Текст книги "Queen in Waiting "
Автор книги: Jean Plaidy
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than she was but had begun to notice her. She was thinking of an episode which had occurred a few days before. He had pulled her hair so hard that she had cried out with the pain; then he had held her captive and attempted to kiss her, and when she had protested he had laughed at her.
"My mother will try to marry us to each other one day so I should like to try you first," he had told her.
"You are insolent," Caroline had retorted.
"And you give yourself airs. Madam Caroline. You should go down on your knees and beg me to marry you."
"That I should never do to anyone . . . least of all you."
"And why least of all me, pray? You should be very grateful for me ... if you can get me. Do you realize that I shall be the King of Prussia one day. You do not answer, Madam Caroline."
"I was too busy feeling sorry for Prussia."
She had turned and walked away. "Don't worry. Madam Caroline," he had called after her. "My father would never agree to let me marry you. You're a nobody ... a nobody! Not good enough for marriage with the King of Prussia."
Yes, he was an insufferable boy and she disliked him. She was only sorry that Sophia Charlotte cared so much for him, which was of course understandable since he was her only son ... her own son which must be different from an adopted daughter.
So now she listened intently to what his mother was saying to Gottfried Leibniz.
"He has not enough discipline here," was Leibniz's verdict. "There are no other boys of his equal. The grooms and squires he spends his days with are in awe of him. He needs to be treated roughly by his equals. Why not send him to Hanover where he could be with his cousins."
"You think Hanover ... at this time ... is a good place for him to be?"
"The best possible place. There he can become friends with his cousin, George Augustus, and find he doesn't get all his own way."
"I often think of those poor children. Do they miss their mother much?"
"It is long ago since they saw her."
"But to know that she is kept a prisoner in Ahlden! Do they never ask for her, want to see her."
"Oh yes. George Augustus often speaks of her. I have heard that he remembers her well and talks of rescuing her."
"And my brother?"
"The Prince Elector behaves as though he never had a wife. He is happy enough as matter stands. He has his heir George Augustus and his daughter Sophia Dorothea."
"The fact that she is named after her mother must remind him."
"He gives no sign. He continues to amuse himself "
"With Ermengarda Schulemburg?"
"She remains his favourite."
Sophia Charlotte shivered. "And you think my son would be better off at Hanover I "
"Your mother's there to take good care of him."
"Yes," answered Sophia Charlotte, "there is my mother."
And as a result Frederick William was sent to Hanover.
Gottfried Leibniz liked to gossip with Caroline when they were not discussing deeper matters. He had a great admiration for the Electress Sophia, the mother of Sophia Charlotte, and he liked to chat about the court of Hanover; and since this had once been the home of her beloved Sophia Charlotte it was of great interest to Caroline.
How different a childhood Sophia Charlotte had had from Caroline's! And yet about her had whirled similar storms and passions to those with which Caroline had become acquainted at Dresden. The story of Sophia Dorothea of Hanover was far more tragic than that of Caroline's mother, for while fate had intervened to save the latter, poor Sophia Dorothea had had no such help.
Leibniz gossiped often of that tragic affair; he talked of George Lewis, Sophia Charlotte's elder brother whom as a man without learning he despised.
"If you could imagine the complete opposite of our gracious Electress Sophia Charlotte that would be her brother."
**He sounds quite loathsome," declared Caroline.
"I think that is the opinion of almost everyone except Ermengarda Schulemburg and one or two other of his favoured ladies."
''Tell me about his children."
"George Augustus is about your age ... a few months younger perhaps. He is like his father in many ways, but I think he might be an improvement on him. He is fond of music. The only sign of culture these Hanoverians have is a love of music. Literature ... art ... philosophy ... don't exist for them."
"How could the Electress have such a brother."
"She resembles her mother. The Electress Sophia is one of the cleverest women I have ever known."
"Surely not cleverer than her daughter?"
"When the Electress of Brandenburg is as old as her mother she will be as wise. I can't give her higher praise than that."
"I should like to meet the Electress Sophia."
"You will one day. She often talks of visiting her daughter. Our Electress is her favourite child."
"I can well understand that."
*1 believe you and Electress Sophia would be good friends."
