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

She must not forget that and must in fact begin working for the good of her husband—and therefore her own.

Yes, it was an excellent idea that George Augustus should go to England, to represent the House of Hanover at this important time.

George Lewis set his jaw firmly and faced his chief minister Bernstorff who had worked for him ever since, as chief minister to the Duke of Celle, he had conspired against his master for the sake of Hanover—at considerable profit, it was true. But he was too shrewd a minister to lose sight of. and on the death of the Duke of Celle, when Bernstorff could no longer work for Hanover at Celle, George Lewis had welcomed him to work for him openly.

"My son wants to go to England," he said. "And the English appear to be eager to have him there."

"Only the Whig faction, Your Highness. The Queen would not welcome him."

"He's not going, in any case."

"No, Your Highness?"

"Come, Bernstorff. You know my son. What will he be at do you think? Poisoning them against me before I get there ... if I ever do. Certainly George Augustus shall not go."

"You are right as usual. Highness. He could do us a great deal of harm."

"Picture him, making himself pleasant. They might not see through him until it was too late. Go and tell him he can stop

thinking about such a journey. We do not want him to represent Hanover."

*'Your Highness would consider making the journey?"

"I do not consider it. I wish to stay in Hanover. My mother has a picture of England which she has had as long as I knew her. Some Valhalla, I fancy. I don't share her view. I've no wish to go to their island. They can keep it."

"Three Crowns, Your Highness. William of Orange thought they were worth making a bid for."

"He had a small kingdom.'*

Bernstorff spread his hands.

George Lewis grunted. His minister was right, of course, if the crowns of England, Scotland and Ireland came to Hanover, the power of the Guelphs would be greatly increased from a little German state to a great country.

George Lewis was not a deeply ambitious man. He did not want to be disturbed; he was happy enough in Hanover which he, following his father's rule, had strengthened and made rich; he governed judicially; here he lived with his own people; he did not like what he had seen of the English who came to Hanover, nor did they—and they made this quite clear—like him.

For some strange reason they accepted George Augustus, the little popinjay, the arrogant, quick-tempered, self-opinionated little man—which in case showed they hadn't much sense.

Was he going to allow George Augustus to go to England to ingratiate himself further? And to take with him that wife of his. She was a clever one, a sly one. George Lewis was not at all sure of her. She had ten times the brain of George Augustus and shrewdly she was with him in all he did.

No, George Augustus was not going to England.

George Augustus kicked a stool across the room.

"I am not to go to England. He forbids it. I am a grown man, am I not? I have proved myself on the battlefield. And I think I have given proof of my manhood. But ... I am not to go to England. Papa forbids it."

"He is jealous of your popularity," said Caroline quietly.

George Augustus stood still smiling. What a pleasant construction to put on this irritating matter I His father refused him not because he feared he might be incompetent but because he was jealous of him!

"That," continued Caroline, "is the reason why he will not allow you to go to England."

"He is such a crude boor. He will never be liked in England."

George Augustus was studying his reflection in the mirror seeing himself arriving in England, the crowds cheering. What a handsome man! Have you heard how he distinguished himself on the battle field? A favourite of the ladies ... but at the same time a good liusband. His wife adores him, but of course, he being such a man, there are his mistresses. His wife forgives him? With such a man, such natural frailties are forgiven.

He could hear their cheers ringing in his ears. They had always liked him; and he had liked them. But his father wouldn't let him go.

George Lewis, the Elector, was jealous of his son. It was almost worth not going to England to know that. And Caroline had seen it.

He smiled at her. She was a good wife.

He went to her and taking her arm made her sit down beside him. He always felt happier sitting, when his lack of inches did not show.

"Well," he said, "I shall not go to England then. And that pleases you?"

"It pleases me to have you here in Hanover, yet I am sure it would have been good for you to go to England. When we get there ... if we ever do ... the strife between you and your father will continue. I want us to make sure that the English are on your side ... not on your father's."

He kissed her. She was a clever woman, as women went. He was fortunate to have such a wife ... and such a pleasant mistress as Henrietta Howard. Two women who adored him so much that they never made trouble. Henrietta was demure in the presence of Caroline, never betraying by a hint that she enjoyed the special favours of her husband; as for Caroline she continued to treat Henrietta as a friend; she knew of course of

the intimacy between him and Henrietta; but she accepted a mistress as necessary to a man of his virility.

He was certain in that moment that he loved Caroline very much.

There was acute conflict between the Elector and his son; Sophia held conferences with George Augustus and Caroline in her apartments; the Elector was angry, chiefly with Caroline. He had always respected his mother and despised his son; but Caroline's turning against him angered him. He respected her mentality; he would have welcomed her as an ally; that she supported her husband he did not regard as a natural action but a foolish one.

The tension was rising. News came from England that Queen Anne was on the point of dying.

"It cannot be long now," said Sophia to Caroline.

They had settled in at Herrenhausen for the summer and Sophia was always happier there than anywhere else. She walked every day in the gardens, but she liked to have a companion with her and this was almost always Caroline.

The conversation was mainly about England; in fact Sophia showed her impatience if any other subject was mentioned. Caroline often attempted to turn the conversation because she was afraid that the excitement this matter of the throne of England roused in Sophia was not good for her. There were times when the old lady looked her age—she was eighty-four— and that was something she had never done before. She would grow breathless in her indignation and often Caroline had to urge her to sit down.

This irritated Sophia who on one occasion demanded to know whether Caroline thought she, not Anne, was on the point of death.

Anne, growing more and more feeble each day, grew also more and more aggravating. News came that she was continually praying for her half-brother, that she was favouring the Jacobites, even that she had written a document, which was to be produced after her death, to the effect that James was to inherit.

"George Augustus must go to England," said Sophia. "Oh, Caroline, he must. He must let them see that he will be a good Protestant. He should leave without delay. George Lewis is mad to prevent him. He is letting his jealousy overrule his common sense."

Caroline agreed that George Augustus must go and as they were discussing how they could bring George Lewis to his senses the courier arrived with letters from England.