#lehzen

The kindness of an “enemy” and the cruelty of “friends” - How a ten second scene made me *ship* two characters I don’t even care about. 

So I watched the S2 finale of Victoria last night and for some reason this scene had me in tears - strangely even more so than a certain horrible death happening (that had me angry despite my rationally knowing that it ‘had’ to happen bc of a historical fact). 

But back to the often hated, much dreaded Baroness Lehzen and this unexpected, somewhat whimsical gesture my Mr Penge. I knew she had to leave, we all saw it coming, and even if I was with Albert on the whole Get-Vicky-a-doctor thing (and actually imagine it must be dreadful for a parent not to have the ‘authority’ to call a doctor when your child is ill because your spouse has it and dismisses your worries) I still feel that Lehzen is often falsely ‘demonized’ because she is inconvenient now and overestimates her importance in Victoria’s life. And this is not entirely her fault as Victoria admitted herself that Lehzen was the most important person in her life before Albert came. She needed her care, love and attention more than anything during the horrible years of the Kensington System when no one respected her wishes, gave her much affection or agency. Lehzen was the only safety or protections he had when she was severely bullied by Conroy and forsaken by her mother who sided with the man who abused her. Lehzen loved and protected her better than her own  mother, and being childless surely came to care for Victoria like actual family, which was her mistake as it made her overstep her boundaries - so in short I think it’s as wrong to call Lehzen a bad person as calling Albert a bad person for requesting her removal. Both meant well in the own way and both want to be the most important person to Victoria because they both love her - but only one can prevail. 

Now...I did expect Victoria to be the one standing by Lehzen’s carriage to wave her off - at least after her heartfelt speech about Lehzen’s importance in her life. 

Instead we got to see something I felt was incredibly touching and also said a lot about who your true friends are in life. Since S1 Lehzen and Penge have had their rivalries, snarky quarrels and enmities, so he was the last person you’d think would care to see her off, offer her a kind word or indeed a gift as a farewell. 

Lehzen had been haughty and let’s be honest, quite horrible at times, she put herself above others in the palace and made life difficult for the likes of Penge - and yet, the relationship she had with Penge was still one based on mutual respect, more on an eye-level and not without understanding... whereas Lehzen became more and more ostracized, disrespected and ignored by the Queen, the Prince and all others “upstairs.” We see this dilemma of governesses being “not quite a servant” but also “not equal” in famous examples like Jane Eyre, and in Lehzen we see what happens when - unlike Jane - there is not a romantic happy ending and you get to marry the master and adopt the child as your own - and a governess becomes obsolete, inconvenient and “replacable”: she is sent packing. 

Of course Lehzen was granted a pension by the queen so she was taken care of economically, but on the emotional side of things, this was a woman who had dedicated her entire life to a single child and may now be too old to marry and have any children of her own. Part of me would have liked to see that aspect explored in the character of Lehzen (as almost everyone - including Penge - gets some sort of contrived romance arc...just not the “old maid”). 

So in the end...the only person who showed her any kindness, consideration or care in the end is ironically enough the man she had been quarrelling with since the very beginning. But unlike Albert, who turned out to be her true nemesis, Penge does not demonize her or even gloat at her misfortune (as one might have expected). He warned her before of coming between wife and husband, but at the moment when he could have smirked and said “I told you so.” or “Good riddance” he is not petty or small - he is only kind and human. 

And that got to me on a level few storylines do these days. And it does actually make me question the characterization in Victoria a little bit when I feel there is more genuine love, affection and true human feeling between minor characters than major characters of late...

I’m not sure what it is, but at this point, I care a lot more about Ernest and Harriet and their fate than about Victoria and Albert’s relationship (though they were always one of my favourite couples in all films and books about them), I also cared more about Lord Alfred and Drummond than about Skerrett and Francotelli but that’s another issue more related to ‘story telling’ and ‘chemistry’ I think. And in the end you don’t choose what grabs you, it chooses you. 

But I will say this: At the end of this episode, I was far more invested in the Lehzen/Penge dynamic (crying over it tbh) and whatever will happen to Lehzen now in Germany than to see ‘Uncle’ Leopold gift the kids with a pony. 

Vicbert Fanfic Challenge

Day Five: Roommates!au

“I don’t want to go on holiday” Victoria sighed to her best friend Louise over the phone. “The last time our family and the Saxe-Coburg’s saw each other was a nightmare!”

“Victoria” Louise Lehzen’s voice was sympathetic but firm. “It’s been eight years since you last saw them - you’re twenty years old now! You can survive a holiday with family friends.”

“You haven’t met them…” Victoria muttered under her breath before saying goodbye, hanging up the phone and trundling her suitcase downstairs.

