Perdita's Prince: (Georgian Series) (25 page)

‘Well, well, William,’ said George. ‘Be seated, be seated.’

William sat and thought poor old George looked older than when he had last seen him. That affair of the Gordon Riots must have upset him. What a decision to make and fancy old George having the guts to make it. Firing on his own subjects, eh? Right, absolutely right in the circumstances and George had earned the approval of his grateful capital – which was something rare for the poor old fellow.

William – content with his life and his Duchess – felt sorry for George’s hard lot. Not much fun in being the King, particularly for a man like George who took himself seriously. It would be different when the Prince took over. Not for many years yet, he trusted. Couldn’t help being fond of good old George although he was a pompous, self-righteous old devil now and then.

‘I’ve come to talk with you, George, about the Prince.’

An expression of anxiety crossed the King’s face.

‘What? Eh? What’s he been at now, eh? You’ve heard something. Rumours … rumours … there are always rumours. Some of them true too … about that young puppy …’

‘He’s been up to nothing that I know of, George. Only pleasing the people. I hear nothing but praise for him wherever I go. He’s won the people’s approval without doubt.’

‘Because he’s got a handsome face … not yet marked with evil living. Because he’s been well looked after all these years … diet, exercise, discipline. All very necessary, eh, what?’

‘He certainly does his upbringing credit. The point is, he’ll be eighteen in August.’

‘A fact I’m not allowed to forget.’

‘With his own establishment …’

The King grunted.

‘I should like to have an opportunity of seeing him, George. It’s a long time since I have.’

‘People who act rashly take the consequences. Why, your marriage has given offence to all the royal families in Europe. Marrying a woman who …’

‘I am happy in my marriage, George, and regret nothing.’

The King’s eyes were momentarily clouded with emotion. ‘Wouldn’t have wanted to hear you say aught else,’ he said gruffly. ‘Still, you must understand. I can’t have the Duchess at Court. The Queen wouldn’t hear of it.’

‘Don’t expect me to believe that if the King gave the order, the Queen would not obey.’

‘There are some matters she must be the judge of, eh, what?’

Gloucester said: ‘I came to ask your permission for an interview with my nephew. Don’t you think that we should have a chance to know each other? Should members of families be kept apart?’

‘I never wanted to part families. But if people will make reckless marriages there’s no help for it.’

‘I hear that Cumberland has met the Prince.’

‘What, eh?’

‘In the Park. They met by chance and there was a touching scene. The people looked on and cheered the avuncular embrace.’

‘The fellow’s a rogue,’ muttered the King, ‘for all that he’s my own brother. And more so because of it. Ingratiating himself with the Prince. I’ll put a stop to that.’

‘It still remains that he has spoken with Cumberland and not with me. Don’t you think that I should have a chance of congratulating my nephew.’

‘There’s nothing to congratulate him about, I do assure you.’

‘On his approaching birthday. A milestone in the life of a young prince. Eighteen. The age when he ceases to be a boy and realizes he’s only three years off his manhood.’

‘He has not only just realized it, I can assure you. He’s been thinking of it for months.’

‘Perfectly natural, George.’

‘You seem determined to defend the puppy. Well, you shall see him. I don’t see why not. Cumberland waylaid him in the Park. If you come to Kew next Friday, you can call on him and stay for half an hour.’

Gloucester was well pleased.

*

The Queen sent for Colonel Hotham, one of the members of the Prince’s household. She was disturbed because the Duke of Gloucester was going to spend half an hour with her son. The Prince’s visits to her were growing less and less: he never came until commanded to do so. It was very sad. When he was in her presence she longed for him to show a little affection. He never did; all he showed was his longing to get away.

And his uncle was going to see him. She would not have allowed it; but the King was weak where his brother was concerned. She imagined how Gloucester would put his case to the Prince; his version of the reason why he had been banished from Court would sound very romantic to young ears. She could imagine the Prince’s sympathy; and he would not feel very kindly towards his mother, she knew, if Gloucester should tell him that she had said she would not receive a milliner’s daughter at her Court.

