Текст книги "Queen in Waiting "

Автор книги: Jean Plaidy

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The scenes on the stock exchange were such as were never seen before. Ruined men gathered on the streets; they were too bewildered at first to understand what had happened to them. Then they began to cry out that they had been the victims of a hoax. There were no big fortunes to be made. Instead of being millionaires they were paupers.

And who was to blame? The Government, the King, the Prince, the King's mistresses, the Cabinet ministers who had known all along that the South Sea Company was not the rich enterprise it had been made out to be, but merely an empty name to provide a gamble at which they could grow rich at the expense of the ignorant?

Caroline, still mourning the manner in which she had been outwitted, came out of her listlessness to listen aghast to the news.

People were massing in the streets. Riots could break out at any moment. And these people who had been ruined through

what they were caUing the South Sea Bubble, were looking for a scapegoat.

Why not the Germans whom they hated? The Prince was involved in this. He had been advised by Walpole how to gamble through the South Sea Company on the stock exchange and had made large sums of money. What some had gained others had lost. It was a frightening situation.

Henrietta came to her in panic and told her that it was being said that the royal family should leave England. They had never been so unpopular. They should get away while they had a chance.

"It will pass," said Caroline.

Walpole came to see her. She had been cool to him since the reconciliation and had told him that she understood how she had been duped.

He had been deeply concerned, assuring her that he had done everything in his power to restore her children to her. All the same she had made it clear to him that he was out of favour with her.

He had done something to regain her esteem by showing how her dissatisfaction disturbed him and using every effort to win back her approval.

She saw him differently now; to her he was a man of unattractive appearance; he was too bulky in figure, too coarse in his habits; and she had heard he drank heavily and lived an immoral life. Even so, she made excuses for him. His married life was not happy; his wife went her own way as he did, and took lovers while he took mistresses. He had a daughter who was a chronic invalid and her sufferings distressed him deeply. And in spite of all this he was the most brilliant statesman of his day.

She was aware of this and wanted him to be on her side. He knew that she was a clever woman married to a foolish husband who would one day be King. They both respected each other and would continue to do so whatever the differences between them.

Now it was as though his fearful disaster had brought them a little closer. She confided in him what she had heard and he replied that there was some feeling against the royal family.

but it would be folly to run away. The trouble would pass although he believed it would mean the fall of Stanhope.

"But that, Madam," he said his eyes twinkling, "need be no great concern of yours. Stanhope was scarcely your friend."

"They are blaming him?"

"He's one of the culprits. Sunderland too. They'll have to resign."

"And then?"

Walpole smiled. "I was warning people, you know, before the crash. I advised them not to buy."

"And you yourself?"

"I sold out at the highest price."

"This will not be held against you?"

"Why should it? I warned others to sell. I was ignored."

"And now you are able to go ahead with your building plans."

"Yes, Madam. I hope one day to have the honour of entertaining you and the Prince at Houghton. I will show you the pictures I am collecting. 1 am sure they will enchant you."

"You will not retire to Houghton again?"

"I doubt it. Madam. I doubt it now."

He was right, of course. Stanhope, rising in Parliament to defend himself, dropped to the floor unconscious, and the next day died. The strain was too much for him. Sunderland, as Walpole had predicted, was forced to resign.

This was the opportunity for which Walpole had been waiting. He was ready.

Sir Robert Walpole became Prime Minister.

The Double Wedding Plan

Caroline had adjusted herself to her new role. Now she was the first lady of the Court. The King showed no objection to this for he had always had quite an affection for her. If she had had the character of his Duchess of Kendal, if she had not been his son's wife ... he admitted to himself he might have looked for a warmer relationship. But he was not one to seek a complicated life. All the same he was not displeased to have her back in her place. He liked to listen to her conversation when she spoke French and German. He could even understand her English better than that of his English ministers, interspersed as it was with French and German words and all pronounced with a decided German accent. Yes, his daughter-in-law was a fine woman, yet, as he had always known, one who would have to be watched.

He was content enough with the Duchess of Kendal and Darlington and other mistresses whom he picked up and dropped from time to time.

Dangers came and went. The affair of the South Sea Bubble

had subsided and it had brought him Walpole, who, he knew very well, was the shrewdest minister in both England and Germany.

