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 titles. 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.

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.’

‘Unfortunately, my friend, her parents do not agree.’ He fished a letter from his pocket and put it on the table in front of Richard. ‘This will explain.’

Richard snatched it up and skimmed through it. ‘She has been forbidden to see me or communicate with me.’

‘Well, she has already disobeyed one of those instructions,’ Freddie said, nodding at the sheet of paper in Richard’s hand.

‘Yes, and prepared to disobey the other. I have only to say the word and she will come to me.’

‘But you are not going to say the word, are you?’

‘No,’ he said gloomily. ‘How can I? It will ruin her reputation.’

‘And your career. Don’t forget that.’

‘I wish in a way we were at war and could see some action, then I might distinguish myself and earn a promotion. Instead of that we are required to sail to Calais and bring back the queen’s bridegroom.’

‘Perhaps after that, we’ll be ordered to join a battleship or a cruiser and sent off to far-flung places. Will she wait for you, do you think?’

‘She says she will but I cannot hold her to that, can I? She is young and her parents are sure to bring pressure to bear for her to marry someone they consider more suitable.’

‘Then I suggest you do not answer that letter. She will get over you all the quicker if she hears nothing from you. And so will you. It is a lost cause, my friend.’

Richard gave a huge sigh. He suspected his friend was right, but he had the gravest difficulty in accepting it. He was convinced he and Emily were made for each other and somehow or other a way had to be found for them to be together. The trouble was no matter how often he teased his brain with it, no solution came to mind.

‘Come on, Dick,’ Freddie said cheerfully. ‘It is not the end of the world. Let’s go to Boodles and play a hand or two. That will take your mind off her.’

Richard knew nothing would take his mind off Emily for very long, but he agreed. Anything was better than moping, and Freddie was good company and might be persuaded to take a reply to Emily through his sister. It was no good going to Green Park. Emily had said she would not be there.

They left the hotel and made their way from Oxford Street down Duke Street, but as they reached Grosvenor Square, Richard suddenly turned left into Upper Brook Street.

‘Hey, where are you off to?’ Freddie asked, grabbing his arm.

Richard shook him off. ‘I’m going to see if I can catch a glimpse of her.’

‘Don’t be a fool. You will only make it worse for yourself.’

They were approaching Lynne House when Emily came out accompanied by Margaret. They were both wrapped in warm cloaks with fur-lined hoods and were each carrying books. Richard stopped, waiting for Emily to acknowledge him. She stopped too. They looked at each other without speaking for what seemed an age, each trying to convey with their eyes and expression alone what they were feeling: love, despair and hope all mixed together. And then she smiled briefly and lifted the hand that held the books hanging from her wrist by the ribbon which bound them, before moving on. Not a word was exchanged.

‘She is going to Hookhams.’ Richard did an about turn and set off for Old Bond Street with Freddie in his wake.

Once in the library it took a moment or two to locate Emily; she had managed to conceal herself behind a bookcase and was pretending to study a book on exotic plants.

‘Emily,’ he whispered, coming up behind her. ‘I received your letter.’

‘Then you must know I have been forbidden to speak to you.’ She was trembling, not only because she was not accustomed to disobeying her mother, but because of his nearness. His breath was tickling the back of her neck and sending the most extraordinary messages to the rest of her body.

‘Is it the end between us?’ he enquired in a hoarse whisper. ‘Is that your wish?’

She turned towards him. ‘No, Richard, how could you think it? But do you think you can be patient until after the queen’s wedding? When everything has quietened down and Mama is not so stressed, I will speak to her again. If she knows how determined I am, she will change her mind.’

‘Of course I will wait, is that not what I have been saying?’ he said. ‘It will be worth it to have you as my wife in the end. In the meantime I shall contrive to better my own lot, even if it means coming out of the service and doing something else. I hate all this hole-in-the-corner way of doing things. It goes against my nature, but it is better than nothing.’

Over his shoulder, Emily saw her companion, who had managed to go off to another part of the shop, returning. ‘Margaret is coming. I must go.’

