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November 14, 1840
“My Lord Melbourne, Her Majesty is in labour.” Alfred Paget told William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, who was looking through the dispatch boxes in his wife Queen Victoria’s place.
William’s heartrate sped up and he felt the blood run through his vessels. The time had come, Victoria would now give birth to their first child.
“Thank you, Alfred. You may leave.” Alfred left the room with a small bow.
After quickly organizing his papers William rose from his chair and walked out the door, walking past Lord Alfred who hadn’t come far. Instead of walking William began to jog through the halls of Buckingham Palace to the Queen’s chambers. He had promised her to be with her during this difficult occasion, and he had to make sure to be there as quickly as possible.
After many whereabouts and turns, William and Victoria had married in St George’s Chapel ten months earlier. It hadn’t been an easy process, many people were against such a union but after quite a lot of persuasion they were allowed to go through with the wedding. It had been a rather simple, yet very beautiful, affair with not too many guests invited and the wedding night and honeymoon was spent at Windsor Castle.
Two months later, Victoria had found out she was pregnant. Both were very happy with the news but Victoria often expressed distress and worry about the birth since Princess Charlotte had died when she gave birth to a stillborn son. William tried to calm her and soothe her the best he could, he knew it was his duty as a husband even though he himself was incredibly nervous too because of his own children’s sad fates.
People stopped and stared and some also whispered among themselves when they saw the King Consort running through the corridors and up the stairs, many now knowing that the Queen was giving birth. After what felt like an eternity he had finally arrived at Victoria’s chamber, a chamber he often slept in as well even if he had his own, and was let in. Lehzen was patting the Queen’s forehead with a wet cloth. Memories of his own children began flooding his mind; how one died by miscarriage, one little girl died soon after the birth and how Augustus died when he was grown up. The moment he came in and saw his wife he was afraid, afraid that his and Victoria’s child would die too. But he had to try to suppress those fears because his wife needed him, she needed him to be strong and support her. Walking up to the bed he sat down by her right side and took her small and clammy hand in his much bigger ones.
Victoria was lying in her bed, weary with pain and tiredness, her legs bent and she was already damp with perspiration all over. It had all gone so fast, she was right here in her chamber about to take a walk in the garden with Lady Harriet when she suddenly felt a strong pain and pressure and then her water broke. The next moment she knew, she was in her bed and everything hurt with the centre of it all being where the baby would come out. She didn’t even notice when her husband came in until he was right at her side taking her hand.
“Oh Lord Melbourne, thank goodness you’re here. Her Majesty has been calling for you since it started.” Lehzen spoke, also worried but proud of her beloved Drina whom she had looked after since she was a child.
“William, you’re here.” Victoria said, some of the nervous wrinkles on her forehead disappearing thanks to the relief.
“Of course I am. I promised I would be here when our child comes.” He pressed a lingering kiss to her hand.
“It hurts, it hurts so much.” She whimpered.
“I know my love, I know. But it will soon be over.”
“Right now it doesn’t feel that way.” Right then, a contraction came and Victoria grimaced and groaned in pain.
“Everything is going to plan so far Your Majesty. In fact,” She carefully lifted Victoria’s shift to do a quick check. “I can already see the head poking out. Just go on and do what your body tells you and it will all be fine.” Lehzen spoke, her voice more clinical than William’s.
Another contraction followed almost immediately after the one before, and to Victoria it felt like it got more painful with each one. To know that the head was already visible was a good thing at least because then the whole thing would hopefully be over as soon as it had arrived. The fear was still there though.
“I’m so scared William.” She sobbed, trying to catch her breath whenever she could.
He leaned in and embraced her shoulders with one arm.
“Do not be. You’re doing so well so far, you will get through this.” He spoke directly to her face and pressed his lips to her forehead.
“Don’t go, please don’t go!” She pleaded and gripped his hand hard.
“I won’t. I’m here now, right beside you, and I'm not leaving.”
Another contraction arrived, and it was like Victoria had lost control over her body. She began to hyperventilate because of pain and anxiety.
“Breathe, breathe my darling. You have to breathe.” He said and stroked her swollen belly.
“I try, can’t you see that?” She felt bad after that because she knew William only did his best to help her. “For-forgive me, I...”
