The Captive of Kensington Palace by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page B

Mamma and say that I was arrogant and haughty. But if I wish to be arrogant and haughty, I shall be.
    ‘Ha,’ laughed Sir John, ‘now you look exactly like the Duke of Gloucester.’
    What a dreadful thought! The Duke of Gloucester. Aunt Mary’s old husband and cousin. Silly Billy, they called him in the family; he was looked on as rather stupid and now that he had married the Princess Mary, had become a difficult husband.
    ‘I have always been told,’ she said coldly, ‘that I resembled my Uncle, the King.’
    ‘Oh no, no. You’re not a bit like him. You grow more like the Duke of Gloucester every day.’
    She swept past, with Lehzen in her wake. Sir John laughed but with some misgiving. It was silly to have upset the child just because he was angry about Leopold. Old Lehzen too! She was no friend of his.
    He would get rid of her if possible. But he could see he would have to be careful with Victoria.
    Smarting from her encounter with her mother’s Comptroller of Household Victoria went into the drawing-room where the sight of dearest Uncle Leopold seated in his chair, his dear pale face beautiful beneath his curly wig, made her forget everything else.
    ‘Dearest Uncle …’
    She ran to him, throwing ceremony aside. After that horrible encounter with Conroy she needed the protective comfort of Leopold’s arms more than ever.

    Feodora, being dressed for her wedding was a little fearful, a little tearful. She was not afraid of her bridegroom; in fact she liked him. Since her match with Augustus d’Este had been frowned on she had faced the fact that she must marry a Prince who was chosen for her; and her Ernest was by no means unattractive. She had compared Ernest with Augustus and now that Augustus was out of reach it seemed to her that Ernest did not suffer too much from the comparison.
    All the same she was leaving Kensington which had been home to her for so long; but she had to admit, though, that apart from leaving Victoria and dear old Lehzen and Späth, she would not mind so much. Her recent trip to Germany had made her feel that she could be very happy there. It was leaving her dear little sister that was so upsetting.
    She realised that she had not included Mamma in those she would miss. Well, to tell the truth, she would not be sorry to escape from Mamma. There, she had admitted it. But she would not allow herself to say it. Dear little Victoria was condemned to imprisonment … because that was what it was … in a way.
    She should therefore be gay and happy; and so she would be if it were not for leaving Victoria.
    Victoria had come in to see the bride. Lehzen hovered. Oh, why could we never be alone even for a little while!
    ‘Dearest Sissy! You look so beautiful.’
    ‘All brides look beautiful. It’s the dress.’
    ‘No bride looked as beautiful as you.’
    ‘Vicky, you always see those you love in a flattering light.’
    ‘Do I?’
    ‘Of course you do, you dear Angel. And you look lovely yourself.’
    Victoria turned round to show off her white lace dress.
    ‘I am going to miss you so,’ said Feodora tremulously.
    ‘It is going to be terrible without you.’
    ‘But you will have Uncle Leopold, dear Lehzen and Späth … and Mamma.’
    ‘And you will have Ernest. He is very handsome, Feodora, and Uncle Leopold says he is a good match.’
    ‘Oh yes, I like Ernest.’
    ‘But you must love your husband. And just think there will be the darling little children.’
    ‘Oh, not for a while,’ said Feodora.
    ‘What a lovely necklace.’
    ‘It’s diamonds. A present from the King.’
    ‘He loves you. I think he would have liked to marry you.’
    ‘Oh, he is an old, old man.’
    ‘But a very nice one. I think that next to Uncle Leopold he is the nicest man I know. And he is a King.’
    ‘He is coming to the wedding. He has promised to give me away.’
    ‘I don’t think he will like that … giving you away to Ernest when he wants you himself.’
    ‘Oh, Vicky, what extraordinary