He lifted the back of her gloved hand to his lips and smiled a little wryly. ‘Adieu, my love,’ he whispered. ‘Be assured you are never out of my thoughts, no matter what.’ Then he turned on his heel and rejoined Freddie. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go to Boodles.’

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing cards, at which Richard won a modest sum. It did not cheer him up. ‘Lucky at cards, unlucky in love,’ he said to his friend as he pocketed his winnings and returned to his lodging.

The next day they were recalled to their ships and took the stage to Dover. He did not know that Emily had been summoned to Buckingham Palace, not by her mother but by the queen.

Chapter Five

Full of trepidation Emily made her way through the draughty corridors of Buckingham Palace to the queen’s sitting room, where Her Majesty was examining the lace of her veil which she had designed herself, and talking to her ladies, who sat or stood about her. Her mother, Emily noticed, was with her.

The countess stepped forward. ‘Your Majesty, may I present my daughter, Emily.’

Emily dipped the deepest curtsey she had ever made and then stood waiting for the queen to speak.

‘Lady Emily, I believe you are desirous of becoming one of my maids of honour.’

It was not a question but a statement and Emily did not know what to say. She could hardly deny having any such desire and knew, with certainty, that her mother had engineered the interview. ‘It would be an honour, Your Majesty.’

‘Do you know the duties expected of you?’

‘Not exactly, ma’am.’

‘I am sure your mama will enlighten you. You will, of course, be in attendance at my wedding with the other maids, after the bridesmaids and Ladies of the Bedchamber. Your gown for this will be provided for you.’ She took a little box from the small table at her side and extracted a miniature of herself set in diamonds in the form of a brooch. ‘You will wear this at all times while you are with me, Lady Emily. It is your badge of office.’ She leaned forward and pinned it to the bodice of Emily’s gown. ‘Needless to say, any proposals of marriage you receive will be directed through me from the first. I trust you understand that?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Emily’s heart sank. Did the queen know about Richard? Was that what it was all about? How on earth was she to meet Richard if she had to live in the palace, where her mother could keep an eye on her? Everything was conspiring against her and she felt like rebelling.

‘If I approve of your choice of husband, then you will receive the usual dowry, but I do not expect that to happen in the near future. You are still very young.’ Said by a woman who was the same age as Emily. ‘I shall expect you to begin your duties on Monday.’

The interview at an end, Emily curtsied again and backed out of the presence to rejoin Margaret in an anteroom. ‘I have to be a maid of honour,’ she murmured. ‘Three months living in this great barn of a place, three months at the queen’s command. How am I ever going to see Richard?’

Margaret was not required to answer because the countess had followed her daughter. ‘Come with me to my room,’ she told Emily. ‘I will go over your duties.’

‘Mama, you knew I did not want this honour,’ Emily said as they went. ‘Is it your way of punishing me?’

‘Punishing you, child? It is not a punishment, it is a wonderful opportunity. I asked the queen about it some time ago, but a vacancy has only now arisen and that rather suddenly. Her Majesty graciously remembered my request. You should feel elated. You will be part of the queen’s procession at her wedding and will see everything that goes on. The dress was made for your predecessor, but can easily be altered to fit you.’

Emily followed her mother into her sitting room with Margaret a little behind them. The countess turned to her. ‘You may wait outside until Lady Emily is ready to return home.’ To Emily she said, ‘Sit down.’

Emily obeyed and waited.

‘Your duties as a maid of honour are simple enough,’ the countess said. ‘You will attend the queen whenever she requires it between the hours of ten in the morning and five in the afternoon, and again in the evening until she dismisses you. You might be asked to converse with her, take walks, read to her and sometimes deal with her correspondence. You will share these duties with the other maids, but you must be ready for the call at any time. Is that quite clear?’

‘Yes, Mama.’

Emily returned home in the depths of despair. It seemed her loving relationship with Richard was blighted. ‘I must see him,’ she told Margaret in the carriage going home. ‘I have until Monday and then I shall be in servitude for three months. Oh, how could Mama do this to me?’

‘It is a great honour and you will be in the chapel to see the royal wedding. Think of that.’

