His bloater face was suffused with gratification. All his efforts were to be rewarded. Charlotte was going to make him her confidant and the Regent would realize his importance.
‘You know, my lord, I am not eager for the Orange match.’
Yarmouth looked grave. It was his duty as the Regent’s friend to make her realize the advantages of union with Holland.
‘Because,’ she went on, ‘I have a fancy for another.’
Lord Yarmouth’s whiskers bristled. ‘Your Highness, if you would tell me the name …’
‘It is the Duke of Gloucester.’
‘The d … d … d …’ spluttered Yarmouth.
‘Yes,’ giggled Charlotte. ‘The … d … d … d … of Gloucester, of course.’
‘Your father’s cousin!’
‘Why not?’
‘But Your Highness cannot really mean this!’
‘I have always liked the Duke of Gloucester.’
‘Your Highness, he is twenty years older than you are.’
‘If I do not mind, why should other people?’
‘I do not think His Highness, the Regent …’
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. ‘I know very well,’ she said, ‘that he can prevent my marrying the Duke of Gloucester by withholding his consent, but if he does I shall state publicly that I refuse to marry anyone else.’
Lord Yarmouth could scarcely wait to report to the Regent.
The Prince strode up and down his apartment.
‘Why should I be cursed with such a daughter? Gloucester! Is she mad? He’s thirty-seven years old. I never liked him. He’s a fool. Silly Billy to be the husband of my daughter! I think she has gone raving mad. Why should I be surrounded by such women? What have I done?’ Floods of self-pity overwhelmed him. He, who had been ready to be friendly with her, to indulge her. Hadn’t he given her that magnificent sapphire? And what about the greyhound and all the fetes and balls he planned for her? And she repaid him by refusing suitable Orange and declaring her preference for Gloucester. ‘Gloucester Cheese,’ he cried, rounding on Yarmouth. ‘Indeed, he’s nothing but a cheese. He has no sense … or little of it. The fellow’s a pompous fool; and why, because of his origins! They say his mother was a milliner. My uncle had no right to marry so low. He did it against my father’s wish, as you know. And it was due to him that we had this accursed Marriage Act. His mother might have been a beauty but she was illegitimate … and my uncle had no right to bring her into the family. And this daughter of mine chooses her son in preference to the Prince of Orange. The Cheese instead of the Orange. Did you ever hear of such folly, eh?’
Lord Yarmouth replied that he had been thunderstruck when the Princess told him of her preference. He had not believed her and insisted that she was joking. But no, she had said; she preferred Gloucester to Orange and if she couldn’t have him, she would have no one.
‘I don’t believe it,’ cried the Regent. ‘How could a young girl like Charlotte fancy that fool Silly Billy? Besides he’s been dancing attendance on the Princess Mary for years. It’s time he married her.’
‘Her Majesty …’
‘Oh, I know, Her Majesty is against the match. Her Majesty is against all matches for her daughters, but while Silly Billy might do well enough for Mary he is no match for Charlotte.’
‘What does Your Highness wish me to do?’
‘To tell her I say No! And the sooner she comes to her senses and takes Orange the better.’
The Duke of Gloucester could not help but be flattered. The young Princess wanted to marry him – and she the future Queen of England!
It was true that he had been attached to Mary for years, but that had never come to anything; and such a dazzling prospect as marriage with the heiress presumptive was enough to turn anyone’s head, certainly such an unbalanced one as Gloucester’s.
He had always been conscious of the humble origins of his mother because there had been plenty to remind him of them; and although she had been a good woman of remarkable beauty and had conducted her life with more decorum and dignity than most members of the family, her birth had been a handicap – particularly as she was not even legitimate.
Here was a chance to wipe out that stain. He would be the husband of the Queen … for Charlotte would be that one day. The King was growing more feeble every day and the Regent was scarcely robust. He could look fine enough in all his elegant glitter but he was constantly being bled and was subject to mysterious illnesses. Gloucester could not help walking around with his head held high and a new arrogance had crept into his manner.
The Princess Mary drooped visibly as she saw her chance of marriage disappearing. William had been her comfort; and they had resigned themselves to the fact they could not yet be married, but she had always believed they would in time. And now that hope was threatened by Charlotte’s extraordinary statement.
The Regent went to his mother to talk of Charlotte.
‘I believe,’ he said, ‘that it is just a cover. It’s Devonshire she’s after. No girl could seriously contemplate marrying Silly Billy.’
‘I believe Charlotte would go to any lengths to disturb us.’
‘But she is thinking of marriage! Billy should have been married years ago … to Mary.’ It was a reproof to his mother. She was constantly referring to his mistake in marrying Caroline instead of her niece and now of course that he was not so pleased with Miss Knight she was giving little digs about his taking her away. So this was just a gentle retaliation. They worked together nowadays, which was more agreeable to them both. Sentimental as he was, it suited his moods and ideals to be devoted to his mother and to know that she was to him. With such a relationship which existed between himself and his wife and daughter, he could not afford trouble with his mother in addition.
‘William is a fool,’ said the Queen tersely. ‘He sways this way and that. First he wants to marry Mary … but Charlotte only has to mention his name in this ridiculous way and he turns to her.’
‘He’s ambitious as well as silly,’ said the Prince. ‘Think what it would mean to him. But the whole thing is a plot of Charlotte’s. She’s turned against Orange and she’s after Devonshire. I wish to God I could get the Orange match settled.’
‘We must try to bring this about,’ said the Queen. ‘And Charlotte must be made to see that no one takes this Gloucester affair seriously.’
Meanwhile Charlotte was writing gleefully to Mercer telling her all about the consternation, but being careful not to put her true feelings on to paper. Those letters she had written to Hesse and which were still in his possession haunted her a little. They reminded her too that she must exercise a little caution – even to Mercer.
But she talked to Cornelia about the affair. ‘Poor Mary!’ she said. ‘I know she has not always been my friend and I don’t trust her. I don’t really trust any of the aunts. The old Begum trained them all to spy for her and they can’t stop themselves doing it. But I am sorry for her, because she is old and would like to be married … and free from bondage, for while they remain spinsters, poor old aunts, they will have to do what the Queen tells them. My Uncle Brunswick has lost his wife. Now why should he not marry Mary? Don’t you think that’s a good idea?’
‘It has always been believed that one day she would marry Gloucester.’
‘But how can she if I marry him?’
‘You are not serious.’
That made Charlotte laugh. ‘Well, I think until she does marry Gloucester Mary ought to have another hope. Put it about, Notte dear, that there is a chance of her marrying Brunswick. That would cheer her a great deal.’