Under His Spell

By Luv Lubker and John Van der Kiste

A beautiful love story between the Princess Royal Victoria and Fritz Wilhelm, Frederick III of Prussia

A lonely young man attends the first World's Fair - the Great Exhibition of 1851 - and meets a family who changes his life forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Historium Press
• Release date: May 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798988181552

Book preview

UNDER HIS

SPELL

LUV LUBKER

HISTORIUM PRESS

This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used fictitiously. Many of my characters do, however, abide by the generally known facts of their lives, and I have sometimes used conversation from letters, diaries, etc. as inspiration in dialogue.

FIRST EDITION

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Luv Lubker

All rights reserved. Published in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

For information, contact:

[e-mail]

patreon.com/luvlubker

facebook.com/RoyalHistory18371918

therivalcourts.com

Hardcover ISBN 979-8-9881815-3-8

Paperback ISBN 979-8-9881815-4-5

Ebook ISBN 979-8-9881815-5-2

A HISTORIUM PRESS NOVEL

www.historiumpress.com

Cover by White Rabbit Arts at

The Historical Fiction Company

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO

My Mom, Jaleen Lubker, who taught me my special research methods, and asked strange questions I went searching to prove wrong, only to find they were true.

My parents and friends, who said for years, you should write a book.

My friend, Lisa Labuda, who inspired me to take my German studies more seriously.

Clare McHugh, who also wrote Vicky’s story, and inspired me to finally write the story I longed to tell.

Victoria Babinski, for being a kindred spirit.

Jade Miller, for prereading my book and being a companion on the journey of creation.

To Ella MacNish, for giving Vicky and others a voice in my Audiobook, and being such a wonderful prereader and friend.

The Emperor Frederick the Third, Our Fritz, who wished to make the world a better place.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My family and friends, for all your love and support.

My Mom, Jaleen Lubker, who taught me how to find things I would never have thought of.

My brother, Alex Lubker, for proofreading my book.

The other authors and researchers, who have written about so many fascinating people, and spent so much time, effort, and money to publish the wonderful collections of letters and diaries, which I know from experience take years to transcribe.

To the Royals themselves, for living such interesting lives and leaving us the legacy.

And particularly to The Empress Frederick, Vicky, for making the best of her life and writing her story.

NOTES ON THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

Much of the dialogue of this book is supposed to really be in German. I specifically mention when people speak English, outside of the English Royal family.

chen at the end of names or words is a diminutive in German, such as Lenchen as a nickname for Helena.

I tried to use words which are more known or obvious from context, such as danke, for thank you, Ich, for I, du, for you, ja and nein for yes and no" and so on, or have the phrases repeated in English.

Pronunciation notes – the umlauts: ä is pronounced how English speakers say the letter a, so bäker in German is pronounced similarly to baker in English, where as in German the a would be more of the awe sound. Ö and ü add a sort of soft r sound with them; it is difficult to describe. ß is an s sound, where as s is a z sound in German, and z is tz.

In Vicky's and Queen Victoria's points of view, I anglicize the character names, as they did in real life. In other points of view, I give the German names. Thus Onkel Karl in Fritz's point of view is Prince Charles in Vicky's."

CHARACTER CAST

In England: The Royal Family

Queen Victoria, Vicky’s Mama

Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, Vicky’s Papa

Uncle George Cambridge, Queen Victoria’s cousin

Cousin Augusta Cambridge, sister of George, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Mary Cambridge, sister of George and Augusta

