“I’m sure these jewels will be the first of many, Your Highness.”
“James, you are a silver-tongued devil!” Vicky gave him a coy, sidewise glance.
Well, I’ll be damned. . . . She’s slavering over him!
Chapter Fourteen
She’s late! What on earth could have happened? Anne Howe stood with her parents and her brother Montagu in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor. The pews were filled with waiting, invited guests. The court officials and the heralds were all in place. The Prince of Wales, wearing the uniform of a general along with the Garter Robes, stood waiting at the altar with the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Longley.
People began to clear their throats, and a few coughs penetrated the awkward silence.
John Claud Hamilton moved into the pew beside Anne. “You look lovely, though your gown isn’t a muted shade,” he whispered.
She glanced down with amused eyes at her seafoam green silk. “It’s muted for me.”
“You flaunt the rules.”
“Always.” I spent over an hour placing the fresh flowers in her coronet, and making sure her veil was in place. When I left them, the bridesmaids were all holding her train in readiness—don’t tell me Alix is having a nervous panic. I should have stayed with her until she started to move down the aisle. Anne glanced up toward Queen Katherine’s Closet. Victoria will be incensed that the princess is late and keeping everyone waiting!
After an interval of ten minutes that seemed more like an hour, the trumpets sounded and Prince Christian of Denmark led his daughter, swathed in white silk and silver lace, down the nave of the chapel toward the altar and her waiting groom.
James Hamilton, sitting in the second pew behind the Prince of Wales’s royal siblings, turned to watch the bride approach. She was completely hidden inside her cocoon of silk and lace, and his eyes strayed to the guests, searching for a certain female.
He found her easily, but disappointment clouded his eager mood of anticipation when he saw that John Claud was her escort. It was so easy to forget that his brother was courting Anne, but seeing them together as a couple was a sobering reminder that the lady was out of bounds to him.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony—”
The words of the archbishop, echoing in the vaulted chapel, brought James out of his reverie. He had attended many weddings, including those of three of his sisters, and the Solemnization of Matrimony was familiar.
“Albert Edward, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
At that precise moment a ray of sunlight shone through the eastern stained-glass window and enveloped Queen Katherine’s Closet in a halo of light. Prince Edward was so awed by Queen Victoria’s power that he was unable to answer the archbishop. He swallowed hard and nodded his assent.
The archbishop of Canterbury, the only person in the chapel not overawed by the queen’s authority, charged the princess with the same question.
“I will,” Alexandra answered in a clear, sweet voice.
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” the archbishop demanded.
Prince Christian placed his daughter’s hand in Longley’s and stepped back to stand beside his wife.
Find your voice quickly, Teddy. You must pledge your vows, like it or not.
The archbishop placed the bride’s hand in her groom’s right hand. “Repeat after me: I, Albert Edward, take thee, Alexandra Caroline, to my wedded wife . . .”
After a moment’s hesitation, the Prince of Wales found his lost voice, and James Hamilton, along with the entire congregation, heaved a silent sigh of relief.
After the royal couple exchanged all their vows, Canterbury addressed the congregation. “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. For as much as Albert Edward and Alexandra Caroline have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
The archbishop read two psalms and some traditional prayers, and finally the Anthem was sung by Jenny Lind, who truly had the voice of a nightingale. Her performance was marred by loud sobs from Queen Victoria. The Anthem had been written by her late, beloved Albert, and she lost her composure and broke down.
Good God, here come the waterworks, James lamented. When many of the guests followed the queen’s lead, James knew how uncomfortable the Prince of Wales must feel.
It’s mass hysteria. Heaven be praised we are at the end of this ceremonial circus!
James should have known there was worse to come. A temporary banquet hall had been erected, opening out of the west door of the chapel, and as the multitude of invited guests followed the bridal party into the huge tentlike chamber, the pecking order was called into question. Members of the government vied with the nobility, who in turn took umbrage that foreign royals were shown precedence over British peers. Sarcastic comments, bruised feelings, and outright hostilities pervaded the air. Order and manners fell by the wayside as pushing and shoving became prevalent. The size of the fortune spent on this royal wedding should have guaranteed an atmosphere of love and joy; instead, it produced the opposite.
John Claud found seats for Anne, Montagu, and their parents. “I brought my carriage. I’ll give you a ride home, Lord Howe. The train from Windsor back to London this evening will be a mad scramble for seats.”
“Very kind of you, my boy, but we also brought our carriage. Montagu and I are off to Leicestershire this evening. We’re going to Gopsall Hall for the lambing.”
John Claud nodded his understanding; he knew that Montagu had joined the Rifle Brigade and would soon be called up. He smiled at Anne. “It would make me happy if you would allow me to drive you back to London.”
“I’m sorry, John Claud, but Princess Alexandra has asked me to accompany her to the Isle of Wight.”
“On her honeymoon? Surely that’s highly irregular?”
