly. ‘That is one of the drawbacks of being royal. People know everything about one.’
    ‘Everything?’ he queried. ‘Isn’t my dearest Victoria inclined to exaggerate?’
    ‘I was not aware of it.’
    ‘Well your remark was not exactly truthful .’
    She looked concerned. ‘And one must be truthful. I will remember in future. Thank you, Albert, for pointing it out. I see that you are going to be good for me.’
    He loved her in that moment. All was going to be well. She was enchanting, his dear little wife. He had been overawed because of the manner in which those around her behaved to the Queen.
    ‘Come, my precious angel,’ she said, ‘let us go in to breakfast.’
    Hand in hand they entered the castle, where an unpleasant surprise was awaiting Albert.
    The Baroness Lehzen was seated at the breakfast table. She scarcely looked at the Prince; her eyes went at once to Victoria.
    ‘Good morning, dearest Daisy,’ said Victoria. Daisy! Her name was not Daisy. He had discovered all he could about this Lutheran pastor’s daughter and he knew that her name was Louise.
    ‘My precious love, how are you this morning?’
    ‘Oh, so happy, my dear.’
    The Baroness gave a nod of approval. Then she said good morning to the Prince as though she had just become aware of him.
    She poured Victoria’s coffee.
    ‘Just as you like it, my love.’
    ‘Oh, thank you, dear Lehzen.’
    Lehzen handed Albert his coffee.
    He was mortified and angry, but he could not show it. Their first breakfast the morning after their wedding day and the Baroness Lehzen had to share it with them!

  Chapter VI  
    THE HONEYMOON IS OVER
    On the third day after the wedding, the honeymoon was over and the Duchess of Kent arrived at Windsor accompanied by Albert’s brother and father.
    Albert was delighted to see them; he felt that his father and brother would give him support; as for the Duchess, she made a special point of being gracious to him, telling him that she felt already that she had another son. Being indiscreet she hinted that Victoria was not the most grateful of daughters but that she had been led astray by a certain person – not very far from them at this moment, and indeed never very far from the Queen – and this was a matter of great grief to her.
    Albert knew that the Duchess’s enemy was the Baroness