‘I would rather be thinking of my own wedding,’ she said gloomily.

‘Cheer up,’ Margaret said. ‘It is not the end of the world.’

‘It seems like it to me. Margaret, will you take a note to Constance for me?’

‘If you insist.’

The note enclosed one for Richard but it could not be delivered. Richard had been recalled to his ship.

Chapter Six

Prince Albert enjoyed a farewell banquet at home with his family on the twenty-seventh of January and next day left Gotha with his father, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, and brother Ernst, in their father’s travelling carriage, bound for Calais and a new life. A string of other carriages followed, sent by Victoria for his retinue and luggage, which made an impressive caravan. In spite of wet blustery weather, he was fêted all the way with crowds of people in the streets and in the windows of houses, even on the rooftops, waving flags and handkerchiefs.

When they reached Calais he found the Ariel and the Firebrand waiting for him. Both ships had been prepared so that he could choose which to use. In the event he went aboard the Ariel.

It was obvious as soon as they left the harbour that it was going to be a rough crossing. The Ariel was tossed about by gale-force winds and mountainous seas, and all the passengers were seasick, including the royal brothers. Neither was able to sample the refreshments so painstakingly prepared for them and they remained in their cabins. The prince’s servants seemed incapable of doing anything to help their master and Richard found himself waiting on the young groom. He took a liking to the twenty-year-old who was approachable and grateful for anything that was done for him, including a seasickness remedy that Richard had used himself when he had first gone to sea as a cabin boy ten years before.

He found himself in conversation with the prince, who was talking to him in an effort to ignore his heaving stomach. Albert did not say so, but it was obvious that he was exceedingly nervous about the wedding and, more especially, how he would conduct himself as the wife of England’s queen. He had been schooled in what was expected of him, but it was clear to Richard that the young man was not prepared to be a shadow of the queen and had very decided views on a number of subjects. He was going to need all his tact to be allowed to let his own personality shine through.

He was interested in his new country and its ways and quizzed Richard in a strong German accent about his own life as a sailor and whether he found it congenial. Richard responded by talking about life in the Royal Navy and the ships he had served on, from cabin boy to midshipman to second and then first mate. ‘It is a slow climb,’ he said. ‘And the higher you go, the slower it becomes.’

‘I think it is the same for the consort of a queen,’ the prince said. ‘One must tread slowly and carefully. But with determination, one may succeed.’

‘I hope so, sir. I shall not be consort of a queen but I hope one day to be consort of an earl’s daughter.’

‘You are engaged?’

‘Unfortunately, no. Her mother, the Countess of Lynne, does not consider me good enough for her daughter.’ It was said with a wry smile. ‘And to be honest, that is undoubtedly the case, but it does not stop me wanting her. I must make my way up, and quickly, if I am to succeed.’

‘I am sure you will. But have you no sponsor, someone to speak for you?’

Richard was aware, as was everyone else, that the prince’s marriage to Victoria had been engineered through their mutual uncle Leopold of Belgium. Would that he had a similar relation. And then he smiled. ‘I had an aunt, who married a German baron and went to live in Coburg several years ago, but I doubt that would carry much weight with the countess.’

‘Coburg, eh? Then I should know the gentleman. Tell me his name.’

‘Baron Mingen.’

‘Why, I know him,’ the prince exclaimed. ‘He is a distant relation of mine and one of my equerries. He is part of my entourage travelling on the Firebrand. Have you not met him?’

‘No. My aunt and he were married before I was born and lived all their time abroad. My aunt died last year.’

‘Then I shall see that you are introduced to him when we land. He might further your cause. Like me, he is in favour of greater ties between Germany and Britain.’ He paused. ‘I do believe that cure of yours is working. Already I am feeling a little better.’

‘I am glad to hear that, Your Highness.’

His optimism was short-lived because the weather worsened as they reached Dover after five hours of buffeting, and entering the harbour was a hazardous undertaking. The waxen-faced prince was uplifted by the sight of the crowds gathered to welcome him, waving flags and cheering, their earlier animosity apparently dissipated. He took his leave of the crew, including Richard for whom he had a special word, and with an effort of will staggered up on deck and stepped thankfully onto dry land to acknowledge the applause of his well-wishers.