"Tell me more of her. Tell me about Sophia Charlotte's childhood."
"Oh ... those brothers! They were continually warring with each other. It began in the nurseries. George Lewis is such an oaf ... so uncouth, so crude. I know the Electress Sophia has always regretted that he was her eldest. She would have preferred any of the other boys as Electoral Prince."
"Did George Lewis know this?"
"If he did he didn't care. He was happy enough left to himself to pursue his two main interests."
"And what were they?"
"War and women. In the reverse order."
"And what of his father and mother. Were they hannv together?" ^ ^^^
Leibniz shrugged his shoulders. *'The Electress Sophia is a wise woman. Ernest Augustus her husband was a man who would have his mistresses. Sophia looked the other way. In fact
she didn't bother to do even that. She expressed a lack of interest in his extra-marital affairs."
*'But why?"
**It was no concern of hers, she said. A wife should not grudge her husband his mistresses as long as he spent enough time with her to give her children."
**It seems a strange philosophy of marriage."
"The Electress Sophia is an unusual woman. Because she remained faithful to this doctrine she has been accorded every dignity, she has been a power at her husband's court and she is the mother of many children."
"And she did not care that he was unfaithful to her? I can't believe that."
"She is a great lady of higher rank than her husband; being the daughter of a Queen and the granddaughter of a King of England. She never forgets it." He smiled a little wryly. "Nor will she allow anyone else to."
"And because of this she does not care that her husband was unfaithful?"
"Her royalty is the ruling passion of her life—that and the possibility of her attaining a crown. Beside that, all else seems insignificant. She has heirs of her body. She could be Queen of England and after her, George Lewis could be King."
"England! That is far away."
"To the Electress Sophia it is home. She has never been there but she calls it so. One day she hopes to receive the call which will take her there and that it will be to mount the throne. You know what her chances are."
"Yes. But there is a King across the water. Don't you think he will come before the Electress Sophia?"
Leibniz laughed maliciously. "When the Electress engaged me to work at Hanover, one of my duties was to attempt to wield together the Catholic and Protestant faiths. But when the law of succession was passed in England, there was a clause which said that only a member of the Reformed Faith could wear the crown of England. The Electress ceased then to be interested in this wielding of the faiths. She was a Protestant and she decided to remain one."
"She is not woman of strong faith."
"Her faith is in the Emglish crown. She believes it to be the most prized diadem in the world and England the home of all that is desirable. Religion to her is something to be of use to rulers. She maintains that only rulers unworthy of the name allow it to rule them. Every day she grows nearer to the English throne her Protestantism grows stronger."
"You find this admirable?"
"I find it ... wise."
"Isn't that a cynical view of religion?"
"It is not a matter of cynicism. You have listened to—and indeed partaken in—our discourses. We are groping in the dark. What is faith? The very word suggests that there is reason for uncertainty. Whom do you, a young woman of good sense, admire most, the man who convinces himself he believes blindly and shuts his eyes to reason, or the one who says I am not sure but eager to find out, therefore I shall listen to every argument?"
"Naturally I think it wiser to have an open mind."
"Like that of the Electress Sophia. She has an open mind. In the meantime if she has a good chance of attaining the throne of England as a Protestant and no chance at all as a Catholic, wisdom decrees that she shall be a Protestant and a Protestant she is."
"Of course it is wise but..."
"You are too emotional, my dear young lady. That is your youth. When the tempest is blowing you must trim your sails accordingly. Always remember that. Is it wise to be wrecked for a principle? So much depends on what is involved? In life one rarely comes to a clear solution. Perhaps there is none. That is what makes our discussions here of such interest and such value."
"But you yourself, I heard declined the custodianship of the Vatican Library for a principle."
"You are wrong."
"But I heard that the Pope himself offered you this appointment and you refused because to have accepted it would have entailed becoming a Catholic."
"That is true in part. I had no intention of becoming an adherent to any one form of religion. What if I had? My free-
dom would have been restricted, and all avenues except one closed to me. I should have accepted this and that, because it was the law laid down by the Pope."
"But is that not declining for a principle?"
"In truth no. At the heart of my refusal was the knowledge that I could lead a fuller life at courts such as this and that of Hanover. I could become richer more famous out in the world."
