So this was born out of a request I received from someone I know who wanted to see more of Helen in Victorian era England. And then I got to thinking of all the people Helen Magnus would have known and met in her lifetime, ones that were referred to but never elaborated on in the show. So here is the first of those meetings- Queen Victoria. I'm hoping to write more meetings in the weeks to come! Hope you all like this :). Thanks so much to Tashah2109 for being such a wonderful friend and beta! Thanks also go to my girlies for the never-ending encouragement and support. It means the world to me. xxx
By Royal Command
September 1st 1888
"There is a strange mist hanging in the air this morning. Though not unusual for this time of year, it still feels strange as it is not cold enough for such things." So ran Helen's thoughts as she prepared for her daily walk with her father. It had become a ritual of sorts with the pair. They would breakfast together; go for their walk and when they returned they repaired to the laboratory to begin the day's discoveries.
As Helen was preparing to go look for her father, Elsie her maid came running into her bedroom a little out of breath. "Excuse me Miss a letter's just come for you. Begging your pardon but it seemed important."
"It's quite alright, Elsie." Helen smiled her thanks at the young servant girl. Her smile froze on her lips as she read the contents of the letter.
Seeing her mistress' change in demeanour, Elsie grew worried and asked if everything was alright. Helen looked up at her with unseeing eyes and suddenly they cleared as she collected herself.
"Oh yes, thank you Elsie, Helen replied, could you please tell my father to meet me in the drawing room and tell him that it is of the utmost importance that I speak with him directly?"
"Yes Miss." Elsie said as she bobbed before leaving the room.
"Helen, what is the matter? I've just had Elsie run into the laboratory and tell me that I was to drop everything and come see you. Are you well?"
"Oh yes, father, I'm perfectly fine. I'm just a little perplexed by this correspondence I've received. What could be the meaning, do you think? Helen enquired of her father as she handed him the letter from the Palace.
"My word, Helen! An invitation from Queen Victoria herself. What have you done to warrant such an invite?" Gregory Magnus looked to his daughter, a little confused if he owned the truth. "But you must accept Helen it would not do to refuse."
"I would never dream of refusing such an invite, father. I just wondered whether you read anything in today's paper that could explain her interest in my meeting with Her Majesty."
"Not that I can recall. The only thing of interest in the paper was the awful killing in Whitechapel last night."
"I hardly think that's what Her Majesty wishes to discuss with me." Helen replied with a shrug of her shoulders. She knew though that she would have to reply punctually. She crossed the room to her writing desk to compose a reply. Biting her lip in a state of indecision she looked up at her father again. "What is the etiquette in replying to a command from the Queen, Father?"
"Let me see, Gregory answered drumming his fingers on the desk, as it is a luncheon you've been invited to you must address the reply to The Master of the Household, Helen."
'Miss Helen Magnus presents her compliments to the Master of the Household, and has the honour to obey Her Majesty's command to luncheon on September 2nd at 12.30 o'clock.'
"Will this answer be adequate Father, do you think?"
"That's perfect, my girl. Now after you hand the letter to Elsie to post, do you think we could head for our walk?" Gregory asked his daughter with a hint of indulgence in his tone.
Helen returned her father's smile but if he had been paying closer attention he would have seen that her smile did not reach her eyes instead her forehead creased in worry. Her father's remark about Whitechapel had hit a nerve deep within and no matter how she tried to quell the fears that were steadily building by telling herself that it was just a coincidence they still returned more forceful than before. She had not seen John at the house in a few days. This in itself was not unusual however the last time she had seen him he was very agitated. She had been worried enough that she followed him home. She had witnessed him speaking with a 'lady of the night' in the Whitechapel area. This did not shock her though it should have, what shocked her more was the intense look of fear on the girl's face. Whatever John said to her had frightened her enough to comply. What was said and agreed to Helen did not know she was too far away to hear. She did however wait until John had left to go speak with the girl.
"Why Miss, what brings a lovely lady such as yourself to this part of town on a night like this?"
"That is none of your concern. That man that was here moments ago what did he want?"
"Now why would I tell you that? What's he to you anyway?"
"Please, I'm worried for him."
"Well if you must know he asked where the nearest Opium den is situated."