James across the water was a menace and always would be. Particularly now that he had married and produced a son, Charles Edward—so that now the line would continue and this boy could well grow up to harry them, though doubtless that would be in the days of George Augustus, his foolish son.

Well, at least he would have a clever wife to help him.

She hated her father-in-law of course. She'd never forgive him for keeping Frederick at Hanover and the girls under his control.

Well, she was pregnant again; and he would put no restrictions on this child. If it lived she should keep this one. That might make her a little more affectionate towards her father-in-law.

Mary Bellenden had given little attention to what was happening, being absorbed by her own affairs. She was wondering what would happen when she betrayed her secret; and she would have to sooner or later. The Prince still eyed her lasciviously although he had taken several mistresses recently.

He had changed—everybody was changing.

We're growing older, thought Mary. It was true; she was no longer the frivolous young girl she had been; nor was Molly Lepel; not even Sophie.

That reminded her. She had meant to speak to Molly about Sophie who had changed more than any of them. A short while ago she had been so frivolous that they had all scolded her. She seemed not to have a serious thought in her head. Lately she had been very quiet. What was on her mind?

She found Molly Lepel putting the Princess's clothes away.

"I should be helping you," said Mary. "I quite forgot."

Molly murmured something; and that was not like her usual talkative self.

"Is anything wrong?"

"Well... hardly that. Mary ... I'm married."

"You... too!''

"You mean ..."

Mary nodded; and they both began to laugh.

"I might have known/' said Molly at length. "How long "

"Too long to keep it secret. I thought we'd better when the Prince was getting more of a nuisance than ever. And you?"

"Lord Hervey."

"Lord Hervey! Molly! Who would have thought..."

"That he would have a wife?"

Mary was silent. Molly and Hervey! It was incredible. What a handsome pair they would be and yet ... She could not imagine Hervey as a husband. Still, Molly looked happy.

"I want to retire to the country. I'm tired of Court life," said Molly. "And you?"

"John has to stay at Court so I shall, too. One in the Prince's household, one in that of the Princess. You must admit it's convenient. I wonder if Sophie's married too and that's why she's been so quiet lately."

"We must find out," said Molly.

"I know she has been meeting Anthony Lowther lately."

"We'll ask at the first opportunity. After all if we tell her our secret, she should tell us hers."

The opportunity came a few days later.

The three girls were alone together in the Princess's robing chamber when Mary said: "We want to tell you something, Sophie. Molly and I are married."

Sophie did not answer and as she lowered her head and her lip trembled Mary and Molly began to understand.

"Is it Tony Lowther?" asked Mary.

Sophie nodded.

"How long?"

"Three months."

"You will have to be married ... secretly as we were."

"But..."

"You mean he won't."

Sophie nodded. "What am I going to do?" she asked.

"Tony Lowther will have to marry you. That's the only answer."

But Sophie only shook her head.

The two girls did what they could to comfort her; but there was no comforting Sophie.

Caroline was sorry for the girl. Poor silly little Sophie! She was an example of the folly of acting without thought. It was no use speaking to Lowther; he had left court knowing that pressure might be brought to bear on him; and would it be wise to force marriage on him? Even Sophie did not wish that.

Margaret Meadows went about with lips pursed and an air of 'I told you so'.

Poor heartbroken little Sophie!

Caroline sent for the girl.

'^y poor child," she said, "I think you should leave the Court and go home."

**Yes, Your Highness."

**There at least you vill be far from gossip. I vill write to your family and tell them to be kind to you."

"Your Highness is good."

"I vish I could help you more. I suppose he promised to marry you?"

"Yes, Madam."

"You are not the first to be deceived by empty promises. Your ... indiscretion vill be a lesson to you. Take it to heart but try to make a new life for yourself. Profit from your misfortune, my tear, and try to be happy in the new life you vill surely make for yourself."

Sophie sank to her knees and kissed the Princess's hand.

A few days later she left court; and it was not long afterwards when Molly Lepel, her marriage no longer a secret, left the Princess's service to start a new life in the country.

My Court will not be the same without them, thought Caroline. And even Mary Bellenden has emerged as a married woman.

