Page 21 of The Heir
Lehzen bowed her head. “I am sorry. But please believe me, Sir John’s orders did not come from Her Highness or from anything Her Highness said about Hornsby’s conduct.”
“Then what was it?” demanded Saddler. “Because—and you’ll pardon me for speaking plain—Hornsby and the rest of my men need their jobs. Most of ’em, they ain’t got friends in the palace or anyplace else. They may be shoveling shit in a stable, but it’s better than starving in a ditch.”
“I do understand. And if it becomes possible to help return Hornsby to his post, I will see it done.”
Saddler did not entirely believe her but did not entirely doubt her, either, which was something. “Anything else you wanted? Ma’am?” he added as an afterthought.
“I have detained you long enough. Thank you.”
He bowed again. There was a shade more courtesy in the gesture this time. She returned that courtesy and began the long walk back to the palace, where, she felt sure, Sir John was already waiting for her.
Chapter 9
Victoria loved music. She always had. When there was music, she could feel—feel deeply, feel truly. Not even Mama or Sir John could fault her if she sighed or if a tear escaped during an aria or concerto. But it was more than that. As long as the music played, she could set the princess aside. No matter how many people surrounded her, she, Victoria, could simplybe.
But not tonight. Madame Dulcken’s beautiful music filled the room, but Victoria could not let herself soar. It wasn’t just the pain in her back and her head that kept her spirits depressed. It was the uncertainty.
Lehzen had not returned. She should have been here when the ladies filed into the pillared music room from taking their after-dinner tea, but there had been no sign of her.
Where is she? What did she learn?
Has something happened to her?
Victoria felt her brows knit. She told herself not to be ridiculous. Nothing could have happened. But the fact remained, Lehzen was not there. Neither was Sir John.
They were still missing when the men came in from their port wine and cigars, and when Madame Dulcken arrived and settled herself to play.
This, despite the beauty of Madame Dulcken’s piano, kept Victoria’s spirits rooted to the ground. She wanted to twist in her seat, to watch the doors. But of course she could not. Mama was right beside her. Mama’s eyes might be fixed ahead, as if she were fully absorbed by Madame Dulcken’s virtuosity, but she was really paying attention to the gathering itself. She was judging how Victoria—her dearest daughter, her hope, all she had in the world—was being judged by her carefully selected group of guests.
Victoria had spent hours in the red salon, sitting at the dining table. Mama had moved to each empty chair in turn and rapped out her questions.
“Who sits at the head of the table?”
“Paul III Anton, Prince Esterházy.”
“And who is he?”
“Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s.”And if given half a chance, a man who will talk your ear off about the intricacies of sheep farming. And, not incidentally, so happy to be flirted with by a pretty woman that he will faithfully pass on any story you choose to tell to Their Majesties.
“And at his right hand?”
“Emily Clavering-Cowper, Countess Cowper.”Who thinks she’s still eighteen and dresses accordingly. And who will be keeping those sharp eyes of hers on you and me so she can tell Lord Melbourne how we are doing, because Lord Melbourne does not entirely trust Sir John, so you want to make sure she sees us all happy and united.
“And at her right hand?”
“Prince Johann Joseph of Liechtenstein.”And to hear him tell it, he is also the man who single-handedly won the Battle of Austerlitz against Napoleon.
“And why is he in England?”
“He is addressing Parliament regarding the constitutional reforms being implemented in Liechtenstein.”And, incidentally, keeping one eye on us for your family in Leiningen, so you can tell him how matters stand without having to put anything on paper.
“And at his right hand?”
“Countess Sebastiani.”
“And who is she?”
The woman who writes regularly to Princess Lieven, who passes on whatever she knows to Prince Metternich and, incidentally, to Tsar Nicholas, which allows you to keep a private line of communication open....
