Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean - Страница 51

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The next morning they began their progress to London and when they reached the capital the crowds lined the streets to see them. The Prince and Princess of Wales sitting side by side, hand in hand, smiling happily, and the little girls jumping up and down laughing with delight was a sight to please everyone.

The journey to St. James's was a triumph.

• « •

Caroline was a success. Her majestic appearance combined with affability, her friendliness which went side by side with a royal manner, the fact that there was no Queen and she was the first lady in the land, the knowledge that the King had separated her from her son, all this made the English warm towards her. She spoke English—which the King could not, nor did he make any attempt to, a fact which displeased the English—and although she had a German accent which in itself was not pleasing, she peppered her speech with French and German words and had a quaint manner of expression which amused and therefore charmed.

Whenever she was present she was the centre of attraction. The King's friends noticed it. Madam Kielmansegge pointed it out to him. George wished he could have left the shc-dcvil in Hanover with her son, but that would have been too much; the people would never have sanctioned his separating a husband and wife. He was sickened to see that young popinjay of a son of his strutting about, making himself popular, ogling the women; if he wanted a woman why not get on with it. That was not the way of George Augustus; he must always call attention to the fact that he was a sensual man—which, it was clear to his father, he was not, at least no more than any normal man. He loathed his son because he despised him; but he was beginning to realize that however much he deplored the presence of Caroline he could never despise her.

That woman has to be watched, King George repeatedly told himself.

A week after Caroline arrived in England the Coronation took place. There had been scarcely time to prepare herself for this important event. She was a little piqued that she was not to play a major part in it and would not walk in the procession. Had there been a Queen of England she would have been there; here was yet another reminder of the fate of women who fell foul of their husbands. What, she wondered, was the captive of Ahlden thinking on this day? Would she know that her husband was being crowned King of England? Would she be thinking of how she might have walked by his side and as Queen of England shared in his coronation? On such an occasion what would be the thoughts of a Queen who was not a queen, a queen without a crown?

There was too much with which to occupy herself to spend time in hypothetical brooding on another woman's tragedy. She was too clever to make the mistakes of Sophia Dorothea; and George Augustus was not as ruthless as his father. Yet could he be if his vanity were hurt? She shrugged aside such thoughts. I shall take care ... the utmost care that I keep my place and when the day comes for me to walk beside my husband and receive the crown, I shall be there.

She sat before her mirror while her attendants bustled round her. She had had to select them rather hastily but as she had been importuned during the years at Hanover when so many seemed impatiently to be awaiting the death of Anne, the selections had not been quite so speedily completed as might appear.

Henrietta Howard had accompanied her and remained in attendance in spite of her relationship with George Augustus. She had little to complain of about that woman who always behaved with the utmost discretion and treated her with deference. As she had learned from the old Electress, it was wiser not to interfere with a husband's mistresses and if at the same time one could keep them under observation, so much the better.

Henrietta was at the moment trying to conceal her suspicions of Charlotte Clayton who had joined her as lady-in-waiting to Caroline. There was something about Charlotte which had immediately attracted Caroline and at the same

time antagonized Henrietta. Caroline had taken Charlotte into her household because the Duchess of Marlborough had suggested she should, and Caroline, having met Charlotte, saw no reason why she should not be as useful as the forceful Duchess declared she would be.

Charlotte had come determined to please the Princess and place herself at the head of her women; and while she was wise enough to know she must never mention in her mistress's presence that she deplored being obliged to employ the Prince's mistress, when Caroline was not present she made her disapproval of Henrietta clear.

Caroline looking into her mirror, smiled from one to the other.

"That will be all," she said in her own quaint version of the English tongue. "After all I shall the ceremony only be watching." She lightly touched a curl which hung over her shoulder. It was a simple hairstyle but very becoming, and as the low cut of her dress showed the beginning of her magnificent bust, the effect was pleasing.

"All eyes will be on Your Highness," said Henrietta. "And Your Highness need have no fear that you will not please," replied Charlotte. "The crowd in the Mall when you walked there with His Highness the Prince yesterday was remarkable."

"They vant most to see the King's son."

"But it was his Highness's wife who attracted all the attention," said Charlotte.

"You should not to His Highness tell this." Caroline spoke lightly, but it was a warning to Henrietta.

"The women are always eager to see a Princess's gowns and headdress," replied Henrietta with her usual tact.

Yes, thought Caroline, it's to be hoped she retains her hold on him, for no one could be less of a menace than she is. Her husband, who was a useless sort of fellow had become a gentleman usher to the King, a post George Augustus had been able to secure for him as a sop for his complaisant attitude towards his wife's relationship with the Prince of Wales. It was a matter which had been discreetly settled and was conducted with the utmost decorum.

Not many women would have behaved so modestly as Henrietta Howard. She, Caroline, must protect her, if need be, from Charlotte, who was so eager to serve her mistress that she might be over zealous.

"I look forward that I shall make the many pleasant promenades," said Caroline. "That vill be very goot."

**I heard it said that Your Highness will set the fashion for sauntering which King Charles II made so popular."

"It is goot, this promenade," said Caroline.

She turned her head for in another part of the room putting away the jewellery she had decided not to wear two of her young maids-of-honour were whispering together in the belief that she could not hear them.

They stopped immediately at her gesture and she smiled faintly. They were charming, Mary Bellenden and Molly Lepel, two of the prettiest creatures she had ever seen. In fact, if she had been asked to decide which was the more beautiful she could not have said.

Charlotte made a mental note to warn the girls that they must show more decorum if they wished to remain in the service of the Princess. The chief culprit she was sure would be Mary Bellenden for that girl had the most irrespressible spirits she had ever encountered. She was delighted no doubt to discover that she was one of the beauties of the court—and the attention she received was enough to turn anyone's head. As for Molly Lepel, she was lovely too, and it must be a matter of taste which of the two were preferred.

Charlotte went to the girls and told them that as soon as they had finished putting the jewellery away they had leave to retire. Henrietta watched Charlotte, restraining her slight annoyance. Did Charlotte think she might give orders in the Princess's apartment?

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