“I think she invited me because she feels she needs an ally. She’s chosen me as one of her ladies-in-waiting, and when we return to London, your sister Frances will be joining us at Marlborough House.”
John Claud frowned. “You won’t be living there full-time, will you?”
“I imagine I will spend certain days of the week there, and some at home. Just as your sister Jane, Countess of Dalkeith, spends certain days at Buckingham Palace in her capacity as lady-in-waiting to the queen, and then returns home for part of the week. It will be up to the Princess of Wales to decide our schedule.”
His brow was still furrowed with disapproval. “I would appreciate it if you would let me know when you will next be at home, Anne. I’m trying to court you, but it’s proving rather difficult.”
Anne’s eyes filled with amusement. “Poor John Claud, first it’s Fitz Kerry, now it’s the Princess of Wales. Rivals are the very devil.”
“Those aren’t the rivals I worry about,” he said dryly.
Though his brother’s name had not been mentioned, Anne knew he was thinking of James. Her pulse quickened. We’ll be together at Osborne House and then at Marlborough House. Anne blushed as she recalled that she had tossed her violets into Lord Hamilton’s carriage. From now on I must treat James with cool indifference, or he will assume I am throwing myself at him, like the voluptuous Princess Vicky . . . and all the other females who lay eyes on him.
• • •
Anne bade good-bye to her parents when they decided to leave the reception early without waiting for the wedding cake. She kissed her father. “Have a safe trip to Leicestershire.”
John Claud shook hands with her father and kissed her mother’s hand. He knew they approved of him as a suitor to their daughter and he intended to keep it that way. After they left, he turned his attention to the guests who were members of Parliament. “Did you see the look Lady Churchill gave Disraeli’s wife? I thought she was going to have hysterics when she saw that she was an invited guest.”
“The duchess thinks she’s superior to the rest of the nobility, so it doesn’t surprise me she’s outraged that people who aren’t in the peerage have been invited.”
“MPs in my humble opinion are far more important than aging aristocrats.”
Anne’s eyes sparkled. “You have no humble opinions, John Claud.”
“I’m off to Ireland soon to run for the Londonderry seat. When I return, the youngest member of Parliament will have a proposal to put to you.”
“You take it for granted you’ll win the seat.”
“Absolutely!”
“And you take it for granted that I’ll say yes, you cocky devil. I’m afraid you are in for a rude awakening, John Claud.”
They both looked up as James Hamilton approached. Anne caught her breath.
James greeted his brother, then turned to Anne. “Her Majesty has commanded that the newlyweds join her in the royal apartments to have their photographs taken with her and a bust of Prince Albert.”
“How . . . inventive,” Anne murmured.
“Teddy’s had enough domination to last him a lifetime,” James said quietly. “We are going to secretly smuggle the couple back to Marlborough House tonight. Sometime tomorrow we’ll take the train from London to Portsmouth, then sail across the Solent to Osborne House. I’ll give you a signal when we’re ready to leave.”
Anne nodded. She agreed that Alexandra would be much happier once she was away from her new mother-in-law, Queen Victoria. “I’ll be ready, Lord Hamilton.”
It was more than an hour later when James returned to the reception without the newlyweds and waved his hand. Anne bade good-bye to John Claud. “When I’m next at home, I will drop in at Hampden House. Thank you for your escort today.” If I remind him that I did not seek his escort, it would hurt his feelings, but I truly wish he wasn’t such a devoted swain.
• • •
When Anne arrived at Marlborough House, the chamberlain assigned her a chamber in the wing where Alexandra had her private quarters, which were apart from those the princess would share with the Prince of Wales. She did not see the newlyweds, who were already ensconced in the master suite.
Anne decided to leave her trunk unpacked, since she’d be leaving sometime tomorrow for the Isle of Wight. She opened the lid to get out a nightdress and realized she should have brought more clothes. Since the honeymoon would last for three weeks, she would be hard-pressed to find a different outfit each day.
I should have brought my sketching supplies so I could design some dresses for Alix. She really didn’t care for many of the outfits that had been designed for her trousseau.
She heard a light tap on the door and was surprised when she opened it to find James Hamilton.
“We don’t expect the newlyweds to emerge early, so I’ve arranged for us to depart on the afternoon train to Portsmouth.” He smiled. “No need for you to arise at dawn.”
An idea came into her head. “Do you suppose I would have time to go home in the morning and collect a few more things?”
“Of course, Lady Anne. I’ll arrange a carriage for you at nine o’clock. Good night.”
• • •
Anne was an early riser and awoke at seven. Her chamber was elegantly furnished, and the deep-piled Turkish carpet was more costly than the one in her bedchamber at home. She was pleased with the flat-topped writing desk where she could work on her design sketches. She drew back the brocade drapes and was delighted with her view of St. James’s Park.
When she answered a light tap on the door, there were two female servants, one with hot water and the other with her breakfast on a tray. “Thank you for the service. I wasn’t expecting a tray.”