"Then you are ambitious."
"I shall not know what manner of man I am until I come to the end of my life."
Sophia Charlotte joined them.
"I see as usual that you are giving Caroline something to think about," she said with a smile.
The Electress Sophia visited Liitzenburg accompanied by her grandson Frederick William.
There was great preparation for their arrival for not only was Sophia Charlotte eager to have her son home again but she was delighted at the prospect of having her mother to stay with her.
Caroline was inclined to be a little jealous and this Sophia Charlotte recognized at once.
"My darling," she said, "you will love my mother and she will love you. Instead of the two of us now there will be three. We shall be a trinity."
Caroline was unsure; from all she had heard of the Electress Sophia she visualized a formidable woman.
She was agreeably surprised for although the old Electress was indeed formidable she showed nothing but pleasure in meeting Caroline.
"My daughter tells me such news of you," she said on their first meeting, "that I am impatient to meet you. Why, you have a charming face, and I am grateful to you for making my dear daughter so happy."
It was a good beginning for it was apparent to Caroline that Sophia was a woman who would say what was in her mind and it appeared that because her daughter had explained how
much Caroline meant to her, the Electress was prepared to accept her too.
Her nervousness evaporated and she found herself being as natural as she was in the presence of Sophia Charlotte and with the approving eyes of the latter upon her she proceeded to find a way into the good graces of the mother.
The entertainments at Liitzenburg delighted the old Electress and she was invariably to the fore in the discussions that went on. She was delighted to meet her old friend Gottfried Leibniz and even more pleased to see him so happily settled at her daughter's Court.
She liked, too, to wander in the gardens with Caroline and sound her to discover, Caroline was sure, whether she lived up to the reports her daughter had sent her. Caroline found herself playing the part of earnest young philosopher, seeking the truth, playing it in the manner she thought would best appeal to the old woman.
Am I being a little false? she asked herself. Were the Leibniz doctrines teaching her never to be herself, always to stand outside a scene, metaphorically, and look in on herself playing a part? Was it better to forget to watch oneself, to be natural, to say tihe first thing which came into one's mind? One would be more honest if one did. But it was so easy to do or say what was unwise, perhaps to change the whole pattern of one's life by a word or a small action.
Sometimes it seemed to her that there was no definite right or wrong way of living. Sometimes she allowed herself to believe that life would go on forever as it was now: Herself the companion, handmaiden, devoted daughter of the one she loved and always would she believed beyond all others. But common sense told her this could not be. Sophia Charlotte herself would not wish it. She would want to see her married, a mother, making a home of her own. There were only two ways in which she could ensure a life with Sophia Charlotte until death parted them. One was to remain unmarried; the other was to marry Sophia Charlotte's son.
The second prospect made her shiver.
Frederick William had returned from Hanover no better than he had gone away. He still strutted about the Court arro-
gant as ever and none of the attendants and servants dared thwart him or he would take his revenge; he would warn them that one day he would be their master and he would not forget.
Thinking of marriage with him made Caroline's thoughts turn to those far off days in Saxony.
Never! she told herself. I would rather remain unmarried. That is the answer. I will never marry. I will stay here with dearest Sophia Charlotte until the end of my days.
Frederick William had certainly not learned better manners at Hanover. It was hardly to be expected that he would. He had taken a violent dislike to his cousin George Augustus and waylaid Caroline in the gardens to tell her about it.
"You've grown taller since I've been away, Madam Caroline," he said.
"I daresay you have too, but I don't notice."
The angry lights leaped into his eyes, and she was startled to see how violent he could quickly become.
"Then notice now I " he demanded.
"It is of no interest to me."
"I command that you do."
"Are you in a position to command me?"
"The Electoral Prince has power to command all his dependants."
Caroline laughed. He took her by the shoulder, his lower lip projecting in an ugly fashion, and for a moment she thought he was going to strike her.
"I've no doubt," she said. "But he should not make the mistake of trying to command those who are not."
"And you ... the penniless orphan "
"I am here at the wish of the Elector and Electress of Brandenburg who, let me remind you, have the power to command the Electoral Prince."
