With Victoria's Blessing

by Mary Nichols

  She had pulled up a footstool close to the countess’s chair and squatted down on it with the skirt of her green taffeta gown spread about her and a pleading look on her upturned face. The pose was one she had often used as a child to have her own way and it had usually worked. But not today. Her mother’s answer had been disappointing but not totally unexpected and Emily, realising she had not put her case well, was determined to change her mother’s mind.

  ‘He is not a nobody, Mama, he is a lieutenant in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, but he is destined for great things.’

  ‘That’s as may be,’ her mother said. ‘I should like to know how you met him. I cannot recall a Lieutenant Richard Lawrence being presented to me.’

  ‘I met him at Constance Anderton’s coming-out ball. You were there. He asked me to dance with him.’

  ‘You danced with several young men at that ball,’ her mother said with a faint smile, in spite of being so annoyed with her daughter. ‘Quite put Constance’s nose out of joint.’

  ‘Yes, but there was only one Richard Lawrence,’ Emily said. ‘You must remember him. He was quite the handsomest man in the room. He has dark hair and brown eyes and a lovely smile.…’

  ‘Enough of that,’ her mother snapped. ‘I could hardly recall him from that ridiculous description. How old is he? What about his family? I presume he comes from good stock.’

  ‘He is twenty-three and his father is the rector of Brentford.’

  ‘A parson!’ her mother exclaimed in horror. ‘He must have been a second or third son, then.’

  ‘No, I do not think so. Richard never said anything about having uncles, though I do believe he has an aunt on his mother’s side who married a German baron. I do not recall her name.’

  ‘Then I was right. He is a nobody. That he had the effrontery to address you on the subject of marriage on your very first encounter more than proves it.’

  ‘It wasn’t on our first encounter. It was later when we had come to know each other better.’

  ‘Come to know each other better!’ the countess almost shrieked. ‘That a daughter of mine, who has been brought up to observe the proprieties and has always been properly chaperoned, could form an attachment to any young man that I do not know and have never met is beyond me. And you should certainly not have been discussing marriage before he had spoken to your papa. I cannot believe it of you, Emily, truly I cannot. I am shocked beyond telling.’

  ‘Why, Mama? We have done nothing wrong.’

  ‘It is to be hoped not. You had better tell me the whole. How often have you met him? Where and under what circumstances?’

  ‘I met him a second time at Lady Framlingham’s soirée, I did not know he would be there. And we were both at the concert at the Foundling Hospital. His father has some connection with it, I believe. And we met again by chance at Hookhams library and he carried my books home. I seemed to come across him at several functions after that and yesterday he was watching the cavalry rehearsing when I went for a walk in the park. It was then he asked me for permission to approach Papa, but I said I would speak to you first.’

  ‘And where was Margaret when all this was going on?’

  ‘Margaret was close by.’

  ‘She has neglected her duties shamefully. She should have reported all this to me. I think perhaps she should be dismissed and someone more suitable employed to be your companion.’

  ‘Oh, no, Mama, please don’t punish Margaret. I asked her not to say anything. It is not her fault.’

  ‘So, you knew what you were doing was wrong or you would not have asked her to keep silent on the matter. I blame myself. I should have kept a closer watch on you, but what with all the preparations for the wedding, I have been overwhelmed with things to do. I trusted you to behave properly when I am engaged with the queen, and it seems my trust has been sadly misplaced. No doubt you have been seen together and given the gabble-grinders something to get their teeth into.’

  ‘I am sure the gossips have no interest in what I do, Mama, and we have been very discreet.’

  ‘I had every hope you might be made a maid of honour,’ the countess went on, as if Emily had not spoken. ‘But if Her Majesty hears of this, it will not happen. Oh, Emily, how could you?’

  ‘I do not want to be a maid of honour. It is a horrible job, stuck in the palace all the time.’

  ‘There are thousands of girls who would give their right arms for that. It would guarantee you a welcome in every drawing room of note in the whole country. You could take your pick of all the eligible young men at court.’

