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

But the King had ignored the pleas of the Princess of Wales, and James Shepherd was taken to Tyburn and the rope was placed about his neck.

Even the staunchest Hanoverians said as they watched that young body hanging there: "He is young to die."

The King was aware of the murmurs against him. It was not often that he cared about public opinion. It had always been his comment that if the English didn't want him here he would willingly go back to Hanover.

But he was angry that even out of such an incident as an attempt on his life and the—to him—perfectly just punishment of such an act, the Princess should squeeze a little popularity.

She was kind, they were saying now. She was humane. She had pleaded with the King to spare the life of the young man who had attempted to kill him. Of course she did I Doubtless she thought the fellow some sort of hero.

And the people admired her for it.

He was in this mood of resentment when Henry Howard, the husband of the Prince's mistress, who was one of the grooms of his bedchamber, caught his eyes and he summoned him to him.

**Is it not a rule," he said, "that the wives of men in my service should leave that of the Prince and Princess of Wales if they happen to be with them?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And what of your wife?"

"She has refused. Your Majesty."

The King knew of this and he had not insisted at the time because he had thought it would plague Caroline, and do George Augustus no good in the eyes of the people, to keep his mistress.

But the affair seemed to be accepted and Caroline no doubt saw that it was conducted with decorum.

The King nodded. He saw the chance of making trouble with a little scandal.

"It is your duty to insist that your wife leaves Leicester House and comes to you here."

Henry Howard bowed and said he would obey the King's orders.

When Henrietta received a letter from her husband demanding that she return to him and leave the household of the Prince and Princess of Wales, she did not take the matter seriously. She knew that Henry was drinking heavily, that he did not want her and was in fact glad to be rid of her; so she ignored the letter and forgot about it. But a few nights later there was a disturbance at the gates of Leicester House. Next morning everyone was talking about it and when Henrietta went into the apartment where the maids-of-honour were noisily discussing it, there was a silence.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Did you hear the noise last night?" asked Molly Lepel.

"Yes. What was it?"

"A ... a man ... the worse for drink. The doorman turned him away but he was shouting for a long time."

Mary Bellenden said gravely: "It was your husband, Mrs. Howard. He was asking for you. He said he wanted to take you away with him."

Henrietta turned pale and said: "There is some mistake."

No one answered; and Henrietta went to Caroline's apartment to tell her what she had heard.

Caroline listened gravely. "Do you think he really vants you to return to him, Henrietta?"

*'No." Henrietta was shivering with apprehension and Caroline had never seen her so before.

"You're frightened, Henrietta."

"I could not live with him, Madam. He is a drunkard. He's a brute. He ill treated me before. I have never been so happy as I am here with you ... and the Prince."

And the Prince! thought Caroline. How much does he mean to her? Can she really care for him? Surely not! She wanted peace and comfort; she did not seek power or great riches, but this life suited her and she was in terror of losing it.

"It is strange that he should come here. There must be some meaning behind it."

Caroline did not say that she suspected the King, for poor Henrietta was in such a state of anxiety to which this could only add.

"Don't fret," said Caroline ."I shall not let you go. If I send this brute avay ... avay he must go. Do not fret, Henrietta. Here shall you stay."

Henrietta was comforted; but she was uneasy. So was Caroline. Could the man force his wife to live with him? And if he took this matter to court and if the court decided that a husband had rights over his wife, must Henrietta go? And then would George Augustus be seeking a new mistress ... or mistresses? Young girls of the bedchamber who lacked the tact of Henrietta, who might have to be taught that familiarity with the Prince did not mean that liberties could be taken with the Princess?

A few days later Caroline received a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Marriage was a sacrament, he pointed out. The Princess would do well to bear this in mind. She must bear in mind the privileges of a husband and the duty a wife owed to him. She must therefore command a certain woman of her household to return to her husband and remember that although she was a Princess she had a duty to God.

Caroline read the letter thoughtfully.

Why had the Archbishop written to her? Would Henry Howard have gone to him and drunkenly suggested that he should do so?

Of course not. She saw the hand of the King in this.

Slowly she tore up the Archbishop's letter.

Caroline was resting. It had been a heavy dinner and she followed the Hanoverian custom of retiring afterwards. In his apartments George Augustus would be sleeping heavily; and afterwards he would come to her apartments and tliey would take a walk together.

She was thinking of Henrietta and what steps the King might take to force her to send the woman away. What an implacable enemy he was, and how he hated them! Not content with striking the worst blow any man could give any woman by taking her children from her, he must think of these little pinpricks to torment her.

She heard a scuffle at her door and rising from her bed she threw a robe about her.

*'I will see her," cried a voice. "I insist. You can't keep me away."

The door was flung open and a man with bloodshot eyes, his coat bedraggled, his wig awry, burst into the room.

"Who ..." began the Princess.

"I'm Henry Howard," he cried. "And I've come for my wife."

"How dare you. Go away at once. You vill hear more of this."

"And so will you. Madam, if you hide my wife. Where is she? In the Prince's bed? I tell you I'll have her out of that. I'll have her where she belongs."

"This is very unseemly," said Caroline, and wondered how she remained so cool; for she had heard Henrietta say that her husband was half mad and when he had been drinking entirely so. Certainly he had been drinking now.

"Do not think that I shan't have my wife. If I have to pull her out of your coach, I'll get her."

He stood before her, hands on his hips, his bloodshot eyes leering. The window was behind them and for one moment Caroline thought that he was going to pick her up and throw her out of it.

She was aware of the open door and one of the footmen standing there, mouth agape. She managed to move swiftly from the window and as she stood with her back to the footman facing the window, she felt safer.

Her moment of complete panic had passed.

"I assure you no one vould dare take any servant of mine from my coach."

He was aware of the footman and the open door for he lost a little of his truculence. Caroline was quick to seize the advantage.

"Your wife shall certainly not be forced to go vith you. It is a matter she herself vill decide. If she vishes to go vith you that is her affair."

"Madam, I warn you I shall take my case to the King."