He laughed suddenly. "You have spirit for a girl who has nothing."
"How can I have nothing if I have my spirit?"
"Now, Caroline, you're being clever. Save that for old Leibniz and the rest. Don't try it on me."
"I admit it would be wasted."
He brought his face close to hers. **Now you're afraid I'm going to kiss you. Poor Caroline, who has never been kissed. You really are getting old for such ignorance. You want knowledge. Well, why not seek it."
She pushed him aside.
"Don't get ideas," he said. "My cousin Sophia Dorothea is ten times prettier than you. I wouldn't look at you when she was around."
Disturbing! Particularly as marriages were often made without the consent of the two concerned.
A storm cloud had appeared in the skies over Lutzenburg; one could not be young forever; one could not remain protected from the ugliness of the world under the cloak of an adored guardian. Change would come and Caroline was growing up.
There was nothing the Electress Sophia enjoyed more than a t^te-^-tete with her daughter. She admired Sophia Charlotte more than any living being and loved her more dearly than any of her children. Sophia Charlotte was not only beautiful and talented, she was wise.
The Electress Sophia could not see how she herself could better have handled her own life. She had not loved Ernest Augustus when she had married him and would have much preferred the man to whom she was first betrothed, the Duke of Celle, father of her ill-fated daughter-in-law Sophia Dorothea who was now a prisoner at Ahlden; but she had accepted Ernest Augustus and her rank and dignity had given her a certain power. All she had to do was let him go his way, let him keep his mistresses, never protest or show that she minded; and in return he accepted her position as Electress, as a Princess of royal birth, and she could have her will in all matters that did not clash with his desires. It was the kind of compact only an extremely wise woman could carry through; and she had done it.
Sophia Charlotte had one gift which her mother lacked: beauty. And this, the old Electress would be the first to admit, was a very valuable one. Because of it she had not to placate a
husband who preferred other women to herself; she was able to lead her own life as determinedly as Sophia had led hers, but with greater charm and dignity.
It was a pleasure to see her here in her magnificent palace; and the Electress was most proud of her daughter.
"And what do you really think of my Caroline?" asked Sophia Charlotte.
"I find her a pleasant creature and I am ready to love her because he*" companionship has made you very happy."
"Few have given me greater happiness than that girl. I brought her here because I thought it my duty. Oh, I took a fancy to her from the first, but I never thought that I should find in her the daughter I have always longed to have."
"If I stayed here I should love the girl even as you do. You have made her like yourself. The other day when I heard her talking out of sight, I thought it was you I heard."
Sophia Charlotte was delighted. "I have noticed it too."
"She begins to look like you, too. She imitates you. You wear a bow on your gown one day and she does the next."
"She is the dearest creature. Sometimes I wonder what I shall do if she ever has to go away."
"Marriage, you mean?"
"I sometimes look at her with fear. She is no longer a child. Many are married at her age. I suppose the day will come..."
"Yes," agreed Sophia, "the day will come."
"You are not thinking of her for Frederick William?"
"His father would never agree."
"Wouldn't you be able to persuade him? If I know you, my dear..."
"On all but state matters. Frederick William's marriage could be that."
"A blessing for Caroline."
"You are not favourably impressed by your grandson?"
"My dearest daughter, some of us are apt to be blind where our children are concerned but you have too much sense. He is unmannerly, arrogant, ungovernable."
Sophia Charlotte looked distressed, and her mother put her hand over her daughter's.
"It happens sometimes that our children disappoint us. I can
tell you I find my son George Lewis ... despicable. You and I are not the women to deceive ourselves, are we? If we are it makes a nonsense of all this fine talk we hear in these gardens of yours. No, we face the truth. There lies our strength. My eldest is a crude boor. Yours while not possessing the same deplorable characteristics has those equally bad. Face it, daughter."
"You have many children. Mother. I have only one. You were not disappointed in all."
"I had the best daughter in the world ... and so, it appears have you."
"Caroline is not my own flesh and blood."
"Now you are not being true to your theories. Caroline is all to you that any daughter could be. Are you going to love her less because you did not suffer torments to bring her into the world? Be rational. Isn't that what you say with your philosophers."