But she soon ceased to think about the affairs of her maids of honour for the time came for her child to be born and this time to her great joy it was a healthy boy whom she called William Augustus; and when she held him in her arms she

N*

believed that her ill luck had changed. This child would be her very own and no one would attempt to take him from her.

She was right. From the time of the child's birth she was happier. She would have more children and then it would seem as though she had another little family all her own. The King showed that he did not find her company distasteful. He would often sit dourly listening when she talked, but he seemed to enjoy her conversation as much as he enjoyed any.

When she heard from Lady Mary Wordey Montague that in Turkey smallpox was rendered harmless by making a small wound and infecting it with pus from a smallpox sore she was very interested. Lady Mary wrote that she had allowed her own son to be inoculated; and when her doctor, Charles Maitland, came to England Caroline sent for him and asked him to tell her more.

There was an outcry, for nothing the Princess did could pass unnoticed. Lady Mary was counted an unnatural mother; the doctors decried the practice as against God's Will.

Caroline pondered the matter. She was constantly afraid of the smallpox which had killed her mother; every other person in the street was marked by it; she herself had escaped lightly, through great good fortune; she learned that seventy-two people out of every thousand died of it.

She longed to make her own children secure against it but dared not take any risk.

She tried to talk to the Prince about it, but he was not really interested.

^'Imagine," she said, "the benefit to the nation ... if ve could vipe out this terrible scourge."

"It vould be goot... very goot "

He thinks of nothing but his own vanities, she thought a little contemptuously, a little indulgently. Strangely enough as the years passed she was discovering that she would not have had him otherwise.

At the King's reception one evening she had an opportunity

of speaking to the King. George was there. The Duchesses of Kendal and Darlington inevitably were in attendance, listening to music while some played cards.

Mary Bellenden was present with her husband and as they came in the Prince scowled at her and shook his finger; then he turned his back. It might have been comic but he was really angry with her for preferring his bedchamber groom to himself. Caroline was glad though that he had not dismissed John Campbell and confined his display of pique to a shake of the finger and a turn of the back.

Caroline took her place next to the King and talked awhile to the Duchess of Kendal who, she secretly thought, grew uglier every day.

Then she broached the subject of inoculation and told the King of Mary Wortley Montague's experiences. The Prince scowled when he heard the name of Mary Wortley Montague because she had attracted him and refused to become his mistress. It was bad enough to have the beautiful Bellenden there with her husband, biu to hear Caroline refer to another who had refused him was most irritating. He was surprised that Caroline should be so inconsiderate; she was not usually so. Then he realized that she was on her old hobby horse inoculation, so he ceased to be interested.

"If I were sure," she was saying to the King, "I should like to have the children innoculated."

George nodded.

"There would have to be more experiments first. I have talked to Maitland."

"Who is this Maitland?"

"The doctor who inoculated Lady Mary's son."

The King nodded.

"I think we should try these experiments. Suppose we took prisoners from Newgate ... those condemned to die in any case. Would Your Majesty agree that might be a good idea?"

The King nodded. "It is a good idea," he said.

That was all she needed.

The next day she summoned Maitland and the experiment began.

To Caroline's delight it was entirely successful.

gSo Queen in Waiting

"But we must be sure," she told Maitland, and six charity children were inoculated with equal success.

Caroline summoned Sir Hans Sloane for discussions with Maitland. As he was favourably impressed she allowed Amelia and Caroline to be inoculated.

When this was successful, many hurried to be inoculated . It became the fashion to be so treated.

Caroline was delighted. The battle against the deadly killer had begun.

Little more than a year after the birth of William Augustus, Caroline's daughter Mary was born. This was great happiness. She now had two healthy children and the fact that the older ones were not entirely hers gave her less anguish. She had a second little family which was a consolation.

Occasionally she was uneasy about her daughters whom she was sure lacked the training she would have given them. Anne was very haughty and she believed very ambitious; Amelia showed signs of beauty and was more amiable than her sister; Caroline, her namesake and favourite, was quiet and delicate, her health a constant source of anxiety. They need their mother, thought the Princess uneasily and often. But there was nothing more to be done. As for Frederick—little Fritzchen– he was now nearly seventeen, a man who kept a mistress. It was so long since she had seen him and although she had pined for him in those first years of separation, now she hardly ever gave him a thought.

