Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean (электронную книгу бесплатно без регистрации TXT) 📗

'*The Princess Caroline of Ansbach is to marry the Prince, Your Highness. She has accepted him and the negotiations have now been completed."

The Electress did not know which was the greater—fury at being kept out of a plan which she herself had suggested, or joy that what she so desired had come about. Being the sensible woman she was she quickly suppressed the former and indulged in the latter.

She composed her features.

**I am delighted," she said. "Pray tell my son that if I had been consulted I should have suggested that the best possible bride for my grandson would be the Princess Caroline of Ansbach."

Hanover was in a state of excitement preparing for the wedding. It was no longer a secret. In his apartments the bridegroom was strutting before his mirror, commanding his servants to help him dress in the clothes which were being made for his wedding. He tried on his wigs and wanted them built up in the front to give him height. For the first time he was the most important person in the Court, the focus of all attention; and he was delighted with himself. Even his father treated him with a new respect. George Augustus was a happy bridegroom.

In the kitchens there was great activity; banquets to surpass all banquets must be prepared to celebrate the wedding; comedians and actors were commanded to concoct plays and entertainments to enliven the celebrations. Even the Elector, usually inclined to be parsimonious, had implied that a little extravagance was warranted on such a happy occasion. It was a unique occasion. For the first time most people remembered the Elector was pleased with his son.

Sophia Dorothea was as excited as her brother.

"Marriage is in the air," she declared. *'I shall be next. And I'll tell you something, George Augustus, the Crown Prince of Prussia is asking for me."

"You think his father will allow that. He's furious about my marriage. He wanted Caroline for himself, some say." George Augustus stood on tiptoe and studied himself in the mirror. "The King of Spain wanted her; the King of Prussia wanted her; but she wanted me."

"Well, you're the last one to be surprised at that! " retorted Sophia Dorothea. "And it's no use anyone's saying I'm not to have Frederick William because I've decided that I am ... and so has he."

"He told you this?"

"He said he would make life unbearable for ever^'one until consent was given to our marriage."

"There's a bold lover for you! "

"The only sort of lover I would have." Sophia Dorothea was serious suddenly. "George Augustus, I wonder what our mother feels about this."

"Feels? What should she feel?"

"Can't you put yourself in her place. Her son, her first born, is about to be married and she is shut away and not allowed to join in and be happy with the rest of us."

George Augustus was silent; his mouth turned down angrily. "I hate our father for what he did to our mother."

"You hate him for a lot of other things besides," Sophia Dorothea reminded him. "Grandfather Celle is on his way, did you know? He is coming to congratulate you and say how happy he is. But I don't think he's very happy. I don't think he was happy from the day he allowed our father to marry our mother. We're lucky to choose our partners ... or more or less choose them. Fancy being presented with our father and told you had to marry him! No wonder our mother was unhappy; no wonder it made Grandmother Celle turn away from Grandfather Celle and never love him again in quite the same way."

George Augustus was thinking of his childhood. He remembered his mother more clearly than Sophia Dorothea. He could still recall the fear when she had disappeared; and how he had once tried to rescue her.

"I shall always hate our father/* he said. "Even though he didn't try to force me into marriage I'll always hate him."

Sophia Dorothea nodded. ^'Marriage!" she said. "They all dance and make merry and congratulate. But is it a matter of congratulation?"

"Mine will be."

"Of course. George Augustus and Caroline are going to live in harmony for ever after."

"Why shouldn't they?"

"Because no one ever does. All you can hope for is a compromise like Grandmother Hanover had. She was Queen of the household because she never interfered with Grandfather Hanover's mistresses."

"Caroline will never interfere with mine."

"Oh, won't she? I shall not allow my husband to have any."

"You think any husband would allow that?"

"Mine will."

"You have strange ideas of marriage."

"Perhaps Caroline shares them."

"Caroline!" George Augustus smiled dreamily into the future. "She is very beautiful, sister. And she is docile. She is quiet when I wish to speak; she is a little sad; and she will be grateful to me for ever because I married her."

"Yours is certain to be a happy marriage," said Sophia Dorothea scornfully. "Grandmother Celle has gone to Ahlden. She will not come here because she hates our Father. She has never forgiven him for what he did to our mother. I saw Fraiilein von Knesebeck once. She loved our mother and suffered with her and she told me. She said that she never saw a pair of lovers like Grandmother Celle and Grandfather Celle. He lived for her until our mother married our father and then they quarrelled, because Grandmother was against the match and he for it, and when the tragedy happened she blamed him and never loved him again. All her love was for our mother. Isn't that sad, George Augustus? Doesn't it make you hesitate when you think about marriage?"

"My marriage will be different. We shall not quarrel. Caroline will understand me,"

"Frederick William does not understand mc ... but it will

be fun learning about him ... and for him to learn about me. I don't think I ask as much from marriage as you do. You want a wife who is a sort of exalted slave, to give way to all your whims, to look up to you as a god. Oh, George Augustus, you have to grow up."

"Listen to who's talking! I believe you're comparing me with our father."

"I wouldn't compare anyone with him. Do you know our mother wanted to write to you. She wanted to say how happy she is that you are going to be married and she wanted to wish you joy. But Father wouldn't let her."

"He is a monster. I shall always hate him. I shall always be kind to Caroline."

"So good of you." Sophia Dorothea laughed lightly. "Let us hope that she will be as good to you as you are to her."

George Augustus narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Wait and see. Wait till hve years ... ten years Just wait

and see."

With that she decided she had had enough talk of marriage. She was tired of looking at George Augustus strutting in his new clothes. She would go and see about lier own.

About eight weeks after Baron von Eltz had made the Electoral Prince's proposal, Caroline, with her brother, set out for Hanover.

Caroline was a little nervous. She had made a complete break with the old life and was now ready for the new. She had determined that her marriage would be a success and that she would fmd a tolerable life at Hanover—though not to be compared with that which she had known at Liitzenburg, for what could compare with the companionship of Sophia Charlotte?

As they left the hills of Ansbach behind them and their coach carried them towards the northern plains Caroline was thinking of the letters George Augustus had written her when he knew that she had consented to become his wife.