"You're right. Mother. Of what have I to complain while I have Caroline! But daughters leave their mothers when they marry—and it is that I fear, unless..."
The Electress smiled and looked absently towards the delightful fountain playing in the midst of Le Notre's magnificent handiwork.
My dearest daughter will have to face a great problem, she was telling herself. To keep her dear Caroline with her through marriage with a man, who might be considered one of the biggest catches in Germany, but is almost certain to be one of the worst husbands—or to let her marry outside and go away.
Sophia could picture her daughter, torturing herself with a hundred possibilities. Keep her and guard her? Or let her go away and possibly marry as unhappily as she would at home? It was certainly a problem. But then marriage was always a gamble; and Caroline could not be protected all her life. She must go out and face the world alone, which, Sophia was certain, Caroline would be able to do adequately.
What a pity, Sophia Charlotte was thinking, that time could not stand still and charming daughters always remain young and the dearest companions of their doting mothers!
A thought had come to the old Electress. At Hanover there was another grandson who would be needing a bride: George Augustus, son of George Lewis.
Now suppose Caroline were his bride; suppose she came to Hanover. Well, that would bring Sophia Charlotte often to Hanover; the young bride could visit Berlin frequently; and the Electress Sophia would have a daughter whom she could love and respect.
A very pleasant prospect for a woman who, as she grew older, felt a longing for young companionship and affection.
Being Sophia she said nothing as yet of this idea to her daughter. So while they sat together in one of those cosy and comfortable silences which only those who are in harmony can enjoy, Sophia Charlotte was thinking of Caroline's possible marriage to her son, while her mother explored the possibility of bringing Caroline to Hanover as the bride of George Augustus.
One day, thought Sophia Charlotte, Frederick William will be King of Prussia. My Caroline would be a Queen—and she is clever enough to handle him. What other girl could?
One day, thought the Electress Sophia, George Augustus could be King of England. Caroline would be a Queen ... and Queen of England. What higher goal than that in Germany ... or in the whole world.
The Electress Sophia talked to Caroline.
"My dear, do you speak English?"
"No," answered Caroline.
"Oh but that is shocking! You should, you know."
"There has never seemed any need."
"Never seemed any need! But it is the most important language in the world. What if you should ever go there? A fine ninny you would look not being able to understand what was said."
"I doubt if I should ever go there."
"Get that notion out of your head at once. Why, sometimes I think that all this talk of 'the why of the why' and 'where are we going' and 'leaps in the dark and what happens after death'
leaves you a little foolish about the everyday business of living/'
**But please tell me why you think I should go to England?'*
"Suppose I went to England and asked you to visit me."
"Are you thinking of going?"
"Does my daughter never talk to you of her family?"
"She has done so but..."
"Then surely you are not unaware of our most important connection."
"Perhaps you will please explain."
"My mother was Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia and her father was James the Sixth of Scotland and the First of England."
"Yes I did know that."
"Let me refresh your memory. His son Charles the First was a King of England. You know his tragic story."
"Yes. He was beheaded by order of the Parliament, and Oliver Cromwell set up a Commonwealth."
"But it didn't last. The English have too much sense. A Commonwealth I They soon had his son back and the second Charles showed the people how much better it is to be ruled by a King than a Parliament."
"They are a pleasure-loving people who turned against the puritan ways, so I've heard."
"You heard correctly. Charles' brother James followed him but he was a fool and became a Catholic so for that reason he was turned out in favour of William and Mary. They had no children so Anne, Mary's sister came to the throne. She sits on it now and ... she finds it hard to get a healthy son. If she fails in this, who will be the next sovereign of England?"
Caroline dared not let the old lady see her smile. This was her favourite hobby horse. Sophia Charlotte had discussed it with her. "My mother is the shrewdest calmest woman in the world, except for one thing. Over that she is fanatical. England —and her chances of becoming Queen of that country! They are remote enough, God knows, but there is a possibility. That possibility is the ruling passion of her life."
Caroline said gently: "The deposed King has a son who might be James the Third."
