Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean. Страница 80

The Prince had never despaired of winning Mary Bellen-den, and sought every opportunity of making her aware of his intentions, although she continually evaded him, sometimes pretending that she did not understand what he meant.

Because he liked to share confidences he told Henrietta about his feelings. In fact Henrietta could not have been ignorant of them, as no one else at court was; but it did not occur to him to think it strange that he should confide his desire to make a woman his mistress to one who already was.

He was the Prince and above reproach; moreover being as virile as he would have everyone believe him to be, it was not to be suspected that he could be satisfied with one mistress and one wife.

**This girl vants to be chased," he told Henrietta. "She is enjoying this courtship, but it goes on too long. Vat can I do?"

The meek Henrietta said that he might tell her of his intentions outright.

"She never gives me the chance. She laughs too much. Then she vill pretend she cannot understand vat I say ... like that rascal Newcastle. Then she talks so fast that I cannot understand her. She is von naughty girl ... though very pretty. I

think, Henrietta, that she is the prettiest girl in my tear wife's household."

"Either Mary or Molly Lcpel is according to the poets," admitted Henrietta.

"Oh boets. Don't talk to me of boets. The Princess thinks so highly of them she believes all they say. Mary is prettier than Molly and I have long had this fancy for her. Invite her to your rooms tonight, Henrietta, and I vill speak to her."

Henrietta, always docile agreed to do so. For one thing she knew very well that Mary would not accept the Prince, and for another she knew that if she did, it would make no difference to her own position. For all his talk of being English the Prince was completely German—certainly in his attitude to women. He would be like his father who had been faithful to Ermen-garda Schulcmburg for more than twenty years, no matter how many mistresses he had in addition.

So Henrietta told Mary Bellenden that she was expected to attend her apartment that night on orders of the Prince.

Mary looked glum when she received the command.

"I can't come," she declared.

"The Prince's orders."

"You must say I'm ill."

"If you say that there'll be another time. You can't be ill forever."

"What am I to do?"

"Tell him the truth."

Mary turned away; but even she dared not disobey the Prince's command and at nine o'clock that evening she went along to Henrietta's apartment. Precisely at nine—not a second before and not one after, for the Prince prided himself on his respect for time—George Augustus arrived at Henrietta's apartment, beaming with pleasure at the joyful anticipation of Mary's surrender.

He found the girl there with Henrietta who, on the pleas of Mary, remained as chaperon.

Strangely enough George Augustus did not seem to object to her presence and sat down immediately next to Mary and drew a table towards him.

"You are von very pretty friiulein," he told her.

"Your Highness is gracious/' Mary replied uneasily.

"I vould be very gracious ... if you are von sensible girl."

*7 think I am sensible, Your Highness," replied Mary who could never resist a certain pertness.

"Ven vat are ve vaiting for?*'

"Your Highness wished a game of cards perhaps? Mrs. Howard will doubtless summon others to join us."

"Not that game," said the Prince. "Our game shall be a game for two."

"I don't know that game. Your Highness, so you must excuse me."

She had half risen but he put out a hand to detain her.

"Von moment. You are a pretty girl. You spend much money, eh? On pretty clothes perhaps ... on powder and patches, on ribbons and laces?"

"Alas, how Your Highness understands! "

"You vill find me most understanding. Vill she not, Henrietta?"

"I am sure if she is truthful to Your Highness she will find you most... accommodating."

"There, so you see."

He took out his purse and upset the contents on to the table. The guineas rolled over the surface and some fell on to the floor.

"Vot beautiful golden guineas! They vill buy much."

"I am sure they will," said Mary. She was flushing hotly for so many times he had shown her money. It would have been ludicrous if it had not been insulting, and suddenly, Mary, impulsive by nature, lost her temper and swept all the guineas on to the floor.

The Prince stared at her in dismay. "Vy you do that?"

"Because Your Highness I do not want your money. It makes no difference to me how many guineas you have in your purse. If you show me them again I ... I shall run away. I don't want to see them."

"You don't vant guineas?"

"No, Your Highness."

"But they buy such pretty things."

"They can't buy me."

Mary had stood up, her eyes blazing; the Prince had risen too; Henrietta was looking on in dismay. Had Mary gone mad? Didn't she know that one didn't speak to the Prince of Wales like that?

Henrietta spoke softly: "I'm sure Mrs. Bellenden is overwrought."

There was a short silence. Then Mary recovered herself and looked alarmed by what she had done; and seeing her thus the Prince knew how he could act. Henrietta's tact had saved his dignity.

Henrietta went on: "I think if Mrs. Bellenden told Your Highness what is in her mind ... you might understand how disturbed she is and forgive her."

The Prince turned to Mary who was looking down at the guineas.

"Veil," he said. "Let us sit down and you shall tell me vot is wrong."

Mary sat down. "I am in love," she blurted out. "I am going to be married."

"Who is this?" demanded the Prince.

"I would rather not say."

"She fears Your Highness's displeasure," suggested Henrietta.

"I am displeased," said the Prince looking like a boy deprived of a treat to which he has long looked forward.

"But Your Highness is gracious and will understand how it is with these young people."

"You may tell me," he said to Mary.

"I am in love Your Highness and for me there can be no other than the man I am going to marry."

"What is his name?"

"I cannot tell Your Highness."

The Prince looked at Henrietta.

"They have hoped to marry for a long time," she said, "perhaps before Mrs. Bellenden knew of Your Highness's interest she had already promised to be faithful and to marry." She lifted her shoulders.

"I do not like it," said the Prince.

"Mrs. Bellenden will wish to ask Your Highness's pardon."

**I ask Your Highness pardon," said Mary as though repeating a lesson.

"So you vill marry this man?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"And that vill make you happy?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"You must not marry without telling me. You understand that I vill vish to know."

Mary stood silent and Henrietta said: "His Highness will give you leave to go now, I daresay."

"Yes go," said the Prince.

When Mary had gone he sat down heavily and stared disconsolately at the table.

Henrietta silently picked up the guineas and put them into the purse.

"Vy did she not tell me before?" he cried suddenly banging his fist on the table.