Vicky’s siblings

Bertie, the Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII

Alice

Affie, Alfred

Lenchen, Helena

Louise

Arthur

Leopold

Beatrice

In England – The Royal Household

Sir James Clark, the Queen’s physician

Sir Henry Ponsonby, Keeper of the Privy Purse

Archbishop

Eleanor Stanley, the Queen’s Maid of Honor and Vicky’s confidant

Miss Hildyard, Vicky’s governess

Mrs. Anderson, Alice’s piano teacher

In Prussia – The Royal Family

Fritz in the Prologue, a.k.a. Uncle Fritz, the future

Friedrich Wilhelm, uncle to Fritz

Aunt Elisa, Queen Elisa, wife of Friedrich Wilhelm IV

Helmkin, Prince of Prussia, Prince Regent, Fritz’s Papa, later King Wilhelm I

Augusta, Princess of Prussia, Fritz’s Mama, later Queen

Vivi, Fritz’s sister, later Grand Duchess of Baden

Prince Charles a.k.a. Onkel Karl or Karly, uncle to Fritz

Marie, Princess Charles of Prussia, Aunt Marie

Onkel Albrecht, Prince Albrecht or Abbat in the

prologue, uncle to Fritz

Fritz Karl, son of Prince Charles, cousin to Fritz

Marianne, wife of Fritz Karl

Mariechen, Ebi, Annchen, Louischen, daughters of Marianne

Lolo, daughter of Prince Charles

Anna, daughter of Prince Charles

Aunt Adina, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Schwerin, Prince Charles’s best sister

Lotte, Fritz’s cousin and closest friend in the family

Addy, daughter of Prince Albrecht

Wilhelm a.k.a. Willikens or Willy, Vicky and Fritz’s eldest son

Charlotte a.k.a. Ditta, Vicky’s eldest daughter

In Prussia: The Royal Household

Wally Paget, nee Hohenthal, Vicky’s lady-in-waiting

Marie Goltz, nee Lynar, Vicky’s lady-in-waiting

Countess Dohna and Hedwig Brühl, Vicky’s new ladies-in-waiting

Count Seckendorff, Vicky’s page

Emma Hobbs, Vicky’s English nurse

Georgianna Hobbs, Vicky’s English housekeeper

Schönlein, personal physician to Fritz’s Papa

Wegner, personal physician to Vicky and Fritz

Martin, specialist at Willy’s birth

Other Royals

Aunt Feodora, Queen Victoria’s half-sister

Uncle Ernst, Duke of Coburg

Louis of Hesse, Alice’s suitor

Alix of Denmark, Bertie’s prospective wife

Princess Christian, mother of Alix, future Queen Louise

of Denmark

Prince Christian of Denmark, future King

Napoleon III, Emperor of France

Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III

Olga, Crown Princess of Württemberg, Grand Duchess of Russia

George of Meiningen, Lotte’s husband

Oscar, King of Sweden and close friend of Fritz

POINT OF VIEW KEY

VPR - VPR, Victoria Princess Royal, Vicky

FW - FW, Friedrich Wilhelm, Fritz

QV - Queen Victoria, Vicky’s mama

PA - Prince Albert, Vicky’s Papa

PC - Karl, Prince Charles/Onkel Karl

FWIV -  Friedrich Wilhelm IV, Fritz in Prologue

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

PART ONE: THE OLD HOME

THE MOST INTERESTING GIRL I EVER MET…

I HAD WISHED MYSELF OUT OF THIS WORLD…

LIKE A BEAUTIFUL DREAM

TO GERMANY… ALWAYS?

UNCLE CHARLES

LITTLE WHITE LIES

THE HAPPIEST OF THE HAPPY

GOODBYE

PART TWO: A NEW LIFE

EVERYTHING BUT MY HEART

THE LAMP-LIGHTER

WE HAVE A PRINCE!

OUR BOY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

PART THREE: DARKNESS & LIGHT

DIRTY LAUNDRY

MEINE KLEINES MÄDCHEN (MY LITTLE GIRL)

THE KING IS DEAD…

LONG LIVE THE KING!

DEAR PAPA

VICTORIA

The Princess Royal of the United Kingdom

Crown Princess of Prussia

"It was a love match, a marriage made in heaven – but a large part of it was played out in hell. When Fritz of Prussia, not quite out of his teens, went on a family visit with his parents and sister to the royal family in England and to the Great Exhibition at London in 1851, it would be the start of one of history’s great romances. Vicky, Princess Royal, was still only a girl of ten, but the impression she made on him was immediate. Within seven years they were husband and wife. Fritz was tall, handsome, intelligent, kindhearted and conscientious, but lacked confidence in himself. Vicky was well-educated, determined, passionate, and deeply in love with her husband, she was sure that a bright future lay ahead of them both. Yet malign fate would ensure that the dreams turned to dust. 

