Free Victoria Confesses (9781442422469) by Carolyn Meyer Page A

small, nondescript door opening to a kitchen garden. Beds of tender young vegetables were surrounded by potting sheds and a small glasshouse. It was close to Midsummer Night, and the sky was still as bright as midday, a glorious change from the suffocating palace.
    â€œIt’s altogether charming!” I exclaimed as we strolled among rows of lettuces, leeks, and radishes, peas and beans climbing wooden stakes, pots of herbs arranged in tiers, and trees laden with ripening fruit. The air smelled of damp earth. “I never even knew it existed!”
    Fidi laughed. “Mark it well, dearest sister,” she advised. “This is where I used to have my secret trysts with Captain d’Este.”
    I gaped at her, rather shocked. “Here?”
    â€œHere, among the strawberries.” She bent down and plucked a few fat red berries that peeped from among the dense green leaves.
    We sat on a rough wooden bench and shared the succulent berries. I had never eaten them directly from the garden, still warm from the sun. “Delicious,” I remarked. “I have only had them sliced in a trifle, or served with cream.”
    â€œThey’re best this way, I think,” said Fidi. “It’s one of the pure joys of not having to be a perfect princess.”
    â€œFidi, what am I to do?” I asked, sighing. “Do you know that Mamma still insists I sleep in her room?”
    â€œHigh time that you have a room of your own!” We were quiet for a while, enjoying the companionship and nibbling the strawberries. “I know you disagree, Victoria, but I do believe Uncle Leopold is the one most likely to help you,” Fidi said. “I correspond with him rather often, and he’s aware of problems here at Kensington. But he’s far away, and his duties in Belgium take all his attention. Mamma ignores his letters, but perhaps when he comes here to visit he can convince her to pay attention.” She rose and brushed off her skirt. “Now I suppose we should sneak back inside the same way we came.”
    We climbed the dimly lit stairs, startling a servant on herway down. “You must not give up, Victoria,” Fidi whispered. “Someday these difficult times will end and your life will be your own. You’ll see.”
    As the final days of Fidi’s visit ticked by, I became deeply despondent. I hoped that by some miracle her visit might be extended, but it could not—two tiny children waited at home for their mamma and papa. The time inevitably came for dearest Fidi and her kind husband and ADORABLE little children to leave.
    On our last day together, my sister suggested that we exchange the morning caps we always wore before we dressed each day to appear in public. I clutched Fidi’s little lace-edged cap that smelled so sweetly of her hairdressing. “I shall always treasure this reminder of you!” I promised.
    I clasped her in my arms and kissed her and cried as if my heart would break. And so did she, my DEAREST SISTER. We were forced to tear ourselves from each other in the DEEPEST SORROW.
    Then she was gone.

Chapter 11
K ENSINGTON , 1834
    I grieved for days after my sister left. Dearest Daisy understood my heartache; she missed Fidi nearly as much as I did. But Mamma paid little attention—she was busy making plans for our summer holiday in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Sir John and his family would accompany us, and Lady Flora too. The servants were ordered to begin packing.
    Bessie, my maid since I was quite young, helping me dress and undress several times a day as the situation required, had left my service to care for her aged father. Her younger sister, Maggie, had taken Bessie’s place. I became quite fond of Maggie, only a year or two older than I and very clever in doing my hair. Though we were forbidden to converse on any subject other than my clothes for the day and my coiffure, Maggie and I did sometimes exchange a few whispered words. One