Sophia Charlotte's nephew! If she married him she would live under the same roof as the Electress Sophia. Surely that was getting as near to Sophia Charlotte as was possible.
"I should have to speak to my brother," she said.
"Naturally. But I pray you do not delay. And there is one other matter. If you decide that this proposition is distasteful to you, it must be entirely secret. None but yourself and your brother must know of this. The Elector would be most displeased if it were bruited abroad. There is one in particular ho must be kept ignorant—that is the King of Prussia, for as your guardian he might take steps to stop your marriage. Not until the documents are signed should he be informed. Will you respect the Elector's wishes?"
"Yes, I will."
"And you will give your answer soon?"
"I must speak to my brother. There is no other House of which I would rather be a member than that of Hanover but ... I must have time to think "
The Baron bowed and left her.
Caroline walked up and down her apartment. She was thinking of the little man who had smiled at her so warmly, who had shown so clearly how he admired her.
She liked him ... as well as one could like anyone on such a short acquaintance. But she had liked Archduke Charles. If it had not been a matter of leaving Sophia Charlotte ... if it had not been necessary to become a Catholic ... Well, then she might by now be married to him.
But here was George Augustus—more ardent than Charles because he was less polished perhaps. About Charles's gallantry there had been a suavity which George Augustus lacked. Yet George Augustus was a pleasant young man; he admired her; he had helped her take one step out of the despondent morass into which the death of Sophia Charlotte had plunged her and she had regretted his departure.
She went to the window and looked out across the gardens now beautiful with summer roses. She could go to Sophia Charlotte's home, the Leine Schloss, Herrenhausen, the Alte Palais —of which she had talked so much that Caroline felt she knew them already. Between herself and the Electress Sophia there was already a bond—their love of Sophia Charlotte. Not only that, but they were of a kind. They were interested in discussion and ideas; and it was rare to find a companion who cared for anything but gossip, clothes and court scandal.
It was almost as though Sophia Charlotte's voice was coming to her over the immense distance which separated the dead from the living.
"I cannot be with you, my darling, but this will help you. Go to my mother; she will love you and you will love her. You have to marry sometime. It is the best way of life. You will agree when you have children. You will be there in my old home. My dearest child, it is the best thing left to you."
The best thing left! They were right when they said she could not go on mourning for ever, for one could not live with the dead.
Her brother came into her apartment. It was easy to see how delighted he was.
"Baron von Eltz has spoken to me. Why, Caroline, this is an excellent proposal. He wants your acceptance quickly. I hope you will give it. It is the best thing that could happen to you. You will accept this proposal?"
She hesitated only for a second.
"Yes, I accept."
Baron von Eltz rode with all speed to Hanover and in a few days he was riding back to Ansbach with instructions from the Elector to arrange the marriage of his son with Princess Caroline.
Not until George Lewis had the documents back in his hand would he break the secrecy and it was characteristic of him that he should send Count von Platen to tell his mother what had taken place.
Sophia had risen from her bed for she was beginning to recover and when she received Platen in her audience chamber, he was smiling a little secretively as he bowed.
"Good news, Your Highness! The Electoral Prince is soon to be married."
Sophia stared at him in astonishment; anger threatened to betray itself, but long practice had disciplined her to keep it in check.
"Yes, Your Highness, your son thought it was high time, and he is sure you will agree with him. So a marriage has been arranged and we hope that it will take place very shortly as neither the Elector nor the Electoral Prince see any reason for delay."
A marriage! thought Sophia furiously. But I wanted Caroline for him. Why will George Lewis never listen to me!
"The matter has been arranged in some secrecy. The Prince rode to Ansbach with von Eltz ... two gentlemen calling themselves Busch and Steding ... travelling for pleasure."
"To Ansbach! " cried Sophia. "Then..."
"The Princess Caroline of Ansbach is to marry the Prince, Your Highness. She has accepted him and the negotiations have now been completed."
The Electress did not know which was the greater—fury at being kept out of a plan which she herself had suggested, or joy that what she so desired had come about. Being the sensible woman she was she quickly suppressed the former and indulged in the latter.
She composed her features.
"I am delighted," she said. "Pray tell my son that if I had been consulted I should have suggested that the best possible bride for my grandson would be the Princess Caroline of Ansbach."
Hanover was in a state of excitement preparing for the wedding. It was no longer a secret. In his apartments the bridegroom was strutting before his mirror, commanding his servants to help him dress in the clothes which were being made for his wedding. He tried on his wigs and wanted them built up in the front to give him height. For the first time he was the most important person in the Court, the focus of all attention; and he was delighted with himself. Even his father treated him with a new respect. George Augustus was a happy bridegroom.
In the kitchens there was great activity; banquets to surpass all banquets must be prepared to celebrate the wedding; comedians and actors were commanded to concoct plays and entertainments to enliven the celebrations. Even the Elector, usually inclined to be parsimonious, had implied that a little extravagance was warranted on such a happy occasion. It was a unique occasion. For the first time most people remembered the Elector was pleased with his son.
Sophia Dorothea was as excited as her brother.
"Marriage is in the air," she declared. "I shall be next. And I'll tell you something, George Augustus, the Crown Prince of Prussia is asking for me."
"You think his father will allow that. He's furious about my marriage. He wanted Caroline for himself, some say." George Augustus stood on tiptoe and studied himself in the mirror. "The King of Spain wanted her; the King of Prussia wanted her; but she wanted me."
"Well, you're the last one to be surprised at that! " retorted Sophia Dorothea. "And it's no use anyone's saying I'm not to have Frederick William because I've decided that I am ... and so has he."
"He told you this?"
"He said he would make life unbearable for everyone until consent was given to our marriage."
"There's a bold lover for you! "
"The only sort of lover I would have." Sophia Dorothea was serious suddenly. "George Augustus, I wonder what our mother feels about this."
"Feels? What should she feel?"
"Can't you put yourself in her place. Her son, her first born, is about to be married and she is shut away and not allowed to join in and be happy with the rest of us."
George Augustus was silent; his mouth turned down angrily. "I hate our father for what he did to our mother."
"You hate him for a lot of other things besides," Sophia Dorothea reminded him. "Grandfather Celle is on his way, did you know? He is coming to congratulate you and say how happy he is. But I don't think he's very happy. I don't think he was happy from the day he allowed our father to marry our mother. We're lucky to choose our partners ... or more or less choose them. Fancy being presented with our father and told you had to marry him! No wonder our mother was unhappy; no wonder it made Grandmother Celle turn away from Grandfather Celle and never love him again in quite the same way."