In this novel Luv Lubker has taken the story of their courtship and early years of married life, setting them against the dark forces that hovered over them in Berlin. They had a difficult relationship with Fritz’s parents Wilhelm and Augusta, an obstinate impatient father who cared for little but a soldier’s life, and an intelligent, artistically-minded mother (in some ways, very like Vicky herself), who had been embittered by her loveless life in an unsympathetic Prussian environment. Yet worst of all was Fritz’s wicked uncle Karl, the prince who thought that he should have been the future king instead of his rather dull, plodding brother Wilhelm. From the moment Karl enters the story, the reader immediately senses that he is going to be the villain of the piece – an evil creature and an unspeakably nasty husband with no apparently redeeming features, ready to cast his hypnotic spell over an innocent young girl and even try to destroy what is probably the only really happy marriage in the immediate family.

It is not the place of a reviewer to say too much about the plot for fear of spoilers. But throughout Vicky and Fritz’s first four years together, and the birth of their first two children, little Wilhelm and Charlotte, a web is being woven by dark forces. Vicky fears she is irredeemably trapped, while Fritz is aware but also knows there is little he can do to shield her. There is nowhere else she can go for help in an alien court. To make matters worse her adored father Albert, Prince Consort, is not only far away in England but also increasingly ill. As any reader with basic knowledge of the characters knows, his early death leaves not only a grieving widow but also a shattered daughter who feels totally bereft without his guidance and advice.

This is a love story in the best traditions of romantic fiction as well as strong foundations in historical fact, but with a deeply sinister undercurrent. Even I was quite startled at one or two of the twists and turns in the narrative. With her love and knowledge of royal history and the full background, the author has done a magnificent job in setting the scene and telling the fascinating story. Even better is the fact that there is a sequel to this novel.

My thanks to the author for sending me a copy for review."

- John Van der Kiste, December 2021

PROLOGUE

Königsberg, December 14, 1814

FWIV

F

ritz sat beside his brothers, watching the show. One of the clowns fell down again, and he and little Abbat roared with laughter. The lady on the horse was so wonderful. He remembered his mother having told them of the times when she and her sister, Aunt Frieda, had attempted to ride standing up. It had always led to nearly disastrous tumbles, but neither of them had actually broken their neck, or even their leg.

There she goes! he cried, as the woman did a flip, gracefully landing again on the horse’s back as it trotted round the ring.

He looked at his brothers, and then back at the performers, seeing what each was watching. Little Abbat now sat, staring as if transfixed at a beautiful young girl, who played the flute and swayed back and forth. In front of her was a large snake, which swayed in unison with her movements.

Helmkin, you can’t be bored! He nudged his brother’s arm. Wilhelm sat staring at the ground, looking very bored indeed.

"Ja¹, Fritz, I am. I wish we hadn’t come here. Karly, shouldn’t we go now?" Wilhelm asked, turning in his seat.

"Nein²! I wish to hear what he has to say," Karl said.

PC

Karl sat watching the man at the back of the ring, who seemed to be directing everything.

At first, Karl hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the girl, as she swayed in a sort of dance, the snake following her. Her gauzy dress shimmered, and seemed almost as if she too had scales like the snake.

But he had glanced away, to watch the man at the back of the ring. He had said something, but Karl hadn’t been able to understand. Then the man looked at him. He couldn’t tear his gaze away, so he had begun to study him, trying to identify something about him which seemed vaguely familiar. That seemed strange, as he had never met gypsies like these before. When the man spoke, his German was hard to understand; he spoke with a strong accent of some Eastern tongue.

Finally, the horse lady stopped riding, and the clowns had disappeared, but the music of the flute continued. The man rose, and came forward, presenting little Abbat with a piece of fruit. He took it, and looked up at the man.

"Danke!³" he said, his mouth dripping with juice as he stuffed the whole piece in his mouth.

Wilhelm also took a piece. So did Karl, but Fritz did not.

The man walked about, offering fruit, sweets or flowers to people in the crowd. Occasionally, he would pause, speaking low in his own language, as if to himself. Finally, he returned to his seat at the back of the ring. Then, suddenly, he cried out loudly, some mysterious word.

