Текст книги "Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill "

Автор книги: Jean Plaidy

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Maria knew of the relationship between the Prince and Lady Jersey.

Another of them! she thought. When it is over he will come back to me full of repentance. And I shall forgive him. Why does he behave in this way?

But what was the use? What could she do? Only wait for the attraction to pass as it had passed so many times before.

Lady Harcourt talked to the Queen.

The Queen felt at peace with Lady Harcourt who was one of her oldest friends. She had confided in her during the old days—the time before she had become an important figure at the Court. Lady Harcourt knew of the slights she had suffered when the King had kept her shut away from Court, and she had lived quietly at Kew, bearing children. So now if anyone could speak to the Queen of the intimate affairs of her family, that woman was Lady Harcourt.

'Well,' said Charlotte, 'what is the news of my son's latest amour?'

'It progresses, Your Majesty.'

'Mrs. Fitzherbert cannot be very pleased,' said the Queen with a smirk.

'Pleased, Your Majesty? She must be well nigh frantic/

So Frances Jersey has really replaced the woman?'

'He has not abandoned her ... yet.'

Trances should work harder,' said the Queen with a wry laugh.

Lady Harcourt was surprised. The Queen had changed so much recently that her friends scarcely recognized her. A short while ago she would have been deeply shocked by Fiances Jersey's behaviour; now it seemed to amuse her.

Trances must work harder,' she amended. 'It is long since I saw her.'

'She is a little disturbed as to what effect these rumours may have had on Your Majesty.'

'She thinks I am shocked by her conduct with my son?'

'She does think that, Your Majesty.'

'It might be exceedingly patriotic conduct. I do believe that Lady Jersey could be of great use to the country.'

Lady Harcourt was silent and the Queen went on: 'It is imperative that the Prince take a wife. I wonder the King does not insist. But he is a sick rr?.n ... a very sick man. Sometimes I fear ... But we were talking of the Prince. He must marry and I have the very bride for him. Until that ridiculous liaison with Maria Fitzherbert is broken he never will. It must be broken. You see that?'

'Yes, Your Majesty.'

'Once he has repudiated the woman ... left her ... well then everyone could be prepared for his marriage to a suitable wife.'

Lady Harcourt was silent and the Queen went on: 'You must speak to Lady Jersey,' she said. 'Tell her of my regard. Tell her that I wish her to turn the Prince's thoughts completely from that woman. Frances should be able to do it. She is a most fascinating creature. And when it is done ... and he is married to the wife of my choice ... Frances shall still hold her place. She will not lose by it.'

Lady Harcourt was astonished. That the Queen should be capable of such cynical deductions was amazing; and yet, she reasoned, for the good of the country, for the Prince's own good, he should marry. And what did the means matter as long as the end was achieved?

'I will see what can be done, Your Majesty,' she said.

The Test Case

The fates were against Maria.

While the Prince was at Carlton House brooding on his relationship with the fascinating Frances and at the same time longing for the comfort Maria alone could give, his brother Augustus, the Duke of Sussex, came to see him in a state ot great agitation.

The Prince was alarmed at the sight of his brother. Augustus had always been one of the weaker members of the family and as a child had suffered acutely from asthma, which the King had tried to cure through constant canings. Augustus had always aroused George's pity; and the camaraderie between the brothers had persisted through their lives, so that it was natural that when they were in trouble they should consult each other.

'Augustus,' cried the Prince of Wales, 'what on earth is the matter with you?'

Tm in trouble, George. Great trouble. I'm married.'

'Oh, God!' cried the Prince of Wales.

'Yes. I can't imagine what the King will say.'

'It's the Queen you have to placate now. You'd better tell me about it from the beginning.'

Augustus nodded. The Prince knew that he had been to Rome to escape the English winter. Staying there, were the

Countess of Dunmore and her family and Augusta was the eldest daughter.

'And Augusta is the lady you have married?'

Augustus nodded. 'Lady Augusta Murray. She is beautiful and witty, George.'

