Difference In Opinions

It was very early. The sun had not long risen, casting a warm glow across the beautiful gardens below. Lord Melbourne sat at the table, very smartly placed beside the large window as he sipped at his coffee. The paper sat in front of him, as it did every morning. But his mind was to distracted to focus on such nonsense when his own world was so muddled.

He had not slept much last night, he had often fallen asleep with a troubled mind, so often in fact that he was used to it now. Yet last night, sleep did not come. He felt slightly powerless within this country, yet he knew Victoria was safer in France than she was in England.

He racked his brain for possible solutions ones that would ensure both Victoria's safety as a woman and as a Queen, but neither came with positive solutions.

A knock at the door made him jump, the servants had not even been round yet. He was still in his robe, half undressed and tired.

''Come in'' He said, his voice still rasped and tired.

As the door opened he saw Victoria step into the room. Placing his coffee down on the table he stood to greet her. She walked towards him still dressed for bed, a thin chemise covered by a light pink silk robe which went down to her feet.

She smiled towards him as she padded across the room, her feet still bare. She did not offer her hand to him, he should have known she wouldn't. He sat down as she sat opposite him and looked out of the window.

''I have the exact same thing in my room, the sun always meets the table first'' She spoke quietly as she looked across the grounds ''I have been watching it all for about an hour now'' She smiled over to him.

Her hair laid down across her shoulders, despite being in a state of undress she looked extremely beautiful to him. ''Would you like some coffee ma'am?''

Victoria nodded politely and watched Lord Melbourne stand and head over to a tray where a teapot and a coffee jar stood. As he brought back the hot cup and placed it beside her Victoria cradled the cup, feeling the warmth on her hands as she held it.

''I have been doing the same'' He said, looking back down at the grounds. ''Too much to think about'' He said, looking over to her.

Victoria smiled, he could sense her worry, and she had every right to be. Nobody should have to be in this position. ''We should inform your mother, she will want to know what is happening''

Victoria nodded ''We need to speak to the Privy council this morning, I need to ensure Uncle Leopold has no say over topics regarding the crown, and that no matter is to be raised whilst I am not in the country''

Melbourne nodded ''But we need to have some kind of plan sorted before we return to England ma'am. The King, if he is still in the country when you return he will have a plan in place, one of which we need to combat''

''He said he was leaving the palace. Why would he invite somebody else?''

''He does not have your blessing to do so ma'am, but there is no one of higher authority there at present''

''Perhaps we should leave, surely we have better control when we are in the country''

''The King is liable to be less secretive with nobody in the palace. Perhaps writing to him would help matters''

Victoria nodded before taking a sip at her coffee and leaning back on the chair. She looked relatively relaxed and something about the situation was rather endearing.

He smiled, releasing a small sigh as he to sipped at his coffee. Victoria looked from the window to see his reaction. ''What is it?'' She asked curiously

He shook his head as he placed his coffee down ''If somebody told me 2 years ago that I would be doing this I would have called them mad''

Victoria laughed ''Im almost certain people think I am mad Lord M''

''Perhaps they need to look a little closer then ma'am'' He replied

V&M

Victoria sealed the letter, two of which sat on her desk alongside her boxes, which had finally been completed.

Perhaps it was because they had something to focus on, or maybe just because they had cleared the air, but Victoria felt much more at ease around him now, the laughing, and occasional joke had resumed. Her ladies seemed happier and more relaxed within her company. Everything had almost settled down. Yet she couldn't help but feel as though being here was wrong, that she had willingly left her Uncle, despite unknown to her at the time, to arrange something cynical or life changing at the expense of her leaving for a few days break.

''Hopefully this will get to the palace before tonight, I may hear back from him'' She said as she placed the two letters on the tray, watching Lord Alfred take them away.

The one to the privy council was not urgent. Lord Melbourne had asked Victoria to write to The Duke, knowing that he was fully aware of the situation and the possible risks, he held a great influence in parliament, people tended to side with him as his decisions where sensible and rational. But more to the point, he understood what The King was planning.

The day slipped by. Victoria, Lord Melbourne and her ladies had been invited to The Kings palace for dinner, where they would stay the evening and then have the full tour the next day. Victoria then had to meet the French Parliament and see some of the works the country was proud of. This was one of the conditions that had to be applied to warrant her staying in the country. She had to show an interest.

But concern flooded her about a conversation they had the other night, one she planned so carefully to talk over, perhaps she could change The Kings mind.

