Melbourne came to dinner every evening and he was expected as usual this evening. However, he was nowhere to be found.

Victoria attempted to distract herself amongst her ladies, playing cards and gossiping. She did not want to believe that he would not accept her invitation, given everything that had transpired the previous day. Her whole day had consisted of readying herself for the evening, in fervent anticipation of seeing him again.

"I wonder where Lord M could be. He's never usually late." Victoria wondered aloud in a tone of voice which she hoped conveyed nonchalance and not her anxiety.

"Emma is not here either."

Victoria had not noticed the lady's absence and even looked around the room, expecting to see her emerge through a door.

"I would not be surprised if they were together." One of the ladies whispered to her companion.

"Well you know what Melbourne is like."

"Melbourne? What about what Emma Portman is like?"

Victoria moved towards the fire, hoping that the heat from the flames would disguise her rising colour. She had never felt jealousy like this before. Of course she had heard rumours such as this before, but they had never held meaning. She had never had reason to believe them. But love makes one do strange things.

"I suppose we shall have to begin without them." Victoria announced in an attempt to stem the flow of gossip.

Taking the arm of one of the faceless, nameless male guests, she tried not to think of the arm that she should be holding. Of the man she should be with.

Victoria lay her head in her hands as she sat at her desk the next morning but jumped up as soon as the door opened.

"Good morning Ma'am." Lord M greeted her warmly, a wide grin adorning his handsome face.

Victoria nodded to him and proceeded to open her red box, her hands shaking as the key tuned in the lock. Much to Melbourne's confusion, they worked through the papers in silence, his attempts at conversation were met with monosyllabic responses. His stomach plummeted as she failed to meet his eyes. Did she regret what she said? Perhaps she had been placating him. Flirting with him. Leading him on.

"Victoria." He ventured carefully. Still she did not meet his gaze. "Victoria, are you quite well?"

She inhaled deeply, this was it, he thought, she was going to dismiss him.

"I trust that you had a pleasant evening." Shuffling the papers, she kept her head down, knowing that she would begin to cry again if she looked into his hypnotising green eyes.

"Last night? What did I do last night?" He asked himself aloud. "Oh, that's right, I had the Irish papers to look over."

She balled her small fist under the desk, her knuckles white against her skin.

"Alone?"

"Well... One is never quite alone."

Victoria shut her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill forth, hot and angry. Standing up quickly, she turned towards the large window which overlooked the Palace gardens.

"Is Emma Portman quite well?"

Visibly confused, Melbourne furrowed his brow.

"I presume so. She's more your friend than mine now though."

"You were with her last night though." Victoria turned, shaking angrily, her voice rising with every word.

Rising from his seat, Melbourne moved towards her.

"I was not in her company last night. Do you not believe me?"

"Is it not in your character? That is what everyone says, behind my back, behind yours! How humiliated I was last night!"

Melbourne was shouting now too, though he did not want to.

"And that is your opinion of me? You punish me because your pride was punctured!"

"My pride?"

"Yes, Victoria, that is what this is about. Caroline tarnished me so now you behave like her. Is it your hope to drive me away? This is how you'll do it!"

"Lord Melbourne you forget yourself!" Her voice was stern, yet tears welled in her eyes.

They were almost nose to nose at this point and his voice was tinged with bitterness as he whispered: "Your Majesty."

Suddenly, there came a knock on the door, and the panting pair jumped apart. The Baroness burst through the door, wearing an expression of such profound sadness that it was clear they had bigger worries than their bedchamber.

"I'm so sorry, Ma'am. It's Dash."

Victoria shook her head in disbelief, clasping her hand to her mouth to conceal her sobs. Melbourne enveloped her, his strong arms wrapping her into an embrace as she almost collapsed to the ground.

The horse wasn't fast enough. The weather however, reflected her mood. The wind howled and she lost her hat. Wiping her tears as she raced from the Palace, running, running, running.

Melbourne had seen her race to the stables, and he had followed. She stopped suddenly in a small barn and he waited a few moments to see what she would do. When he finally dismounted his steed and walked into the barn, he saw her sobbing on a bale of hay. Her eyes were large and childlike and she shook her head as she saw him walk in.

"My only friend, gone!" She wailed.

"Not your only friend." He moved to sit beside her and hugged her close.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered into his chest, wetting his waistcoat with her tears.

Kissing the top of her head, he hushed her, rocking her gently.

"I'm afraid." She croaked. "The only thing I could not bear is if I lost you."

She looked up,at him adoringly and all of the angst of the morning vanished.

Kissing her softly, Melbourne smiled as she relaxed for the first time that day.