'Of course,' said George sympathetically.

'I asked her to marry me and at first she refused, but at last she gave in. We were married by a clergyman of the English church there ... a man named Gunn.'

'Whatever his name was is not going to help you, brother,' said the Prince sadly.

'We were married without witnesses and when we told Augusta's mother she talked about the Marriage Act and said we should keep it secret and we did ... and as Augusta was going to have a child when we came to England we were married again at St. George's in Hanover Square. George, what am I going to do?'

The Prince said: 'If I were King you would be in no difficulty whatsoever. But I'm not, Augustus; and I think there is only one thing you can do and that is go to the King and beg his leniency. After all, you're the fifth son. It's not like being myself or Fred or even William.'

'Is there nothing else I can do?'

'I cannot see what, Augustus. If I could help, I would, but you know how I am received there. I should go and see the King. Explain to him and for God's sake try to keep out of our mother's way. She's become a virago. If you try to persuade the King that he must accept this marriage, who knows, you might succeed.'

'I might explain,' said Augustus, 'that Augusta is of royal blood; she's connected with Henry VII and William of Orange. Surely that should count.'

'Of course it will, Augustus. Go and talk to our father. I am sure you will put your case to him in a way he will understand. And the best of luck. I wish I could do more. When I am king I will do something for my family ... find husbands for the girls and repeal that obnoxious Act. You sec.'

'George, if only ...'

The brothers clasped hands, and with George's good wishes

ringing in his ears. Augustus set out to face his father.

• * *

It was impossible to see the King alone and when he and the Queen heard Augustus' story they made no secret of their anger.

The King wailed to Heaven, asking what he had done to deserve such sons. George, living with Mrs. Fitzherbert, married or not he did not know—and either was equally disgraceful; William was living with a play-actress. And now Augustus had dared do this wicked thing. Even Frederick was creating scandals by not living with his wife and letting it be known that she preferred dogs and monkeys to him. But this was shocking, quite shocking. Had Augustus never heard of the Marriage Act?

Augustus had.

And did he not know that by going through a ceremony of marriage without the King's consent he was breaking the law?

Augustus did know it.

And yet he had done it! He had defied the law and his father!

Well, he would see what would happen. This marriage would be annulled.

The Queen said: 'I suppose this is the influence of the Prince of Wales.'

'George has been kind to me,' stammered Augustus. 'No one could be kinder than George.'

It was the worst thing he could have said. So the Prince of Wales was behind this, was he? He was supporting Augustus in his disobedience. It was to be expected.

'It is his example,' said the Queen. 'You are making the King ill.'

Augustus began to breathe with difficulty and the King was alarmed for his son, so the Queen peremptorily dismissed him; and when he had gone she led the King back to his apartments and said he should not be worried by such affairs and should leave them to her and his ministers.

The whole Court and the whole of the country was talking of the marriage of the Duke of Sussex and Lady Augusta Murray; but while the fate of the two was considered, that of the Prince and Maria was in everyone's mind.

The King had announced his intention of having the marriage annulled as it could not be legal since it was a breach of the law. The Court of Privileges was instructed to give a verdict and it became a test case; the Court agreed that the ceremonies which had taken place in Rome and in England were null and void. Augustus was deeply distressed; he implored the King to allow him to give up any right to the succession, but this the King refused.

Augustus was not married and his child was illegitimate.

His brothers consoled him, particularly the Prince of Wales.

'Ignore the ruling,' said the Prince. 'Set up house together. I will see that you are received wherever you wish to go and once I have ascended the throne ...'

Augstus thanked him, but he was bitterly unhappy.

Throughout the Court they discussed the case.

Then, it was said, if the Prince and Maria actually did go through a form of marriage they are not, by the law of the land, man and wife.

What could be clearer than that?

Lady Augusta belonged to one of the highest families in the land; she could trace her descent to royalty; and yet she was not acceptable because the King had not given his consent.

How much less acceptable would be Maria Fitzherbert, for her so-called husband was the Prince of Wales.