The carriages were being unloaded to take him and his entourage to London, but before he left, he remembered his promise and sent for Baron Mingen and presented Richard to him.

The baron was a portly man, sporting a dark beard streaked with white. He had a round face with apple-red cheeks and bright blue eyes, which reminded Richard of Prince Albert. He spoke only German but as Richard had a smattering of the language they were able to make themselves understood. There was no time for any more than the briefest of exchanges, because the coaches had been landed and readied for the onward journey. ‘Come and see me in London,’ the baron said. ‘We will have a long talk and you can tell me all about yourself. My wife, your aunt Matilda, often spoke of your dear mother and wished she had been able to see you. Alas, it was not to be.’

‘I am sorry for your loss,’ Richard said.

The caravan of carriages had been re-assembled and the prince and his brother were ready to continue their journey, escorted by a company of the 11th Dragoons. Richard asked for and was given leave to return to the capital and took a seat on a public coach which, unable to overtake, had to follow in the wake of the prince’s entourage until they reached Canterbury.

In spite of the dreadful weather, the prince was cheered all the way by the population who had come out to see them pass. In Canterbury it seemed the whole town was out to welcome him. He and Ernst stayed there that night and next day. Rested, though still wan from his sickness, he continued his journey, arriving at Buckingham Palace soon after four on the afternoon of the eighth of February to be greeted by his bride. There were just two days to the wedding.

Chapter Seven

The queen sent for two of her maids each day to wait on her, but had not called upon Emily. Unable to go out, unable to see Richard, she had nothing to do but mope and dream. The other maids who were not in attendance gossiped over their embroidery, and Emily, for want of anything else, started a sampler. She was working on it when she was summoned to attend the queen and took it with her.

All the arrangements for the wedding had been made, most of which were in the hands of the queen’s advisors and Ladies of the Bedchamber, but the queen had taken an active interest in everything down to the last detail. Today all she had to do was await the arrival of her bridegroom. If she felt any trepidation about this she did not show it, as she beckoned Emily to a seat beside her.

‘Lady Emily, have you settled in comfortably?’

‘Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.’

‘You have brought your embroidery, I see.’

‘Yes, ma’am. I was advised to have something to do with my hands if you wished to talk.’

‘Very sensible.’ When the queen smiled, her whole countenance softened and Emily found herself relaxing a little. ‘May I see?’

Emily handed it over for inspection. She had sketched out the design: a crown with the names of Victoria and Albert and the date of the wedding on the top half, to be done in several different stitches. The names Richard and Emily were to go on the bottom half. There was no date, but a gap in which to put it. All four names were entwined with flowers.

The queen studied it for some time while Emily wondered if she would be angry that the sampler of the royal wedding should also depict her own name and Richard’s. ‘Who is Lieutenant Richard Lawrence?’ she asked at last. ‘You have linked his name with your own.’

‘Yes, ma’am. I hope one day it will be linked.’

‘You know you must apply to me before that can happen?’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

‘Tell me about him.’

The opportunity was heaven-sent and Emily found herself confiding everything. It was only when she finished, she realised she perhaps should not have been so forthright.

‘Your mama must surely know what is best for you, Emily.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ she said dolefully. ‘But I love him so very much.’

‘Ah, that is important, I agree.’ She paused. ‘I think I will speak to the countess about her reasons for withholding her consent.’

‘They are on the grounds of his inferior rank, Your Majesty.’

‘Quite.’ Victoria smiled again. ‘That can be a stumbling block, but the higher in rank one is, the harder it is to find an equal, and I do not think it is as important as some would believe. It depends on the qualities of the gentleman in question and, of course, we cannot know that. He would need someone to speak for him.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

Emily could not believe she was having this conversation or that the queen would be so sympathetic. She wondered what her mother would say when she learned of it. The countess was being kept very busy with the final arrangements and Emily had seen little of her, but it was unlikely the queen would speak to her before Saturday, even if she remembered. And then there was the honeymoon afterwards. It sounded as if Her Majesty was offering her hope, but Emily was realist enough to know that the chances of anything coming from it were slim. But she could still dream.

