Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill - Plaidy Jean. Страница 75

At which Mr. Pitt did what he rarely had done before: he lost his temper. The debate had developed into a farce, he said. But since the question of rights had been introduced it was necessary to set up a committee to enquire into precedents.

When the debate was resumed Pitt's equanimity was restored.

All would admit, he declared, that the Prince of Wales was the most suitable person to take on the role of Regent. The situation was extraordinary; complete power could not for obvious reasons be handed to the Prince for at any moment the King might regain his health. Therefore he suggested that rules should be drawn up and that should the Prince agree to the conditons decided on by the Government the Regency should be his.

Fox, eager to put right his mistake which he realized had given Pitt time to delay a decision, declared that Pitt intended to impose such restrictions on the Regency that it would be impossible for His Highness to accept with dignity.

'The Honourable Member will realize,' retorted Pitt maliciously, 'that since the question of right has been raised there must be this investigation.'

Meanwhile the care of the King was to be in the hands of the

Queen.

* # *

At Kew the Prince chafed against the delay. 'Nothing settled,' he grumbled to Frederick. 'If Fox had not raised that question of rights ...'

Trederick sympathized with him.

'I am beginning to think he is of no use to me,' he said. 'First he upsets Maria by denying our marriage. Maria won't have him in her house. Then he makes this absurd statement about rights.'

But you do have a right,' Frederick pointed out.

But Fox shouldn't have said it. It gave Pitt his opportunity. And Pitt is hand in glove with our mother. The Queen is now coming out in her true colours. She is not so meek as we once believed her to be. I am not sure what she is plotting with Pitt.'

'Can you understand this friendship between them?'

Only that she is the Queen and that Pitt intends to use her against me. She will scarcely allow me to see the King.'

'Absurd.'

'But they have put her in charge of him.'

You are the Prince of Wales ... soon to become Regent ... if you wish to see the King you have every right.'

'His papers and jewels are all locked away. And I am made to feel an outsider.'

'It's ridiculous, George. Come to the King's apartments now. He is safely locked away. If you want to examine the jewels and the papers you have ever)' right to do so.'

The two brothers went to the King's recently vacated rooms and were examining the contents of drawers when the Queen appeared.

Her usually impassive face flushed with anger when she saw what they were doing.

'And what,' she cried indignantly, 'are you doing here?'

'I will tell you one thing we are not doing, Madam,' said the Prince of Wales haughtily, 'and that is explaining our actions to you.'

'These are the King's apartments; and I am in charge of the King.'

'You forget, Madam, that I am the Regent.'

'Not yet... not yet.'

'When my father is incapable of government it is my right to do so.'

'Your rightl' She laughed. That unfortunate word. If Fox

had not used it everything would be settled now. He would undoubtedly be Regent. A curse on Fox!

'Madam, I command you to go to your apartment.'

'My apartment! The servants' rooms which you have allotted to me here? Writing our names over the doors! I never heard such arrogance! You are not king yet, Prince of Wales. I should remember that.'

'Madam,' said the Duke of York, 'I believe you to be as deranged as the King. Come, George.'

The brothers left her and she stood staring after them. When they had gone she put her hands over her eyes. She wanted to shut out this room, shut out the scene which had just taken place.

What is happening to the family? she thought. It seems that we are all going mad.

Fox called at Carlton House in answer to a summons from the Prince who said he would ride from Kew to meet him there.

As soon as he saw the Prince, Fox was aware of the change oi his manner. It lacked the cordiality to which he was accustomed.

'A weary business, Charles,' he said. 'What is Pitt up to?' 'I think, Your Highness, that he means to offer you a Regency with such restricted powers that it will be beneath your dignity to accept it.'

'And then?' asked the Prince. 'It may well be that the Queen will take it.' 'That's something I shall not allow. But this man Pitt...' 'He is determined to make you nothing but a figurehead.' The Prince's eyes narrowed. He looked at Fox—very different from the Fox of a few years ago. Where was the sparkle of Mr. Fox, that irrepressible genius with words, that quick incisive mind which would have dealt peremptorily with Pitt. Gone! Left behind in Italy ... lost in disillusion and frustration. Fox was a disappointed politician.

The Prince said: 'What if the question of Maria should be brought up?'

'We must do all in our power to prevent that.'

'And if it should be raised?'

Fox was silent. Then he said: 'It could have grave consequences. Your Highness, may I be frank?'

The Prince wanted to shout: No, you may not if you are going to tell me truths about Maria. Yet he said: 'But of course.'

'Your association with Mrs. Fitzherbert can bring nothing but harm to Your Highness. I fear that during the debate on the Regency that man Rolle ... or someone like him ... might bring up the point once more.'

The Prince's expression had hardened, but this was no time for prevarication and Fox went on: 'If the lady received the rank of Duchess; if she were given an income of ?20,000 a year

'To desert me?' said the Prince.

Fox sighed unhappily. 'It is her religion Your Highness. If she were not a Catholic ...'

'I am sure Maria would decline the offer you suggest, Charles.'

'Then ...' But Fox did not finish, nor did the Prince ask him to.

The Prince walked to the window and looked out and with his back to his old friend he said: 'Charles, there was a letter I wrote to you before ... Some years back. The one in which I said I had no intention of marrying. Do you remember it?'

Did he remember it? It was the letter on which he had based his denial.

'Charles, I should like you to bring that letter to me. I should like to have it back.'

Fox thought quickly. While tte had that letter in his possession he had every excuse for his conduct in denying the Prince's marriage. He had only to produce it and there would be evidence of how the Prince had deceived him; the letter would provide vindication for the denial.

He lied: 'Your Highness, I no longer have the letter.'

'You ... have lost it?'

'It is no longer among my papers. It may have been burned with others. I saw no significance in it ... at the time.' L

The Prince was silent for a few seconds but his manner had grown more frigid.

When Fox took his leave he knew that their friendship had suffered a severe blow.

Back to Chertsey, to consult with Lizzie.

'You see, Liz, I need not have come back post haste. Perhaps it would be better if I had stayed in Italy.'

Lizzie was inclined to agree.

'Can you imagine my making such a blunder? A right to the Regency. Of course he has, but it's unethical to say so.'

'It's said that you should not put your faith in princes.'

'I'm a fool to put my faith in anyone but you, Liz.'

'Well, where do we go from here? Back to Italy.'

'What a pleasant prospect! I have no desire to go to the House and be questioned by that man Rolle. You can depend upon it he'll attempt to bring up the Prince's marriage again.'

'Well, your health has suffered in the last few weeks, so what about staying at home and being sick for a while. I am an excellent nurse.'