Victoria Confesses (9781442422469) Read Free Page A

after that. He will try to control you the way he controls Mamma. Sir John is determined to have the power it will bring him. That’s why he has so many rules for you—his so-called Kensington System—and why Mamma allows it.”
    Daisy muttered in her sleep. The book slid off her lap and fell to the floor with a thump. Fidi and I lay still as mice, hoping she had not awakened.
    â€œI believe they’re trying to break your will,” Fidi said when it was safe to continue, “or at the very least to bend it so that you will always do exactly as they want. You must be strong, Victoria! Lehzen can’t be of much help to you, for if she resists, Sir John will dismiss her with a snap of his fingers. It won’t be easy for you, but you can depend on Uncle Leopold to do what he can to help you.”
    My head was whirling with questions, but before I could ask them, Fidi stroked my hair and kissed me tenderly. “I must leave, before Mamma comes up. Give me your solemn word that you will not tell Mamma or Lehzen or anyone else what I’ve told you. When they do tell you themselves, you must act very surprised. Do you promise?”
    Solemnly, I crossed my heart and promised.
    â€œThen tomorrow we shall be happy, shan’t we? I’ll pretend to be happy on my wedding day, and you must pretend to be happy for me. Know that I shall always hold you in my heart, and we will exchange letters often, and someday you will be free of these invisible bonds that now hold you so tightly.”
    Fidi crept out from beneath the coverlet and was feeling with her bare feet for her slippers when the door opened. Mamma! Daisy awakened with a start. It was too late for Fidi to make her escape.
    â€œFeodore! What are you doing here?” Mamma demanded. She sounded startled, then angry.
    â€œI came to give Vicky my blessing on my last night at Kensington,” Fidi explained.
    â€œI begged her to stay, Mamma. I shall miss dear Fidi so very, very much!” I added, beginning to weep. Fidi fled, leaving her slippers behind.
    â€œWe shall all miss her, Vickelchen, I know.” Mamma’s heart seemed to soften. She sank down on my bed. “But she will be content in her new life, once she gets used to it.” She rubbed my toes through the thick, quilted satin. Her thoughts seemed far away. “I, too, once married a man I scarcely knew and moved far from everyone I loved.” She smiled sadly. “But you are my reward, my dearest treasure.”

    The wedding was as lovely as one could ever wish. Sweet-smelling flowers filled the Cupola Room, where the ceremony took place. My sister was beautiful, of course, and when she made her marriage vows her voice was clear and strong. Sir John strutted among the guests, behaving as though he were Fidi’s father, and his great, booming laugh drowned out all the other voices. My dress was made of the same delicate lace as my sister’s wedding gown, and I had a little straw basket of favors to hand round to the guests. Fidi was as gay and charming as she used to be. Prince Ernst appeared to adore his new bride. I would have liked him much more if he were not about to take Fidi so far away.
    Toasts were drunk to the health and happiness of the couple, and almost as much attention was paid to me as to the bride. At noon we sat down to a splendid wedding breakfast—stewedoysters, which I did not like, and a galantine of fowl, which I did. There were two cakes, a white one for the bride and a dark, fruity one for the groom. I ate some of both.
    Uncle Leopold bent down to speak to me. “Ah, my little chick”—his pet name for me—“I see that you are enjoying your sister’s wedding day!” Then he whispered close to my ear, “Remember, though, to eat slowly. Small bites! It will make you grow.” It bothered my dear uncle that I was still quite small. Much as I wished to please him, my height did not change.
    I