So, like star-crossed lovers, Albert and Peel have taken to exchanging longing glances and meeting in private.
Who wants to be the one to tell Albert that hes in another rom-com?
To be clear, the princes man-crush is entirely platonic.
Credit: ITV
Then again, those jokes are about marrying Peel.
But thats the fun of this hour.
(He likes card games now!
WHO IS HE, EVEN?)
Mixed with smoke from a steam engine.
She isnt doing too well with change lately, and thats fair.
The biggest change in her life could very well kill her.
Oh, but alcohols fine.
If Victoria passes away in childbirth and her child survives, Britain will need a regent.
(Adjacent is Northumberland, rejoicing in the digging of coal.
One cannot dig for fish.)
Like, maybe up north.
Theres a railway there.
But thats completely unrelated, of course.
Anyway, Albert doesnt hunt.
But he does shoot.
Much to Sir Piers horror, Albert squats to steady himself and, even worse, his technique works.
Its kind of likebowling with Tom Haverford.
While Sir Piers fights the impulse to yell, Son, people can see you!
at the prince, Victoria is dealing with her own problems.
Apparently, Peel lives within walking distance of the Giffords estate, and hes stopped by to say hello.
The queen gives him the cold shoulder.
You tried, Victoria.
I believe the railway dissolves the unnecessary cultural divides of our region, he explains.
Men can travel for work.
He should have tried that argument on Victoria sooner.
She might have listened if she didnt have to look at Peels face while Albert said it.
Its a love story, baby, just say, All aboard.
Just the sight of a train brings Albert to his feet.
That is the most magnificent thing I haveeverseen, he gapes.
His pregnant wife would not be thrilled to hear that, but you cant fault his enthusiasm.
My wife does not care for you, Albert says.
Uh, the queen.
(Oh, that wife.)
He explains that Victoria finds Peel cold and ambitious; Peel says he gets that a lot.
As in the card game, snap.
Its what people say about me also.
Did they just become best friends?
The prince asks Peel point blank if hes just using him for political advantage.
Peel promises that he isnt.
Is Albert just using him to ratify his regency?
No, Albert says, but thats a good idea.
Its real, you guys.
It isnt Alberts place to embrace Englands future without her.
I decide what is the future, Victoria declares.
That is, at most, 40 percent true, but its 100 percent badass.
Also, Albert came home all sooty, and now he looks like a peasant.
Im not the one eating beet root, Albert returns, taking aim at the queens latest craving.
Victoria knows what she has to do.
She has to ride a train.
And shes already starting to enjoy herself when she looks down to find her husband running alongside the tracks.
At least, I think its her husband; it might be a puppy.
That seals the deal: The queen loves trains now.
Get on board, Britain.
It doesnt hurt that now she gets to rub the railway in Sir Piers face.
Shes starting to warm to the Tories leader, and just in time, too.
With that slap, Lohlein gets the last word.
There is no one here to see this but God, he says.
And Jenkins, but she isnt telling.The Slapseason 2: coming to England in the fall of 1840.
