how many?
just them?
whom?
that's a very pretty shawl you are wearing, alex. silk suits you well. but you are not eating enough. one must not let vanity overrule one's appetite.
mr brown.
you are here safely.
you are well?
and the pony?
your family sent cards. it was much appreciated.
my husband was always very complimentary in speaking of you. he would have approved, i am sure, of my calling on you in this way. i trust it does not inconvenience you too much.
yes. you have a brother in service here, do you not? i forget his name.
yes. that will be company for you.
you do not - he .  get him out. get him out. get him out!
who is that?
what is he doing there?
i made no request to go out riding today. how long has he been there?
sir henry, mr brown is standing in the courtyard. i have no wish to go riding.
please make sure it does not happen again.
mr brown.
you have been told repeatedly not to stand in the courtyard unless requested to do so.
then why do you persist in doing it?
the queen will ride out if and when she chooses.
prince albert was going to build a bench here. he thought it one of the best views in osborne.
he thought so, yes.
in everything i do and everything i say, i try to think, as much as possible, what he would do, or say, if he were here now. my private secretary wishes me to return to public duties--
sir henry is not alone. they all wish it. the same people who refused to grant my husband the title of king because he was deemed of insufficient rank--
it is a fine spot for a bench, is it not?
yes.
i have some letters in the saddle bag. i wish to read them.
i cannot read them like that.
you will hand them to me as i require.
why?
no. i shall be out walking.
on no account.
gesture?
no dinners, bertie. why are you dressed for outdoors?
cold is good-- is that not so, dr. jenner?!
cold is good!
why am i being lectured in this way?!
i will not tolerate anybody lecturing me about the responsibility of the monarchy.
 least of all my son. it was his irresponsibility that drove my husband to his grave.
i do believe they send so many boxes to taunt me. doctor jenner writes to them to say that my nerves are in an extremely fragile state and yet they continue to hound me with box after box after box after box after box!
i wish to take the princesses for a swim.
the turns i have been taking in the grounds have proved most beneficial to me, and brown thinks that salt water will do me good.
don't potter, children. swim.
what are those?
those, over there, there.
craobhan-geanmchno.  how can i possibly say that with a straight face?!
i am thinking of publishing my "highland journals."
i am told so.
sir henry ponsonby tells me they are charming.
he has been attending at balmoral for many years.
his remarks were directed at the quality of the writing, not its subject.
i do not do it for others. but ponsonby thinks they are good.
of course i shall say what i have to say. i always do.
what mr ponsonby was appreciating was their literary merit, a skill not intimately associated with the knowledge of grooming. literary appreciation does not begin and end with tennyson.
i mention you in them.
in particular, the occasion when albert was alive; the royal carriage overturned during a storm and you demonstrated such loyal service in returning the queen and the princesses safely to balmoral.
for friendship.
it is a disgusting habit, bertie. it should be discouraged.
it is quite late enough.
brown's responsibilities are onerous enough already. he has far too much to do without having to stay up all night waiting for you to go to bed. the smoking-room will be closed and the lights put out at twelve o'clock.
and that is my last word on the matter.
i hope they didn't go to any trouble, john.
mr grant. how good it is to see you.
mrs grant. how is your knee? has the pain eased a little?
good. oh and here are douglas and john. haven't you grown?
i know that! that's cairn lochan. we picnicked there once, did we not, john?
oh, i'm so sorry .
we stayed a little longer than expected with mr and mrs grant. it was most agreeable.
and now i am back.
to keep out the cold.
thank you, john.
what is it, john? john?
read it.
read it!
who told them that?
why not?
no-one should think themselves wiser than me! it is not for any of the queen's subjects to presume to tell her majesty when and where she should come out of mourning. it is the queen's sorrow that keeps her secluded! it is her overwhelming amount of work and responsibility, work which she feels will soon wear her out entirely!
is it not enough that she is uncheered and unguided that she should also have to suffer these malicious rumors?! i am not a fool. i know there are those in the establishment too afraid to attack me and so they attack my dearest friends. sometimes -- i feel that brown is all i have left of albert. and now they attack brown too.
i will not give him up to them.
must they always follow us?
dear me, you'll be telling me to watch what i eat next.
am i not safe enough with you, john?
the threat from the irish is greatly exaggerated, i'm sure.
is anything the matter, john? john?
well?
why?
unwell?
has he been hurt?
you may go.
i am tired.
what is it?
from whom?
my family is quite capable of communicating with the queen in person.
what do they want?
my husband tried always to make me think more subtly. of course he taught me so much and i can never repay my debt to him, or the love i feel, even now. but, in truth, i think i am someone who can only feel things while they are alive to me. for that reason, i know i do not have a subtle mind. i know that. but i work hard and i try to do my duty. however, i have noticed of late that my feelings of grief are not so strong and -- that i find myself leaning more upon the comfort of living friends. friends close to me now.
sir henry.
please tell the princess, and other signatories to this letter, that the queen will not be dictated to, or made to alter, in any way, what she has found to answer for her comfort. do i make myself clear?
you may go.
i would like to get down.
john?
i was told you were in a fight.
has someone seen to those bruises?
yes?
i do not accept.
the queen forbids it. i cannot allow it because i cannot live without you. without you, i cannot find the strength to be who i must be. please.
promise me you won't let them send me back.
how dare the irish break with the anglicans? if albert were alive today he would never allow the crown to give up church patronage. no, the irish must be told, very firmly, to stay exactly where they are. it is the thin edge of the wedge, mr disraeli. next, you will be telling me that the crown no longer governs this nation.
but i lack your prose, mr disraeli.
then they may read about me.
is that not enough?
i never thought to be bullied by you, mr disraeli. you, i thought, understood a widow's grief.
i stay here because i am happy. is that such a terrible crime?
this is my good john brown.
i have asked him to show you a little of highland life while you are with us at balmoral.
i received a letter today from mr disraeli. parliament is calling for my return to public duties. why won't they let us be?
he insists that the country expects me to preside over the opening of the new session. i refuse to offer sustenance to enable his weakening grip. besides, you know how much i should hate it. it frightens me.
john?
duty?! you talk about duty?!
i cannot believe you are saying this? you, who i have relied on all this time --
-- you stand there and tell me it is my duty .  after all you promised me!
you are forcing me to do the very thing you know i fear most!
i will not hear any more about my safety!! you made me a promise and now you have broken it!
then why send me back to them?!
do not presume to talk to your queen in that manner.
doctor jenner, i feel unwell. i shall retire to my chamber. please attend me presently.
where is my son?
why is he not here?
then why are you not with him?
what is the matter with him?
no. you are mistaken. prince albert, my husband, had typhoid fever. i asked what was wrong with my son.
why was i not informed?
how ill is he?
alex?
he is not well, ma'am.
i must go to him.
we must leave at once.
should the good lord see fit to spare my son, i will order a mass to be celebrated at st. george's. the people must share with their queen, her prayers and hopes for their future king.
i will ride to st. george's in an open carriage. it is time the queen was seen by her public.
i intend brown to be rewarded with a special medal cast in gold. it will be called the devoted service medal.
how long has he been this sick?
why was i not told earlier?
you should never have gone out in such foul weather.
yes. yes it was.
my ministers are as impertinent as ever. dispatches are now so numerous, they come in a trunk. sometimes i do believe they will never stop. endless letters.
i know i have not always been the loyal friend you deserved, john. and yet here i am now, even now, feeling desperate at the thought of losing you.