Page 43 of The Heir
Jane looked troubled, as if some uncomfortable memory had caught her. “I spoke with my sister. Dr. Maton has, had, been to the house for dinner several times.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before!”
“I am not generally allowed at the table when Father has guests. I’m too young, and well, Liza’s prettier,” she whispered.
Victoria touched her hand in sympathy. Jane composed herself.
“So, I don’t usually know who’s coming. I mean, I knew that Father invites people from the palace regularly—”
Victoria froze. “Who?”Who from the palace is friends enough that he sits down to dinner with them?“Do they talk about me?”
Belatedly, Jane seemed to realize that this revelation was not a small thing to Victoria. A look of utter panic crossed her face.
“I don’t know. I told you, I’m not allowed at the dinners. But I made a list of who Liza said has been there most recently.” She glanced quickly behind and then pulled a paper from her sleeve.
Victoria took the list, willing her hands not to tremble. She unfurled the paper and read it.
Lord Melbourne
Lord Duncannon
Lord Dunfermline
Earl of Dunham
Mr. Rea
Dr. Maton
“This is the board,” she breathed. “This is the Kensington board. These are the men who oversee . . .” She swallowed.
They were the men assigned to oversee her welfare. They ultimately controlled the budget allotted for her maintenance. They crowded into the room on examination days as her tutors quizzed her, listened to her answers, and made reports to Parliament. They had final say over who did or did not serve in her household.
Victoria’s knees wobbled. Thankfully, there was a stone bench near at hand. She sat down abruptly.
“They all dine with him?”The men who decide where and how I live have all become Sir John’s friends?
What would they do when they heard the king was contemplating that she be removed from his care?
Victoria crumpled Jane’s list between her hands.
“Did you know?” she demanded. Her anger was ridiculous. Jane had no say in her father’s doings. But Jane was the one beside her, and she had nowhere else to direct her anger or her fear.
“I didn’t think about it,” said Jane. “It doesn’t pay to think too much about what Father is doing. It’s better to let it go on over your head.”
“Yes,” murmured Victoria.I will control myself.She and Jane had only just renewed their friendship. She could not let her temper break them apart. “I have been tempted to do so many times.”
“But you don’t.”
“I suppose not.”
“Why not?”
Victoria looked across the expanse of the lawn, toward the pond and its clusters of geese and swans. “I don’t know. I’ve tried. I know things would be much easier.”
“We should walk on,” murmured Jane. “I think Lady Flora is growing concerned.”
Lady Flora was indeed watching them intently. Victoria could just imagine what she would report to Mama. She got to her feet and resumed her stroll, with Jane close beside her.