  ‘I have already taken my pick. I do not want to marry anyone but Richard. I love him dearly.…’

  ‘Love him, bah! What do you know of love?’

  ‘The queen loves Prince Albert, you told me so, and she and I are of an age. And Richard is three years older than Prince Albert. If they can have a love-match, so can we.’

  ‘Prince Albert belongs to an ancient royal family, even if he is not English, and it was all properly conducted according to protocol. It was fortuitous that they took to each other from the first.’

  ‘We took to each other from the first too. And Prince Albert is inferior in rank to the queen—everyone knows he is—and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is a nothing little state, hardly bigger than an English county, but it didn’t stop him asking her to marry him.’

  ‘He did not ask her. That would have been highly improper. She asked him.’

  ‘Well, it doesn’t make any difference who asked whom. No one said they could not marry because of his inferior rank.’

  ‘Emily, for goodness’ sake, do not repeat that outside this room. You will have us thrown in the Tower.’

  Emily giggled at that notion.

  ‘It is no laughing matter,’ the countess went on. ‘You have become far too pert for your own good. You will not see or communicate with Lieutenant Lawrence again.’

  ‘But, Mama, if only you would see him and talk to him, I am sure you would like him.…’

  ‘Enough. I have said no and that is an end of it.’

  ‘Yes, Mama.’

  Emily decided she had better pretend to be acquiescent, because arguing with Mama was a futile exercise and would only make her more obdurate. She would not put it past her mother to give instructions that she was to be locked in her bedroom and not allowed out at all if she showed any sign of rebellion. But that did not mean she would capitulate. Richard was far too important to her to be given up at the first hurdle.

  ‘I must go back to the queen,’ the countess said, standing. ‘She is having a fitting this afternoon and is in a state of anxiety about it. How did you come?’

  The interview was at an end and Emily got up off the stool, dejection in every line of her body. ‘I asked Grimes to bring me in the carriage. Papa gave his permission.’

  ‘Did he know why you wanted to see me?’

  ‘No, he did not ask and I did not say. I hoped you would tell him.’

  ‘Not I. He will think ill of me for not being able to control my own daughter. And there is no need to say anything to him at all because the subject is at an end. You will not marry Lieutenant Lawrence and you will not meet him again. Is that quite clear?’

  ‘Yes, Mama, quite clear.’

  ‘There are several eminent young men with good prospects of titles and fortunes who are far more suitable, and when the queen’s nuptials are over and we go back to normal, your father and I will set about introducing you to one or two. We have been far too indulgent with you over your fussiness up to now.’ She was on the way to the door as she spoke, her silk gown whispering about her. ‘Where is Margaret?’

  ‘Waiting outside, Mama. I wanted to talk to you alone.’

  The countess flung the door open, startling the young lady who stood in the corridor. ‘Margaret, there you are. I want you to make sure Lady Emily does not see or communicate with Lieutenant Lawrence again. It will cost you your position if you allow it.’

  Margaret curtsied. ‘Yes
, my lady.’

  With that the countess sailed past her, leaving a tearful Emily to be comforted by her companion.

  ‘What am I to do?’ Emily asked. ‘I cannot give Richard up.’

  ‘I do not know, my lady, but if you are thinking of meeting him secretly, I advise you to think again. I dare not disobey her ladyship.’

  ‘I know that, Margaret, and I will not ask it of you.’ She brightened suddenly. ‘I could apply to the queen.’

  ‘Oh, no, please don’t do that. The queen is too busy arranging her own wedding, and besides, she will only tell you to obey your mama. And how humiliating that would be for her ladyship. She might be dismissed from the royal presence on account of it, and then what would your papa say?’

  Emily sighed. ‘You are undoubtedly right. Let’s go home. I hate it here. It is cold and draughty and smells of gas and goodness knows what else. How the queen can bear to live here, I don’t know.’

