He was horrified.
His questions quickly aroused suspicions which were deeply resented. The Baroness Lehzen, who was in charge of the keys, although she had no special title, never bothered them. She had other matters with which to concern herself than what went on in the kitchens. As long as she had her caraway seeds served with every meal, and when there was a state banquet or a dinner party food appeared on the table, that was all that mattered.
The servants grumbled together that they wanted no meddling German coming to their quarters to spy on them.
The Prince’s investigations were reported to the Baroness, so she was ready for him.
He came to her room one day and told her about the pane of glass which had been missing for months because the inefficiency of the system had made it impossible for the request to reach the right person.
‘I did not know Your Highness would concern himself with such a little thing.’
‘It is of great concern. That boy got into the palace. How?’
‘Not through that broken window surely?’
‘He was in the palace because there is a lack of security.’
Lehzen said: ‘As soon as I heard a commotion near the Queen I was out of bed. I have looked after her for years. The slightest sound … and I am there.’
‘That is not the point,’ said the Prince patiently.
The Baroness broke into German. He followed. It was easier for them both. The Baroness was trying hard to control her anger; she had to remember that he was the Queen’s husband. He found it easier to remain calm. He must not quarrel with her. She would distort what he said and carry tales to the Queen.
But in those moments there was one fact which was clear to them.
There was not room for them both in the palace.
Albert said: ‘My love, I want to talk to you about palace security.’
‘Oh, Albert, are you worrying about the Boy Jones?’
‘It has started me thinking, and I have been looking into these matters. Really, there are some strange things going on in your household.’
‘What do you mean, Albert?’
‘Well, for one thing it takes months to get a pane of glass repaired.’
‘Does it?’
‘All because of stupid mismanagement. I want to go into all the details of the household management. I think we could dismiss several of the servants who are of no use at all.’
‘Dismiss them! Oh, but Albert, where would they go?’
‘To some households which could find work for them. There is not enough here for so many.’
‘It has been going on for years, Albert.’
‘All the more reason why it should go on no longer. I want the keys of the household.’
‘Lehzen has them.’
‘Well, they must be taken away from her.’
‘Must, Albert?’
‘Yes, since she mismanages everything in this way.’
‘Albert! I couldn’t possibly take the keys away from Lehzen. She would be so hurt.’
‘Then hurt she must be. You should tell her that I am not satisfied with the way in which she allows the household to be run.’
‘But I am satisfied, Albert.’
‘How can you be?’
‘Because it has been running for years and I never heard any complaint before. Besides, it is not for you to run the household.’
‘I disagree.’
She was tired and the baby was always crying and not such fun as she had thought a baby would be. She was worried about Dash, who wouldn’t eat anything and looked at her with sad mournful eyes. And Albert plagued her about the household!
‘I shall certainly not speak to Lehzen,’ she said. ‘And Albert, I must beg of you not to interfere when I do not wish you to.’
Albert clicked his heels and bowed. Now he was going to be tiresome. He was going to retire to his room and be very calm and behave as though nothing had happened. How maddening calm people could be! Every minute she was getting nearer to an outburst of anger.
It was coming.
‘You forget that this is my household. If I am satisfied that is all that matters. You are not the ruler of this country though sometimes I think you imagine you are.’
Albert was at the door.
‘I wish I had never married,’ she shouted. ‘I wish I had never allowed myself to be persuaded.’
Albert had gone.
She stared at the door.
Oh, dear, dear Albert, she thought. Whatever had made her say such a silly thing!
Albert was gently forgiving but when he showed signs of raising the matter of the household he saw the danger signals in her eyes. He decided to wait. He had made some advance and his position had greatly improved in the last months; he was sure that if he were patient eventually he would bring Victoria to a logical point of view, and then she would be able to see that Baroness Lehzen was doing a great deal of harm.
So Albert began planning for Christmas, which should be spent at Windsor; and the Queen, who loved festivities and was only too delighted to have Albert friendly and appearing to have forgotten their differences, listened excitedly.
She was happy sitting beside Albert as the carriage rolled along, the nurses following behind with Lehzen and dear Pussy.
Albert was telling her about Christmases at Rosenau and how he and his brother had gone into the forest and brought home the yule logs. All the presents had been arranged on tables under the Christmas trees and each member of the household had his or her own table.
It had been very similar in Kensington Palace, said Victoria. After all Mama had come to England from Leiningen and had brought the same family customs to Kensington.
‘I want this to be a very happy Christmas,’ said Victoria, feeling contrite about the terrible thing she had said to Albert. She took his hand, and laughing added: ‘I shall try to control my terrible temper and then I shan’t say things I don’t mean and for which I am so sorry afterwards.’
Albert pressed her hand and said he loved her generous heart.
So she was very happy driving along the frosty roads and she shared Albert’s pleasure at the sight of the stately castle and could scarcely wait to step within its ancient walls.
It was a wonderful Christmas. Albert threw himself wholeheartedly into the task of decorating the apartments. He ordered many trees to be cut and between them he and the Queen adorned them with candles and little gifts which could be tied on. Beneath them were the surprise parcels and Victoria could scarcely wait for Christmas Day when the packages should be unwrapped amid cries of pleasure and delighted amazement.
It was all rather as it had been when she was a little girl and she remembered how different Mama had been on such occasions. In fact Mama, who was with them at Windsor, had changed a great deal since the departure of her Comptroller of the Household, Sir John Conroy, and the arrival of Albert, who always referred to her as Dearest Mama. As for the Duchess, she was very fond of Albert and this had meant that relations between Victoria and her mother had changed.
Again the trouble was the Baroness, who had thought the Duchess had treated Victoria harshly when they were all at Kensington and they would never really get on.
So there were the Duchess and Albert ranged against the Baroness. Victoria frowned. Whatever happened, she had told herself, no one – simply no one – was going to turn her against her dearest Lehzen.
But Christmas was not a time for conflict. They must all be happy together and because she was sorry for her outburst Victoria had agreed to a quiet Christmas. There would be no grand ball, just an evening when they might dance a little or play games and Albert would leave his beloved double chess and play a round game in which everyone could join. Mama could have her whist which would keep her awake and satisfy her; and even Lehzen fell in with the general view because she said she did not want Victoria to be exhausted. It was too soon after her confinement and she must take care.