V&M

Dinner was divine, as it had been before. ''The food is so much nicer here, don't you think?'' Victoria said quietly to Lord Melbourne who had been placed beside her at the table.

''I think your chef should have some lessons in France ma'am'' He smiled as he grabbed his drink and looked across the table at a group of happy people. He had not been so involved in such gatherings in many years.

Once Victoria had changed after dinner she found herself wandering through the corridors, slightly lost and almost deliberately so to. Each painting had a little plaque underneath it, detailing the date it was drawn, who by and why it is represented in the palace. The French King did not have the best reputation, yet he seemed to know what was within his home, and why he was so proud of it, for every painting had his signature on it.

''Your Majesty'' Victoria turned to see The King himself walking towards her, a large smile across his face.

''I am sorry for intruding'' Victoria said politely ''It seems very easy to get lost in this palace''

The King let out a loud, bellowing type of laugh which bounced off the corridors ''I have no secrets here, any room in my palace is free to be explored by my guests''

Victoria found the term to be rather untrue. But smiled anyway. ''I was hoping to talk to you''

''I see, what about'' He answered quietly, as the couple walked side by side down the hallway.

''The arranged marriage. Is it entirely necessary?''

The King lost his smile ''Unfortunately yes, my nephew is less than wise at such things you see''

''But surely giving him the chance to find somebody he loves would prove more beneficial to his happiness?'' Victoria argued

''Being happy does not warrant a peaceful life. You can love your husband, but it doesn't mean being Queen will be easy because of it. The public need to be accepting. My nephew has less than desirable standards in such cases''

Victoria listened carefully as he continued ''My descendants where all in arranged marriages, the choice of marrying for love has become a new choice, it is not one that has proven to be equal. Many of our past Kings lived happy, loving lives as they warmed to their wives and enjoyed their company''

''But you wish to marry your Nephew into Spanish royal blood, I believe it is not a popular choice'' Victoria questioned

''I like to broaden my families circle, did you not have a possible suitor from Coburg, I believe you turned him away'' The King argued back

''Yes'' Victoria replied quickly ''Albert was anything but what I was looking for, it was not a popular choice to deny him the way I did''

''I don't suppose it was, he seemed perfectly suited to the crown''

''But I do not wish to marry for convivence, I want to rule my country and lead a happy life, can you not have both?''

''It so rarely happens that way'' The King replied almost soberly.

''Perhaps think about it'' Victoria reasoned

The King smiled ''I shall do ma'am, but for now, we must find our company''

V&M

Victoria glanced over to the piano and felt herself blush a little, she did not play as well as people made out, she was sure of that. ''No'' She said slowly ''I am not good enough to entertain such people''

''Go on'' King Louis chided ''We shall be nice to you''

Victoria smiled, eyeing Lord Melbourne as she stood and walked slowly towards the piano.

She sat down behind the large piano, it was as like everything else in the palace exceptionally grand. The keys perfectly polished and the surface shining against the bright candles. She sat down on the padded seat and got herself comfortable before flicking through the sheets of music available.

The King has made sure an English version of the music was available as she read each title in the book before choosing one particular piece.

The music began to flow from the keys as she heard the cords strike beneath her fingers, the sound was deep and verbarated through her as the rest of the room fell silent, slowly but surely, she began to lose herself within the piano, as the music sheet became less and less needed the music continued to flow from the organ.

Victoria kept her eyes down on the keys, feeling the music flow through her fingers as she delicately tapped each key, working up and down the length of the piano.

As it came to an end she looked up, the silence of the room was defending before a wave of applause came flooding from the group sitting and watching. Victoria folded the music sheeting back up and stood from her seat, catching the figure of someone coming up from beside her.

The servant held a letter on the silver plate, Victoria took it and watched the servant bow and walk away slowly.
She did not recognise the writing but guessing the only two letters where linked to her Uncle she assumed it contained something important. So, excusing herself from the company she quietly walked out into the corridor knowing, without asking that Lord Melbourne would follow her.

She had not told her mother yet, she intended to tell her after she had heard back from the palace.

''Ma'am'' Lord Melbourne's voice dragged Victoria's eyes away from the letter she held carefully within her hands, she did not recognise the writing, and knowing her uncles stamp it was not from him.

Victoria shared her worried expression, Lord Melbourne offered a nod as a form of assurance as he watched her open the letter.