From this response Helen knew the girl was lying. She would not have been so frightened talking with John if this was the reason. No he must have threatened her in some way. This raised more questions than answers. So in an effort to answer them Helen watched John's movements over the next few days. He was predictable down to a time. He roamed the streets at the same time every night of the week that Helen followed him. He even spoke with the same girl. It was not until last night that Helen plucked up enough courage to follow John to his final destination. Where they ended up shocked her. It was a gentleman's club for the elite. Helen could not enter as women were not allowed into the inner sanctum. However she did observe the comings and goings for an hour or two. When it was John's turn to leave he was not alone with him was a personage that made Helen blink her eyes once or twice in disbelief. If her eyes weren't deceiving her it was Prince Albert! How in the world do they know each other? Helen wondered more than a little perplexed. Again this raised more questions. Questions she had no idea how they were to be answered. Arriving home, she told a white lie to her father about where she had been and retreated to her room to contemplate the evening's events in solitude.
The letter from the Palace made more sense to Helen now though she would never voice her misgivings with her father until she had absolute proof. She was more than a little nervous at what tomorrow would bring. How on earth was she going to lie to the Sovereign about the comings and goings of the heir to the throne? Surely this must be kept under wraps. Something this distasteful would not be known to the queen.
So many questions were swirling around Helen's head that morning. It made her unusually quiet on her morning stroll with her father. Not that he noticed as he was happily chatting away about his newest acquisition to the Sanctuary.
"…so maybe we can run more tests to determine these facts when we arrive back. What say you Helen? Helen…"
"Hmmm…oh I'm sorry father. I'm miles away! I'm a bit apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting to own the truth."
"Why are you apprehensive Helen? You have nothing to hide." Gregory replied with a little concern colouring his tone.
"Oh if you only knew father. If you only knew…"
September 2nd 1888
Early morning…
"Helen will you please stop pacing you are making me nervous!" Gregory none too gently told his daughter. He was exasperated with her behaviour and he was nonplussed as to the cause of her nervousness. His daughter never shied away from anything in her life and up until yesterday if you had asked his opinion about Helen's meeting with the queen he would have said she would have taken it all in her stride but not today. Today you could have snapped her in two with ease she was that tightly wound. You could see the tension building in her with every second that passed.
As her father was observing her inability to sit still, Helen was desperately trying to piece together why she had been summoned to the Palace. Truth be told she knew in her heart the reason she just did not want to believe that such a thing could occur and right under her nose too. Helen had to wonder if she was angry at the loss of her pride or of the fact that John could claim to love her and yet could turn around and commit such a heinous act.
John. It always came back to John. It had been the case ever since he walked into her life that autumn morning in Oxford. Right now her feelings were in a state of confusion. She loved him yet she was repulsed by the unnerving thoughts that were swirling around in her head about what he might have been up to in the last few days. And what of her fears about the Prince of Wales? Should she tell the queen honestly what she thought or should she lightly skim over the gory details in order to save the queen the embarrassment? No. Falseness in any form was her abhorrence so she decided that should the queen ask her she would speak plainly. Consequences be damned.
As the clock chimed on the half hour mark Helen walked through the dining room doors of Buckingham Palace. She stood to attention waiting for the queen to turn and acknowledge her presence. Those few moments before were among the most nerve shattering Helen had ever known. The thought of running and hiding in the nearest alcove was quickly quashed and sent to the back of her mind. Helen Magnus did not run from her fears she faced them head on. With this mindset she found and held eye contact with Queen Victoria.
"Miss Magnus, it is a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you, young lady that I feel I already know you."
Helen could not have been more stunned if the queen had said she would be making a house call to the Magnus household for tea and crumpets.
"Miss Magnus, it is impolite to stare, you know." The queen gently chided Helen to shake her out of her shock.
"I beg your pardon, forgive me your Majesty. It is an honour to meet you."
"You may call me Ma'am. I do not like to stand on ceremony when there is just two of us in the room."
"In that case Ma'am I'd be delighted if you would call me Helen."
The two women stood sizing each other up until the queen smiled. "Good, good I like that you have spirit my dear. It is rather refreshing. One does not like simpering girls telling one what one wishes to hear. You'll be honest with me, won't you?"
"To the best of my ability Ma'am I assure you. I must warn you I have a tendency to be quite blunt. My father tells me it will get me into trouble one of these days."