Oh, dear, her darling son’s growing up did create problems. And just now she was feeling the heat very much, for in a very short time now her child would be born.

‘Colonel Hotham,’ she said. ‘His Majesty has given the Duke of Gloucester permission to see the Prince of Wales. I want you to be in the room during the interview. I want you to tell me
everything
that is said.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

‘I feel sure that your presence will prevent the Prince’s uncle from saying anything that it would not be good for His Highness to hear. But if he should … I wish to know.’

Colonel Hotham assured the Queen that she could trust him to be her very good servant … now as always.

When the Queen dismissed him Colonel Hotham went back to the Dower Lodge, but on his way there he reflected that if he insisted on remaining in the room where the Prince would meet the Duke he would have some explaining to do. The Prince was on the whole good tempered, but he could fly into rages – particularly if he felt his dignity was impaired. And surely by appointing an onlooker at this interview it could be said that the Queen was treating him as a child.

What a quandary! It was, in fact, a choice between pleasing the Queen or the Prince. The Queen had no power whatsoever. Indeed the King himself might be displeased by the presence of a third party at the interview, and as it would be only on the Queen’s orders that he would be there, was he not placing himself in an invidious position?

Family dissensions would make a great deal of trouble – not only for the family but for those who served them. Wise men remained outside them, particularly when a dangerous situation was arising – a powerful king and very soon to be an equally powerful prince.

Yes, he must drop a hint to the Prince
before
the meeting took place.

*

‘What!’ cried the Prince. ‘You will stay in the room when my uncle calls. But on whose orders, pray?’

‘On those of the Queen, sir.’

‘So the Queen sees fit to meddle now. And His Majesty?’

‘I have no orders from him, Your Highness.’

The Prince smiled slowly. ‘I do not think you will be present, Colonel Hotham.’

‘Do you not, sir?’

‘No, because I will write to the King and ask that you may not.’

‘Very well, sir. As you know I shall await orders.’

‘Thank you,’ said the Prince.

He sat down at once and wrote a letter to his father. The Queen had ordered that one of his servants should be present at the interview between himself and his uncle, and as he was certain that this would give displeasure to his uncle, he was humbly entreating His Majesty to rescind the order.

He had correctly calculated the effect this would have on the King, who heartily disliked the Queen to interfere in any matter, and would think it was presumptuous of her to take it upon herself to give this order to Colonel Hotham. Charlotte had still not learned her lesson; then she must be taught it. No interference. Get on with the task of bearing the royal children at which she was extremely efficient. But certainly she was not when she meddled in matters of state and diplomacy.

The King wrote back to the Prince who for once had remembered
his
manners and written in the respectful way a son should write to his father. Certainly Colonel Hotham should not be present.

Gleefully the Prince acquainted the Colonel with this fact and the Colonel congratulated himself that he had had the good sense to inform the Prince of the matter and so not incur his displeasure.

There was no doubt that the Prince was becoming more important every day. It seemed to the Colonel that today he was only second to the King. And tomorrow? Who could say? But it was as well to be prepared.

*

The Duke of Gloucester embraced his nephew warmly. There were tears in his eyes which the Prince was quick to notice, and he himself took a perfumed lace-edged kerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes.

‘So long …’ sighed Gloucester. ‘And you have become a man.’

‘I am glad you recognize it, Uncle. It is more than some do.’

‘You’ll shortly be eighteen. You’ll notice the difference then.’

‘But still three years from twenty-one. I never knew time could pass so slowly.’

‘Ha, there’ll come a time when you’ll remember those words.’

‘So I am constantly told, but I find the passage of time so slow that it infuriates me. You can guess how I long to be of age … with my own establishment … my
independence
.’

‘I can understand it well.’

‘I wish my father did.’

‘Oh, there is always this difficulty with fathers and sons.’

‘You think uncles understand nephews better?’

‘I am certain of it.’

