Treść książki
Przejdź do opcji czytnikaPrzejdź do nawigacjiPrzejdź do informacjiPrzejdź do stopki
I.THEPREGNANCIESANDCONFINEMENTS
reception.112Thenextday,however,thenewspapersreportedthatafter
thePrincelefttheGuildhalltheDukeofCambridgecommentedonhis
excusinghimselffromthedinner,saying:
uInfactthePrincehadlatelymarriedaveryfnegirl,and
theyweresomehoworotherveryfondofeachother’ssoci-
ety(Laughterandimmensecheering).Heperceivedthatthe
Princewasreadilyexcused.Indeed,therewasnotaladyorgen-
tlemanpresentwhowouldnotatoncegivehimcreditforthe
preference.(Alaughandcheering)”.113AlludingtoVictoria’s
pregnancy,headded,thathethoughtthatno-onepresent
woulddenythePrincecreditforhisuperformances”todate.
114
Aftertheinitialshockofherfrstpregnancy,theQueenseemstohave
beenuinspirits”.
115
InApril,theStevensonsdinedwiththeQueen(thefrst
ofthediplomatstobesohonouredafterthewedding)andMrsStevenson
wasdelightedthattheQueenlookedusohappythatitwasrefreshingto
seeherwithherhandsome,manly-lookingyounghusbandsittingbyher”.
Duringtheeveningtheyfrequentlyuconversed,andseveraltimeslaughed
withmerrygleeatthecommunicationstheymadetoeachother”.The
Queenappearedumuchattached”toherhusbandandhermannerwas
ucertainlymuchmorejoyousandhappythanIeversawitbefore”.116
Despitethepregnancy,theQueenwasnotpreparedtorestrictheractivi-
tiesanymorethanwasnecessary,especiallywithregardtoherfavourite
pastimes,dancinginparticular.On23Marchshedancedseveralquadrilles
andwaltzes,andaweeklateranothereveningpartywasorganiseddur-
ingwhichshedanceduseveraltimes”until1.30a.m.,concludingwith
aquadrillethatshedancedwithCountValentineEsterhazy.117However,
on31Marchshefeltverytiredandhadauverynicelittledinner”alone
withAlbert.Thenextdaysherestedtillluncheonbutwasubeingbetter”.
On2Aprilshedidnotfeelverywellanddancedonlyoneortwoslowqua-
drillesratherthanthemoreenergeticgallopsandwaltzes.118On11May
shedanceduonly”threetimes-twicebeforesupperandonceafter-but
despitethis,stayeduntil3a.m..WritingattheendofMay,MrsStevenson
saysthattheQueengaveaballuatwhichshewaspermittedtodance
VERYLITTLE,andtotakeherstepswithgreatcircumspection”.
119
Yetshe
continuedtoholdballs,andon22Junedancedtheopeningquadrilleand
anotherlateron,althoughshedidnotjointhewaltzesorgallops.120The
ballfnishedatabout3a.m.,andLordHollandexpressedsomeconcern
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