The Prince and the Quakeress - Plaidy Jean (книги полностью бесплатно TXT) 📗

‘And George—how was he affected by all this?’

‘Very deeply. He is in a state of great melancholy and while I am pleased that he has seen the girl for what she is I am disturbed because it shows how deeply his affection for her goes.’

‘He is a very affectionate young man, I fear. He was really quite cut up over...’

Lord Bute placed his hands playfully over the Princess’s lips. ‘Don’t let us even mention her name.’

‘I often think...’

Lord Bute kissed the lips his finger had touched.

‘Then you must not, my dearest. And our problem at this moment is the Lady Sarah Lennox. Tell me this: What news from abroad?’

‘Colonel Graeme left as you suggested and is now at Mecklenburg-Strelitz. I have not yet had his report on the Princess Charlotte but I am sure when it comes we shall be pleased with it.’

‘That is good. Trust a Scotsman to get on with the job. Let us hope that his report will be good, for we have to act very promptly.’

‘But what he saw in the Park...’

‘Our King is in love. I am sure if my lady Sarah gave him a good account of what she was doing there he would be ready to believe all she told him. We must be prepared.’

Augusta nodded.

‘Colonel Graeme is well aware of the urgency of the situation.’

• • •

Sarah could not believe her eyes. She read the letter several times. It was impossible. The Earl and Countess of Ancram could not give their consent to their son’s marriage with the Lady Sarah Lennox.

It was an insult. And worse still, her lover’s attitude to the affair was despicable.

‘In view of my parents’ views we must perforce end this matter. It is with the deepest regret...’

‘Regret!’ cried Sarah. ‘What a coward he is! Why did I ever think I loved such a man?’

She threw herself on to her bed and wept bitterly. She was weeping—on and off—all through the morning and her sister,

Lady Caroline, came to her room to see what was wrong with her.

‘Good Heavens,’ cried Caroline. ‘What a sight you look! And you have to attend the Kings levee this afternoon.

‘I shall not go.’

‘Don’t be a fool,’ retorted Caroline. Of course you will go. The King expects you.’

‘I don’t want to see the King. I don’t want to see anyone.’

Lady Caroline summoned the maids and told them that the Lady Sarah was suffering from a cold. She must attend a levee this afternoon and Lady Caroline suggested that her face should be bathed and pads of witch hazel put over her eyes. She was to lie flat on her back for an hour in this state, by the end of which time she should look more like herself. Lady Caroline would choose what gown she was to wear.

‘And you will stop being foolish this instant,’ she hissed.

Lady Sarah lay on her bed and thought about Newbattle’s letter and his so-called love for her which had been forgotten at the first sign of opposition. George was different, she told herself. But she did not want George.

I don’t want either of them! she murmured. And if I don’t want them, I won’t have them.

She was sullen when it was time to dress for the levee; but Lady Caroline declared that she was passable. She was, in fact, so pretty that nothing seemed to hide that prettiness. So the party set out.

George was watching for her eagerly when she arrived and he was debating with himself whether or not he would speak to her. He told himself that Lady Susan had probably forgotten to say anything to Sarah and that was why she had gone to meet Newbattle. She surely would not have gone if she knew what he had said.

Yes, he told himself, that is it. She was waiting for some declaration and despairing of ever getting it she went to meet Newbattle in the Park. After all, her brother was with her. There was nothing wrong...just a little immodest perhaps. But then Sarah was so young she would not realize that.

Once he had heard that she did not know what he had said to Susan he would say it to her himself, and what joy it would be to watch her pleasure!

He went to her.

‘Have you seen your friend Lady Susan lately?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’

That bewildered him. But then she had seen the girl, who had not told her. That was it.

‘Has she told you what I said to her?’

‘Yes.’

He was astonished. Then why was she looking so miserable? This was something he had not considered.

‘Did she tell you all?’

‘Yes, all.’

‘And...do you approve?’

Sarah turned her head away. How could she say to the King: I don’t want you. I’m in love with Lord Newbattle who has decided to forget all about me because his parents tell him to.

George was astounded and mortified. There was nothing he could do but walk away.

• • •

Her family were furious. What had she done? She had ruined her chances.

‘I don’t care. I don’t care. I am tired of them...both.’

‘Oh, so this is pique on account of Newbattle, is it?’

‘What if it is?’

‘Oh, Sarah, you fool, you fool. You have thrown away the greatest chance that ever came to a woman.’

‘And a good thing, too.’

‘Everyone could see that the King was most hurt. I doubt he will ever want to speak to you again.’

‘Then I’m glad.’

‘You silly creature.’

‘If I don’t want to stay here to see...Lord Newbattle. I want to go away for a while.’

‘It’s a pity you didn’t leave with Susan and stay in Ilchester for a while.’

‘Yes, a great pity. I wish I had.’

‘Well, I think it would be a good idea if you left town for a while. Go to Goodwood and stay there until you are in a better mood. Don’t stay too long, for if you do the King may have forgotten you.’

The next day Lady Sarah left for Goodwood.

• • •

On the road to Goodwood, Sarah’s carriage was overtaken by another and when she saw who was in it she cried out in delight, for it was Lord Newbattle.

He left his carriage and came into ben

‘So you are off to Goodwood,’ he said.

‘How did you know, and it is no affair of yours.’

‘I learn everything about you and it is my affair. I always make it my business to find out where you are.’

‘Have you Papa’s permission to do so?’

‘You didn’t think that letter was important, did you?’

‘What else should I think of it?’

‘I wrote it because they stood over me and expected me to. I didn’t mean it, of course.’

‘You didn’t mean it!’

‘Of course not. What a simpleton you are, Sarah. Of course I didn’t. We’ll be married, and when the deed is done we’ll tell them and they’ll have to accept it. That’s the way it’s done. You ask your sister and Mr. Fox.’

Sarah was laughing.

‘Still,’ she pouted. ‘You should not have written such a letter. I cried over it, and then I was very sullen with the King.’

‘Serves him right,’ said Newbattle. ‘That’s what I like to hear. I shall be a constant visitor to Goodwood.’

He left her, and the carriages, one behind the other, rattled on to Goodwood—which was only two days’ ride from London.

Sarah was looking forward to a very pleasant time. She had made up her mind. Lord Newbattle was the man she really loved. It must be so because he only had to appear to make her happy; besides it was because she was so angry with Lord Newbattle that she had snubbed the King.

• • •

When the Foxes and Richmonds heard that Newbattle was visiting Sarah at Goodwood they were incensed and they decided that she should not stay there. Lord Ilchester suggested that she should go to his estate at Bruton in Somerset and as his daughter Susan was already there, Sarah agreed.

When she told him she was going, Newbattle was annoyed.

‘That is too far for me to come and see you. You must refuse to go.’

‘Too far. So I am not worth such a journey?’

Newbattle yawned. Lady Sarah was certainly capricious and it had been quite enough to ride out to Goodwood. He was certainly not going all the way to Somerset to see her. There were many other young ladies who found him fascinating; and although Sarah was the prettiest of them—and admired by the King—he was inclined to think she took him for granted. In fact, although Sarah was attractive he wished her to realize that he was equally so, and he was certainly not going to Somerset to see her.