The maid bobbed a curtsy. “Lord Hamilton ordered it for you, my lady. He said you would be pressed for time this morning.”
How very thoughtful of him. I’ll eat now before I get dressed. She sat down and lifted the silver cover. There was a Dover sole with parsley and lemon. Did he order this to remind me of the meal we shared at the hotel that day? She saw the lily in the crystal vase, and smiled her secret smile. He remembered every detail. I think I’ll bring my lovely fur coat. We’ll likely have some cool evenings on the Isle of Wight.
• • •
It was after ten o’clock when Anne stepped from the carriage, ran lightly up the steps to the Grosvenor Square house, and opened the door with her key. The house was quiet; there were no servants about, not even Jenkins, and she wondered if her mother had gone out. I don’t have much time, but it won’t take long to get my sketchbook and pack a couple of outfits. I won’t pack my fur coat, I’ll wear it.
Upstairs, she opened her wardrobe and selected three outfits. One was cream brocade, whose bodice she’d embroidered with black and gold honeybees. Another was a mauve linen walking dress, and the third was a teal velvet riding habit. She folded them into an overnight bag and slipped on her fur coat. She glanced at the sketchbook on her desk, then heard her mother’s laughter.
Anne went down the hall to her mother’s dressing room, but when she recognized a man’s voice, she stopped. Father and Montagu have gone to Gopsall. Who could be in Mother’s bedchamber?
“Leicester, darling, let’s stay abed all day. I want to reward you for getting Montagu accepted into the prestigious Rifle Brigade.”
Anne’s hand flew to her mouth. She’d suspected that her mother had been in love with Leicester before she’d been married, but was shocked to her bones that they were still lovers.
“He’s my son—it’s the least I could do, sweetheart.”
Anne began to shake. On unsteady legs she walked quietly back to her own chamber.
With trembling hands she slipped her sketchbook into her overnight bag, and crept out of the house. She sat stunned in the carriage as it returned to Marlborough House. As she leaned back against the velvet squabs, she did not recall leaving her mother’s dressing room, only the sound of Leicester’s voice.
Montagu is Leicester’s son. Anne felt her stomach knot. Mother’s lover is her husband’s son. She shook her head in denial. Surely, her mother could not be so depraved? That would mean she has been sleeping with both for twenty years!
When the carriage stopped, Anne sat in a trance. No one must ever find out about Mother’s wicked secret. Oh my God, if Emily ever got scent of such a scandalous thing, she would destroy us. Father would divorce my mother and neither she nor I would be accepted in polite society. The Hamiltons would withdraw their friendship. Any whiff of scandal is such anathema to Queen Victoria that we would be “beyond the pale.”
“Are you feeling all right, my lady?”
Anne blinked at the driver who had opened the carriage door. She moistened dry, bloodless lips. “Perfectly all right,” she murmured, as a footman came out of Marlborough House to take her bag.
She followed him inside and glanced at the tall clock in the reception hall. She couldn’t believe that it was only a few minutes past eleven. In the space of one brief hour, her world had been turned upside down.
• • •
When Anne glimpsed Alexandra’s pale, anxious face as she descended the staircase, she pushed thoughts of her mother’s shocking affair aside. Oh dear, Alix doesn’t look like a happy bride. “I’ve been on an errand, Your Highness. I was just going up to make sure the servan
ts have packed everything you want to take to Osborne House.”
“Please call me Alix,” she pleaded. “Yes, everything is packed and ready.”
You don’t look ready. “Are you going to lunch?”
“I’m not sure where the dining room is.”
Anne gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll find it together, Alix.”
It wasn’t difficult to locate, as liveried footmen and the prince’s gentlemen were headed in that direction. “Do you think I may sit here by the window?”
“You may sit anywhere you fancy, Alix. This house belongs to you.”
“I couldn’t manage any breakfast, but I think I should eat something before the long journey. I feel almost faint,” she confessed shyly.
Anne’s stomach was in a knot, and the last thing she wanted was food. “I had breakfast, so I’m not very hungry,” she told the liveried server. “Perhaps some soup.”
“May I take the liberty of suggesting mushroom bisque, my lady?”
“Yes, that would be lovely, thank you.”
“I’d like some too,” the princess said softly.
“Certainly, Your Highness.” The server bowed and departed.
“You look lovely in that shade of lilac, Alix.”
“I like any shade of purple or mauve, and it is an approved mourning color.” Her hand went to her pearl necklace. “I wore my wedding jewels. Am I being too ostentatious?” she asked anxiously.
“Not at all. Not only are they perfect for a royal princess; they are your husband’s wedding gift to you. He will be most pleased that you have chosen to wear them.”
“I hope he’s pleased.”
Anne heard the wistful note in her voice. I can tell she is too reticent to say more. “Ah, good, here’s the soup. I’m sure it will make us both feel better.” For Alix’s sake, Anne forced herself to pick up the spoon and pretend to relish the mushroom bisque.