This was indeed a test case. Maria Fitzherbert would never be regarded in law as the Prince's wife.

No one was more aware of the implications than Maria herself, who saw clearly that she would never be acknowledged.

She was worried. Her position was becoming unendurable. The Prince was growing closer to Lady Jersey. She saw him rarely now, and when they did meet there was friction between

them. He, because he wished to placate his conscience, seemed eager to make a shrew of her; and she, anxious and fretful, could not control her temper.

The happy days were over. Crisis loomed ahead.

The Fateful Decision

The Prince drove his phaeton through the Park. People standing about in groups looked at him in silence. There were no cheers. How different it had become. He remembered how they used to jostle each other for a glimpse of him.

'God bless the Prince of Wales!' He had heard it so constantly that he had grown tired of it. How he would like to hear it now!

He heard a shout of 'Papist woman ...' and he urged the horses to a greater speed.

It had all changed. The people no longer loved him.

He called on Lady Jersey. When he had embraced her she regarded him with some amusement and asked him what had happened.

Happened?' he cried. 'What do you mean?'

'I can see you are disturbed. Pray tell me.'

She knelt at his feet and raised her beautiful eyes to his face in a gesture of mock supplication. How different from Maria who would have been truly concerned. But when he tried to imagine Maria in such a position he thought how ridiculous she would look. Frances was so willowy, so graceful.

'It's nothing,' he said. 'Merely that riding through the Park just now I thought the people looked hostile.'

Frances was on her feet and perching on the arm of his chair.

Maria would have soothed him. Frances said: 'Of course they are hostile! They're learning to hate Your Highness.'

She was indeed a disturbing woman—like a wasp ... no, a beautiful dragonfly whose wings are of the most exquisite colours, who flies and hovers with a fascinating grace and has a sting in the tail.

'Why in God's name?'

'Very, very simple. Because you have displeased them.'

'I ... what have I done to them? I have always smiled on them, talked to them whenever possible. I suppose it is my mother's spies who have been circulating stories about me.'

Frances smiled. She was, in a manner of speaking, one of those spies, for Lady Harcourt had conveyed to her the Queen's wishes. How clever of her to be the friend of the Queen and the inamorata of the Prince of Wales ... all at the same time.

'You have provided the material for those spies to work on, my dear one.'

'I, Frances? By God, you go too far.'

'That is why you love me,' she told him. 'I go that little farther ... in all things. Is it not so?'

'Frances, you are a devil.'

'So much more interesting than the angels, do you not agree?'

'Oh, stop this. What can I do? Do you know at one time they only had to see my face to set them cheering.'

'I know, I know. But then you had not accumulated a mountain of debts ... or they didn't know of it.'

'I had. I have always accumulated debts. It's due to the miserable allowance I'm given.'

'The first time they're lenient. Prince Charming ... dear extravagant Prince Charming! But even Princes can bore with repetition.'

But she was not eager to talk of his debts because she was an avaricious woman and she believed that the Prince should pay handsomely for the services she gave him.

So she said: 'You are growing old.

'I am nine years younger than you are.'

'Which is why you lack my experience. But my age is of no

importance. I am rrot the Prince of Wales. When you were young...' She smirked. 'When you were younger, your exploits amused the people. Now they are no longer amused by thoiC frivolities which arc so charming in the very young. You could win back your popularity tomorrow if you wished.'

*How?'

'By marrying and presenting them with a little prince who in his turn would be their adored Prince of Wales.'

'Marrying, but...'

She laughed at him slyly. 'I know. You're thinking of that absurd affair with the fat lady.'

'Frances, please do not...'

'But you asked that I should. Shall 1 go on or cannot >ou bear to hear the truth?'

'There is no point in going on. I could not marry the fat German frau they would choose for me.'

'Why object because she is German?'

He was not going to discuss Maria in these terms even with Frances. Maria had grown ... plump, but she was still beautiful. There would never be anyone like Maria ... and he wanted to tell Frances this.