Chapter Eight

Saturday dawned to pouring rain and strong winds, but the crowd were not to be deterred and early that morning began gathering in their thousands all along the route from Buckingham Palace to the garden entrance to St James’s Palace. Unlike previous monarchs who had married at night to avoid the crowds, Victoria relished them and the wedding was set for one o’clock in the afternoon in the Chapel Royal. Those invited to the ceremony took their places long before that.

The cheers of the crowd grew louder as the carriage containing Prince Albert and his father and brother neared St James’s. The queen had made him a field marshall the day before, and invested him with the Order of the Garter. He arrived dressed in a field marshall’s uniform with white satin bows on his epaulettes and the emblem of the Order across his chest. He was a handsome man, and many were the sighs of envy of the queen. His quiet dignity commended him to the nobility, who were in their places ahead of him, arrayed in all the colours of the rainbow, wearing whatever decorations they were entitled to. He kissed the hand of the queen dowager and took his place at the altar to await the arrival of the bride.

The queen’s procession left Buckingham Palace at midday, with the queen, her mother and Lady Sutherland, the Mistress of the Wardrobe, in the golden state coach, followed by her attendants in a fleet of carriages. Emily, in one of the last ones with three other maids of honour, remembered the rehearsal she had watched with Richard. Never, in her wildest dreams, had she imagined she would be part of it. All along the route the crowd cheered and waved flags, the cold rain notwithstanding.

When they arrived the queen’s procession formed up to make its way to the chapel, preceded by trumpeters, members of the royal family and officers of the royal household. At last the speculation about what the bride would wear was answered. There was no cloth of gold, no silver, no crimson velvet or royal purple, no ermine. The tiny figure was all in white. Her gown was of ivory silk-satin trimmed with yards and yards of elaborately designed lace on the skirt and sleeves. It had a V-shaped waist and a full pleated skirt. Her headdress was a simple circlet of orange blossom with a lace veil. She wore the Star of the Order of the Garter. Her jewellery was a diamond necklace, diamond earrings and a beautiful sapphire brooch which Albert had given her as a wedding gift the previous evening. The very simplicity of her attire made her stand out, in spite of her small stature. There was a concerted sigh of admiration from everyone as she moved through the crowded corridors and anterooms to the chapel, followed by her twelve bridesmaids, also in white silk, holding up her train. Behind them came the Ladies of the Bedchamber and, after them, the eight maids of honour.

The galleries and seats in the chapel were filled with nobility, resplendent and glittering with jewels. Emily was hardly aware of them. She was concentrating on the simple ceremony—a bride and groom being joined in holy matrimony—and she wished she was standing at the altar with Richard by her side, giving the responses as Victoria and Albert were doing. She found her eyes filling with tears and resolutely blinked them away.

After the ceremony the royal couple went off to sign the register, while the whole procession went into reverse for the journey back to the palace. It was as she was climbing into the carriage that Emily saw Richard. He was standing right in front of the crowd, tall and upright. She could not go to him, could not even acknowledge him, but her joy lit her face when she saw him smiling at her, conveying in the warmth of it that he had not given her up. She sat back in her seat with a sigh, not exactly of happiness, but perhaps of hope. If she could not hope, what was there to live for? Tomorrow she would have another try at persuading her mother. Surely, surely, she would not continue to refuse her daughter’s dearest wish?

The crowds were still cheering when the royal couple returned to Buckingham Palace for the wedding breakfast, and again hours later when the queen and her new husband set out for Windsor Castle, where they were to spend a few days’ honeymoon. Longer than that the queen would not allow away from affairs of state.

It was all over; the great day had come and gone and on the whole it had passed off smoothly in spite of the dismal weather. The countess’s tour of duty was over until the next time, and Emily had been given leave while the queen was at Windsor. They were both free to go home. The family carriage was to fetch them next day.

