Виктория Холт - Caroline the Queen

‘It may well be so.’

Bourguait said no more; but as soon as he left the Queen he despatched a messenger to St James’s with the news that the Prince of Wales was planning to visit Berlin, his intention being not to wait for his father’s consent to his marriage.

* * *

George came hurrying into Caroline’s apartments, his wig askew, his eyes bulging.

‘Something is disturbing Your Majesty,’ said the Queen, rising from the table where she sat reading some of the state documents which she made a habit of perusing each day.

‘Dismiss these people. Vat a fool you are! Can’t you see that I vish to talk to you.’

That was the manner in which he addressed her since the appearance of that unfortunate verse—and always in the presence of others.

Caroline flushed slightly but showed no resentment at his rudeness; she merely nodded to her attendants who quickly retired.

As soon as they had gone the King sat down and testily waved a paper.

Caroline came to him, took it, and read it.

She caught her breath in dismay. How could Frederick be so disobedient. The idea of taking matters into his own hands, and trying to arrange his own marriage. He must be mad.

‘Vell?’ growled George.

He was looking at her almost appealingly. She must say what must be best done and then he would tell her that he had made up his mind what action to take.

‘That he could dare!’ she whispered.

‘My Got, ve shall trouble have vith this young man.’

‘Perhaps Your Majesty vill decide there is only von thing you can do now.’

He nodded, waiting.

‘They are saying he should come here. Perhaps you vill think there is no alternative but to bring him to England now, since it is clearly not safe for him to be out of Your Majesty’s control.’

‘To bring him here!’ the King said dismally.

‘Perhaps I am wrong ...’ said Caroline hastily.

‘Do ye vant him here? He vill von big trouble be.’ The King’s English always suffered when he grew agitated, and he was agitated now.

‘He vill be trouble there ... more trouble perhaps than here. Here he vill have to obey Your Majesty.’

They looked at each other dolefully.

‘I hav my mind made up,’ said the King. ‘I vill him teach to make a marriage vithout my consent.’

‘I am sure you are right,’ said the Queen. She smiled. ‘As you alvays are.’

He leaned towards her and patted her shoulder. It was only when others were present that he remembered he was displeased with her.

* * *

Lamotte had returned to Hanover and Frederick was delighted with what he heard.

‘Tell me about Wilhelmina,’ he insisted.

‘She is a handsome girl, very tall and good looking.’ ‘And meek? Is she meek?’

‘Her father has seen to that.’

‘That is good. I always wanted a meek wife. And is she delighted that she is soon to have a husband?’

‘She is not a girl to betray her feelings. The Queen is overjoyed. The King is not displeased. There will be no difficulty. They will now be preparing a great welcome for you.’

‘I wish I could see my parents’ faces when they receive the news. They’ll be furious. They’ll regret leaving me alone all this time in Hanover. They’ll see too that I don’t need them. I shall take Wilhelmina to England ... without delay. What do you think of that, Lamotte ‘

‘I am not sure what kind of reception you would have.’

‘They would have to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales.’

‘Perhaps, Your Highness. But the King is of greater importance than a Prince and I remember how your grandfather treated your father when he was Prince of Wales.’

‘It seems to be a habit in this family to quarrel. But I was on the side of my grandfather in that dispute, you know.’

‘That was because you never saw your parents and heard only his side, perhaps.’

‘I didn’t dislike Grandfather. He was always good to me. I wonder how I shall feel about my father and mother. I wonder if my mother wants to see me. By all accounts she is the one who rules, so had she wanted me presumably I should have been recalled.’

‘I think you should act very carefully, Your Highness.’

‘I intend to. But I am determined to leave within the next few days for Berlin. I think I shall give a farewell ball to all my friends in Hanover ... all those who cannot accompany me to Berlin. Don’t you think that’s an excellent idea?’

Lamotte agreed that it was.

* * *

Frederick chose Herrenhausen—that favourite of palaces—largely because it was more intimate than the Alte Palais or the Leine Schloss.