While he sought for words Frances went on: 'Face the truth. You're unpopular and you wish to be popular. Kings cannot be ?/u popular too long. You have an example of what can happen to Kings across the Channel. There is one reason why the people of this country are beginning to hate you. I'm going to risk displeasing Your Highness by telling you in two words: Maria Fitzherbei t.'

The Prince was silent. He wanted to protest, but he was saying to himself: It's true. But Maria had been faithful to him. Maria regarded herself as his wife.

Frances went on reading his thoughts in that diabolically clever way of hers: 'Why do you think she clings to you? Why do you think she meekly suffers your infidelities, eh? Why does she receive you back with open arms after all your little adventures? Shall I tell you? But of course you know that it is in the hope of the rank which will one day be hers. Princess of Wales? Queen of England! Well, at least a Duchess. She could expect that, couldn't she?'

*1 think you are wrong about Maria.'

She looked at him pityingly. 'Fall in with the King's wishes. Marry. Give the country an heir. What harm will that do to the friendship of your disinterested friends.'

He was silent and she took his hand and looked at him mockingly.

4 I would be there,' she said, 'to comfort you.'

On his way back to Carlton House the crowds seemed more sullen than ever.

They really hate me, he thought. They had given their devotion to the King now—the poor old King who had won their sympathy by going mad for a while and then regaining his sanity. Not that he was likely to cling to that for long. The people were fickle. He was well aware of that and they had grown tired of him and his debts and the wild tricks of his friends for which they often unfairly blamed him; but they were most weary of all of his marriage with Maria.

If he announced his betrothal to a German Princess these people would shout for him as they now shouted for the King.

And if he did not they would grow to hate him. He went to his drawing room in Carlton House and gazed unseeingly at the Chinese yellow silk on the walls. He thought of money. Debts, mounting debts. Why could he never keep within his allowance? The position was growing desperate. Something would have to be done.

So Maria tolerated him for the sake of the rank she would one day haye? How many times had he told her what he would do for her when he was King ... or Regent? All this time he had thought she cared for him. But of course she cared for him. Maria was not a seeker after that sort of advantage. She had been happiest when they had been poor ... well, when he had sold his horses and shut Carlton House and they had attempted to economize 1 And yet ... her temper was almost unendurable these days. She suppressed her feelings for weeks and then gave vent to a violent outburst. She did not mince her words then.

Oh, Maria! He wanted to go to her now. He wanted to plain to her: You see, my Dear Love, I have to marry. It is my duty. The people expect it. They are sullen now because I don't marry. Frederick will never have children. He doesn't live with that woman of his—and I don't blame him. William is chortling with glee because he is the third son and can enjoy married bliss with Mrs. Jordan without the benefit of clergy. Even young Augustus has his matrimonial difficulties. It is my duty. I am the eldest. I must marry, Maria. I must give the country the heir it needs. Then my debts will be settled and if they are not, they will be putting me into a debtors' prison.

The Prince of Wales in a debtors' prison. The idea was absurd. His father and the Parliament would never allow that.

Yet if he did not fall into line, if he did not do his duty ...

A prince ... a future king ... is in the hands of his people...

He thought of that king across the water who had fallen into the hands of his people and the stories he had heard of that Terror haunted him.

You see, Maria. You see, it has to be.

If he went along and explained to Maria. But it was one subject which could never be explained to Maria. She saw it only through her own eyes; she could see no other point of view. Her religion insisted.

Maria, it is selfish of you. You must see my point of view too. You may have your religion, but I have my duty to the State.

It was no use talking to Maria. She would lose her temper. He would not discuss his affairs with her. He would act first and she would accept what he did as a fait accompli.

He was meeting her that evening at the house of the Duke of Clarence at Bushey.

He had almost made up his mind how he must act.

Maria was waiting for her carriage to take her to Bushey. Miss Pigot sat with her, watching her anxiously.

Dear Maria, thought Miss Pigot, how sad she was because of the Prince's behaviour! This Lady Jersey was a wicked woman and no one was going to convince Miss Pigot that she was not.