  They found their way out of the building, passing maids and footmen, all occupied on some errand or other, who took no notice of them. The palace was like a busy town, with hundreds of servants performing hundreds of different functions, not to mention people from outside—like costumiers, dressmakers, lace makers, corset makers, shoemakers, furriers, caterers and vintners—coming and going on the business of the wedding.

  Speculation about what the bride would wear was rife; cloth of gold or silver, crimson velvet and purple satin and ermine were being bandied about. Emily knew, because her mother had told her, that the queen was concerned that her role on this occasion was to be that of a bride, not a queen, and she would not wear robes of state or a crown, because they would belittle her groom. But the countess was silent on exactly what the queen would wear, except to say the material for the gown had been woven in Spitalfields and the lace had been occupying the Honiton lace makers for some time.

  What was occupying Emily’s mind as they drove the short distance from Buckingham Palace to Upper Brook Street was not the royal wedding but her own. How could she send a message to Richard without involving Margaret? How could she meet him? She had to see him, not only because a day without a glimpse of his dear face was a day of misery, but because she needed to reassure him she had not given him up and never would. Not normally disobedient, she could not cut Richard out of her life, she just could not.

  ‘I must let Richard know what has happened,’ she told Margaret as the family coach carried them home.

  ‘If you are going to ask me to convey a message to him, I am afraid I shall have to refuse,’ Margaret said. ‘Much as I love you and sympathise, I dare not go against the countess. She is already very cross with me.’

  ‘I know.’ A huge sigh followed this. ‘But you could take a note to Constance Anderton asking her to call on me. Mama would surely not object to that?’

  ‘No, but it depends on the reason for it.…’

  ‘Please, Margaret, I beg you. You need not listen to what Constance and I talk about. As far as you are concerned it is nothing but idle gossip about the queen’s wedding.’

  ‘Oh, very well, but on your own head be it.’ Margaret sighed. Emily in one of her stubborn moods was difficult to gainsay.

  Chapter Three

  All Constance wanted to do when the two girls had settled themselves in Emily’s bedroom was talk about the royal wedding and the parties they were going to attend and who was likely to be at them and what she might wear. It was some time before Emily was able to bring up the subject of Richard. Margaret was in the dressing room next door, busying herself with Emily’s wardrobe, and Jeannette, Constance’s companion, had gone to join her.

  ‘Constance, can you keep a secret?’ she asked when they had exhausted the topic of that wedding.

  ‘A secret?’ The other girl’s eyes lit up. Unlike Emily, she had fair hair and blue eyes and dressed in pale pinks and blues and apple greens, whereas Emily favoured stronger colours which went well with her dark hair and hazel eyes. Today she was in yellow and green stripes. ‘Oh, do tell.’

  ‘Only if you promise not to divulge it to a soul.’

  ‘Of course I won’t.’

  ‘You remember Lieutenant Richard Lawrence?’

  ‘Yes, he was at my ball. Don’t tell me you have developed a tendre for him.’

  ‘More than that. He has asked me to marry him.’

  ‘Emily! And you never said a word to me and I am your best friend.’

  ‘He only asked me two days ago. And I’m glad you are my friend because I have a favour to ask you.’

  ‘Oh.’ This was said warily.

  ‘Mama had forbidden me to see him and I simply have to get a message to him. Will you deliver a letter?’

  ‘But, Emily, I hardly know him. He was a friend of my brother. They joined the navy together. He was only asked to the ball to make up the numbers. I can no more communicate with him than you can. My parents would have a fit.’

  ‘Then what am I to do? I simply have to tell him why I cannot meet him. He will be waiting for me and when I do not come he will think I do not care for him any more. And nothing could be further from the truth. I love him to distraction.’

  ‘Waiting for you where?’

  ‘At the gate of Green Park.’

  ‘I cannot simply walk up to him in the park and hand him a note. Oh, Emily, friend or not, I dare not do that.’

  ‘Then I shall have to defy my mother and go myself. I will not give him up, I will not. I’ll run away with him first.’

