He'd forgotten about the baby, little Albert, born two months before his father's death. For that same reason he had been rather over looked as Victoria had been so pre occupied. Melbourne suggested that the three of them take a turn in the garden that afternoon, the weather being so fine.

When he had said this, Victoria raised an eyebrow and pointedly looked out at the grey drizzle which threatened to evolve into a heavy downpour.

"What do you really mean, Lord M?"

He placed the letter he had been scanning through onto the coffee table and leaned forward slightly.

"Well, he is the heir Ma'am. Perhaps we should all start on the right foot."

Standing, Victoria smoothed her dress distractedly and turned away from him, her small head bowed.

"I've been a poor mother to him, that is true. But I cannot bear to look at him."

Realisation washed over Melbourne as she held onto the gilded chair beside her. He began to speak in his reassuring voice.

"I felt like that after Caro died. My son looked just like her, blonde and beautiful. I couldn't bear to look into the eyes which were so like the ones I had lost." He paused as Victoria turned, tears welling in her eyes. "But I forgot, in my own grief, that he was hurting and grieving too. Augustus needed me and Little Albert needs his mother."

Sitting beside him, Victoria took his hand, her shattered heart healing slightly.

"I will ring for him."

▫️

Lord Melbourne had seen fear in Victoria's eyes but once when the chartists appeared all those years ago. He saw it again that day as her son began to wail at the unfamiliarity of his mother's arms. The child turned a curious shade of crimson before Victoria offloaded him into Melbourne's arms wherein the crying ceased.

"At least he likes you."

Bouncing the boy on his hip, Melbourne shook his head at Victoria. Suddenly, Albert shot out a chubby arm towards Victoria.

"I believe he's seen something that he likes, Ma'am." Melbourne nodded towards her diamond necklace which Victoria promptly removed and placed in her son's eager fist.

"A magpie, just like his Mama." She cooed as her son was placed in a chair.

Victoria turned towards her Prime Minister and thanked him, dazzling him with such a smile that he had not seen for over a decade. Melbourne surveyed the scene before him and dared to hope, something that he had not dared to do in over a decade.

▫️

"Lehzen," the Queen called as her hair was being dressed. "I should like to hold a ball, for my birthday."

"Are you quite up for it, Majesty?" The older woman asked, quite shocked.

"Quite." Victoria smiled as more flowers arrived from dear Lord M.

Lehzen shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"I saw that." Her gown rustled as she left the room, followed closely by Lehzen, leaving Skerrett giggling in the dressing room. She had always been in Lord Melbourne's corner after all.

▫️

Victoria, dressed in a pale lilac, entered the ball to a hushed, awed audience.

"She has all of her hair, what were you saying, Susan."

"I was told that she shaved it, perhaps it is a wig."

"I heard she doesn't eat."

"I thought she ate too much."

Such were the whisperings throughout the great ballroom, but Victoria heard none of it. She saw no one either, only her Lord M, standing tall and proud, ready to open the ball with her. She slipped into his strong arms and suppressed a gasp as his hands brushed her bare back. The strings began the waltz and he took the lead, Victoria did not even have to think. This was safety, this was happiness.

She must have been staring up at him, as he looked mischievously out of the side of his eyes and smiled discreetly.

"Happy Birthday, Ma'am."

"What about a new rule, for a new decade?" She whispered, hopefully. "Call me Victoria? Please?"

He pulled her as closely as propriety would allow and nodded, joy welling within him.

"Victoria."

They were alone then, in that crowded room. They did not notice the whispers when they remained partners for the next dance, and the next.

But Victoria was obliged to dance with other grand men, and fulfilled those obligations as a Queen must. Melbourne stood at the side of the room where he was joined by Emma Portman.

"Happiness becomes you."

"Is that what this is?"

"I'm sure that's only a small part of it."

"Emma." He chastised, warningly.

"She still loves you, so don't worry about that. But she's older now, and her own woman. You can be together if that is what you want."

He gazed at Victoria and caught her eye as she grinned at him. They always seemed to seek one another out, no matter the occasion.

"I believe it is."

"Then let me help."