She lay awake that night going over her arguments again and again, one of which was the queen’s comment: ‘The higher in rank one is, the harder it is to find an equal, and I do not think it is as important as some would believe. It depends on the qualities of the gentleman in question.’ Surely that would sway her mother, especially as she knew very well the queen could and would overrule her if she so chose.

Her sleepless night meant she slept late and it was her mother’s maid who woke her to tell her she was wanted in the countess’s room and to make haste with her toilette.

Half an hour later she made her way to her mother’s room and was astonished to find the room full of people, and more astonishing still was that one of them was Richard. It looked very much as if her disobedience had been found out, and not only was she in for a scolding, so was Richard. And it wasn’t his fault. She looked about her, prepared to defend him in spite of the odds stacked against her. Both her parents were standing by the hearth. A portly man with a round red face and a full beard rose from a chair at her entrance, as did another man in clerical clothes, who bore an uncanny likeness to Richard. On the sofa sat a plump, middle-aged woman with bright blue eyes; she turned towards Emily and looked her up and down with undisguised curiosity. Surely this pair must be Richard’s parents?

‘Emily,’ her father began. ‘This is Baron Mingen.’ He indicated the man beside him. ‘He is Lieutenant Lawrence’s uncle by marriage. Baron, my daughter, Lady Emily.’

Emily curtsied and her father went on with the introductions. ‘The Reverend Mr Lawrence and Mrs Lawrence, the lieutenant’s parents.’ Emily curtsied again, wishing they would get on with it. The suspense was making her heart beat uncomfortably fast and she was shaking all over.

She turned back to her father. ‘They have come because the lieutenant has something particular to ask you,’ he went on. ‘He has requested and been given permission to pay his addresses to you.’

‘He has?’ She could hardly believe her ears. ‘But…’ She turned towards Richard. He was grinning foolishly, though he did not speak.

‘Yes,’ her father went on. ‘Do you wish to receive him?’

‘Oh, yes, yes,’ she said, relaxing at last, though she had no idea how this great change had come about.

‘Then I suggest you go into the next room and listen to what he has to say. We will wait here for you.’

Richard held out his hand and she moved forward to take it, so that he could lead her into her mother’s dressing room. All her mother’s clothes had been packed away to be taken back to Upper Brook Street and the room had been tidied in readiness for its next occupant. Emily hardly noticed this as he shut the door and turned towards her. She had eyes only for him.

‘Richard, how—’ She was stopped from saying more because Richard had taken her in his arms and was kissing her soundly on the mouth. Her queries were set aside in the pleasure of this new sensation and it was some time before both came up for air and then they were laughing delightedly.

‘Richard, how did it come about?’ she asked at last. ‘I was forbidden to speak to you or communicate with you in any way and a wedding between us was out of the question according to Mama.’

‘I know. It is all down to my German uncle. You remember I told you my aunt Matilda had married a German baron. Well, that is Baron Mingen. He is part of Prince Albert’s entourage and when I was talking to Prince Albert—’

‘You were talking to the prince?’ Emily echoed in surprise

‘Yes, we had a long conversation while we were crossing the Channel and he asked me all about myself and I told him about you. He sent for Baron Mingen before he left Dover and introduced us and I told him about our dilemma. And so after the royal wedding was over, he spoke to Prince Albert, who spoke to the queen, who gave her consent for us to wed. My parents were already in town to view the wedding procession and they and the baron met the earl and countess.…’

‘And all of that changed Mama’s mind. Oh, I cannot believe it is true. Kiss me again, so that I might know it is.’

He obliged with alacrity. ‘Baron Mingen is standing my sponsor,’ he said when they drew breath. ‘He and my aunt had no children and apparently I am his heir, though I never knew it. And I have been granted the promotion I need and will soon be appointed to my own ship.’ He laughed suddenly. ‘You are looking at Captain Richard Lawrence.’

‘It is no more than you deserve.’

He hugged her to him and kissed her again. And again. And again. ‘So how do you feel about becoming Mrs Richard Lawrence?’ he asked.