How grateful she was therefore to have her dear little William Augustus and Mary—her own, entirely her own.

She was able to invite to her court those men of letters who interested her; she was able to read their works and discuss them with their authors. That was a great pleasure. She enjoyed both Pope's Iliad and Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and when she read Gulliver's Travels with its allusions to the political figures of the day—^the Prince not excepted—she declared she must meet the author as soon as he arrived in London.

Life had certainly taken a happier turn.

The King: even condescended to tell her of the marriage pro-

ject which his daughter, Sophia Dorothea, longed to put into practice: her daughter for Frederick, her son for Amelia. She admitted that the crown of Prussia would be a good proposition for Amelia and she had no objection to Frederick's marrying his cousin.

She thought of Sophia Dorothea, the gay young sister-in-law whom she had known during the first months of her marriage, and who had determined to marry the King of Prussia's heir ... her own beloved Sophia Charlotte's son. It had been a strange marriage for the King of Prussia had turned out to be a violent man; but Sophia Dorothea had spirit and in spite of the fact that there was violence between them, they had a lasting affection for each other.

She, Caroline, would, of course, have no say in the marriage of her children; the King would decide and she and George Augustus would accept his decision; but it was pleasant that he should condescend to discuss the matter with her.

She talked to the Prince about the proposal. His face grew purple at the thought of it.

"This I vill not haf," he said. "They are mad, that family. Their father is mad. I hate him."

"But their mother is your own sister."

"Vot is that? She have von husband who is a madman."

"His manners are strange, yes "

"And this I vill not haf."

"If the King decides we must accept."

"I vill not. She is my daughter. Frederick is my son. This double vedding I vill not haf. I hate the King of Prussia. Vonce he tried to marry you."

"That came to nothing."

"How happy I am that it did not." His blue eyes filled with tears. "Vot should I haf done vithout my Caroline, eh?"

"Doubtless they vould have found another von for you."

"That I vould not haf. It has been a happy marriage. I vould never love another as I love my Caroline."

She thought of him, waiting outside Henrietta's apartments watch in hand. She thought of his attempts with Mary

Bellenden and Mary Wortley Montague. They were two unsuccessful ones; there had been many others which had succeeded.

"They are but mistresses," he would say. *Tou are the Princess and my vife."

He was like a child in so many ways; and the reason why he was so much against the double wedding was because at one time there had been a possibility of the King of Prussia's being a suitor for Caroline.

The Duchess of Darlington was pensive. She had heard that Wilhelmina, the daughter of the King of Prussia was a very clever and forceful woman. If she married Frederick he would come to England, for then he could no longer be kept away. Another clever » oman at the Court I That would be too much. The cleverness of the Princess Caroline was a hindrance to so many of her plans; and although the King was supposed to be on bad terms with the Prince and Princess it was clear that even he was impressed by this cleverness.

No, definitely the Duchess did not want another clever woman at Court.

"I have heard," she told the King, "that Wilhelmina is so ugly that she is quite frightful to look at; and violent with it—so much so that she has epileptic fits."

The King was horrified. This was gossip, of course; but very often there was truth in rumour. They wanted no epilepsy in the family.

The Duchess of Kendal had been aloof from the matter until she had been offered money to support the scheme. She rarely interfered with matters of state knowing she owed her hold on the King to this very quality; but money could tempt her.

She did not try to persuade the King or even show any interest to him. She had become wiser over the years but she did write to the Queen of Prussia telling her of the rumours and suggesting she invite the King to Berlin so that he might see the Princess Wilhelmina for himself and prove them false.

This advice was taken by the Queen and as a result the King decided he would pay another visit to his beloved Hanover and call at Berlin on route.

George arrived in due course at Liitzenburg which had been renamed Charlottenburg after Sophia Charlotte and there was greeted by his daughter and son-in-law.

Almost immediately he wished that he had stayed away. Sophia Dorothea had grown so like her mother that it was a shock to come face to face with her after all this time. However, he was not one to betray his feelings and his dour expression scarcely changed.