The great hall was ablaze with the lights of thousands of candles and all the nobility of Hanover were present. Frederick presided, in high spirits. It was a long time since he had been so pleased with himself.

He led the dance with his favourite mistress and comforted her, telling her that once he was in England he would send for her. She must not grieve because he would have a wife. Wives were necessities but mistresses were for pleasure.

She understood, remembering stories she had heard of Frederick’s grandfather who had been faithful to his two old mistresses until the end and had shut his wife away keeping her a prisoner for thirty years.

Frederick was gayer than any remembered his being before. He was merry with his male friends and assured them that he would send for them too.

During the evening when visitors arrived at Herrenhausen, the Prince was surprised that they should come at such a time, but he declared that on this occasion all were welcome.

The visitors proved to be from England and they were led by a man who announced himself as Colonel Lorne.

‘I must speak privately to Your Highness without delay,’ he said; and the Prince took him into a small chamber close to the ballroom.

‘You have letters for me?’ he asked.

‘From Your Highness’s father. I have them here. I have orders from His Majesty to return to England tomorrow and it is my duty to tell Your Highness that you must accompany me.’

‘Accompany you ... to England.’

‘On the orders of His Majesty your father.’

‘But . . . I am going to Berlin.’

Colonel Lorne coughed deprecatingly. ‘I am sorry to have to inform Your Highness that His Majesty’s orders are that you leave Hanover with me tomorrow, for England.’

* * *

Sophia Dorothea spent a great deal of time at the topmost tower of the palace watching the road for visitors. He would come with a small party of friends and followers. She had given orders that he must be entertained royally, and even the King had not objected.

He might pretend that it was because he wished to be rid of his daughter, but he was pleased at the prospect of this marriage. If Wilhelmina married the Prince of Wales and became Queen of England and he no longer had to feed and clothe her he would be delighted.

Sophia Dorothea laughed. The first half of the plan satisfactorily completed. Then she would busy herself with the second.

Soon she would be welcoming the Princess Amelia to Prussia and when Fritz had a wife he would be happier—and his father would not dare flog a married man.

She had thought Frederick would come before this. She had heard such stories of his eagerness.

And then one day she saw the rider. A solitary rider. That was strange. But of course he would come to announce the arrival of his master.

She would tell them they would not have to wait much longer. In the kitchens they could start preparing for the wedding feast—for wedding feast there would be in spite of the King’s objections.

Yes, the rider was in the Hanoverian livery.

She went down to greet him. She wanted to be the first to receive the announcement of the Prince’s arrival.

She took the letter he gave her. She read it. She would not believe it. She could not take it in. Not at this stage. It would be too heartbreaking.

But there were the words staring at her: The Prince of Wales had left Hanover for England on the orders of his father. He would not be coming to Berlin.

So ... there would be no marriage.

* * *

The King of Prussia stormed through the Palace. Now it seemed the one thing he had wanted was the marriage of his daughter to the Prince of Wales and it had failed.

He summoned his son and daughter with his wife to his presence.

‘You fools!’ he shouted. ‘You have ruined this between you! By God, I’ll kill the lot of you.’

He had a whip with him and he began flogging his son and daughter.

The Queen shrieked at him to stop; but he shouted back at her to take care he did not use the whip on her. Sick with rage and disappointment she fell fainting to the ground and her women carried her to her bed where she lay in a state of collapse.

The King contented himself with beating his son and daughter in such a manner that they too had to be carried to their beds and their wounds attended to by the Court physician.

He then shut himself in his room and swore at everyone who approached him; the Queen lay sick with disappointment; the Crown Prince stoically thought of the time when his father would be dead and he would be King Frederick of Prussia; and Wilhelmina thought: At least I’m still unmarried.

Meanwhile Frederick Prince of Wales was on his way to England.

IT was about seven o’clock in the evening of a dark December day when Frederick arrived by hackney coach like any private visitor at the Palace of St James’s.