They were laughing together. Why isn’t the King more like his brothers? the Prince asked himself in exasperation. When have I ever been able to speak lightly about anything, to have a little joke with him. Never! He has no humour. What a bore the old man is!

‘Well, perhaps now you are permitted to come to Court you will be able to drive a little understanding into my father’s head.’

‘It’ll come. He’ll realize you are grown up all of a sudden.’

‘I intend him to,’ said the Prince. ‘For one thing, I think it quite absurd that I have not been able to meet my uncles before this simply because my father did not like their Duchesses.’

‘We married without his consent.’

‘And why should you not? Why should one grown man have to ask the consent of another?’

‘Well, his Marriage Bill was fortunately too late to affect us.’

The Prince laughed. ‘I’d like you and my uncle Cumberland to know that I admire you for what you did.’

‘I must thank Your Highness for those kind words. But you won’t attempt to follow our example will you?’

The Prince was on the verge of confiding his devotion to Mrs Robinson but decided against it. In any case his uncle probably knew about it. Most people did; the only ears it had not reached were those of the King and the Queen.

‘If I did,’ joked the Prince, ‘I would first come to you to ask your advice as to how to set about it.’

Both uncles were so easy to get on with. He enjoyed chatting with them. He asked after the Duchess, for he was not going to follow his father’s stupid example. And his uncle was very pleased to speak of her, for there was no doubt that his marriage had been a success.

When the half hour was over, and the Prince took leave of his uncle, he said: ‘I cannot see you now without the King’s leave, but in three years I shall be of age, and then I may act for myself. I declare I will visit you.’

*

The King sent for his son. As the rumours and gossip concerning Perdita Robinson and the Prince had so far been kept from him and the Queen, he believed that young George had been behaving during the last months with unusual propriety and had told the Queen that he believed that he was settling down at last. Charlotte was only too happy to agree.

Therefore when the Prince arrived the King greeted him without the usual irritation. The Prince’s manner seemed subdued. He was in fact wondering whether the King had sent for him because he had discovered about Perdita; and when he found that this was not the case he was distinctly relieved.

‘Your eighteenth birthday will soon be with us,’ said the King. ‘A milestone, eh, what?’

‘A milestone,’ repeated the Prince, his hopes soaring. Now he was going to hear of the allowance he would get, the house which would be his. The gates of freedom were slowly opening.

‘No longer a boy! Responsibilities, eh? Well, it is fitting that you should have an apartment of your own.’

Apartment, thought the Prince; and visualized the fine house which would be his. If he did not like it he would have it altered to his design. He had a distinct flair for architecture and had told Perdita that when his father gave him some noble house it should be a love nest for them both.

‘You are not yet fully of age. Another three years before that.

But eighteen … yes, an apartment certainly. I have decided that part of Buckingham House shall be assigned to you and your staff.’

Part of Buckingham House! How could he and Perdita make their love nest in his father’s palace! The Prince was aghast.

The King went on: ‘You’ll have an allowance that’ll be adequate and you shall have your own horses. You’ll not be under the same restraint …’

The Prince was not listening. A red haze seemed to swim before his eyes. Was this what he had been waiting for?

Rooms … rooms in Buckingham House!

He could not speak what was in his mind. He dared not. He was a minor still. Three long weary years stretched out before him. He had expected to gain so much and had gained so little.

One prison door had been opened, but he was not to be allowed his full freedom.

*

‘Rooms in Buckingham House!’ he told Frederick. ‘Think of it! Under Papa’s constant eye. I thought I was going to have my own establishment. I thought I was going to invite my friends.’

‘You’ll choose your friends now,’ Frederick pointed out. ‘For instance, you won’t have to scale walls when you go and meet them. You won’t have to hire rooms in inns surely. You have gained something.’

‘By God,’ cried the Prince. ‘I mean to show them. His and Her Sainted Majesties! I will make them wish they had never tried to put their fetters on me. I shall live as I like … do as I like … even though it is only in a part of Buckingham House.’