Sophia Dorothea was excited; there was so much she wanted to know about George Augustus and Caroline. She had heard such stories of the quarrel and how Caroline had managed to become popular in England. But it was hopeless to expect interesting gossip from her father. All she could do was welcome him as well as she could manage; but even that wasn't easy for the King of Prussia was miserly in the extreme and grudged spending money on anything but his armies.

What a life I lead! thought Sophia Dorothea and inwardly grimaced; for in fact she did not hate it as much as it might have seemed natural for her to do. Frederick William was so violent at times that she thought he was verging on madness; her son and daughter were terrified of him; and so was she ... in a way, a rather exciting fear, like a child who begs for stories of horror even though she knows they will bring nightmares. Oh yes, life was certainly not dull with Frederick William– neither for her nor the children. They were used to their father's ungovernable rages and the punishment he seemed to enjoy giving them; they thought nothing of it when he kicked them or beat them with his own hands; he liked to lock them in their apartments and starve them and then he would gloat over the amount of money he was saving by not feeding them.

He never attempted to beat her, although at one time he had tried; he contented himself with swearing at her, calling her abusive names and spitting in her food, especially if it was a dish she particularly enjoyed.

She was by no means meek; she would retaliate by telling him he was a brute, that he was a madman and ought to be put into a cage. Then he would laugh and there might follow a reconciliation—on the other hand there might not. One could never be sure with Frederick William. That was the joy of living with him.

What a dull life Caroline and George Augustus must lead! And her mother too ... her poor mother to whom she wrote from time to time and had tried to bring out of her prison ... what a misery her life was!

No, Sophia Dorothea, oddly enough, regretted nothing and would not have changed her life if she could. Now she assured herself she was about to see realized her most cherished plan: the Double Wedding; her son married to her brother's daughter; her brother's son married to her daughter. What an excellent plan I Her Wilhelmina would be Queen of England and George Augustus's daughter Queen of Prussia.

Thus, she had promised herself, we keep the crowns in the family.

And her enemies had tried to prevent it by spreading lies about Wilhelmina. Epileptic indeed! They should see her daughter who was clever and good looking enough to please anyone—even the English.

"Your Majesty will wish to see your granddaughter, I am sure," she told her father. **She is all eagerness for the honour."

Wilhelmina stepped forward, and knelt before the King. He saw a tall girl who appeared to be sound, but one could never tell with epilepsy.

He did not smile but merely stared at her.

"She's tall," he said.

Then his daughter gave him her hand and led him to her apartments whither the King of Prussia and Wilhelmina followed with some of their attendants. No sooner had they reached the apartment than the King demanded a candle and when it was brought to him summoned his granddaughter to stand before. When she did so he held the candle so close to her that she thought he would catch her hair alight, and examined her as though she were a horse or cow.

Wilhelmina felt very agitated and was relieved when her grandfather told her mother that he wished to speak with her alone.

Poor Wilhelmina knew that she was under discussion and felt embarrassed until some of the King's English suite began to talk to her, although she was sure that they too were trying to put her to the test, but when they told her that she had the manners and bearing of an Englishwoman she smiled wryly knowing tliey were trying to be complimentary.

She thought her grandfather terrifying. He never smiled; he seemed melancholy; and his only interest in her was whether she would make a suitable wife for his grandson of whom in any case he saw very little. She would be glad when he left; and almost preferred her violent father to this dour man.

That evening there was a banquet to honour the King of England. He was seated beside the Queen who talked to him as though she were not in the least in awe of him. Wilhelmina who now and then stole glances at him noticed that he had his eyes closed.

Lord Townsend was whispering to her. "I think His Majesty is unwell. Could you sign to your mother to prepare to leave the table. I am sure the King should be in his bed."

Wilhelmina rose from her chair and went to her mother and whispered what Lord Townsend had suggested.

The Queen gave her father a startled look and said: "I see Your Majesty is a little tired. We will now retire."

**I am not tired." said the King gruffly. "Pray be seated, and go on talking."

But Sophia Dorothea thought there was something strange about him and insisted that she was now going to give the sign for all to leave the table.

As she spoke she stood up. The King rose too, but even as he stood on his feet, he swayed ... and in a few seconds had collapsed on to the floor where he lay unconscious.

