Queen in Waiting: (Georgian Series) (18 page)

‘Go without invitations,’ he said.

The Countess von Platen pretended to shiver. ‘And incur the wrath of her Serene Highness the Electoral Princess.’

‘You go… and tell the others.’

‘It is your command?’

He grunted.

‘And you will be there?’

He nodded.

The Countess von Platen was well pleased. The Princess Caroline had better learn without delay the etiquette of the Court of Hanover.

Sophia Dorothea had taken a liking to her sister-in-law. She pitied her for one thing. Fancy being doomed to spend her life at Hanover! It was Sophia Dorothea’s home, of course. But with such a father, it had never been a happy one. He had shown no affection for his children, although she fancied he did not hate her as bitterly as he did George Augustus. In fact, if he had been a man who knew how to express affection, he might have shown some for her. She was beautiful; she was gay; so perhaps she was too much like her mother.

Her mother! There was the shadow which hung over their lives. Whichever way one looked it was there. She, Sophia Dorothea, would be glad to get away and she would soon, for marriage negotiations were being conducted. Frederick William had kept his word; she knew that his father, the king of Prussia, had not wanted an alliance with Hanover. In fact he
was angry with Hanover for carrying off Caroline right under his nose, which was understandable when he was her guardian. He had wanted her either for the King of Spain or for himself. Poor Caroline, she was in demand, and she had been awarded George Augustus!

Sophia Dorothea grimaced. He was her brother and she had some affection for him, but he was very conceited and he would be like his father in some ways in his attitude towards a wife. I am the master; you are the slave.

That would not please me, she thought. And Caroline? How would she react?

It was not easy to know with Caroline. That was what made her so interesting. So far she had been docile and the more docile she became the more devoted was George Augustus. But once let her show defiance, and that would be the end of George Augustus’s affection. He might even be as callous towards a wife as his father had been.

Life with Frederick William would be different. She was certain of that. They had learned a good deal about each other on the few occasions when they had met because they had been drawn together irresistibly. He was wild and ungovernable; and she was not the one to accept the role of patient Griselda. No, there would be quarrels and reconciliations. But life would never be dull.

In a rush of pity for her poor sister-in-law Sophia Dorothea went along to Caroline’s apartment where Caroline was being dressed for her soirée.

Sophia Dorothea watched her women at work.

‘You have lovely hair, sister,’ said Sophia Dorothea.

Caroline smiled, pleased at the compliment.

‘And the blue gown is becoming.’

‘You are kind to say so.’

How could she be so serene, so grave, so outwardly contented when she was far too intelligent not to know that she had been sent into a den of… Sophia Dorothea paused for the word. Lions? George Augustus was not strong enough or dignified enough. Foxes? Not cunning enough. Wolves? Yes, wolves wasn’t bad.

‘You are thoughtful,’ said Caroline.

‘Have you finished?’ Sophia Dorothea asked the woman. ‘I want to talk to Her Highness.’

‘Yes, in a moment, Your Highness.’

Sophia Dorothea sat in a high-backed chair watching the finishing touches to Caroline’s toilet. I think George Augustus would be every bit as cruel as our father, she thought, if his vanity were wounded. That’s it. His vanity! Ever since he knew he would not be very tall he has felt the need to remind everyone that he is as good, as strong, as important as people who are. How cruel life is! To deny George Augustus those inches as well as a mother. And poor Caroline will have to suffer for it too.

The woman had gone and Caroline said: ‘It is kind of you to come and see me.’

‘You’re my sister now and I shan’t have many more opportunities of calling on you like this.’

‘Are you uneasy about your coming marriage?’

‘No. Only waiting to leave Hanover for Prussia.’

‘Then I’m glad.’

‘I’m fortunate. If I had loved my home I shouldn’t want to leave it. But because I can’t wait to get out of it, I’m happy. There’s life for you. Taking away with one hand and giving with the other. I hope you will be happy here, Caroline.’

‘I think so.’

‘
I
think you have a great gift for being happy. How do you do it? I may need to know when Fm quarrelling with my wild Frederick William.’

‘Then you are a little uneasy about going to Berlin?’

She shook her head. ‘I’ll deal with Frederick William. You and I should have a good deal to say to each other, for while you have come into my old home, I am going into yours.’

‘Berlin will be quite different from when I was there. Nothing could ever be the same now that Sophia Charlotte is dead.’

‘No, I suppose not. You loved my aunt very dearly, didn’t you?’

Caroline nodded, her eyes clouding. ‘But I’ve stopped grieving for those happy days. I’m trying to look ahead. That is the advice she would have given. It is always rather difficult
adjusting oneself to a new life… a new home. Women of our rank invariably have to face it. I am fortunate in having the Electress Sophia who is already my friend as well as my grandmother-in-law.’

‘George Augustus does not like to be crossed,’ said Sophia Dorothea.

‘Who does?’ answered Caroline with a sinking heart, for she recognized the warning in her sister-in-law’s voice.

‘He more than most. He so very much wants to be… appreciated.’

‘I understand.’ Caroline changed the subject abruptly; she did not want George Augustus to discover that she discussed him with anyone. Whatever her opinion of her husband, she knew she must keep it to herself. ‘Tell me about Madam Schulemburg and Madam Kielmansegge. It has been suggested that I should invite them to my soirée. I have no intention of doing so.’

‘Oh, they are my father’s mistresses.’

‘What sort of women are they?’