Her face changed as she read the letter carefully ''Its from Lehzen'' She said looking up confused. ''Uncle Leopold left late last night''

Melbourne read over the letter carefully also, trying to make sense out of it.

''If he has left then who did he invite to the palace?'' Victoria asked confused.

Melbourne shrugged.

V&M

''Can you think of anyone who would be of use to The King at such a time?'' Lord Melbourne asked

Silence ensued the room as The Duchess sat thinking carefully ''I am sorry, I do not know anyone, in England or Germany who could be of use to him in such a case'' She replied sorrowfully ''What do you think he is planning on doing?''

''I believe he is trying to overrule the decisions that have already been made, perhaps to gain a better understanding of how to arrange a marriage or something worse''

''I think we should leave, I need to be in England'' Victoria said quickly

''No…'' Melbourne said firmly ''If you are a target then going into England will be like walking into a trap''

''But how are you going to find out what he is planning from France?'' Victoria argued

''I have my methods ma'am'' Melbourne assured her ''But we will have to wait for now''

''I do not see the reasonings behind such actions, surely by waiting you are giving him the option of gaining control'' Victoria retaliated defensively

''Trust Lord Melbourne'' The Duchess said calmly ''He understands these things better than what we do''
Victoria had her doubts.

Back In England

The palace was quiet, darkness had long since fell and the corridors where deserted. Lehzen walked through the darkened house, blowing out the last few remaining candles as she walked towards her own chambers, she walked the house every night, checking over certain areas as she went. But when the house was so quiet, it was almost pointless doing so.

Stepping into her chambers the darkness of the corridor ensued with the quiet. The door clicked and locked shut and for a few moments, nothing stirred.

Nearly an hour later, every light in the palace was out, the footsteps walked tenderly across the carpet, staying on the carpeted areas to avoid extra sound. Walking in darkness was somewhat difficult, each step could trigger a sound, one that could wake somebody up and raise the alarm.

With gloved hands the intruder carefully opened the door to Victoria's chambers creeping in and shutting the door quietly behind them.

Lighting a single candle, they walked over to the table where she did her boxes, there sitting and waiting sat some documents which, as promised required important attention for when she returned. Glancing over the pages to ensure they where correct the intruder folded them up and placed them within his coat pocket. As he walked towards the doorway once more, keen to leave before being found they caught sight of a hand-written list. It was not her writing; the intruder knew that much.

Grabbing the list and placing it with the other documents they blew out the candle and made their way to the doors, keen to exit the palace before the guards did their nightly rounds.

Back In France

All of Victoria's guests where staying in the same corridor, The King had ensured the rooms where fit for royalty, and he had not been wrong.

She was sure she would have slept tonight, she had been so tired today, yet the more she laid thinking, the more awake she felt.
If her Uncle left the palace then who did he invite over? Why did he invite someone? Perhaps Albert was on his way back. Victoria wanted to be at home, she wanted to gain control and understanding of the situation.

Lord Melbourne had been right, she did want to take things in both hands, and that could prove fatal to her, it was clear her Uncle was not messing around anymore.
This upset her to. Her Uncle, whom she wrote to so often and looked forward to seeing him, was willing to hurt her to gain power. How upsetting.

Victoria huffed, her annoyance at so many things put sleeping at the back on her mind. She wondered if he would be asleep.

He was only a few doors down the corridor. Victoria wrapped her silk robe around her half naked body, feeling the cold nip up her bare legs and cut into her feet as she quickly made her way towards his room.

She didn't bother to knock in case she disturbed the others sleeping either side of his room. It would not be fair. Walking in she saw the equally large room to be in masses of darkness, her candle showing a small raised figure in the bed, covered by the duvet. He looked still, but she was unsure if her eyes where playing tricks on her.

Walking quietly over to the bed she placed the candle down on the table beside the bed, slipping her feet under the covers and enjoying the warmth it offered her almost immediately. She leant up against the bed frame for a minute, staring into the darkness as she listened to his deep, slow breathing.

Her eyes suddenly felt heavy as her ears focused on nothing else. The stress of the day seemed to disperse as she enjoyed the quiet surrounding her. Slowly, as to not disturb him she leaned over and blew out the candle, before gently slipping into the bed, laying beside him but not to touch him.

She could never hold anything against him, she thought as her eyes slowly drifted shut, for even when she didn't need anything else, she still needed him.

Long time since the last update, I write ahead, like chapters ahead, but I don't always get the time to read them and check for mistakes before publishing. Hope it was worth the wait to all my regulars, leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!