Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill - Plaidy Jean. Страница 37

Why must Charles plague him? It was not like Charles. His friendship had always been amusing as well as instructive; they had had such gay and pleasant times together; and in this, the most important event of his life, Charles was against him.

If Charles was going to preach against the marriage, then he

must not be in the secret. He must not know what was taking place. In fact very few people were going to be in the secret, the fewer the better. He would not, of course, show Fox's letter to Maria. He would show it to no one. He must try to placate Fox, allay his suspicions, and at the same time go ahead with the arrangements for his marriage to Maria. But Charles was too shrewd to be put off with anything but a denial. He sat down and wrote:

'H.R.H. The Prince of Wales to the Right Hon. Mr.

Charles James Fox, M.P.

'My dear Charles, Your letter of last night afforded me more satisfaction than I can find words to express; as it is an additional proof to me (which I assure you I do not want) of your having that true regard and affection for me which it is not only the wish but the ambition of my life to merit. Make yourself easy, my dear friend. Believe me, the world will soon be convinced that there never was any ground for these reports which of late have been so malevolently circulated ...'

He paused. And that, he admitted, was a deliberate lie. But what can I do? he asked himself. How can I admit to Charles that I am determined to go through a ceremony of marriage with Maria because it is the only thing that will satisfy her. Maria will believe in our marriage ... and so shall I and if necessary I will resign the Crown.

He took up his pen to write a political acquaintance—a Whig who had recently changed sides and become a Tory.

'It ought to have the same effect upon all our friends that it has upon me—I mean the linking of us—closer to each other; and I believe you will easily believe these to be my sentiments; for you are perfectly well acquainted with my ways of thinking ... When I say my ways of thinking, I think I had better say my old maxim, which I ever intend to adhere to; I mean that of swimming or sinking with my friends. I have not time to add much more except to say that I believe I shall meet you at dinner at Bushey on Tuesday;

and to desire you to believe me at all times, my dear Charles, most affectionately yours.

George P. 'Carlton House, Sunday morning 2 o'clock. December 1 ith, 1785.'

As he sealed the letter he felt uneasy.

Then he demanded of his reflection in the mirror on the wall: 'But what else could I do?'

The Prince of Wales

The Ceremony in Park Street

Much as he tried to forget Fox's letter, the Prince could not. Phrases from it kept coming into his mind. It could not be a real marriage. There was that obnoxious Marriage Act haunting him; it might have been designed by his father especially to plague him. His uncles, Cumberland and Gloucester, had escaped it, although it was due to their actions that it had been brought into force. Why should not a man be allowed to marry where he pleased?

On one point the Prince had made up his mind: nothing was going to stop his union with Maria.

When he was with her he was in such transports of delight that he forgot mundane necessities. He could only think of the arrangements that must be made quickly so that she could consider herself his wife. The Maria who had returned from her travels was more enchanting—if that were possible—than the one who had left England; for now in her serious way she admitted her love for him.

T don't deserve it. I don't deserve the love of a pure good woman like you, Maria,' he cried.

He looked back on the man he had been—at all those sordid intrigues with women. He regretted them; he confessed to them with tears to Maria. He was unworthy of her; but she

The Ceremony in Park Street 161

embraced him and said that it was the rest of the world who would consider her unworthy and she would never forget all he was prepared to give up for her.

'You will see,' he cried. 'Maria, there is nothing in the world I will not do for you. I cannot wait for the ceremony to be performed. Why does there have to be this delay.'

'We have waited so long,' replied Maria tenderly, 'that a week or so is not much more.'

'It seems an age to me ... as every minute does away from my beloved White Rose. Ah, Maria, so you are a Catholic and therefore a Jacobite, I believe. An enemy of the House of Hanover !'

'There is one member of that house to whom I will be faithful unto death do us part.'

He repeated the words ecstatically. He could not wait to say them before a priest.

'Gardner has not yet succeeded in getting an undertaking from Rosenhagen to perform the ceremony,' he commented grimly.

She was anxious. 'Do you think we shall be unable to find a priest to marry us?'

'I'll find a priest. Have no fear of that.'

'Still, Colonel Gardner does seem to be having difficulty. So you think ...'

She paused and when he tenderly urged her to continue she said: 'Colonel Gardner is not only your private secretary but your very good friend. He may think it in your interests not to find that priest.'

The Prince was alarmed, remembering Fox's letter.

He grew a little pink and said: 'He had my instructions. He will obey them.'

'Then perhaps it is Rosenhagen who is reluctant.'

'Rosenhagen will do what is required of him, my dearest.'

A particular phrase from Charles' letter occurred to him: 'If I were Mrs. Fitzherbert's father or brother I would advise her not to agree.'

Her father was still living but more dead than alive having suffered a paralytic stroke some years before, so he would not be in a position to raise any objections; but she had brothers F

and an uncle who had taken a particular interest in her. What if they should write to her as Fox had written to him?

'Your family should be present at our wedding. Do you think so, my love?'

She turned to him all eagerness. How lovely she was when animated. It was something she had hoped for but had hardly dared to suggest.

'You had dared not suggest it! Oh, am I such an ogre then? Do you so fear to offend me ... you who did not hesitate to break my heart when you ran away and left me?'

'How could I believe that it would be broken merely because I went away? And I promise most faithfully to do such a skilful job of repairing it that you will never notice the cracks.'

He laughed; he embraced her; and then he said that her family should be presented to him. Her brothers, her uncle— he wanted to ask them in person to their wedding.

She was pleased, so he was happy.

He sang for her and what better choice than that popular ballad.

She listened fondly. Each day she grew more attached to him. She wanted this wedding as eagerly as he did; and what more appropriate song than that which was so popular throughout the town.

'I'd crowns resign To call thee mine, Sweet lass of Richmond Hill!

Colonel Gardner reported with some concern that the Reverend Philip Rosenhagen had written that it would be against the law for him to perform a ceremony of marriage between the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert.

'Did you tell him,' demanded the Prince, 'that I pledge myself to keep the matter a deep secret?'

'I did, sir, and his reply was that he dare not betray his duty to you/

'What! Rosenhagen! When has he developed such a sense of duty? He has performed many a shady trick in his life, I can

tell you. Why has he suddenly become so virtuous? Did you hint that there might be preferment for him if he obliged us on this occasion?'

'I did, sir. But I think he was after some specific offer.'