  ‘Emily, I beg you not to do that. The scandal will be too dreadful and think of your poor parents. And how will you live? He is only a lieutenant, after all.’

  ‘I know all that. He said it himself, but I was sure I could bring Mama round and I think I still could. The trouble is she has so little time for me nowadays.’

  ‘Then be patient.’

  ‘Oh, you are not much use at all.’

  Constance was thoughtful. ‘I could ask Freddie to let Lieutenant Lawrence know why you cannot meet him. More than that I dare not do.’

  Emily thought about this. It meant bringing Constance’s brother into the conspiracy and the more people who knew about it, the more chance there was of her mother finding out she had disobeyed her. On the other hand, it might be a safer way to communicate with Richard. ‘Oh, would you? Oh, thank you, thank you. I’ll give you a note to give to him.’

  ‘I did not say I would deliver a note.’

  ‘Oh, but you will, won’t you? I must tell him in my own words, and—’

  ‘Enough, Emily! Do not tell me any more. I do not want to know. Write your letter.’

  Emily had already written it in anticipation and it was the work of a moment to give it to Constance, who stuffed it in the pocket of her skirt, just as Margaret and Jeannette put in an appearance. Emily and Constance turned to them, all innocence, and drew them into a conversation about the queen’s wedding and speculation about Her Majesty’s groom. He was very handsome, they conceded, but a little dour, though perhaps it was the seriousness of being the consort of the most powerful monarch in the world which made him like that; perhaps he would unbend a little when he became used to his new life. Emily’s mind was only half on the conversation; she was thinking of Richard and what he would do when he read her letter.

  Chapter Four

  Lieutenant Richard Lawrence was sitting in a corner of Fladong’s parlour, a hotel popular with naval officers, until it was time to make his way to Green Park and his assignation with Emily.

  How he had come to fall in love with her, when he had told himself, and anyone else who would listen, that marriage was not for him, not until he became a captain at the very least, he did not know. But he had been bewitched by her the moment he saw her sitting on the edge of the Anderton ballroom looking delectable in a gown whose colour he could only describe as squashed raspberry. It had a boat-shaped neckline which hinted at a well-shaped bosom, and huge puffed sleeves trimmed with quantities of lace which seemed to emphasise
a tiny waist he had an urge to put his hands around.

  He had asked her to dance and discovered she had a lively intelligence and an independent spirit coupled with a keen sense of humour, unlike so many of the hothouse blooms he had come across that evening. She had a beautiful face too. He sat musing on this, recalling her bright hazel eyes, her pink cheeks and perfectly shaped mouth, just right for kissing, when Freddie Anderton sat down opposite him and shattered his dream.

  ‘There you are, Dick, I’ve been searching everywhere for you.’

  ‘Why? Have we been recalled?’

  ‘Not yet. I don’t think we’ll recognise the Ariel and Firebrand when we get back to them, they’ll be so prettied up for the prince. No doubt we’ll be shoved in with the mates to make room for the entourage.’ Richard was serving on the Ariel, Freddie on the Firebrand, another paddle steamer being readied for Prince Albert’s use.

  ‘No doubt.’

  ‘What were you in such a brown study about?’

  ‘Never you mind.’

  ‘I can guess. A young lady. A young lady by the name of Emily.’ Richard’s startled look made his friend smile. ‘Did you think it was a secret? It’s written all over you. “I am in love.” Do not deny it.’

  ‘I am not denying it. There is a snag to our happiness though.’

  ‘To be sure there is. The daughter of an earl and an impoverished naval lieutenant do not make a match. You must have realised that from the outset.’

  ‘Of course I did, but we were carried away.…’

  ‘Not too carried away, I hope.’

  ‘No, of course not.’ Richard was indignant. ‘But I did blurt out that I wanted to marry her, expecting her to turn me down, but she didn’t. Freddie, she said yes.’ His eyes lit up at the memory. ‘But that has left me with a dilemma. She is convinced she can persuade her parents to agree to the marriage, but even if they do, we cannot live as she is accustomed to on my income.’