Abbat, come back here; Papa said not to let you go off alone, Fritz cried, starting forward, but Karl pulled him back.

I want to see what happens, he whispered. Wilhelm rose, and so did many others in the crowd. They all walked forward and turned in unison. They all had a strange, blank expression on their faces. They continued to walk about, never colliding, even though from their faces they appeared to be asleep. Suddenly, at another word from the man, all of them smiled.

The man shouted something again, and the crowd began to mill about, seeming confused.

How did I get here? one man asked. I didn’t leave my seat.

Fritz was looking about in the crowd for Abbat and Wilhelm, and while his back was turned, Karl slipped away. He saw that the man was following him, and he slipped behind one of the buildings.

Prinz Karl, the man said. Again, something about the man seemed strangely familiar. Karl studied his face. As he looked at his face more closely, he studied his eyes. They were green, like his. Karl was the only one in the whole family with green eyes.

How do you know who I am? he asked.

The man took a cloth out of his pocket, and rubbed at a small part of his cheek. The dark tan disappeared; he was as fair as Karl was himself.

Karl. His voice was no longer so strongly accented; it seemed strangely familiar. It sounded, Karl realized, very like his father’s.

You are…? Karl said, looking up at him quizzically.

I am your Onkel, Louis Karl, who everyone thinks died eighteen years ago, he said.

Karl gaped at him. You are Onkel Louis, Aunt Frieda’s first husband?

He nodded. And I am not only your Onkel… Now, you must be told what your…

FWIV

"Abbat, Wilhelm, Kommst du⁴! And where is Karl now? Why won’t you stay together, like Papa told us?" Fritz took his brother’s hands, and began to walk about.

Go to the carriage, and stay there, he said, watching to make sure his brothers did as he said. He turned back, stepping closer to the side of a building nearby. He had seen Karl, and the man who had seemed to be in charge of the show.

But why would Mama do that? She wasn’t… was all Fritz heard Karl say, as they walked back the other way.

Who was this man, who was telling Karl something against Mama? Dear beautiful Mama, who had died four years ago, depriving Prussia of her best statesman, as the enemy, Napoleon himself had called her. Fritz felt tears spring to his eyes, and he decided to break into this conversation. It was time to go.

"Karl, kommst du jetzt!⁵" he called, stepping forward.

PC

Karl jumped as Fritz spoke, but stepped towards him, looking up at him challengingly.

You can’t tell me what to do; you’re not the King!

I will be, and you must obey Wilhelm too, as he too, is your elder. Fritz stepped forward, taking hold of his arm. Who is that man? What do you think you’re doing? Papa told us to stay together, he said, walking swiftly to the carriage.

I’m obeying orders, Karl said, smiling mockingly. You’re such a mother hen, Fritz. Let us enjoy ourselves while we can, before the next battle begins. He put his hand in his pocket, and took out a note. See what he wrote? He thrust the note into Fritz’s hand.

Fritz unfolded the note. Karl tried to snatch it back, seeing that he had given him the wrong one.

What are you talking about, Karl? And who is Dorothea?

Karl turned his face away. Fritz didn’t need to know what he knew. It wasn’t his right to know, even if he was the heir.

PART ONE:

THE OLD HOME

CHAPTER ONE

"THE MOST INTERESTING

GIRL I EVER MET…"

London, April 29, 1851

FW

F

ritz gazed about him as he drove through London with his parents and little sister, Vivi. Looking ahead, he saw several large buildings. That must be Buckingham Palace, he thought. The palace had a huge, square façade, like most of the town palaces he was used to.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert greeted them at the top of the staircase.

Come to the Chinese Drawing Room, the Queen said in German, leading the way. Fritz lingered behind, not knowing where he fit in.

A little girl stood at the door, in a white dress with red bows, her long hair bound up in a net. She came forward and held out her hand to be kissed. Behind her were the other, younger children.

Vicky, Bertie, Alice, all of you, this is Prince Fritz of Prussia, and his sister Louise, or Vivi, as she prefers to be called, the Queen said. They are your guests. Vicky is to be hostess. You are to show him and his sister, Vivi, about the Exhibition when we go. Stay with Miss Hildyard and the guard on duty. Don’t get lost in the crowd. Make sure to speak in German so that Fritz and Vivi can understand everything. But you can go about together. When we do not go out, you can play together.