“No, no worries. Just focus on breathing and pushing once the next contraction comes.”
William didn’t even finish speaking before Victoria screamed in pain again, also repeatedly screaming his name while she pushed.
“Well done Your Majesty, it’s getting nearer and nearer. Just keep going.”
One small break, and Victoria turned to William again.
“What if I die, I don’t want to die.” She was shaking so violently and sweating so profusely one could think she had a bad bout of fever if it wasn’t for the pregnancy.
It wasn’t uncommon that women died in childbirth though it was more common among those who were poor and lived in worse conditions. William's mind tried to make up terrible scenarios but he fought himself, keeping his voice low to try to steady the chaos within both himself and Victoria.
“And you won’t. It’s almost done.”
He caressed the tender area between her thumb and forefinger before hurrying to take off his coat and roll up his shirt sleeves, it was very warm in the room and he was warm because of the emotional turmoil going on.
“I wish I could take this blasted thing off,” She motioned to her birth dress. “It’s so hot in here.”
She was practically bathing in sweat, and never had she felt less of a woman despite that she was in the midst of giving birth. One more contraction arrived, this one much longer than the others and Victoria screamed in agony.
“IT’S COMING, IT’S COMING! WILLIAAAM!”
“The head is out, just keep pushing Your Majesty.” Lehzen now stood ready to receive the baby.
Yet another contraction, and this one didn’t seem to stop at all so Victoria had no choice but to keep pushing even if she was exhausted and it felt as if she was going to split in two. She held William’s hand so hard that it was starting to get uncomfortable for him but there was no way he was letting go, instead he only tightened the grip more.
“That’s it. You’re doing so well my love, so well. Keep holding my hand and keep pushing.”
William had kept his voice soft and low since he arrived, and his encouraging words gave Victoria the strength she needed. Screaming louder and longer than she had ever done in her life she pushed and pushed through the pain and suddenly there was almost no pain, and a few moments after that she heard the sound of baby cries.
“Oh Your Majesty, congratulations! It’s a beautiful little princess.” Lehzen spoke, just as relieved as she was happy.
In her haze of tears, pain and fatigue Victoria felt something being put in her arms. Opening her eyes, she looked down and saw the most precious little thing ever; a tiny baby with dark hair and pink skin who screamed loudly. She was here, her and William’s first child was here.
“Oh my goodness!” She panted from amazement and relief.
It felt unusual at first to hold the tiny baby but she then felt the instinct to try to soothe her.
“My strong wife, you did it!”
Victoria looked up at Lord M who looked absolutely shattered and incredibly happy at the same time. When their eyes met, he leaned down and they kissed, their tears mingling and they both smiled into the kiss. Breaking off, Victoria both laughed and cried.
“I did, I really did!”
“May I also congratulate Your Royal Highness to your beautiful daughter.” Lehzen turned to William for the first time since the baby had come out.
“Thank you, Louise.” He tore his eyes from his daughter temporarily, nodding in gratefulness and he was shaking, high on emotions and he then felt Victoria squeeze his hand.
“We are parents, William. We are actually parents, and I am alive!”
She was still hurting, but there was no large amount of blood from what she could see.
“Indeed we are my love, indeed we are.”
They smiled and kissed again, accompanied by the little princess still screaming.
“I apologize, I must look and smell awful.”
William shook his head. “No, you’re alive and well and so is our daughter. That is all that matters to me right now.” He pressed his lips to hers again, affirming her that what he said was true.
After quite a lot of cleaning, change of sheets and shifts, many visits and congratulations including Victoria’s mother, and a final exam by the royal physician to make sure everything was alright the new parents asked to be left alone with their little girl.
“I still can’t believe I actually pushed her out.” Victoria said and touched the small nose. It was still a wonder to her to have a living human in her bosom, a perfect combination of her and William.
“I can.” William had fetched some water for them and put the glasses on the table next to the bed. “You have been nothing but strong, and I have never been prouder of you my darling.”
Their daughter then fixed her gaze on him, and she reached out her tiny little arm in his direction. William made a funny face back, and Victoria noticed everything.
“Yeah, there’s your Papa. Do you want to go to Papa, hm?”
Carefully she stretched her arms out and William took the bundle in his arms, and she saw right away that he had held children before by the way he took her and held her. He smiled down at their daughter and rocked her gently.