—

“Well here we are!” Victoria’s mother announced cheerily. Peering out of the windscreen, Victoria saw a quaint house perched by the sea, with grey clouds brewing overhead. “It looks lovely doesn’t it?”

Victoria exchanged looks with her brother Alfred. The house wasn’t what she would have described as lovely, especially with a storm incoming. Another car had already parked up.

“Remind me, who’s coming out of the Saxe-Coburgs?” Victoria queried, biting her lip nervously as her mother maneuvered the car into a park.

“Well there’s Ernie, Leopold, Ernest..” that was a relief, Ernest was a good sort “…and the youngest Albert.” Victoria drew in a sharp breath - her last encounter with Albert hadn’t been pleasant. She punched Alfred to stop him silently laughing at her reaction. Flashbacks to an impromptu piano recital made her shudder as she relieved the embarrassment.

“Right.” Victoria frowned. She was 20 for goodness sake! Louise was right - she could survive this. Hopping out of the now parked car, she grabbed her suitcase out of the boot and trailed her mother and brother up to the house. She had to admit, the house was actually quite pleasant, as she wandered in the front door, but the company would most likely be less so.

“Hello!” Her mother called out into the seemingly empty house. Immediately footsteps sounded and soon four men had entered the foyer. Three of them had large smiles while the other lurked at the back with a placid expression. It was Albert, no doubt about it. They exchanged pleasantries and then there came the issue of sleeping arrangements.

“Well” Leopold clapped his hands together with a grin. “We put yourself in the master bedroom Marie, and myself and Ernie will have the rooms downstairs. Ernest and Alfred will share one of the double rooms, and Victoria and Albert can share the other.”

Victoria gaped. She had to share a room with Albert?! How on earth did that happen?? She narrowed her eyes at her mother and Leopold - this was probably part of their plan to set herself and Albert up.

Alfred clapped her on the shoulder. “Right sis let’s get your bags upstairs!” He hoisted them up and they followed the two Coburg brothers up the stairs to the upper floor. Alfred dumped her bags in her room and left with Ernest. Albert shut the door and turned to her with an apprehensive expression.

“So, uh, you can have the bed by the window if you like? And just tell me when you want to get dressed…I’ll leave” he offered. His hands were fiddling together, and Victoria had to admit there was something endearing in his german accent and awkward manner. Not to omit that he had changed since they had last met - he was very handsome now.

“Thank you Albert for that offer, I’ll take you up on it” she smiled at him, shifting her suitcase to the window bed. Out the window the sea bashed against the rocks and there was no beach in sight. She sighed wistfully, and flopped down on the bed.

“So Albert, its been a while. How have you been - what have you been up to?” She asked, looking at him side on.

He cleared his throat. “Well I’ve been studying history at university and travelling a bit. Its been nice to be free of my family for once.” She was taken aback by his easy reply. It seemed conversation wouldnt be so hard.

“That’s cool - where have you travelled?” she queries. They continued chatting away for a good couple hours until they were called down for dinner.

—

The next day was raining and miserable. Victoria huddled under her blankets as late as possible before padding downstairs. Albert was hunched over the fire, trying to get it started.

“Where is everyone?” She asked, flopping onto the couch.

“Out getting supplies from the nearest town. Turns out we have no supplies between us apart from food and clothing. Its a while away so they won’t be back until later.” His hair fell in his eyes as he intently tried to catch a flame. Finally it worked and he sat back, looking up at her. “Do you want to play a board game or something?”

Victoria happily took up his offer, turns out she enjoyed his company, and they got out monopoly. A few hours later she regretted that decision as she was in a lot of debt and Albert had hotels on nearly every tile.

“This is not fair!” She complained, finally running out of money.

Albert gave her a small grin. It completely transformed his face and took Victoria aback. “Well maybe we will have to try another game next time.” She just nodded mutely.

—

That night after everyone returned and they had eaten they lay in their beds, listening to the rain, thunder and lightning. Every time the lightning flashed Albert jolted.

“You alright there?” Victoria asked, sitting up laughing. But as soon as she saw his expression she quieted. He was petrified.

Albert gritted his teeth. “No, actually. My cousin was killed by lightning when I was three and I’ve been terrified since.”

Victoria worried her lip. What should she do? Finally, she plucked up the courage and got out of bed. She walked over and paused beside him. “Can I get in?” She asked gently. Albert managed to nod mutely. Pushing aside the covers, she sat down and got comfortable. Tentatively, she started stroking his hair. He relaxed under her touch and was asleep in minutes.

Albert: I can’t. I have to fix the severs

Lehzen: She needs love and support

Albert: