His great plan had been to secure peace. He believed in peace. He had been for Pitt's war policy in the beginning; but the country had had enough of war. In secret he had been entering into negotiations with the Court of Versailles through the Sardinian ambassador and to act alone and secretly was a dangerous manoeuvre. Charles II had managed it expertly and amorally while bringing good to his country, but John Stuart, Earl of Bute, was no Charles Stuart, King of England. He lacked the power for one thing as well as that careless genius. He was a worried man.
He was at odds with George Grenville whose support he had relied on; and he was beginning to wonder whom he could trust to stand beside him.
His thoughts suddenly hit on Henry Fox; and this seemed a brilliant idea. Fox would have to be lured from the Opposition to their side, but Bute believed that Fox was ambitious enough to accept the offer. He sought an audience with the King and told him that he could not trust Grenville to support the new peace treaty and that he needed a strong man as leader of the House of Commons and it must be someone who was clever enough to carry it through.
"I see you have someone in mind," said George.
"Fox," answered Bute. The King's face grew pink. Fox! Sarah's brother-in-law! He had hated Fox ever since he had given up Sarah, for he was sure that the man was jeering at him for allowing himself to be persuaded by his mother.
"He is the only man wily enough to do it.”
"He never would. It would mean deserting his party, being disloyal to Pitt.”
"All Fox would care about was being loyal to himself.”
"But you really believe ...”
"I am convinced it is the only course left to us." Left to us thought the King. So Bute was including him in his failure. He was shocked to find that for the first time in his life he was critical of his dear friend.
"We cannot afford to be squeamish," said Bute.
The King recoiled. This was shocking. Nothing seemed as it had in the past. Everything was turning against him. He could have wept, "So Your Majesty gives your consent to my approaching Fox." The King nodded, turning away.
Mr. Fox returned to Holland House cynically amused after his interview with Lord Bute. He would, he had said, consider the noble lord's proposals, but they did not fill him with any great enthusiasm. Lord Bute was almost pathetic in his desire to include Mr. Fox in his confidence. So my Lord Bute was learning sense after all.
And His Majesty? Mr. Fox had asked. How did he feel about having Mr. Fox as the leader of the House of Commons? His Majesty was as eager as Lord Bute, so said the lord. Well, thought Mr.
Fox, they must be anxious. George had not been able to look him in the face after jilting Sarah.
Perhaps now that Sarah had married Bunbury he felt that little matter was settled. Bunbury in place of a king! Mr. Bunbury who would become Sir Charles one day. Not much of a match to set beside that with a king. But Sarah had chosen him and seemed happy although how long that would last Mr. Fox was not sure and his feelings were sceptical. However, the important matter of the moment was not Sara but the future of Henry Fox.
He found his wife in the drawing room and told her that he had just come from St. James's. Lady Caroline raised her eyebrows.
"Bute is asking me to take over the leadership of the House of Commons.”
"No!”
"Yes, my dear, yes. They are most eager to have me. Even His Majesty raises no objections.”
"They are in trouble," said Lady Caroline. "Best leave them to it.”
"H'm.”
"You can't be considering this proposal?”
Fox nodded slowly. "For a while ... perhaps it would not be such a bad thing.”
"You know you promised you were going to give up politics.”
"I haven't forgotten.”
"But you are considering taking up this offer?”
He slipped his arm through hers. "For a while," he said. "I promise to make a fortune from it and retire with a high sounding title in a blaze of glory.”
She laughed at him; they understood each other. He was a cynic; he loved money even more than power; he was only vulnerable where Lady Caroline was concerned. Ever since their romantic elopement they had been lovers.
So Caroline understood. It would be the finale; and when it was over they would live as she had planned they should, away from the anxieties of state ... enjoying life.
Mr. Fox was granted an audience in the King's chamber at St. James's. As he expected, Bute was with George. Mr. Fox's expression was a little sardonic. He was not the handsomest of men with his bulky figure and dark face; it was when he talked, not with Mr. Pitt's brilliant oratory, but with those sudden flashes of spontaneous wit, that he could even triumph over Mr. Pitt.
George looked at him with mild distaste. Never would trust that fellow, he thought; but it was no use; he would have to have him. Lord Bute had explained that they were lost without a strong man to lead the Commons and make sure that the signing of the Peace of Paris was brought to a successful conclusion.
"So Mr. Fox, sir," said George, "Lord Bute tells me that you are ready to take on the leadership of the House of Commons.”
"Reluctantly, Sire, but since it is the wish of Your Majesty ...”
Fox smiled ironically, as though, thought George, the sly creature so rightly named knew how he hated to be forced into this position and was reminding him of it.
"Lord Bute feels that your services could be invaluable.”
"And since Your Majesty is in agreement with him I offer them with all my heart.”
"His Majesty and I agree that it is necessary to get these essential matters passed through the Commons and the Lords. At the moment there is great opposition. This must be wiped out. We must have a majority vote in favour of the peace.”
"It is not an impossible achievement.”
"We have powerful enemies.”
Mr. Fox smiled what George thought of as the foxy smile. "We can secure their support in the time-honoured way.”
"And that?”
"Bribes, Your Majesty. Bribes.”
"Bribes! But this is something I cannot countenance.”
"Then the measures will be defeated, and I can be of no use to you. But if Your Majesty and you, my lord, ask me to bring these measures safely through, I tell you I can do it. And I give you the blunt remedy. Bribes.”
The King had turned away; Bute was watching him uneasily. Fox shrugged his shoulders.
"Your Majesty and you, my lord, cannot consider bribes? Then I can only say that I can be of no use to you. You will understand that in coming to your side I shall be in opposition to my old friends.”
"Unpopularity is the price we must all pay for parliamentary services," said Bute bitterly.
"Not all, my lord. Consider Mr. Pitt. He cannot move through the City without a crowd of worshippers following his coach. They are ready to kneel and kiss the hem of his garment.”
George frowned. He did not like blasphemy.
"As for myself," went on Fox, "I am ready to face unpopularity if I can do His Majesty essential service.”
Bute said quickly: "His Majesty and I are eager to see this peace treaty carried through, no matter at what cost.”
He waited with great apprehension for the King to speak, but George said nothing.
The King was depressed and disillusioned. His head ached; he wanted to get rid of Mr. Fox. He was certain that that odious man was laughing at him, jeering at him for having lost Sarah; he would go away and whisper about him to that wife of his, Sarah's sister, who was a little like Sarah.
Bute was watching him anxiously, thinking: He has such strange moods nowadays. One can never be sure what he is thinking. But Fox was preparing to take his leave and to throw himself into his new task as leader of the House of Commons who knew exactly how to administer those bribes which would get unpopular measures passed through Parliament.