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  With Victoria’s Blessing

  Mary Nichols

  Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1840

  Preparations for the young Queen Victoria’s wedding have thrown all of London into a frenzy—but for Lady Emily Sumner, her own marital dilemmas eclipse all the excitement!

  Forbidden to marry her beloved Lieutenant Richard Lawrence by her strict, status-conscious mama, Emily’s chance at wedded bliss seems out of reach… But as Maid of Honour to the Queen, Emily discovers she has a secret weapon—royal approval! And with Queen Victoria’s blessing, surely Emily’s happy ending can’t be too far behind…?

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Author Note

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Lady Emily Sumner, only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Lynne, was hurrying down Park Lane, accompanied by Margaret, her companion. She was in great haste because she had arranged to meet Richard at Hyde Park Corner and she could not wait to see him again. It was only three days since she had last seen him, but it seemed an age.

  ‘Oh, please don’t dawdle,’ she said when Margaret appeared to be holding back. ‘He might not wait for me.’

  ‘He is not the man you thought he was if he cannot wait a few minutes.’ Margaret had remonstrated with her about the folly of meeting a gentleman in such a way, and if the countess ever found out about it they would both be in trouble, but Emily was too enamoured of her lieutenant to take any notice of her.

  It was fortunate for Emily that the countess was away from home. She was one of Queen Victoria’s Ladies of the Bedchamber, which meant she had to take her turn to be in attendance on the queen night and day for a month at a time. The countess dared not absent herself, with the result that her husband and daughter had been sadly neglected.

  ‘I did not know the streets would be so crowded, or I would have set out earlier,’ Emily said. ‘Every day it gets worse.’

  ‘Of course it does, the royal wedding is only just over two weeks away.’

  No one could remember when a reigning queen had married before, if indeed it had ever happened, and the excitement was building to a crescendo. The little queen was popular with the people after they had been ruled by the Hanoverian George for so long. Her father, the Duke of Kent, had died when she was a baby and she had succeeded her uncle, William IV. She was a very young queen and tiny too, but, according to gossip, one who had a mind of her own and was very aware of her exalted position.

  The question of a suitable husband for her had been muted some time before her succession and several suitors brought to England for her inspection, including her first cousin, Francis Charles Augustus Albert Emanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who was known simply as Albert, whom she had chosen on a second visit to England after her accession. They were to be married on Saturday, the tenth of February.

  The populace were not so sure about the bridegroom. He wasn’t English, for a start, and from what they had seen of him on his two visits he had seemed stiff and unsmiling. Surely the Queen of England deserved a husband of a higher rank than the son of a German duke? Notwithstanding their doubts, the citizens of London were being joined by visitors from far and wide flocking to the capital in huge numbers, intending the royal wedding would be a day to remember. Flags and bunting and pictures of the royal couple were on display everywhere and shops were full of souvenirs.

  There was a string of empty carriages being driven down Park Lane at walking pace surrounded by a troop of cavalry rehearsing their part in the queen’s procession and it had attracted a crowd that blocked the walkway. By dint of much pushing, they reached Hyde Park Corner and waited for the procession to pass before crossing the road to the park gate.

  ‘There he is!’ Emily spotted Richard standing beneath a tree, tall and splendid in his naval uniform. He had been watching the troops but, sensing her nearness, turned towards her. She dashed forward and then stopped a few feet from him. Was she being too eager, too forward? Should she behave more coolly? But how could she when he was smiling at her like that, melting her insides?

  He doffed his hat and bowed to her. ‘My lady, you came, then?’

  ‘Did you think I would not?’

  ‘I wondered if perhaps your mama would keep you at home, considering the crowds.’

  ‘Mama is still away from home and will be until after the wedding, but she would not have stopped me. I said I would be here and here I am.’

  They were hemmed in by the crowd but it meant they could stand close together and no one would think anything of it. It was exciting just to be there with him, watching, but hardly seeing, what was going on around her. Her mind was on the man beside her to the exclusion of all else.

  She had first met Richard at Constance Anderton’s coming-out ball. Constance was two years younger than Emily, who had come out in the year of Victoria’s coronation two years before, but they had known each other all their lives. Their fathers’ country estates were close enough for easy visiting and the girls had often enjoyed outings together. Both families were in London in the build-up to the wedding.

  He had been presented to her by Constance’s brother, Frederick, and had asked her to dance, bowing over her with his hand out to raise her from her chair, the warmth of his smile seeming to reach out to her and envelop her in a rosy glow of pure joy. Her mother would undoubtedly say you cannot fall in love on sight, but she had. She had melted inside and her legs had become all wobbly as she rose to dance with him. It was the most glorious, the most wonderful, moment of her whole life. She could not believe that brief dance was all she would see of him; they were destined to meet again and, if they did not, she would have to give destiny a helping hand.

  But fate was on their side. They had met again at Lady Framlingham’s soirée and he had crossed the room to speak to her, bowing over her and asking how she did. ‘Lieutenant, I did not think to see you here,’ she said, delighted that he remembered her. ‘Are you on leave?’

