Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill - Plaidy Jean. Страница 71

The Prince tried to drag the King's hands from his throat. Frederick sprang up and there was a scuffle which was joined by the equerries. The Prince of Wales fell back against the wall and stared at the King whose eyes were dark with rage.

The Queen put her hand over her mouth to prevent herself screaming; the Prince was weeping and Colonel Digby asked if it were His Majesty's wish that he should conduct him to his apartment.

The King looked puzzled, but after a little persuasion allowed himself to be led away.

Never had there been such a scene in the royal dining room. The Princess Charlotte ran to get Hungary water to bathe her brother's forehead and so revive him. In her own apartments the Queen could no longer restrain her fears; she threw herself on to her bed and gave way to violent laughter and tears.

The truth could no longer be hidden.

The King was mad.

The Regency Bill

The Prince rode out to Bagshot from Windsor where, in the parlour of a hostelry, he found Sheridan and Maria waiting for him.

He embraced Maria warmly and Sheridan almost equally so.

'This is going to be a very big change in our fortunes,' he said, looking earnestly at Maria.

'My only hope is that all will go well with you,' she answered.

'A Duchess first,' he whispered, 'and then, by God, you shall be acknowledged Princess of Wales.'

'You think too far ahead, my love,' said Maria gently; but she was pleased. He knew that the dearest wish of her life was not for fine titles and riches but to be acknowledged as his wife—though of course that acknowledgement could only mean that she had a right to the second highest title a woman could attain.

Sheridan said: 'We must act with care at this stage, Your Highness. It is to discuss our moves that I thought we three should meet.'

They sat down and talked.

Fox must come back as soon as possible, said Sheridan.

The Prince looked anxiously at Maria who was naturally not at all pleased at the thought of the return of the man who had, she had said, treated her as though she were a street

walker, but she knew of his brilliance; she knew he was the natural leader of the Whigs and she knew too how important the Whigs were to the Prince. Yes, she reluctantly agreed, Fox must be brought back.

Both Sheridan and the Prince were relieved. But one could trust Maria's good sense and her greatest concern really was for her husband's well-being even if this should be brought about ;it her own discomfiture.

'So we will pursue the hunt for Fox without delay,' said Sheridan, not mentioning to Maria that the hunt had already been in progress for days and that he—and the Prince—were disturbed because the statesman seemed difficult to find. He had been traced to Geneva but had left a week or so before the messenger arrived and none there knew of his next destination.

Sheridan, whose ambition was great, realized that the task before him was one for a practised politician; he was scarcely that, and to take a false step at such an important stage could ruin his political future. He loved the excitement of politics; he was deeply in debt all round, partly because he neglected the business of earning a living in the theatre for the sake of the excitement politics offered—and he was a drinker, a gambler and spendthrift. So he dared not take a wrong step; he needed Fox.

'There are two alternatives,' he said. 'Your Highness could in a few weeks' time be King of England ...'

'The King seemed strong enough when he seized me,' replied the Prince. 'I don't think the trouble is his physical health.'

Sheridan replied: 'If the King were mad and still continued to live, there would be a Regency.'

A Regent should have the power of a king,' said the Prince.

'It would depend, Your Highness, on what power the Parliament gave him. Your Highness should not forget that we shall have Mr. Pitt to deal with.'

The Prince's eyes narrowed. Mr. Pitt, the enemy! The man who had forced the denial of the marriage out of Fox!

'We can be sure,' he said grimly, 'that Mr. Pitt will do his utmost to deny me my rights.'

Sheridan nodded. 'That.' he said, 'is why we need Charles James Fox who, while he will serve Your Highness with all

his power, will be mightily diverted to discountenance Mr. Pitt.'

Oh yes, even Maria had to agree that they needed Mr. Fox.

In an easy chair in his lodgings in the town of Bologna Mr. Fox stretched himself with ease. In a few moments Lizzie would come in with a dish of tea to revive him after his afternoon's nap. It was a pleasure to watch Lizzie move across the room. What a graceful creature she was! Italy suited her; and so did this wandering existence. She was never ruffled, and such an intelligent companion. Lizzie had all the qualities he looked for in a woman. Now if he had known Lizzie when he was a young man, and if at that time he had had the wisdom to recognize her qualities, he would never have led the life he had. But then it was due to his adventures with so many members of her sex that he was able to appreciate her. Perhaps, he thought, he would marry her one day. Why not?

This was the life. Politics? Well, yes, he had to admit that his greatest ambition had been to be Prime Minister; but that affair of the marriage and the Prince's deception had made him want to turn his back on Westminster. And so here he was in Italy—and what treasures of art, architecture and music he, and Lizzie with him, had discovered there! He believed this period of travel might well be the happiest of h& life.

Where should they go from here? When Lizzie came in with the tea they would discuss the next move.

He yawned pleasurably and here was Lizzie although it was not quite time and she was holding letters in her hand.

Letters? he thought. But he had left no address in England, his sole purpose being to get away. He had not even wanted to know what was happening there so he had asked that no news sheets or papers should be sent to him. So what could Lizzie be doing with letters?

She was as unhurried as usual as she said to him: 'They have tracked you down.'

'London?' he said.

She gave him two letters. 'There is a messenger outside. He

has been chasing all over Europe looking for you, he tells mc. He has lately come from Geneva and somehow traced you to this place.'

'Good God!' cried Fox. 'What can this mean?'

He was opening one of the letters. 'Burke,' he said. He read it through and handed it to her. The other letter was from Sheridan.

There was a brief silence and then he said: 'The King is ill ... seriously ill. So our young Prince will soon be king. You know what this is going to mean for the Whigs.'

'That Mr. Fox will lead them to power?'

He was grinning at her.

'But Mr. Fox said only yesterday that he was done with politics.'

'Mr. Fox, Madam, can now and then talk nonsense.'

'So I thought at the time,' said Lizzie. 'When do you wish to leave?'

'I shall answer these letters to tell them I am returning with all speed, then go, while you make the necessary preparations to follow me to London as soon as possible. There must be nothing to detain me.'

'Nothing at all,' said Lizzie, and left him.

The messenger departed with all speed and shortly afterwards Fox set out on his journey, leaving Lizzie to settle their affairs and follow. He was travelling through France when the news reached him that the King was mad.

This, he thought, will mean a Regency.

His eyes were already sparkling with the light of battle. He must press on with all speed. Lizzie would have been concerned for his health had she been here, for he was too impatient to be back to pause long enough to rest adequately. He arrived in London on November 24th, which meant that the journey had taken only nine days. Remarkable speed—but when Lizzie arrived she would see the effect it had had on him. But that was nothing. Once let him get to the House and he would show Pitt that he could not have all his own way while Fox was there to prevent him.