Peel (Nigel Lindsay) is concerned over the impending agreement between Isabella of Spain to marry the King of France, Louis Philippe's (Bruno Wolkowitch) son, Antoine. Whereas Leopold wants Isabella to marry Prince Ferdinand, otherwise there will be an impending war between England and France and England can't afford another war. Victoria (Jenna Coleman) feels she should write to Louis explaining the situation, but Peel is adamant that it won't do any good. Trying to convince Albert (Tom Hughes) of this. However once Victoria gets an idea into her head, she doesn't relinquish it quickly, if at all. She later thinks it will be better if she actually visits Louis in person and sets about gathering an entourage of Drummond (Leo Suter) for political purposes, though he wasn't much help at all, the Duchess of Buccleuch (Diana Rigg) Wilhelmina (Bebe Cave) and Skerrett (Nell Hudson) of course. She doesn't take Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) as she doesn't trust anyone else to look after her children. Does that include her mother too.
On the journey, Albert insists he isn't a very good sailor, so how many journeys has he made via sea and he's still not gathered his sea legs. The same can be said about Skerrett. At the port, Victoria is received by Louis and he kisses her on both cheeks, Louis being her cousin. As the French ladies make fun of her bag with Dash on the front of it. "I can't travel anywhere without Dash" as she said earlier on. Victoria thinks the French ladies think her plain and she asks what they were wearing on their faces. As Albert conversely remarks he hates their painted faces. Preferring simplicity. He also sees Earnest (David Oakes) there, but has no idea why he was there, other than for some frolicking with another French lady, he had nothing to say about the impending nuptials. Albert is surprised he could leave Coburg. Infact when Albert confronts him about his obvious dalliance, he says he is "honouring their father's memory" by behaving in the same manner. But of course we know that Earnest has more of his father in him, since his trysts with the Duchess in England.
Wilhelmina still seems to be throwing herself at Earnest but he's not interested in her. As Drummond and Lord Alfred (Jordan Waller) forever engaging in their innuendos and glancing looks towards one another. The Duchess of Buccleuch thinks they're just heading into a "Sodom and Gomorrah." Apt phrase if you know what I mean!! Specially with the smirkings of Drummond and Alfred. Indeed if the Duchess knew their intentions she'd have repeated the phrase again! She was too busy despairing at where she is.
Victoria wears rouge after Wilhelmina is approached by Skerrett asking for a translation and is shown what the women wear on their faces by the French maid (Emily Renee) as well as on their breasts. As well as wearing flowers in her hair. At dinner, Louis doesn't like to mix business with pleasure and refuses to speak ot Victoria about the marriage. Instead he prefers to eat crispy birds drowned in almanac, which is a death he too prefers as opposed to Madame Guillotine, which his father got after siding with the rabble, they betrayed him too. He doesn't want that for Antoine.
Albert doesn't want Victoria to wear make-up again and says that he doesn't like this place as it's full of deceit, which it is. Also hating how Louis spoke of how his father left his mistress for him when he died. Victoria explores the grounds with Louis and she is in awe of her surroundings, as he cuts her an orange. Finding it handy to carry a knife around. As well as speaking of his fellow countrymen attempting to kill him seven times, Victoria adding she has also been shot at, but he tells her the gun wasn't loaded. At the lavish 'picnic' which is what it really was. Alfred remarks on Albert liking this forest, it's hardly a forest to him. He goes on a walk with Antoine and he loves his brisk walks, it's exercise. Chancing upon the lake and waterfall he finds he's in need of a cold rush of blood to the head and goes for a dip. As do Drummond and Alfred, as well as Earnest after his tete a tete with the Duchess in the grounds!
Soon Victoria approaches the lake too and is told by the French Duchess that they're just peasants, but she spies a look and sees who it is. Albert is in better spirits after his swim and he tells Victoria about Leopold and how he might be his father. However she says there's no way of knowing whether he is or not. Also how he says he's just a bastard. She loves him anyway and she can't live in this world without him. Albert mentioning "til death do us part." However she mentions as long as they both shall live. Albert later convinces Louis not to get involved with the marriage, demonstrating by making Isabella a bunch of grapes whereupon the first person who picks a grape from the vine is mauled by the dog guarding it. Louis agrees on an entente cordial.
As they return home, Alfred and Drummond now sit next to one another in the carriage and the Duchess refers to the entire trip as being decadent, as they smirk again. She recalls her brother being killed in battle against the French.
Victoria appears to have missed her children now and later they learn that Antoine is to marry Isabella after all. Louis lied and Albert is angry. See a wasted effort after all. Those were the times and it's not as though there was any sort of lasting peace back then. Thus Peel was right after all and she shouldn't have gone there, let alone thought of writing a letter. Victoria thinks it was good they went since she and Albert weren't in a good place, but now they are and they no longer have any secrets between them! As she gestures towards her stomach. It appears she is pregnant once again.
Though in this Victoria was played as the first British monarch to visit France back in 1843, again dramatic licence just to move the story and episodes forward. Ah it's all about the entertainment after all, so no one really cares!
No comments:
Post a Comment