"Oh by all means be blunt. Your directness will mean that I will finally get the truth for once."
"If I may be so bold Ma'am, as to ask what it is you wished to see me about today?"
"Indeed you may. Your father is Gregory Magnus, is he not?"
"Yes Ma'am he is."
"And he works in secret."
This was more of a statement than a question and Helen found herself stiffening at the words. Where was her Majesty going with this line of questioning? So Helen answered in a guarded manner.
"In a manner of speaking, yes Ma'am."
"One of his patients happens to be your fiancé, John Druitt. Am I correct in my assumption?"
Helen felt her stomach contract in fear at the mention of John's name. Her fears were realised the queen was really asking about John and not her father. In a way she was relieved her father was safe to continue his work but on the other hand she was even more terrified about what the queen might ask of her next. So Helen replied in a voice calmer than she thought possible given the way her heart had sped up.
"Yes Ma'am you are correct. Until recently John Druitt was one of my father's patients."
Helen couldn't take it anymore. The suspense was killing her. Watching the queen digest this information she decided it was time to bite the bullet and put them both out of their misery.
"Ma'am, may I ask to where these questions lead?"
"There are rumours abound I wish to have quashed if at all possible. My son, the Prince of Wales is an acquaintance of John Druitt. As of this morning Mr. Druitt has been implicated in the Whitechapel incident. I wish to sever all connection my son has to John Druitt."
Hiding her shock at the queen's revelation and hoping her voice was steady Helen quietly answered. "With all due respect, Ma'am but what has this to do with me? What is it you want of me?"
Helen even impressed herself with the note of steel in her voice. She was used to people underestimating her. She had seen the incredulous looks on people's faces all too often. She had grown accustomed to the fact. However, seeing it on her Sovereign's face at that moment gave her a warm sensation one she equated with smugness. Something which she would never admit to Her Majesty but it was nice all the same.
"My, my Helen you do give your opinion so decidedly for one so young. I like it. It's all together more refreshing than hearing the same worn out platitudes time and again!"
Helen laughed relieved she had feared she had overstepped a precarious boundary. "Oh Ma'am I am not so young as you would think."
"The truth of the matter my dear is that I wish you to discover if my son is implicated along with Mr Druitt in the Whitechapel case. I want this done without the interference of Scotland Yard. Will you take up the challenge?"
Oh touché, thought Helen as she listened in silence to the queen. She was very good, very good indeed. She knew exactly which buttons to press in order for Helen to agree to this outrageous assignment. For all the queen's pretty words she was certain she meant that because Helen was intimately close with John she could get to the bottom of things quicker, quieter and with more ease than Scotland Yard.
Helen warily observed the queen as she ate the sumptuous lunch of salad and cold meats. She instinctively felt as the queen questioned her about her relationship with John that is was a private matter and not even Her Majesty would get her to speak openly and freely about it. However, convention warred with her independent nature and she stubbornly refused to discuss the matter. As much as the queen was Head of State she was not however, a relation and had no right to her private life. Helen had to bite the inside of her lip more than once during this encounter to her from saying something she shouldn't.
"You may speak freely, Helen. I will not judge you. However, I must ask you to refrain from using any falsehoods you think are necessary to spare my blushes in relation to my son's dealings."
It was like the queen had just read the thoughts that had run through her head. As she looked at the queen trying to gage whether she could be completely honest the queen gave a nod of her head as if giving permission.
"I regret to say that it is not about your son's dealings for which I am anxious it is my own personal dealings with Mr Druitt. With all due respect Ma'am, but you are not family and as such will not induce me to be explicit on that account."
"I will have you know, Helen that I am not in the habit of brooking disappointment. Either by hearing it directly from you or by other means I will have the information I seek."
Helen bristled at the words. How dare she! Helen observed with a keen eye how quickly the shutters came down on the queen's face as she switched from acting like a favourite aunt to Head of State in a blink of an eye. She also noted to herself that to have an ally so high up would not be a bad thing in the years to come. Again the battle raged within Helen. Did she stick to her principles and not reveal any personal information or should she reveal the information in the hopes of gaining a valuable asset for the difficult years ahead? Her logic won out and she proceeded to tell the queen about the start of her relationship with Montague John Druitt. The queen only wished to know more of John's character and fathom why her son would be acquainted with him, surely? Biting her lip she started telling her tale.