But we don’t know how to play, said Vivi, quietly.

The children came up and shook hands. Fritz was amazed at the prospect of letting the children go about in London practically alone.

Of the Princess Royal, Vicky, as she asked him to call her, he already knew a great deal. Three years before, at the time of the Revolution, she had been only seven, but could already converse at great depth on German politics. She was her father’s darling.

At luncheon the Princess Royal and Princess Alice sat at the little table with Fritz.

She is so nice and witty, he said afterwards to Vivi.

Yes, Vivi said, and I am so clumsy and shy.

*****

Fritz gazed at the enormous glass building. No wonder people had worried that it would collapse. How did it stay up, and not get shattered by anything? He had so many questions, but the Prince Consort was busy showing Fritz’s parents around and going about with the other guests.

Fritz followed Vicky everywhere. She seemed to know everything, but not in a show-offish way. Everything seemed so simple and easy to understand when she explained it. Fritz was amazed at her knowledge of the mechanical workings and the history of the enormous displays of jewels. After the different English displays, they went to the French, the German, and so on. They stopped at the Tunisian display. I – I don’t know much about this, she said. I would like to know more.

You know so much about everything else I can hardly believe it, Fritz said.

Do I tell too much, is it overwhelming?

No, not at all. Your explanations are – well, perfect.

Thank you! she cried, blushing. I only try to do my best; I am not accustomed to being a hostess like this.

Of course not, you’re only ten, Fritz thought. I can hardly believe that either.

Yes, Vicky, you do it wonderfully, I never could, Vivi said shyly.

She was such a graceful little hostess. Fritz found himself watching her continually. How she managed her little brothers and sisters was, for the most part, admirable; she seemed to know everything about everything at the exhibition. She could discuss politics, literature, anything, it seemed, as if she were at least twice her age.

Can she really be just a little girl, Fritz thought, as he sat at the informal luncheon.

Vivi came over and took his hand. Fritz, what are you thinking about?

Your little friend, Vicky.

My little friend? Why, she is your friend, too, isn’t she? You have spent much more time with her, really, than I. I am so boring, I don’t wonder at her going about with you more.

You are not boring, Vivi, only shy, and I like that, Fritz said, hugging his little sister. I like having a modest little sister, he went on. One who doesn’t follow Anna’s example.

Are you fond of Anna or not? Vivi asked. You seem so very fond of her sometimes, and then you speak of her that way.

Who is Anna? Vicky had overheard what they were saying.

Our cousin, Vivi said.

What did he say about her? asked Vicky.

Oh, nothing, you are too young to understand. You would have to know her.

Vicky had seemed to sense that Fritz was uncomfortable, and changed the subject.

*****

They had stayed three weeks. Fritz felt he had become very good friends with both the Prince of Wales and Vicky. He also occasionally walked with the Queen or Prince Albert, the Queen asking him questions about his mother, who was in correspondence with her; the Prince about the political situation in Prussia.

They understood the situation in Prussia so well. In a note, Prince Albert wrote that Prussia must lead in Germany, but she must join Germany. To truly lead, Prussia must rise to the occasion, and not drag Germany down to her level.

It was just what Mama always said. Papa, he knew, really agreed, but he never did so with Mama.

*****

Fritz learned the hierarchy of the children. The Prince of Wales, was, of course, the heir to the throne. Vicky was the little mother, who looked after, but also sometimes bossed and ordered about the others. Princess Alice was everyone’s friend and confidant, but both Vicky and the Prince of Wales considered her their own best friend, and were rather jealous over her. Prince Alfred and Princess Helena were both very quiet and shy and cried easily. They were inseparable.  But Princess Helena was so young that she was not allowed to go out in the crowds. But she was eager to do what the older ones did.

They were preparing to go out again, to the exhibition, and afterwards to another, smaller park, where the crowds were not so intense, so that the younger children could go safely. But first, the Queen, Prince Albert, Vicky, the Prince of Wales, and Fritz and Vivi and their parents would go to the exhibition.