There was pandemonium in the hall. The King of Prussia gave orders that cushions should be brought with blankets to cover the King of England who lay still unaware of what was happening.

"He has had a paralytic seizure," said the Queen. "That this

should have happened here! My poor father. Send for the physicians at once."

But before the physicians arrived the King had recovered. Almost immediately he seemed to know where he was and reaching for his wig which had fallen off, put it on his head.

**It is nothing," he said. "Here! Help me to my feet."

With the aid of the King of Prussia and Lord Townsend he stood up.

**I will conduct you to your apartments," he told his daughter.

"Your Majesty..."

"I will conduct you to your apartments," he repeated.

The assembly looked on in amazement while he did so.

Then he returned to his own apartments. There was no sign of paralysis.

*'It is nothing," was the verdict. "The King merely fainted."

And after that, since it was his wish, no mention was made of the incident.

He was not inclined however to complete the negotiations for the double wedding.

"I shall come back to Hanover," he told his daughter. "The children are young yet... too young for marriage."

"I hear Frederick already has a mistress in Hanover," pointed out Sophia Dorothea.

"They are too young yet," said the King obstinately.

And that was all the satisfaction she could get.

The Ghost of the Old Leine Schloss

In spite of the fact that the King had wished to keep the news of his collapse secret he was unable to do so, and accounts of it reached England.

The Prince received them exultantly, Caroline inwardly so, but outwardly she was more restrained than her husband.

George Augustus strode up and down his wife's apartment, his wig awry, his blue eyes brilliant.

"This is the end of him," he declared. "A paralytic seizure at his age! "

"They are saying that he appears to be as veil as he vas on the day he left England."

"Impossible. I tell you this, my tear. It is my turn now. King of Englandt! How you like that, eh? King George II! "

"It sounds very veil, but let us vait a bit and be careful."

He came to the chair on which she was sitting and pinched her cheek. "Oh, you are the cautious von, alvays, my Caroline. Ve shall soon be planning our coronation."

"Let us not talk so ... even in private." She glanced over her shoulder. But he only laughed the louder. He was so sure of

jSS Queen in Waiting

himself, standing on tiptoe, seeing himself in the mirror, a crown instead of the wig on his head.

Caroline was alarmed, imagining the King's spies carrying tales of his son's unseemly behaviour; would it be possible for him to have George Augustus passed over in favour of Frederick? Who knew what vindictive scheme that man might invent. And Frederick thought Caroline, what do I know of Frederick? My son is a stranger to me. We must be careful ... more so now than ever.

But how make the exuberant George Augustus understand this?

The King had returned to England. Before she saw^ him Caroline heard that he showed no ill effects; but she could not believe that. He was advancing into his sixties. How could a man of that age collapse mysteriously at dinner and it have no significance?

When he received her he was attended as usual by the Duchesses of Kendal and Darlington, and Caroline was immediately aware of their anxious looks. But the King had not changed at all. There was no sign of illness in his dour unwelcoming face.

Did he look at her a little sardonically? He would know of course how their hopes had soared. Was he saying: Not yet, my dear. It is not the turn of that booby of a husband of yours yet. Oh, no you have to wait, my dear.

**I have brought you a present,** he told Caroline.

She was surprised and pleased for it was the first time he had brought a gift for her.

"You Majesty is gracious to me.*'

His lips turned up at the corners; it was as near as he could get to a smile. Was she visualizing some magnificent piece of jewellery, wondered the King. She was going to have yet another surprise and he wondered whether this one would be as unpalatable as the first, for when she had come to him she had expected to see him disabled from his so-called seizure.

He signed to one of his attendants and said that the Princess's gift was to be brought to her.

The man disappeared and when he returned there was an astonished silence throughout the apartment, for he led by a chain attached to the creature's neck what might have been a boy or a monkey. The creature stooped slightly and loped while it looked about it at the assembled company with something between fear and defiance. It was dressed in a bright blue suit lined with red, and red stockings. "It is a wild boy/' said the King. "We found him in the forest; he ran on all fours then, but he can stand up already. He lived on grass, moss, nuts and whatever he could find. I thought he would amuse Your Highness."