Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean. Страница 34

I shall have to concern myself with my own problems. Ugh I Settling ourselves into new homes, is a delicate business. I suppose all wise princesses should remember my mother. Perhaps if she had her chance over again she would behave differently. Who wouldn't? I daresay like me you would accept a great deal rather than be a prisoner in a lonely castle for years and years?"

There was no doubt about it. Sophia Dorothea was warning her sister-in-law.

Caroline looked startled. Coming towards her was the Elector; his expression was cold, his mouth grim. Behind him walked tw^o of the ugliest women Caroline had ever seen. They were like grotesque creatures from some fantastic play, one being so tall and thin, the other short and fat. And with them was the young and beautiful Countess von Platen.

The Elector stood before her.

**I present to you Madam von Schulemburg, Madam Kiel-mansegge and the Countess von Platen "

Caroline hesitated. She could say that she had not invited them. And if she did?

She looked into the cold cruel face of the Elector, and saw the determination there.

The Electress Sophia who was beside her spoke suddenly: "Now is your opportunity to meet these ladies. I know it has for some time been your desire to do so.'*

Warnings all about her. From the Electress, from her sister-in-law, from the sad prisoner of Ahlden, this band of women who knew what could happen to one of them if they did not accept the right of men to use them, to insult them, to humiliate them.

But there are other ways, thought Caroline as graciously she extended her hand to the tall woman with the raddled skin who came forward.

"It gives me pleasure to see you here," she said coldly.

But the Elector was satisfied. The first hint of rebellion had been quashed.

The English were beginning to arrive at Hanover in large numbers. The passing of the act of Succession naming the Elec-tress Sophia as the heir to the throne should Queen Anne fail to produce a child had sent many, whose popularity at home was not great, scurrying to Hanover to ingratiate themselves with the Queen's possible successor.

The Electress Sophia seemed to have become younger. She was an old woman, older tlian Queen Anne, but the latter had been sickly for years and Sophia did not believe she could outlive her now. If this were so she would have the infinite pleasure of visiting a country which she considered the greatest in the world, and going as its Queen.

Such a prospect was rejuvenating in the extreme. She received the visitors from England with great honour and she entertained them as lavishly as she could and did her utmost to make George Lewis do the same.

Her son however was not so enamoured of the English project as she was. There was no place on earth to compare with Hanover as far as he was concerned and he preferred Germans to English.

What would they think of him? Sophia asked herself. They would take home reports of this crude boor, and the English would ask themselves whether they were wise to pass over the Catholic Stuart for the sake of such a man, Protestant though he was—for Sophia had to face the fact that she was an old woman and there could not be many more years left to her and when she died who was left to be King of England other than George Lewis?

Among those who came to Hanover was the famous Duke of Marlborough. George Lewis received him with pleasure, for although the Duke was a charming handsome man with impeccable manners and some gallantry, the greatest interest to them both was soldiering; and they could discuss the war and future campaigns together to their mutual benefit and pleasure. Each year a Hanoverian army left for Flanders; and often George Lewis w^as with it. Marlborough had had a great respect for him ever since when quite a young man George Lewis had distinguished himself in the field.

George Augustus longed for military glory. He had repeat-

edly begged his father to allow him to go to the wars but always he had been met with a refusal.

But the sight of Marlborough there in all his military glory and everyone talking about his successes and repeating the legend that he was unbeatable in the field, that the enemy knew it and lost heart before the battle had begun, George Augustus's desire for equal fame was more than he could endure.

He went to his father and cried out: "Why ... why can't I be a soldier?"

George Lewis turned away in disgust. "Get a son," he said. "Then you shall go."

Get a son. He had been married for some months and there was no sign.

He went to Caroline and told her that they must get a son because he wanted to go to war and his father would never allow him to until their son was born.

"I hope," he said crossly, "that you are not going to be one of those women who can't get children."

She was serene outwardly but inwardly the anxious qualms were troubling her.

It was an unfair world where an intelligent woman must accept the supremacy and domination of her intellectual inferior simply because he was a man and she a woman.

There was always the Empress Sophia to offer her comfort. They walked in the gardens of Herrenhausen together among the statues, clumsy German replicas of French artistry, beside the water works which were faithful copies of those at Marley and Versailles.

"You were wise to receive my son's women," she told Caroline.

"I confess I almost refused."

"It would have been a great mistake to have done so. My son would never have forgiven you and he is a vindictive man."

"Yes, I know that."

Sophia shook her head. "When I go to England, you and George Augustus will come with me. George Lewis will have to

also. We shall have a better life there, a more cultured life. I can assure you the Court of St. James's will be a little different from this of Hanover."

"But if the Elector is the Prince of Wales he will doubtless introduce something of Hanover into England."

Sophia shivered. "I shall prevent that for I shall be the Queen."

Caroline had never before seen her so enraptured. She was a different person from the sober serene woman she had known, and it was clear that she could think of little else but the prospect of going to England.

"George Augustus is eager to be a soldier."

"He will in time."

"Not until we have a son."

Sophia turned her gaze on Caroline. "You are anxious about that? You must not be. It is early days yet."

"George Augustus seems to think I am a little tardy in giving him his heart's desire."

"Poor George Augustus!" sighed Sophia. "I am sorry my grandson is such a fool. But you my dear have intelligence enough for both. You must make good use of it. You did right about my son's women. Don't try to figlu what can't be fought. And don't worry about not becoming pregnant; it's the worst thing in the world. You are far less likely to conceive if you worry about it. I am sure you will soon be telling me you are pregnant and the joy bells will be ringing in Hanover. I shall be delighted to hear them ... unless I should be in England by then."

Oh yes, her thoughts were far away in England.

"I want to see Sophia Dorothea settled before I leave. I do hope there will be no delay. It will be pleasant to think of her with my dearest Sophia Charlotte's son. I'm sure she would have been delighted. It was a dream of hers that you should come here, Caroline."

But, thought Caroline, not that I should have to subject myself to the whims of a mentally retarded boy.

"Now I want you to come with me and talk to Mr. Howe, the English Envoy. He will tell us about England. It's a pity your English is not better my dear. You have such a Ger-