“Hello there, who’s this little cute girl?”
She reached her hands up towards his face and babbled, he even thought he saw her smile back at him which made him break down again.
“I never thought I would experience this again,” Tears fell down his cheeks and he choked. “To hold my own newborn child in my arms.” Rubbing her under her chin with his pointer finger she grabbed hold of it and wouldn’t let go, making his heart leap. “Seems like she likes me too already.”
Victoria reached up and caressed his side and he sat down.
“And I never thought it would be possible for us to get married and have children together. But here we are, and I feel so happy but also scared. What if she won’t like me as a mother?”
“Victoria,” He shifted so that he lied down next to her on the bed. “You will be a great mother. The fact that you even wanted to have this child is proof already.” He handed their daughter over to Victoria and she took her, holding her to her chest.
“I feel this...instinct to protect her at all costs. I also want to make her happy and I do feel this bond that women talk about. But what if she will be mad at me when she grows up and I do or say something she doesn’t like?”
“That is something you will have to get used to. There will be moments when she will be mad at you and think you’re the worst parent in the world, same will happen with me. But it’s part of her growing up and upbringing, and especially if she’s going to be the next Queen.”
He nuzzled the tuft of dark hair on the scalp and inhaled, he loved the smell of newborn baby so much. Victoria turned so that now they had the girl between them, and it appeared she was sleeping because her breathing was slow and her eyes were closed.
“I almost wish she was like this all the time, no real trouble then.” Victoria said jokingly.
William smiled and shook his head. “You won’t want that, you will want to see her happy and laugh and run around exploring.”
At that, Victoria licked her lips and looked down.
“What is it?” William asked.
“All those things, I was very rarely allowed to do them.” Victoria breathed shakily and swallowed down her tears.
“Which is exactly why she should be, she should be raised properly but she should also be allowed to be a child. I will not allow otherwise.”
Victoria smiled and cupped his cheek, how was it possible to have such a good husband as William?
“You truly are going to be the best father. I’ve told you before that I was a bit jealous, but now I am grateful that you know what it means to be a parent. You will have to guide me.”
“And that I will, the best way I can.” He pushed her hair back behind her ear. “What do you think we shall name her?”
“I think Alice Emily Elizabeth. Alice because you mentioned you love that name, Emily after your sister and Elizabeth after your mother. And Alice as her first name.”
She knew how much William had loved his mother and how much he also liked his sister, Victoria had met Emily a couple of times and could understand why.
“Are you alright with those names then?” He always wanted her opinion on everything, especially when it concerned children.
“Very much so.” She gave one last confirmation by kissing him before both turned their attention back to Alice.
“Little Alice.” He spoke softly and caressed her silky hairs. “How much joy you give us already, do you know that?”
“When she grows up, I will make sure to tell her the tale of how her Mama met her Papa, the handsome Lord M. And the story will be passed on to generations.” She couldn’t help but giggle, their love story was truly amazing.
“Make sure to tell her how beautiful her Papa thinks her Mama is, and also how stubborn he thinks she is.” His lips twitched and Victoria rolled her eyes.
“Be careful, I hope I won’t have to be bedridden for too long because when I have recovered things might get hard for you.”
“Don’t worry, I’m well prepared for that. You should follow the doctor’s recommendations though, to stay here for a few days at least.” She knew that look, the one that told her there was no use of trying to argue.
“I can manage that, but when that is over I shall be ready to take on my duties as Queen, mother and wife.” She wiggled her eyebrows when she said ‘wife’ and William laughed.
“The important thing is that you rest and recover as long as you need to.” He caressed her cheek and did the same with Alice. “Our daughter needs you healthy.”
“And you, my love. She will need us, together.”
They clasped each other’s hands hard. “Together.” William repeated and they kissed before Alice woke up and screamed. It appeared she was hungry and Victoria took her to her breast so that she could eat. Nursing was something she wanted to do because to her it was insane that someone else would feed her child when she could perfectly do it herself. She had been taught how to do and for now it thankfully seemed to work really well.
When Alice was finished, they continued admiring her and cuddling with her for the rest of the day, servants coming in every now and then to check and to help. The image of the happy family of three, which during the upcoming years would eventually become a family of five, was indeed something that would be passed on to generations.
The End