'All will be well, Maria,' she said wistfully.

Maria laughed without pleasure. 'My dear Pig, it's the old pattern which I have learned to know so well. He becomes enamoured of some woman; he makes a public scandal with her; and then when it is over he comes back full of repentance. It will never happen again ... until the next time.'

'He always comes back,' said Miss Pigot.

'To find me patiently waiting.'

'He trusts you, Maria. He relies on you.'

'He relies on me to respect my vows although he breaks his constantly.'

'He is young. He is a prince. Perhaps in time he will settle down. Give him time, Maria. It will all come well in the end.'

'You're a romantic optimist, Piggy. And here's the carriage.'

'Perhaps he will come back with you tonight.'

'I doubt it, Pig. The moment has not yet come.'

'And you will be gentle with him.'

Maria's face flamed in sudden anger. 'You ask too much. I shall be cool, I hope. I shall try to show him that he has no power to hurt me.'

Ah, sighed Miss Pigot to herself. If only that were true.

William, Duke of Clarence, received her with the deference he would show to the Princess of Wales. All the Prince's brothers were her friends; and even though there was a coldness between Frederick and the Prince of Wales—because of Frederick's wife's treatment of her—that had not prevented Frederick's remaining her very good friend.

The company was awaiting the arrival of the Prince of Wales, none more eagerly than Maria. She was always excited at that moment when he entered a room—so graceful, and in spite of the fact that he was putting on weight alarmingly, so elegant. A prince—every inch of him, she thought with pride.

Oh, this affair will be over like the others and then the reconciliation.

But they must stop. They impair his dignity no less than mine. I shall be firm. I shall tell him that they must stop and that this is the last time I will tolerate his infidelities. If he

does not remain my faithful husband I shall leave him. I shall go abroad again. Where? To France? Oh, not that pitiable country! To Switzerland, perhaps.

Where was the Prince? William was puzzled. He had promised to come most definitely.

Something must have happened to detain him. And here was a messenger with letters. One for William and one for Maria. So he has remembered to send a message to his wife, thought Maria with satisfaction.

She opened hers. The words in that familiar handwriting would not make sense. Such words were impossible. They could not be true, for they told her that he would never enter her house again.

She smiled faintly. They must not guess ... not yet, though of course they would soon know.

So ... she was dismissed. She was treated as a mistress of whom he had tired. His vows were to be discarded.

It wasn't true. It was a phase inspired by that wicked Jersey woman.

William was looking at her in some consternation. She smiled.

'So the Prince is unable to attend,' she said. 'Shall we go into dinner?' replied the Duke.

Sensing calamity, Miss Pigot was waiting for her when she returned.

'Maria ... Maria ... my dearest Maria what has happened?'

'It is the end. He is never coming here again.'

'It can't be true.'

'He has given me my ... dismissal.'

'No, no. I can't believe it.'

'Read this, then.'

Miss Pigot read it; then she threw herself on to a couch and covered her face with her hands.

'Be calm, Pig,' said Maria. 'We should have seen this coming.'

'That woman ...'

'Is no ordinary woman.'

'He'll come back. There have been quarrels before.'

'Too many quarrels.'

'Oh, Maria, Maria ... What shall you do?'

'I have to think. I have to think very clearly.'

Quickly, thought the Prince. Before I change my mind. I dare not pause to think. I dare not look back now.

He went to see the King and naturally the Queen was present.

'I have made up my mind to marry,' he said.

The King smiled. 'That is good ... sound good sense, eh, what? The people will be pleased. We shouldn't delay.'

'Fortunately,' said the Queen, 'there is a charming Princess available—talented, beautiful and a Protestant. I refer to my niece, Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.'

Her niece! thought the Prince. Never. One woman from Mecklenburg-Strelitz is enough!

'You are very fortunate indeed,' said the King. 'You have a choice. My niece or the Queen's. Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, daughter of the Queen's brother, or Caroline of Brunswick, daughter of my sister. And once your promise has been given officially to accept one of these ladies there will be no hesitation in the settlement of those debts.'