I don’t want her to go, the Prince of Wales was saying when Fritz came into the room. When we go to the park, it should be the eldest. She’s such a baby.

I want to go with them! little Princess Helena wailed. "Ich will mit sie gehen!⁶"

Baby’s crying again, her brother went on. Fritz flinched at the sound of those words. They were too familiar.

But you have two younger siblings than her, your Royal Highness, Fritz said. Why do you call her Baby?

Because she acts like a baby, of course. Won’t you call me Bertie? the Prince of Wales said, looking up at Fritz and suddenly changing his tone.

"Ja, if you wish me to."

Yes, Fritz, I do – Mama introduced you to us as ‘Fritz’, so I don’t think it’s disrespectful, Bertie said, holding out his hand.

Well, call your little sister by her name, and show her some respect, too, Fritz said, shaking Bertie’s hand.

Very well, said Bertie, struggling to meet his eye this time. Lenchen, you can come with us to the park if you wish.

*****

Fritz stood awkwardly at the nursery door. Should we really be here? he asked his mother. I mean, should the men come to the nursery?

Fritz, the Queen asked us to; I think you can tell what is proper, she said shortly.

How is my little Godson? Papa was asking Prince Albert.

Very well indeed, look at him, the Prince Albert said. He is a strong little fellow.

Fritz, come and meet your Godbrother, Papa said.

The little boy stood, wobbling. Fitz solda? he asked.

He is an observant little fellow, to see that we are in uniform, Fritz said, awkwardly picking up the little boy. He set him back down on his feet after a moment, watching as the little boy reached out his hand toward him. He fell, slapping Fritz’s leg in the process.

Our little warrior is very strong, the Queen laughed.

Arthur sat up again. Fitz, Fitz solda; Ata be solda! he giggled as he pulled on the spur on Fritz’s boot.

Yes, I can see you will be a soldier, Fritz said, sitting down and holding out his cap. Come here, my little Godbrother. He liked the sound of that. Godbrother. In Prussia they almost always said sponsors, not Godparents. Arthur toddled toward him, taking hold of his cap and trying to put it on. It covered his whole head and shoulders. Fritz laughed.

Vicky appeared at the door. So, you have met my dear little brother, she said, picking Arthur up and sitting at Fritz’s side. Isn’t he a darling?

He is a precious child, said Fritz, a little awkwardly. But – you are used to this? he said, watching Vicky stroke her little brother’s head.

Yes, Mama calls me their little mother. You… You only have Vivi. But didn’t you do this with her?

No, the older children aren’t allowed back into the nursery once they leave it, in Prussia, he said. I mostly saw her when she was brought down after dessert, when the nurse took her out for walks, and for a few minutes in company, until she was about seven.

Oh! Vicky exclaimed. I can’t imagine that. How lonely you must be! She slipped her hand into his. I am your friend now.

He couldn’t speak. Tears came to his eyes.

What is wrong? Did I say something that offended you? she asked.

No. You can’t understand, he said, choking on his words.

I can try to. Do tell me more about yourself. You have seen our family, and I hardly know anything about yours. I don’t mean to be rude, but I am old enough to see that your parents do not often agree. And then there is what you said about your sister. I can see how lonely you must be.

Fritz thought of his life. What could he tell this sweet, confiding, innocent little girl who sat so trustingly at his side, with her hand in his, and tried to comfort him?

My family are not like yours, he started slowly, None of my aunts and uncles married for love, either, like your parents did.

Oh. I am so sorry. I hope I will, she sighed. Everyone always says I should marry a King, or a future King, as I am the Queen’s eldest daughter.

Heirs to thrones are encouraged to marry young, Fritz thought. At 21, or so. I am already 19; you will be only 12 in two years. He shook his head. I shouldn’t be having such thoughts; I’m not like Onkel Karl.

I never had a brother, he continued, I grew up with a cousin, Fritz Karl, we call him. They call me Fritz Wilhelm, in the family, because my father is Prince Wilhelm, and my cousin’s father Prince Karl, and their older brother, my uncle the King, is also called Fritz. So, I am Fritz Wilhelm, or Fritzchen.

"So