  ‘Yes, while my ship, the Ariel, is being readied to fetch Prince Albert from Calais to his wedding.’

  ‘The Ariel. What kind of ship is that?’

  ‘A wooden-sided paddle steamer.’

  ‘A steamer! How exciting. It must be very different from a sailing vessel.’

  ‘Yes. It does not have to rely on wind and tide, but I think there is nothing more beautiful than a sailing ship in full canvas.’

  ‘I believe you must be a romantic, Lieutenant.’

  He smiled. ‘I suppose I must be.’

  ‘And do you like life in the navy?’

  ‘Oh, yes. I always wanted to go to sea, even as a small boy. We had an old rowing boat on the river near my home and I would put on a tricorne hat made of newspaper and pretend to be an admiral commanding a battle. I had no siblings so I recruited the village children for my crew. Some of them had to be the enemy, of course.’

  ‘Did they mind that?’

  He chuckled. ‘No. Our cook always supplied me with ample provisions and I shared them out.’

  ‘It sounds as if you had a very happy childhood.’

  ‘Yes, I did.’

  ‘Where was it?’ She was aware that she was quizzing him shamefully, but she wanted to know all about him and he did not seem to mind.

  ‘At Brentford. My father is the rector there.’

  ‘Do you go home when you are on leave?’

  ‘Usually I do, but this time we have been told we will be recalled at a moment’s notice, so I am lodging in town.’ He paused. ‘What
about you? Did you have imaginary dramas when you were a child?’

  ‘Oh, yes. I was a princess and a very haughty one at that. My poor dolls were constantly bullied. I was waiting for a handsome prince to come and declare his love for me. But it was only the dream of a silly child.’

  ‘I do not think you are silly or haughty, Lady Emily. Perhaps one day your prince will come.’

  ‘I do not think I would like being married to a prince,’ she said quickly. ‘There is too much ceremony and protocol and you are in the public eye all the time. You could never be yourself. I should be quite content with a plain gentleman if he loved me.’

  ‘Then you are a romantic too.’

  ‘Oh, yes. Life would be very dull without romance, don’t you think?’

  He did not answer because they were interrupted by Lady Montaine, who came in a rustle of purple taffeta to stand between them. ‘Lady Emily,’ she said. ‘I wonder if I might interest you in a ticket to a concert at the Foundling Hospital on Thursday? I am sure it will be an enjoyable occasion. All the proceeds are to go to the hospital.’

  ‘I believe I am free at that time but I shall have to ask Mama,’ Emily said, wishing the lady would go away and leave her to continue her oh-so-agreeable conversation with the lieutenant. He was standing a little aside, not wishing to intrude, but she was glad he had not moved away.

  ‘Where is your mama?’ Her ladyship looked about the crowded room as if searching for her.

  ‘Mama is one of the Queen’s Ladies and is on duty tonight.’

  ‘Then who is escorting you?’ She looked at Richard and away again, as if he did not count, which annoyed Emily.

  ‘I have my companion with me, my lady. And Lieutenant Lawrence is most attentive.’

  ‘I am sure he is,’ the lady said repressively. ‘Perhaps your mother will be free to accompany you to the concert. I shall send two tickets, shall I?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  Lady Montaine had left but it was too late; Emily and Richard had not been able to regain their former intimacy. They parted without making arrangements to meet again and Emily was in despair. But all was not lost because Richard bought his own ticket and was at the concert where they contrived to sit together. Her mother was not able to go and Emily was accompanied as usual by the ever-faithful but disapproving Margaret, who stayed in the background

  Naturally they could not talk during the concert, but during the interval when the audience, which was made up almost entirely of nobility and wealthy patrons, was encouraged to wander round the hospital and look at the wonderful works of art on display, they contrived to be viewing the same picture at the same time.

  ‘How are you, Lady Emily?’ Richard whispered, pretending to study one of Hogarth’s portraits. ‘Are you well?’

  ‘I am very well, thank you, Lieutenant,’ she said, aware that his head was very close to hers. ‘And you?’

  ‘First class.’

  ‘You have not been recalled yet, then?’

  ‘No, it means I have the opportunity to talk to you again and that I would not miss for worlds.’

  ‘Oh.’ She felt the colour rise in her cheeks. Could it possibly mean he felt the same as she did?

  ‘Tell me what you have been doing since we last met,’ he said, pretending to study the Hogarth portrait of the founder in front of them.’

  ‘Oh, the usual things,’ Emily said. ‘I did some more work on the screen I am embroidering, which is taking me an age because I do not have the patience to sit at it. I began a new library book and went for a walk with Margaret and dreamed a little…’

  ‘Dreamed? About the arrival of your prince?’

  She laughed, hoping he would not delve too deeply into the object of her dreams. ‘No, I leave that to the queen. Do you think she is getting excited?’

  ‘If she is, would she dare show it?’

  ‘No, I suppose she would have to appear cool even if she were bubbling inside. I know I should be.’

  ‘Perhaps one day it will happen for you.’

  A bell rang to tell them to return to their seats and they made their way back to the concert hall for the second half of the programme. It was not until after the music had ended, and everyone was setting off for home, that Richard turned to bid her goodnight and added, ‘I should not like to think we will not meet again. Will you allow me to call on you?’