A choice, thought the Prince. And one German frau was as good as another.

The Queen was looking eager. Oh, how much she wanted him to take her niece I No, Madam, you should have behaved differently if you had wanted concessions from me. Certainly I'll not take your niece. It will have to be this other. Caroline of Brunswick. He was beginning to hate her already!

The King was patting him on the shoulder. Everything was going to be all right now. The Prince had come to his senses.

All sow wild oats when we're young, thought the King. No longer a boy. People will be pleased. Debts paid, settle down, produce an heir. Rather late but better late than never. All that talk of marriage with that woman ... good woman, but of course no marriage ... all that over and done with.

'Good, good, eh, what?' said the King. 'Mustn't lose any

The Fateful Decision gyg

time. Go ahead now ... Summon Pitt ... Country will be pleased.'

# # •

The Prince sought comfort with Frances. He had been wise, she told him. So had she. The Queen was delighted with her. She would be very well received at Court; and her position as Prince's mistress would be unimpaired by the marriage. Madame Caroline would have to accept Lady Jersey.

He would see the change in the attitude of the people when his betrothal was announced, she assured him. And soon he would be married, for they would lose no time in bringing Caroline over.

The Queen was furious because he had not chosen her niece so that gave him some satisfaction. But all the time he was thinking of Maria. He rehearsed what he would say to her.

'It had to be. The people expected it. A Prince of Wales must constantly consider the people. You understand, Maria. You must understand.' That note about not entering her house again. Of course he hadn't meant it. She should have known he hadn't meant it. She was his true wife. He would never forget it. This was just a State affair. She must understand. He could never be completely happy unless she did.

Maria heard the news. The Prince of Wales was to marry Caroline of Brunswick.

She did not rage against him; she was very calm, but this frightened Miss Pigot more than her rage would have done. She was broken-hearted, poor Maria, because whatever she said of him, however much she quarrelled with him, she loved him.

And he had told her publicly as clearly as he could that he did not consider her his wife.

'I should have known, Piggy/ she said. 'It was clear, wasn't it, when Fox denied the marriage in the House of Commons? He accepted that then. He never meant to acknowledge me. Oh, Piggy, I have been so foolish ... so fond and foolish.'

'It will be all right, Maria. He'll come back. He will come back. I know it.'

'I shan't be here. We're going away. We're going at once.'

'But where?'

'What does it matter? It only matters that we are gone ... should he come back. But he won't, Pig. He will never enter this house again. He has said it.'

'He will,' said Miss Pigot firmly. 'He will.'

The Prince came to the house in Pall Mall. The furniture was covered with dust sheets; the blinds drawn.

'Mrs. Fitzherbert has left, Your Highness.'

'Where has she gone? Where? Where?'

'She left no information, sir/

So she had gone, deserted him, and he was left alone to face this situation.

How could she have treated him so. Tears filled his eyes. Maria ... his wife.

He went back to Carlton House. They were showing him portraits of a pretty girl, the German Princess who was to be his wife.

I have never been so wretched in my life, he said. No one could comfort him. Lady Jersey? He was only fascinated by her. Maria should have known that. It was the comfort Maria alone could give him that he wanted. Why couldn't she understand?

But he was a prince, and a Prince of Wales, and he had given his word to marry.

Soon his bride would be here and he must do his duty.

In Switzerland Maria heard that the Princess Caroline of Brunswick was coming to England to be married to the Prince of Wales.

'This is the end, Piggy/ she said. 'This is the final repudiation/

But Miss Pigot shook her head. 'That is not true,' she said. 'It is not the end. Something tells me it is not. I know in my heart that whatever happens he will always come back to you/

Maria shook her head and, smiling, tried to hide her un-happiness, trying foolishly—for how could she hide her feelings from the faithful Pig?—to pretend she did not care.

But in her heart she believed it, too. She was his wife. The bond between them would never be severed while they lived.

It was not the end. He would come back to her.