Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill - Plaidy Jean (книги онлайн полные версии .TXT) 📗

'Fred, do you think our mother asked Lennox to challenge you?'

'It could be so.'

'The woman's nothing less than a monster. I shall see the King about this.'

'There's no need. The matter is over, except that the Queen will know that at least her sons are not afraid to face her friends in duels.'

'The wicked creature! Leave this to me.'

Frederick sat back in his chair, laughing at his brother's concern for his safety. The affection between them was as strong as it had been all through their lives.

The Prince called at Kew and demanded to see his father, but although he was respectfully conducted into the King's apartments it was the Queen he found there.

'Madam,' said the Prince, 'I wish to speak to the King.' 'His Majesty is not well enough to receive visitors.'

'Then his son should be with him.'

'Not if his wife decides the meeting might upset His Majesty.'

'Madam, have done with this overbearing attitude. I have come to tell you that you are responsible for what has happened at Wimbledon this morning.'

'What ... has happened?'

'Your son, the Duke of York, fought a duel with your favourite Colonel Lennox. Madam, are you a mother or a monster? What pleasure do you find in sending your sons ... to death.'

The Queen turned pale, and the Prince went on: 'I demand to see His Majesty.'

'Frederick is...' The woman was shaken, thought the Prince. She is really frightened now. Let her be.

'What I have to say I will say to His Majesty.'

'I did not ask Colonel Lennox to fight a duel. I...'

'Madam, the blame for what has happened lies at your door. You have slandered your sons and the Duke of York has fought a duel with one of Your Majesty's servants who has been most active in spreading lies about us. I hope you are satisfied and I intend to give a full account of the matter to the King ... and to make sure that he is aware of the part you have played in

it:

The Queen was truly frightened. She thought of Frederick, the rash young adventurer, who was capable of any foolish act. He was her son, and her only complaint about him was that he had placed himself on the side of his brother. If he were dead... Oh God, she thought, I will in a way be responsible for his death. But he is not dead. George would not be so calm if he were. He is enjoying this. He could not be if Frederick were dead. Selfish and careless as he is, at least he loves his brother.

The Prince saw his advantage and pushing the Queen aside went through to the King's bedchamber.

The King was resting, but he started up when he saw the Prince and cried: 'What's this, eh, what?'

'Your Majesty, I have come to tell you that the Duke of York, unable to endure any longer the ridiculous and wicked slanders which have been circulated about myself and himself

lias today faced, with pistols, Colonel Lennox—a creature of the Queen's—to demand satisfaction.'

The King gasped. 'What? What's this? Frederick ... in a duel. He can't. Royal Dukes can't ... But he has, eh? what? Frederick? Oh, my son ...'

The Queen had hurried to the king's side and was trying to soothe him and the Prince said quickly: 'It is all right, Father. He is unharmed. Lennox's bullet grazed his ear and that's an end of the matter. The Duke did not fire. He just wished Lennox to know that he would accept his challenge and that was that. He had no wish to take life ... only to defend his honour.'

But the King was staring wildly before him.

'Frederick,' he said. 'My son Frederick ... the Hope of the House. Frederick ... my son. He's dead. Oh, yes, he's dead ... I know it. You're deceiving me. You've come to break the news gradually, eh, what?'

The Prince said: 'He is alive and well, sir. He is outside in my carriage. I guessed you would wish to see him to make sure that he had suffered no harm. I had no wish to upset Your Majesty, only to bring home the point to some people that these wicked slanders are dangerous and must stop.'

'So he is dead,' said the King, 4 eh, what? So you have come to tell me my son Frederick is dead.'

The Prince immediately sent an attendant down to the carriage to tell the Duke of York to come at once to the King's apartment.

When Frederick came the King embraced him with tears in his eyes.

'I'm here, Father,' cried Frederick. 'Alive and well. But I had to accept Lennox's challenge. You wouldn't have a coward for a son, would you?'

'Never thought you were that, son. The Hope of the House I always said. The best of the bunch ... Wish you'd been the eldest, eh? what?'

'I'd never have cut such a fine figure as George,' said the Duke, grinning at his brother. 'Now Your Majesty is satisfied, eh? But there shouldn't be this trouble in the family. I'm sure Your Majesty agrees.'

The King continued to embrace his son and the Prince watched his mother through narrowed eyes.

She was discomfited. This was a bad business. But the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York need not think that she was going to be ousted from her position because they happened to have scored this time.

The occasion of the King's birthday ball was coming nearer. The news of the duel was common knowledge and everyone had been particularly interested in the Queen's attitude towards Colonel Lennox who might so easily have killed her son. It was astonishing, but she had received him warmly, even affectionately, and he had not been reproached for challenging a royal duke to a duel.

The Prince of Wales who must, of course, appear at such a function did not believe that the Queen would allow the Colonel to attend the ball; and on receiving the information that the man would most certainly be there, he arrived at the ball at seven o'clock, although it was not due to start until eight, and demanded to see the Queen.

She was dressing, he was told, and was unable to receive him.

By God, he thought, am I the Prince of Wales or am I not? He pushed aside her attendants and strode into her dressing room.

She sat at her mirror and her cold gaze met his through the looking glass.

'So ... it is the Prince of Wales/

'Madam,' he said, 'when I wish to speak to you I will do so. The King is still an invalid.'

'Thanks to the anxiety caused by his sons.'

'Perhaps his wife is not entirely blameless.'

'What do you mean?' the Queen demanded shrilly; and the Prince thought that this was another change in her character. In the old days she used to be calm; now she lost her temper easily. Madam is no longer in control of her feelings, he thought.

'That is a question, Madam, that you best can answer. I have

not come here to discuss it, but to tell you that Colonel Lennox should not be allowed to come to the King's birthday ball.'

The Queen shrugged her shoulders. 'It is too late now to cancel invitations.'

'So you mean that you have asked this man to the King's ball?'

'Colonel Lennox is a member of the household.'

'Colonel Lennox is the would-be murderer of your son.'

'Prince of Wales, you are too dramatic'

'I should have thought a mother might have shown some concern at the prospect of her son's murder.'

'I know full well that Frederick provoked the Colonel. I have investigated the matter and have learned that it was the Duke's own fault. He showed more eagerness to fight Colonel Lennox than the Colonel did to fight him.'

'Madam, I have not come to argue with you but to tell you that Colonel Lennox must not come to the ball/

'I could not cancel the Colonel's invitation until I have consulted the King.'

'I know full well who decides such matters nowadays.'

The Queen was exultant. Yes, it was she who decided now; she, who was in the old days had never been allowed to give an opinion. How that had changed!