He would no longer delay. The first one he must tell would be his dear friend Lord Bute who would advise him how best to deal with this matter of marriage.
He took up his pen and wrote to that very dear friend:
‘What I now lay before you I never intended to communicate to anyone. The truth is this: The Duke of Richmond’s sister arrived from Ireland towards the middle of last November. I was struck with her appearance at St James’s and my passion has been increasing every time I have since beheld her. Her voice is sweet. She seems sensible… In short she is everything I can form to myself as lovely.’
He sat dreaming of her as he wrote; then sealed the letter and had it sent to Lord Bute.
The King’s Courtship
LADY SARAH LENNOX was amused. She was a very high-spirited girl, not yet seventeen, and it was highly diverting to know that the King was in love with her. Sarah was living at the time at Holland House, the home of her brother-in-law, Henry Fox; and her closest friend Lady Susan Fox-Strangways, a niece of Henry Fox, was staying there. In Sarah’s bedroom the two girls could giggle and chatter together and be as frivolous as they pleased.
Susan was more serious than Sarah. She was the daughter of the Earl of Ilchester and her family were perhaps not quite so prominent as Sarah’s, whose brother was now the third Duke of Richmond and whose great-grandfather had been Charles II and great-grandmother Louise de Keroualle. There was, Susan often thought, something of the Stuart charm in Sarah. She was certainly attractive and yet when one studied her face one wondered why. Her eyes were too small, her mouth too large; but that was of little importance, for when Sarah laughed or chattered or merely entered a room, to the majority she was the most exciting female in that room.
Charm! thought Susan wistfully. And it will doubtless bring her a throne.
Sarah was saying: ‘But he’s so shy. Do you know, Susan, he stammers. He is really afraid of offending me. Fancy that. The King goes in awe of Sarah Lennox!’
‘Oh, that is what is called courting. When and if you married him it would be very different.’
‘And why should it be, pray?’
‘Because that is the way of the world.’
‘Don’t look so wise, Susan. You know nothing about it. It is entirely in one’s own hands and it would be in mine. If I married him I would keep him as he is today.’
‘Sarah… think of it! Queen! A coronation! And Mr Pitt bowing to you and waiting on your judgments. And Mr Fox doing the same.’
‘Mr Fox would always remember that I am his sister-in-law. He loves me, I know, but he would never bow to my superior wisdom, I do assure you. He thinks I am a bundle of inconsequent frivolity. I heard him tell my sister Caroline so the other day.’
‘Sisters-in-laws may be that, but Queens would not be.’
‘Oh, you don’t know Henry. He has as high an opinion of himself as Mr Pitt has of himself… or my Lord Bute, of whom, I don’t mind telling you, my dear Susan, they are constantly talking. It’s my belief that they are more afraid of Lord Bute than anyone in this kingdom. I have seen a certain look in brother Henry’s eyes when they rest on me. I think he is weighing me up against Lord Bute. He feels that if I married the King I could then help to break his infatuation for that man – for infatuation it is. He is devoted to him.’ Sarah pouted. ‘I think he is almost as fond of him as he is of me.’
‘Sarah, be serious a moment. Are you in love with George?’
Sarah put her head on one side and appeared to consider. ‘Well, I fancy a crown would look rather well on my head.’
‘Don’t be silly. What about Newbattle? I thought you were in love with him.’
Sarah’s expression softened a little. ‘I was, Susan,’ she admitted.
‘It seems to me, Sarah, that you do fall in and out of love rather easily.’
‘That is wiser than falling in too deeply, don’t you think?’
‘It seemed hardly worth while taking him from Caroline Russell if you are just going to abandon him for the King.’
Sarah laughed. ‘Can you imagine Newbattle… deserted? He will soon find someone ready to give consolation.’
‘Caroline would not have him back.’
‘Caroline would not have been allowed to marry him in any case, I feel sure. Her people want the Duke of Marlborough for her.’
‘But she wanted Newbattle, Sarah… and you deliberately set out to attract him.’
‘Oh, stop preaching, Susan. I wanted him, too, and he is not a parcel of goods to be handed about. He makes his own decisions, you know.’
‘And what does he say now that he knows of the King’s intentions?’
‘If he knows of the King’s intentions he knows more than most of us, Susan. Because the rest of us are not sure.’
‘But he knows that the King is attracted by you.’
Sarah giggled. ‘Poor George does make that a little obvious does he not?’
‘He is rather charming,’ said Susan wistfully. ‘He is innocent and inexperienced.’
‘I like that in him,’ agreed Sarah. ‘When he talks to me he says the most idiotic things… and he keeps saying the same things over and over again.’
‘It is because he is bemused. It shows how deep his feelings go for you. I heard it said that at the Council meeting and in Parliament he spoke with great firmness.’
‘Ah!’ laughed Sarah delightedly. ‘So it is just in my presence. He’s very different from my lord Newbattle.’
‘I believe you have a strong fancy for that man.’
‘I won’t deny it.’
‘You are in love with him?’
‘Well, perhaps a little.’
‘Because of himself or because he left Lady Caroline Russell so easily when you beckoned? Which is it, Sarah?’
‘A little of both, perhaps.’
‘That is not good enough.’
‘Oh indeed, Madam Schoolmarm?’
‘You are old enough to be married, Sarah, and your family will do everything in their power to make you Queen of England.’
‘Queen of England. I like the sound of that.’
‘Better than you like George?’
‘Well, it is impossible to separate the two.’
‘So it is a matter of choosing between two titles: Queen of England or Marchioness of Lothian, for Newbattle will one day be the Marquis.’
‘The Queen sounds better, Susan. You must admit it.’
Sarah jumped up and rummaging in her jewel box brought out a golden bangle which she placed on her head. She sat in her chair, her arms folded, inclining her head regally until the bangle fell off and rolled across the floor.
‘You are absurd, Sarah,’ cried Susan. ‘I don’t think you realize how serious a matter this is.’
‘I do. It’s marriage, my dear Susan, a state into which our families insist we must all enter… if they can find suitable matches for us.’
‘Your family would never want you to accept Newbattle when there was a chance of George.’
‘My sister Caroline ran away and married Henry Fox. The family knew nothing about it until it was fait accompli.’
‘You would run away and marry John Newbattle?’
‘If I wished to. But I don’t think it would be necessary. His family would be delighted to have me. Don’t forget I have royal blood in my veins.’
‘Wrong side of the blanket,’ Susan reminded her.
‘Don’t be coarse, Susan.’
‘Certainly not. Only factual. The royal blood is there, but must be recognized for what it is.’
‘Well, suppose I decided on George?’
‘Then there might be some who do not consider you worthy.’
‘What nonsense!’
‘His Mamma, for instance. I heard that she wants a German Queen.’