The Queen's Husband by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online

That is her character. It is because she is sweetly docile that I love her. And that, my dearest Albert, is the quality I prize in all my little nieces and nephews.’
    That was how the conversation went whenever they were together. Leopold would always bring it round to the little girl of Kensington. Albert wished that he could see her. Uncle Leopold’s description sounded delightful; but when he discussed the matter with Ernest, his rather cynical elder brother remarked that Uncle Leopold could be prejudiced in his descriptions of the young lady of Kensington; he believed that this was a common practice with royalty when marriages were being arranged.
    Albert suggested that his brother might be jealous because he, Albert, had been chosen to marry a queen – if she became one. This made Ernest explode into laughter. No, he wanted no queens, thank you. He would make the right sort of marriage but that would not prevent his having ‘friends’ whenever and wherever he wished.
    Leopold questioned Herr Florschütz closely about the boys’ studies. He said he would consult Baron Stockmar and plan out a schedule for their education.
    ‘Will our father agree to that?’ Ernest wondered when the boys were alone together.
    ‘Agree,’ cried Albert, ‘of course he’ll agree. Uncle Leopold is the most important man in Europe.’
    ‘He has bewitched you,’ said Ernest.
    ‘Bewitched! Who’s bewitched? Now you’re thinking of the grandmothers’ fairy stories.’
    ‘You do seem to think he is the most brilliant, magnificent, clever …’
    ‘Oh, shut up,’ said Albert. And then: ‘But he is.’
    ‘There, I told you so. No wonder Uncle Leopold loves you. You flatter him so innocently.’
    ‘How could one flatter innocently? Flattery in itself suggests something false.’
    ‘There you go, Herr Florschütz’s model pupil. No wonder Uncle Leopold decided you should have the prize.’
    ‘What prize?’
    ‘The Queen of England, idiot.’

    The visit passed all too quickly for Albert. It had been a wonderful experience. The dream uncle of his childhood had taken on flesh and blood and was every bit as godlike as Albert remembered. The Court at Brussels was grand. ‘You should have seen that of my late father-in-law in England,’ Uncle Leopold told the boys. ‘I never liked him but he was considered to be very artistic. Carlton House was absolutely splendid and the Pavilion at Brighton – well, it had to be seen to be believed. Then of course he got to work on Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.’
    ‘It must have been very grand to be grander than Brussels,’ said Albert.
    ‘Ah, my boy, you have seen nothing of the world. We’ll change that. We’ve got to get you educated along the right lines. One of these days you must go with Stockmar on the Grand Tour.’
    ‘We should enjoy it,’ said Albert, underlining the fact that Ernest would be there too. ‘But I don’t think our father would be able to afford it.’
    ‘There are some things which it is false economy to go without,’ said Uncle Leopold.
    So it seemed very likely that when the time came the boys would go on the Grand Tour.
    ‘Of course,’ said Uncle Leopold, ‘you are young as yet. Thirteen. Boys still. But another six years, eh? Time soon passes. Have no fear, I shall write to your father. It is very important that you should be prepared. Do you speak English, Albert?’
    Albert said that English was not included in his studies.
    ‘An oversight,’ said Uncle Leopold, ‘which shall be remedied.’
    How he enjoyed those talks with Uncle Leopold. He avoided Aunt Louise, because he felt embarrassed in her company. She was pretty and when Uncle Leopold was not there, inclined to be gay. His uncle did in fact have to reprove her on one occasion for making a joke.
    What a good man Uncle Leopold was! thought Albert. When he grew up he hoped he would be a little like him.
    It was an exciting visit and Albert enjoyed it thoroughly, except for the