  ‘I do not think it would be quite proper when Mama is away from home,’ she said. ‘But I am going to Hookhams to change my library books tomorrow afternoon. Do you like reading, Lieutenant?’ This was added with a mischievous smile.

  ‘Oh, excessively,’ he said, stretching the truth. ‘I am frequently in Hookhams and I do believe I shall find myself there tomorrow.’

  She went home in a cloud of happiness.

  There were more meetings after that, most of them contrived, and at each of them her love for Richard grew until she felt her heart would burst out of her. He was such good company, so interested in her and what she was doing, and regaled her with a fund of amusing stories about his life at sea. She learned about his family, his likes and dislikes, and she told him of hers. Their times together flew by. She knew she was not behaving as the daughter of one of England’s foremost earls should, as Margaret frequently reminded her, but she could not help it. She was in love.

  The empty coaches and the cavalry had gone but people were still milling about, hoping for more to watch. ‘Shall we take a walk?’ he murmured in her ear.

  They left the crowds and strolled along beside the Serpentine. She did not bother to tell Margaret she was going and her companion did not immediately miss her.

  It was very cold and blustery, but she was wearing a dark blue wool coat and a bonnet trimmed with matching blue ribbon, tied fetchingly beneath her determined little chin. She carried a muff lined with swansdown but only one hand was in it, the other was tucked into the crook of his arm.

  ‘I must not stay out too long. Papa might wonder where I am and then there would be awkward questions to answer.’

  ‘Why, my dear? Have you not told your parents of our meetings?’

  ‘No. Only Margaret knows.’

  ‘But I do not want it to be a secret. I want to proclaim to the world how much I love you.’

  She stopped and turned towards him, obliging him to stop too. ‘Do you? Love me, I mean.’

  ‘Of course I do, you goose. Have I not made it plain enough? I adore everything about you—your smile, your laughing eyes, your sweet mouth and your lively mind. Everything.’

  ‘Oh, Richard.’

  ‘I have been meeting you for weeks now and I thought perhaps you loved me a little too. I had begun to hope you might do me the honour of consenting to become my wife.’

  ‘Richard!’ Her eyes lit up and her mouth flew open.

  ‘You are surprised?’

  ‘Surprised and delighted. Have you spoken to my papa about it?’

  ‘No, dearest one, I wanted to be sure that it was your wish before I did that. Have I your permission to approach him?’

  ‘Yes, oh, yes.’

  He took her hand from his sleeve and raised it to his lips. ‘Thank you, my darling, you have made me the happiest man in the world.’

  They walked on and it seemed she was floating on air, because her feet hardly touched the ground. She was hanging on to his arm with both hands in order to feel him close to her, well aware that it was a shocking way to behave. But she was also aware that her parents expected her to marry someone of her own rank and Richard could hardly be called that.

  ‘You know we cannot marry immediately,’ he said, almost as if echoing her thoughts. ‘Although I do not have to rely on my lieutenant’s pay. Admiral Grayson, my maternal grandfather, invested some of his own prize money on my behalf, which brings in a fair return, but even with that, I still could not give you the life you have been used to. And I have no title or noble connections which might make a difference.’

  ‘I do not care about title
s. I would live in a garret with you.’

  He laughed. ‘My darling, brought up in luxury, you can have no idea of what living in a garret is like. I promise you, you would not care for it, and as I am often away at sea you would be lonely without a companion.’

  ‘You ask me to marry you in one breath and then tell me we cannot in the next,’ she said, her joy slowly evaporating.

  ‘I know. I should not have said anything to you, but it has been eating away at me, day by day, until I could keep silent no longer. I simply had to speak.’

  ‘I am glad you did. I should have been so miserable if you had not, thinking you were dallying with my affections.’

  ‘Oh, my darling, never that. How could you think it? My hesitation was all to do with the practicalities, obstacles which I cannot see how we can overcome.’

  ‘I am sure something can be contrived.’

  ‘I shall tell the earl that I am aware my situation is not good, but I am hoping for promotion and then I might have something to offer a wife.’

  ‘But I will have an enormous dowry,’ she said. ‘Papa is quite wealthy, you know.’

  ‘I do know,’ he said wryly. ‘That is half the trouble. I do not want to marry you for your dowry. It is the last thing on my mind.’

  ‘But it would help, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, of course it would help, but I think we should wait until I am made a captain.’

  ‘How long will that take?’

  ‘I cannot know. I shall have to do some daring deed of valour and be promoted for that. Waiting for dead men’s shoes could take forever.’

  ‘I don’t want you to do a daring deed of valour, it sounds too dangerous. I will speak to Papa. No, on second thoughts I will approach Mama first. She will speak to Papa.’

  Chapter Two

  ‘Emily, you cannot possibly marry a nobody of a naval lieutenant,’ the countess said next morning when Emily sought out her mother in her rooms at Buckingham Palace. It was no good waiting until the countess’s month of duty ended; Emily was too impatient to know immediately whether she would be allowed to marry the man to whom she had given her heart.