‘It feels wonderful. Oh, Richard, I can hardly believe it. Yesterday I was so miserable. The queen was having a lovely day and marrying her own choice of husband, so why couldn’t I? And now it has happened. God bless the queen.’

‘And Prince Albert.’ He smiled and kissed her forehead and the end of her nose. ‘Shall we go and tell everyone the good news?’

They returned to the countess’s sitting room, where Emily was hugged and kissed by everyone and a bottle of champagne was opened for a toast. After that they settled down to discuss the wedding arrangements. An Easter wedding, they decided, and Richard’s father would marry them at St George’s. The bride would not go to her wedding in a golden coach with trumpets and fanfares and cheering crowds, but she would travel in an open landau, given away by her father and attended by Constance in pink. As for the gown, Emily thought the queen’s choice of white had been a very happy one and she would wear white too. She was brimming with tearful happiness and could not help constantly looking at her future groom. No one, not even Queen Victoria, could be happier than she was, she decided, smiling at Richard and reaching for his hand.

Author Note

When I was asked to write a short story around a royal wedding for this book, I chose that of Victoria and Albert. Before that royal weddings tended to be political affairs, and to some extent so was Victoria’s, but it was also a love match—as is evident from her diaries. Nevertheless, she was well aware of her status as monarch, and Albert had to tread very carefully to stamp his own personality on the reign—which he managed to do very successfully, so that Victoria and Albert have become forever inseparably linked in people’s minds. Theirs was a true love story. Emily and Richard are fictitious characters, but I like to think their love endures as long.

Mary Nichols

On April 29th 2011 the world will be waiting with bated breath for Prince William and Kate Middleton to say ‘I do’!

The bells at Westminster Abbey are chiming, the carriage is waiting and THE dress has finally been unveiled… So join Her Majesty by dusting off your best hat as you prepare for the wedding of the decade!

To celebrate this historic event, Mills & Boon have created a special ebook collection:

Royal Weddings
…through the ages

Read about the future king’s ancestors and the people who helped bring their special days together.

7 couples, 7 marriages, 7 stories for you to enjoy!

What the Duchess Wants by Terri Brisbin

Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine and Henry of Anjou (future Henry II), 1152

Lionheart’s Bride by Michelle Willingham

King Richard and Princess Berengaria, 1191

Prince Charming in Disguise by Bronwyn Scott

Prince George and Caroline of Ansbach, 1704

A Princely Dilemma by Elizabeth Rolls

George, Prince of Wales (future Prince Regent/George IV) and Princess Caroline of Brunswick, 1795

The Problem with Josephine by Lucy Ashford

Napoleon and Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, 1810

Princess Charlotte’s Choice by Ann Lethbridge

Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, 1816

With Victoria’s Blessing by Mary Nichols

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1840

So if you can’t wait until the 29th for your royal wedding fix…download one now!

Born in Singapore, Mary Nichols came to England when she was three, and has spent most of her life in different parts of East Anglia. She has been a radiographer, school secretary, information officer and industrial editor, as well as a writer. She has three grown-up children, and four grandchildren.

Look for:

Lord Portman’s Troublesome Wife[*]

April 2011

Sir Ashley’s Mettlesome Match[*]

May 2011

Available from Harlequin® Historical and
MARY NICHOLS

The Incomparable Countess #156

Lady Lavinia’s Match #163

A Lady of Consequence #169

Mistress of Madderlea #177

The Hemingford Scandal #196

Marrying Miss Hemingford #199

Bachelor Duke #204

Dear Deceiver #213

An Unusual Bequest #218

The Reluctant Escort #226

Talk of the Ton #236

Working Man, Society Bride #244

A Desirable Husband #251

Runaway Miss #262

Rags-to-Riches Bride #270

The Earl and the Hoyden #281

Honorable Doctor, Improper Arrangement #288

[*]The Captain’s Mysterious Lady #302

[*]The Viscount’s Unconventional Bride #304

ISBN: 978-1-4592-0421-8

With Victoria’s Blessing

Copyright © 2011 by Mary Nichols

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This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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[*]The Piccadilly Gentlemen’s Club