"They'll never tolerate him. He's a Catholic. The English turned out the father for that reason. They'll not have the son back for the same. Where would the sense be? And the English are the most sensible people in the world. Where will they turn then for a Protestant monarch. I'll tell you, Caroline. They'll turn to Hanover. For I am the next in the line of succession. If Anne doesn't have a son—and how can she, poor dropsical gouty lady—they must turn to me if they want the Protestant religion preserved; and they do. I should be Queen of England, Caroline. And if I were I should invite you to my Court. A fine figure you would cut—not being able to speak the language. Promise me that you will learn it."
"I promise," said Caroline.
The Electress Sophia sadly said farewell.
"Goodbye my dearest daughter, write to me often. You know what your letters mean to me."
"And yours to me, Mother. Let me know all that happens at Hanover."
"And goodbye, Caroline, my dear. I shall miss your bright company. I think perhaps I shall send someone over from Hanover to kidnap you and bring you to me."
Caroline glowed with pleasure. She would never completely forget the horror of Saxony even though it was difficult now to compare herself with that unwanted child who had been forced to keep out of everyone's way for fear she should be noticed.
Sophia Charlotte was delighted too.
"You have made a favourable impression on Mother," she said, as they watched the cavalcade ride away. "And that is something that is rarely done." She put her arm about her. "Don't imagine though that I should ever allow her to kidnap you. No one is going to do that."
Sophia Charlotte's eyes had rested uneasily on her son who, in the party assembled to say farewell to the departing guests, was looking almost amiable. She knew it was because he was glad to see the last of his grandmother for a while.
He had come back from Hanover as unattractive as he had been before he went.
It might be that marriage would improve him, Sophia Charlotte deceived herself into thinking.
After the departure of the Electress Sophia the old way of life was resumed at Liitzenburg and Sophia Charlotte tried to forget the unpleasant subject of Caroline's marriage.
Her husband had now become King of Prussia and in this important role was able to indulge his love of ceremony more than ever. Secretly Caroline would have liked to join in the ceremonies and could have found great pleasure in putting on dazzling garments and appearing at state banquets. She did not mention this for she knew it would mark a difference between her and Sophia Charlotte and disappoint the latter.
But because the days were so pleasant they slipped quickly away and Caroline was now approaching her twentieth birthday. It was being suggested that she was never to marry for surely if she had been intended to, a bridegroom would have been found for her by now. On the other hand was she waiting for the Crown Prince of Prussia to reach marriageable age?
Caroline was aware of these whispers and made uneasy by them. Whenever she thought of marriage she was reminded of her mother's unhappy experience and certainly she had no wish to change the existing state of affairs. To leave Liitzenburg! How could she ever be happy anywhere else? To stay and marry Frederick William? It was difficult to know which was the worst project—to leave Liitzenburg to go to an unknown husband or to stay and marry one whom she already disliked.
The Crown Prince himself was aware of the whispers; they made him laugh and plunge into profligacy which was even more shocking than that which he had practised before.
There was a change in the air.
The King of Prussia, when he had time from state matters, was beginning to regard Caroline speculatively, pondering on the fact that she might be a useful factor in some treaty which would bring advantage to Prussia.
Caroline had a return of the nightmares which had haunted her when she had feared for her mother and which had returned now and then after her death. It was like a recurring pattern.
Oh God, save me from marriage, she prayed.
Sophia Charlotte had come to a decision. She would not lose Caroline. Anything was preferable to that.
When she went to her husband's apartments to talk to him about Caroline, he was as affectionate as usual and expressed pleasure at the visit.
"Caroline is twenty years old," she said.
"No longer a girl," he commented. "She should have had a husband years ago and a family by now."
"I have wanted to keep her with me."
"I know. But she has a life of her own to lead."
"I want to see her married but I want to see her happy too. Liitzenburg has been home to her; she loves the place; I doubt whether she will ever be really happy anywhere else."
"Oh, she'll settle down with her husband."
"I want her to remain here. Frederick William will need a wife. Why not Caroline?"
"Caroline from little Ansbach! You cannot be serious. Our son is the Crown Prince of Prussia."
"He is our son and Caroline has been as our daughter."
"She has enjoyed all the advantages a daughter of ours would have had but she is not our daughter. And when it comes to marriage these things are important. The future King of Prussia could not marry an obscure girl from a place like Ansbach."
