Young Monsieur de Busch talked animatedly of Hanover; his friend, the more sober Monsieur Steding devoted himself to the Margrave leaving his young friend to talk to Caroline.
Since she was forced to pay attention to him Caroline looked more like he»- old self than she had since Sophia Charlotte's death. Her brother noticed this and thought: We must entertain more. She must not be allowed to shut herself away.
Meanwhile Monsieur de Busch was growing very excited, although he hid this. She was charming, this young woman. She was the type that most appealed to him. Masses of fair hair, blue eyes, a little quiet, always giving him the opportunity of speaking. She seemed modest and a little sad; but he knew why that was. She was a beauty; and she would be amenable; and she had refused the Archduke Charles. He had made up his mind in the first half hour.
Caroline saw an animated young man—short but good-looking, with a lively expression and neat features. He was about her own age, she judged, and there was an unusual dignity about him. She liked him.
After the meal the Margrave suggested a game of cards. Monsieur de Busch asked if he might have the honour of sitting next to the Princess and this was granted.
So they played cards in a desultory manner for that was how the visitors wished it.
Caroline asked how the Electress Sophia was progressing after her illness.
"I hear she is recovering slowly," she was told. "She is a wonderful lady."
Monsieur de Busch agreed that this was so. "Your Serene Highness should visit her. I believe nothing could speed her recovery more than that."
"I should have to wait for an invitation from the Elector. I might not be very welcome.'*
"I cannot imagine Your Serene Highness being unwelcome anywhere."
"You are very kind."
His almond-shaped eyes were warm—perhaps a little too warm, but strangely enough she did not mind that. By forcing her to entertain him he was making her feel more alive than she had since the tragedy.
"It would be my greatest pleasure, if it were possible for me to show you kindness."
Hardly the manner in which a casual visitor should talk to a Princess. But he was young and she liked him for he had made her feel so much better.
"It is your turn to play. Monsieur de Busch," she said. He watched her beautiful slender fingers with the cards. She was enchanting.
I'm in love, he told himself. Caroline shall be my wife. My father will be pleased and the King of Prussia will be furious. And what will the King of Spain think when she has accepted me after refusing him!
He was in high spirits; and he was his most attractive when he was happy. His smile was sweet and he became very gay. Perhaps he was a little bold; perhaps he showed too clearly his admiration.
But Caroline even laughed now and then which made her brother look up sharply.
He was glad the travellers from Hanover had come to Triesdorf.
George Augustus came unannounced to the Baron's bedchamber.
"We must leave at once for Hanover," he declared. "We must tell my father that the mission is a success. I don't propose to wait another day. I have decided."
"Your Highness has come to a very quick decision."
George Augustus threw up his hands in the gesture his father so disliked. "But I am in love with her. She is beyond my expectations. Surely you can see for yourself."
"The Princess is charming, but..."
"I have decided."
"Then in that case, in the morning I will tell the Margrave that we have been called back to Hanover on urgent business."
"Do that. I shall not have a moment's peace until she is in Hanover."
"If Your Highness is assured that you are not being too hasty..."
"I always make up my mind quickly."
The Baron forbore to mention that this was not always with the happiest results. George Augustus would not listen. He was in love.
Would he have been quite so infatuated with the Princess of Ansbach if the Archduke Charles had not sought her hand? wondered the Baron. He knew his Prince.
The Princess was a charming creature, capable of affection, as her sadness at the death of the Queen of Prussia showed. The Baron hoped she would not expect too much from his mercurial little Prince—if she decided to accept him.
In the morning he told the Margrave that they were called back. They took outwardly regretful leave, although George Augustus could not completely hide the fact that he was bubbling over with excitement.
They returned to Hanover after a very brief absence; but the Elector was as near pleased as the Baron had ever seen him at the result of his strategy.
After the visitors from Hanover had left Triesdorf Caroline felt melancholy. They had certainly relieved the tedium and it had been pleasant to be so obviously admired by the young Monsieur de Busch.
Her favourite attendant Fraulein von Genninggen mentioned that his visit had been very agreeable. "I think it did your Highness good," she added. "I am sorry he and his friend left so soon."
"He was perhaps a little too bold," answered Caroline.
"I daresay that is the way at Hanover. But I certainly wish they had not hurried away so quickly."
It was true, thought Caroline. Monsieur de Busch had made her feel alive again and ... young. She was in agreement with Fraulein von Genninggen and also regretted their departure.
But a few weeks later when Monsieur Steding returned to Triesdorf, Caroline was disappointed that he was alone. He told the Margrave that Monsieur de Busch had returned to Hanover but he himself had gone to Nuremburg to meet some friends whose arrival there had been delayed and since the Margrave and Her Serene Highness, his sister, had been so kind recently and had said they regretted that their stay should not have been longer, he had taken the opportunity to throw himself on their hospitality for a few more days.
Monsieur Steding was very welcome, but both the Margrave and Caroline were sorry that she was not accompanied by the charming young Monsieur de Busch.
Baron von Eltz took an early opportunity of being alone with the Princess. He whispered to her during a card game that he must speak to her alone so would she grant him an interview. She agreed to this but when he reached her apartment he found Fraulein von Genninggen in attendance. He indicated that he must be entirely alone with the Princess so she told the Fraulein to go into the ante-room and wait there until summoned.
As soon as they were alone the Baron told her that he came on a mission from Hanover, and that his name was not Steding but the Baron von Eltz.
The Princess looked startled and von Eltz hurried on: "Before I put this proposition to you, I must have Your Highness's promise that if you decide not to accept it you will say nothing to anyone."
"I promise," said Caroline.
"Monsieur de Busch was an assumed name. My companion was George Augustus, Electoral Prince of Hanover."
"Oh!" said Caroline faintly.
"First I must ask you whether you are free of all matrimonial engagements and are not involved in any way with the King of Spain."
"I am free."
"The Electoral Prince had heard such accounts of your beauty, your charm and wisdom that he was determined to see for himself whether rumour was true. His visit here convinced him that what he had heard was not warm enough in its praise and having seen you he has told his father that he wishes to marry you."
Caroline was too agitated to collect her thoughts. She had thought he might have had a message from the Electress Sophia, not such a proposal as this.
"I had not expected..." she began.
"Your Serene Highness, a young man in love is impatient ... and His Highness, the Electoral Prince, is both."