‘So she may be, but she is not going to be William’s wife. 1 must write to the Regent immediately. I can see that we are going to have trouble with William. Bring my writing materials and call the messenger. He should take my note to Carlton House immediately.’
The Regent had asked the Duke of Kent to visit him at Carlton House. Edward was not one of his favourite brothers; they were so different. Edward was too serious; George was prepared to admit that he was a good soldier, but he had never really forgiven him after the Mary Anne Clarke scandal, and he had been secretly pleased that the post of Commander-in-Chief to the Army, which Edward had hoped would be his when Frederick was forced to resign, had not fallen to his lot.
But the Regent had no desire to quarrel with any of his brothers. He liked to be outwardly at least on good terms; so now he received Edward with a show of affection and when the greetings were over he allowed a mask of concern to fall over his face. It was not entirely false; he was thinking of Madame de St Laurent, a charming woman, who had been Edward’s faithful mistress – for twenty-seven years was it? He disliked hurting charming women; but Madame de St Laurent, he was sure, was a sensible woman, as Dorothy Jordan – another of his favourites – had been. She would have to understand.
‘Well, Edward,’ he said, ‘I’ll swear you know why I’ve sent for you.’
‘Does it concern marriage plan?’
The Regent nodded. ‘The Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg … Leopold’s widowed sister. She is young, good looking and by all accounts very charming.’
‘I see,’ said Edward gravely.
‘I can guess your thoughts, Edward. You are thinking of your … commitments. Poor Julie! But she is a brave and clever woman. I am sure she will understand.’
George always made other people’s troubles seem so light, thought Edward resentfully; but the smallest cloud in his own blue sky was a matter for great tribulation in which everyone was expected to participate. Edward asked himself as he had many times before why a grudging fate had not made him the eldest son.
‘It will be a great blow to her.’
‘I know, Edward, but she must already be aware …’
Edward thought of Julie at the breakfast table. Poor sad Julie! She was going to be broken-hearted. But he must do his duty. There was no evading it.
He said: ‘Has the Princess Victoria made her willingness known?’
‘No. That’s the point. You should visit her at Wald-Leiningen and persuade her how advantageous it will be to become the Duchess of Kent. The fact is it is not easy to find Protestant princesses who would make suitable wives. We have fortunately found two.’
‘And the other?’
‘Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.’
‘Should I not be allowed to select one of the two?’
‘One is for William. He would doubtless say that he should have first choice. The fact is, Edward, Victoria must be wooed and we don’t trust William as a wooer. That is why Adelaide is for William. We fear that if he went to court Victoria, the courtship would end in failure. You’ll make a better job of it.’
The Regent watched his brother covertly. Edward was rising to the flattery.
‘What do you know of Victoria?’
‘That she is delightful – beautiful and intelligent.’
‘All marriageable princesses are.’
‘You have become cynical, Edward. I daresay Victoria is as attractive as most young women. She will not be stupid either for she is a mother and has two charming children, so I hear.’
‘So I am to have a ready-made family?’
‘My dear Edward, the only family you have to concern yourself with is the child the Duke and Duchess of Kent will have. You should be grateful that Victoria has already proved her ability to bear children. How frustrated you would feel if you discovered after marriage – as William may well do – that he has married a barren woman.’
‘And I am to visit this Victoria?’
‘As soon as possible.’
‘And what am I to tell Madame de St Laurent?’
‘I should tell her nothing as yet. It is possible that the Princess Victoria will reject you. She is able to make her own choice. As I told you that is the reason why we have decided on her for you. She will find you irresistible I am sure, Edward, but in case she should not, you will not want to lose Julie before you have gained Victoria.’
‘You make it sound so unromantic.’
‘The marriages of princes always are. It is the extra-marital affairs which bring such joy. No, do not worry Julie. Tell her that you are going on a mission for me to Leopold’s family. I think that would be the best. And then … if things went wrong she need not know. There is no need to alarm her before it is necessary.’
‘Thank you, George,’ said Edward. ‘And when shall I leave?’
‘At once. Don’t lose any time. An attractive young woman like Victoria will doubtless be much sought after. Go at once.’
‘I will,’ said Edward.
As soon as he had left a messenger arrived with a letter from the Queen. The Regent read it and frowned. William was being difficult. He had proposed marriage to and been accepted by a Miss Wykeham. If he could not get royal assent, he was going to Parliament.
The Regent passed his hand across his brow.
If only Charlotte had lived! It was odd that at the time of her birth she had been so important because her coming had meant that he need never go near her mother again; and now her death had thrown them all into this state of panic. Her birth and her death had been so important; it was only during her lifetime that they had been able to ignore her.
William was a fool. Of course he could not marry his Miss Wykeham. How fortunate that the decision did not rest with him. He would tell his ministers that the marriage between the Duke of Clarence and Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen must be brought to its satisfactory conclusion no matter what objections were made by the Duke of Clarence.
Julie was delighted to see Edward back.
As they went together into the house and she showed him the new improvements which had been completed since his absence, she clung to his arm.
‘Edward,’ she whispered, ‘is all well?’
‘Er … yes, yes. All is well.’
‘I thought you would come back and tell me that a marriage had been arranged for you.’
‘No … no, no.’ It was true. Nothing had been arranged yet.
‘I suppose they just wished you to be there because of Charlotte’s death.’
‘Because of that,’ he said.
‘I have so missed you.’
‘And I you, my darling.’
‘I’ve been longing for a game of chess, of all things. That seems so trivial … and yet …’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘I know. I have in fact been sent on a mission … for George.’
‘A mission?’
‘Yes, to Germany.’
‘I see.’ She did not ask what. She was discreet enough for that. A mission could be anything. She would not associate it with courtship. He should tell her, but he could not. The words would not come. He who could face the most barbarous enemy could not face her. It was cruel but he must do his duty.
‘And you will be away long?’
‘Oh, I don’t suppose so.’
‘Then you’ll come back to Brussels, I suppose.’
‘I shall have to report to London first.’
‘Just briefly,’ she said. ‘And then you’ll be back.’
He had to let it rest there. He could not be so brutal. Besides, this Victoria might refuse him. They might not be able to find a bride for him.
He had asked George to keep the matter secret so that she did not hear through the press. George would do what he could. He was always gallant to women and it would grieve him to make Julie suffer more than was necessary.
He would stay here for two days before going on to Wald-Leiningen, and who knew perhaps he would never have to tell her how near he had come to deserting her.