‘If you should be defeated at the polls you will still be my friend, Lord Melbourne. I shall insist upon it. You will visit me often; you will write to me. We must never forget that we are friends.’
Lord Melbourne was too moved to speak for a few moments and then said brightly, as though to cover up his emotion, ‘I have some news for Your Majesty.’
‘What news?’ she cried, trying to catch his mood.
‘News which will please and interest you. Lord John Russell really is going to marry Fanny Elliot.’
‘Really? He certainly needs a wife with all those children. How many of them are there?’
‘Six.’
‘Oh, yes, four of them were dear Adelaide’s before she married him and the youngest little girl was Lord John’s. Then there’s little Victoria named after me, whose coming was responsible for Adelaide’s death. I wish them every happiness. I have always been so fond of Johnny.’
But Lord Melbourne had left her the thought of the first Lady John Russell who had died giving birth to a child and she was reminded unpleasantly of her own ordeal which was coming closer.
Then the sense of well-being which Albert’s care for her had brought her began to wane; and she trembled at the thought of facing the hazardous business of once more bringing a child into the world.
Lord Melbourne soon had an opportunity of speaking to Prince Albert when he congratulated him on the successful outcome of his little manoeuvre.
‘It could not have been achieved without the cooperation of Sir Robert,’ said the Prince.
‘It’s to be hoped that Her Majesty realises this.’
‘She still dislikes him.’
Lord Melbourne smiled tenderly; then he was serious and said regretfully: ‘It will be Your Highness’s place, not mine, to correct her in this.’
‘I hope I shall be successful,’ said Albert.
‘Your Highness must be successful.’
‘I want to thank you for your help, Lord Melbourne.’
‘My duty, Your Highness. My greatest desire is for Her Majesty’s happiness.’
‘Then we share a goal.’
‘Your Highness, I should like to offer a word of advice.’
‘Please do.’
‘Get rid of the governess.’
Albert’s calm manner belied his inner excitement. ‘If only I could,’ he whispered.
‘She will always work against you. It may well be that many of your differences with the Queen have had their roots in her behaviour.’
‘I have long believed this to be so. She is inefficient. I blame the Queen’s lack of education on her.’
‘Her mother should not have segregated her from the Court and should have given her better teachers. The Baroness has done what she believes best and her devotion is without question. The Queen overflows with affection; she is completely loyal. But if you are going to have a happy married life, and that will contribute to a successful reign, you must get rid of the governess.’
‘Lord Melbourne, I am in absolute agreement with you.’
‘Her Majesty is at this moment grateful to you. She is ready to lean on you. Perhaps this is the moment to tell her that the governess should go.’
Albert was thoughtful. Then he shook his head.
‘She would never agree. She would become excited and when she does so her temper is violent. To attempt to win her consent to the Baroness’s dismissal now would be dangerous. I confess I am alarmed – considering her condition – when she flies into these tempers. I shall wait.’
‘But it will be your ultimate object?’ asked the Prime Minister.
‘You can be assured of that, Lord Melbourne.’
The political crisis reached its head. The government had been defeated on the budget and as it did not resign a vote of confidence was taken, the result of which was 312 in favour of the Opposition, 311 for the government. Lord Melbourne’s Ministry was defeated by one vote, and there would now be an election.
The Queen was distressed but at least Albert had arranged matters so that she could not be humiliated over her bedchamber ladies.
Albert was delighted because he had been offered an honorary degree and must go to Oxford to accept it.
‘You will of course accompany me?’ he asked.
‘But of course, Albert, I am so proud of you and nothing pleases me more than when other people realise your worth. I see it is to be on the fourteenth. That is very soon. I will tell Lehzen to make preparations for our departure immediately.’
‘Victoria.’
‘Yes, Albert?’
He hesitated. ‘Do we need Lehzen?’
‘Need Lehzen? Why, Albert, Lehzen and I have never been separated.’
‘This would be a very short separation.’
‘Nevertheless we should be apart and that hasn’t happened before.’
‘It is different now you are married.’
‘In a way, Albert, yes, but being married is no reason why I should change towards my dear friend.’
Albert said: ‘I thought she was invaluable in looking after little Vicky.’
‘But of course she is.’
‘You did not propose taking a baby of a few months on a trip to Oxford?’
‘But of course not, Albert.’
‘The Baroness is in charge of the nurseries, is she not?’
‘She is, you know, Albert.’
(Yes, I know it, thought Albert, and regret it, and it will not be for long.)
‘Then she must be there to take charge of the baby. Vicky cannot be trusted to the nurses.’
Victoria saw the point of this. Lehzen would have to stay behind.
It was only a half victory. He hated the thought of Lehzen’s being in charge of his children. Judged by his meticulous standards the woman was quite incompetent – but at least on this occasion he had arranged it so that they could escape from the Baroness for the while.
The Oxford journey was quite a success although Victoria did miss Lehzen.
‘Do you realise, Albert,’ she said, ‘that I have never before been parted from the Baroness since I was five years old.’
‘It is a very long time,’ said Albert, thinking, far too long.
When they returned to Buckingham Palace Lehzen greeted her as though their separation had lasted years.
‘I have been so anxious,’ she said. ‘I thought that you might be feeling a bit low and I shouldn’t be there to look after you.’
‘My lowness was only due to being parted from you, dearest Daisy,’ said the Queen.
The Duchess of Kent, who was taking a tour of the Continent, wrote from Amorbach where she was staying in the house of her son and Victoria’s half brother, the Prince of Leiningen:
It is like a dream writing to you from this place. My heart is full. I am so occupied with you and Albert and the precious little creature …
She showed the letter to Albert, who was moved by it. Mama would not have been writing like that a year ago. This change in their relationship was largely due to Albert and she must realise that it was far better to be on affectionate terms with one’s own mother than to harbour animosity.
‘Mama has changed so,’ she said to Albert.
‘Perhaps you have too a little, my love,’ he said.
She did not think so, She had always been ready to be on friendly terms. It was Mama and that dreadful John Conroy who made it impossible.
Lehzen sniffed over the Duchess’s letter when Victoria showed it to her.
‘It remains to be seen how long this mood will last,’ she commented.
‘Albert is delighted and in fact has really done everything to bring this change about.’
Lehzen was silent, but after a while she said that she was glad the Queen was not of a temper to be led by people who might not have a real understanding of the true state of affairs.