...
Months previous, standing in front of a painting of Queen Elizabeth the First at Buckingham Palace.
"I have not seen so many happy marriages," Victoria said, looking up at the large painting.
"Neither have I, Ma'am," Lord Melbourne answered in response, studying Victoria's face.
...
The day before the wedding.
Victoria sat sidesaddle on her white horse, dressed in a crimson red riding gown and top hat with a black veil, at her side was Lord Melbourne, her betrothed, in a Navy and Tan riding suit with beautiful black leather boots astride a brown mare. Behind them, two footmen on horses walked at a steady pace, chaperoning the couple.
"Sir Robert Peel has informed me that I must replace one of my ladies after the wedding," Victoria huffed.
"It is customary, my bird," Lord M said. "They are probably only allowing you to postpone it due to our wedding."
At the words "our wedding", Victoria turned to Lord M and smiled.
"I suppose I can be thankful for them allowing me some time," Victoria said. She would attempt to have empathy for the process as she always knew Lord M would want. He was so good at making her see the various sides of the topics and she knew her anger could get the better of her in diplomatic situations.
"A wise decision," Lord M responded with a smile.
The tree line path was bathed in intermittent sunlight. Lord M studied Victoria's face slowly as the sun shone on her brightly and she seemed to glow. But, she always seemed to glow in his presence. Had she since day one? He could not remember exactly when he started to notice that radiance she had in his presence, however now he couldn't look away. He couldn't get enough of her vibrancy. It made him feel like he was her age... so young and full of hope, his heart mended.
"Do you remember, William, that day when we discussed marriage?"
Lord M let out a small laugh, "I am afraid, Ma'am, you will have to be more specific than that, I believe we have discussed it on more than one occasion."
Victoria laughed. Oh, how she loved when he teased her!
"We were standing in front of the painting of Queen Elizabeth and I... I said I had not seen so many happy marriages," Victoria's smile faltered as they passed under the shade of a tree, "and you agreed."
"Ah yes," Lord M said, looking forwards and closing his eyes a moment, "I do recall."
"Do you think... ours will be happy?"
"If it is as every moment we have had before, then I have no reason to believe otherwise," Lord M smiled at Victoria.
"Do you promise to always tease me?" Victoria smiled in return.
"What an odd request, my bird!" Lord M laughed.
"I do love when you tease me and I do love when we laugh together."
"So do I," Lord M looked down upon his bride as she swayed gently with each step of the horse, "more than I can say."
There was silence between them, but the sounds of the horse's hooves walking along the grassy path next to the leaves rustling in the trees and birds chirping filled the air. Lord M breathed deeply, looking around slowly, taking it all in. From the birds to the scent of that new spring dew on the grass, to the small, barely audible, breath of the woman he loved beside him. Today was his last day as a single man and what lay before him would not be without challenges, surely, but it would be a change he was excited to welcome.
Victoria looked at Lord M, watching him close his eyes and breathe deeply, his throat bobbing and his lashes fluttering. How she loved the small movements he made when he thought no one was watching. However, it seemed she had been watching, every moment they were together since that day she became the Queen of England. She flushed knowing that very soon, he would be her husband... with all that entailed.
Opening his eyes, Lord M smiled before looking over at Victoria, catching that she had been watching him. She giggled before saying loudly, "Let's race, William!" before nudging the white horse into a trot.
Lord M spurred his mare into action, following suit, gaining speed on her as his trot turned into a gallop. He passed her and he heard her laugh, so fully, it seemed to echo off of every tree in the garden.
He slowed his horse down to a trot and then walk as he heard his Queen catching up to him.
"Lord Melbourne!" She exclaimed, breathless from joy, "did no one tell you that you are supposed to let the Queen win?"
"I believe I was once your advisor, Ma'am, I do know the rules."
"You are an excellent rider, William, I will excuse you beating me."
"Ah, you see," Lord M said looking at her over his shoulder, with a mischievous grin, "you are a Queen, yes, but I am also marrying a woman to whom I want to be my equal. So I cannot let you win each time, not if we are truly to be equals."
Victoria smiled, all of her teeth showing, as a flush crept to her face, "I like the idea of being equals."
"I do too," Lord M said, his horse drawing nearer to hers.
"May we always be honest with each other?" Victoria looked down at the reins in her hand, "for we always were when you were my advisor and... I value your honesty too much to be without it."
"I will always be honest with you, my bird." Lord M said quietly. Intimately.
"Always?" Victoria whispered.
"Always." Lord M breathed.
...
