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

England she knew that she differed in this one way from Sophia Charlotte. The pomps and ceremonies of royalty would mean a great deal to her.

Therefore what was a little discretion now to win such glory?

So she appeared to be contented with her nursery, to look up to her husband, and take it as a wifely duty to accept his infidelities.

The End of a Life and the Beginning of a Reign

Sophia was growing anxious. She had noticed lately that the arrivals from England had decreased in the last months and this was a bad sign. Fewer people were leaving the sinking ship—and there was no doubt that Anne was sinking ... fast. She could not live much longer; and she was growing more and more sentimental about her half-brother, talking of him continually, remembering the wrong she had helped her sister Mary and her brother-in-law William do to her father. Her great love was the Church—the English reformed Church— and this was the hope of Hanover. Yet news was brought that James had declared he would maintain the church of England. What if the dying woman, to expiate her conscience, believed this? Would the people prefer to keep the Stuarts than to bring in the Guelphs of Hanover?

Sophia could not rest. She pondered the matter night and day, talked of nothing else, and Caroline was her chief confidant. The more Caroline learned of England, the more she

longed to be there. She had grown to accept Sophia's valuation and was as certain as she was that Hanover was like a little country town compared with a great kingdom. She and Sophia had fought to bring a little culture to Hanover but what uphill work it was! She had an idea from the visitors from that country, how different it would be in England. Marlborough had been dismissed from all his offices and he and his Duchess were in exile now. They were waiting, it was said, for the Queen to die; but there had been unpleasant rumours about Marlborough, always a clever man where his own interests were concerned, except when he married Sarah—the one occasion when he was prompted by his heart and not his head. And look where that had led him! If Sarah had not quarrelled with the Queen—and how easy it should have been not to—^he would have been in his old place now. But Marlborough, it was said, was in secret correspondence with James, ready to jump with whichever side was going to be victorious. One should be wary of such men.

The Treaty of Utrecht had been signed and received with joy in England by the people who were heartily sick of war; but the fact that there was peace meant that the ties between Hanover and England were slackened.

There were rumours that Bolingbroke and Ormonde were rising in favour—and both these men were suspected of supporting the Jacobites—while Oxford was falling into disfavour; he had offended Lady Masham; he had appeared drunk before the Queen; and it was said that he would soon be obliged to relinquish his office. Anne was ready to be advised and the nearer to death she came, the more ready was she to sway towards the return of her brother.

It was intolerable. Sophia saw the dream of a lifetime remaining a dream. For once James was proclaimed James III of England, she would never be the Queen. George Lewis was not sufficiently attracted by the crown of England to fight for it. Oaf that he was, he had no desire for a better way of life. He was satisfied with Hanover.

She was becoming ill with anxiety; she slept little; she could concentrate on nothing but the English succession. She would walk in the gardens of Herrenhausen with Caroline and Leib-

niz—the two in whom more than any others she could confide her true feelings—and discuss the possibility of Anne's secretly sending for her half-brother and leaving the crown to him. All he would have to do was promise to maintain the Church of England—and how easy it was to give such promises!

"You'll be ill if you go on in this way," said Caroline.

"My dear, you do not seem to understand what this means. If James becomes King of England, we shall never be anything but Electors of Hanover. You will never be Queen of England. Don't you understand?"

"I do understand, of course."

"And that it could so easily happen? '

"That's true. But you can do no good by making yourself ill."

"George Lewis will do nothing. He has not even bothered to learn English—though he speaks French well enough. How could a man be so perverse! And this is my son. What help is he? If his father were alive how different it would be! But he isn't. And I have to think for us all ... while I have no power to act."

"So in the circumstances Your Highness should not disturb yourself so."

"My dear Caroline, you astonish me. The English throne is about to be lost. What can we do? I cannot remain here ... just waiting."

"There are evidently intrigues at the Court of England," said Caroline. "If you were there ..."

"If I were there!" echoed Sophia. "Of course. My dear, I knew you would have a wise suggestion to make. Of course I must be there."

"Your health ... ?"

"Nonsense. What I need to make me well and strong is the crown of England. I have told you often that I should die happy only if the words Queen of England Scotland and Ireland were engiaved on my tomb."

"I pray you do not talk of dying," said Caroline with a shiver.

Sophia laughed. "Die. Why should I? You are right. I must go to England."

"The Queen has been against a visit from Hanover for so long/' Leibniz pointed out.

"That's true, but everything is different now. She must understand that I should be there.*'

"She has a superstitious fear that to see any member of the house of Hanover in England would be an indication that she could not live long. It is hardly likely that she will feel differently now when even she must know that death is close."

"I must go to England," said Sophia.

And watching her Caroline was surprised that the old woman, who had always behaved with shrewd and calculating calmness, could over this one thing for which she cared more than anything else on earth, so betray her eagerness and become vulnerable.

She hoped that, however urgently she desired something, she would never betray it as Sophia was doing now.

Caroline was summoned to the Electress's apartments, where she found the old woman in bed.

"A slight indisposition," said Sophia.

"The tension and excitement have caused it," added Caroline. "You could not think of making a journey to England in your condition."

"Perhaps you are right. I have left it too long. I should have been there by now. Sometimes I think that I should not go to England except as its Queen."

Caroline nodded.

"But that does not mean that Hanover should not be represented there. I should like to speak to you about that. You know whom I have in mind. George Augustus speaks English ... tolerably. He is popular with them, and he has always shown his approval of all things English. I have been thinking that he should go to England."

"Yes," said Caroline slowly. "I am sure you are right."

"George Lewis could not go ... nor does he want to. It would be the end of our hopes once they set eyes on his sullen face. Besides he doesn't speak a word of their language. Can you

imagine that a man could be such a fool! He may be King of a country and doesn't bother to learn the language! No, George Augustus should go. Do you agree with me?"

"I do," said Caroline, her eyes shining. Let George Augustus go to England. Let him ingratiate himself with the English. Then when Queen Anne died ... if Sophia became Queen and eventually George Lewis was King, it would be the Prince of Wales who would enjoy the popularity of his new country— not the King. Caroline was uncertain that they would ever get to England, but if they did, there would without a doubt be a feud between George Lewis and his son.