‘The Schulemburg is very tall. She is quite ugly now but was a beauty in her youth. Since she had the smallpox she lost most of her hair, her skin is pockmarked, and she’s a real scarecrow. Particularly now that she’s so thin – and looks thinner because she is so tall. She is as pale as a ghost under all her rouge which looks dreadful over the pock marks; and the red wig she wears makes her look worse than ever. But she has been there for so long that no one notices her. She has been my father’s mistress for years and she’s still the favourite. He doesn’t seem to notice how ugly she is… or perhaps he doesn’t think so. He has no sense of beauty.’

‘I meant rather what sort of woman is she?’

‘Oh… stupid. Quite stupid. But that’s in her favour. She never argues. That to my father means more than silken locks and peach-like complexion. Lips are fascinating to him not because they are luscious but because they keep silent.’

‘You think that she has kept her hold on your father because she never disagrees with him?’

Sophia Dorothea nodded. ‘Her stupidity is one of her main attractions.’

‘Do you really mean that?’

‘Of course. Some men like to feel superior. My father doesn’t consciously feel superior. He’s merely convinced he is. If anyone disagreed with him he would think they were stupid. Some are different. They have to be continually reminded of their superiority because they doubt it. They perhaps are the more dangerous ones.’

‘I see what you mean,’ said Caroline slowly; and then more briskly: ‘Tell me more about Schulemburg.’

‘She came to the court when she was a young girl and was introduced to my father by the Countess von Platen – not the present one… the wife of the elder Count von Platen. She was my grandfather’s mistress and she ruled the court.’

‘Then your grandfather did not share this love for stupid women.’

‘No. He was different. But even he liked them to be clever enough to know when to keep quiet and was as determined to have his own way as my father is. Only he was gallant and witty whereas my father…’ Sophia Dorothea shrugged her shoulders. ‘To get back to Schulemburg: Countess von Platen was in love with Königsmarck who was my mother’s lover so she hated my mother. She advised Schulemburg how to keep my father’s favour and my mother quarrelled with him over the creature. He wouldn’t have interference from his wife any more than he would tolerate her having a lover. You see how unfair it is for us women?’

Caroline nodded.

‘Well Schulemburg suited my father. She’s really fond of him and he of her – as much as he could be of anyone. When my mother was sent away Schulemburg was treated like his wife. But she never argued; she never quarrelled; she never criticized him even when he took another mistress, but was always waiting gratefully when he came back to her. That is what the Hanoverians expect of women.’

Caroline’s eyes narrowed. ‘So she kept her place all those years. It must be nearly twenty. And although she is no longer beautiful she still keeps her place. It is quite an achievement.’

‘To succeed through stupidity!’

‘But not so stupid.’

‘Oh it’s not by design. That would be clever. No, Schulemburg is as she is because nature made her that way.’

‘And the other… Kielmansegge?’

‘Ah, she is a different kind altogether.’

‘And she keeps her hold too.’

‘Yes. It must be because my father is too lazy to change. But you could scarcely call him lazy. No, It is habit, perhaps; and the conviction that all women are more or less the same and the only ones who are disagreeable to him are those who voice opinions. Kielmansegge is as ugly in her way as Schulemburg is in hers. She’s the daughter of the Count von Platen. You see how useful that family is. Schulemburg introduced by Platen; Kielmansegge the daughter of Platen; and the Countess von Platen, the latest addition to the seraglio, the daughter-in-law of the Platens. Kielmansegge could well be my father’s sister. In fact it is more than likely. My grandfather was Clara von Platen’s lover over many years, and as her husband was the complaisant kind – he did very well through it, as you know – it is more than possible that the children he accepted as his were other people’s.’

‘And she is not in such favour as Schulemburg.’

‘There is very little in it. She is not so docile… at least when my father is not about. Schulemburg is completely faithful to my father and always has been. No breath of scandal attaches to our tall Malkin; it’s a very different matter with Kielmansegge. She is like her mother. The sight of any personable man makes her eyes glisten. She doesn’t see why she should reserve herself for my father, particularly when she has to share his favours with others. I doubt whether he could satisfy her if she was the only one. She is as ugly as Schulemburg – only her wig is black instead of red but it’s as unbecoming. She’s as fat as Schulemburg is thin; and her complexion is so ruddy that she has to tone it down with white powder which is every bit as unbecoming as Schulemburg’s rouge.’

‘I see that your father likes variety. These two are exact opposites.’

‘Perhaps you are right. Then there is the young Countess von Platen, a most conventional mistress, being young and
beautiful. And while she is not entirely faithful like Schulemburg and not as promiscuous as Kielmansegge she is not averse to taking a lover now and then.’

‘I begin to understand,’ said Caroline. ‘The Elector has tried to have all women represented in those three. It is what I would have expected of such an orderly mind.’

‘I think you admire him a little.’

‘He is a good ruler and I am sorry there is such enmity between him and George Augustus. I should like to change that and make them friends.’

Sophia Dorothea shook her head.

‘You’re beginning to understand them. No one has ever been able to teach them anything. My grandmother gave up long ago and she is a wise woman.’

‘I shall not receive those three women at my soirée. I believe that that will please George Augustus. In fact I know it will. I think perhaps the Elector would realize then how much happier everyone would be if he showed a little kindness to your mother. I don’t suggest that she should come back to Hanover. That would be too painful for everyone. But I do think that if he would allow George Augustus and you to see your mother, everyone would be happier and the dreadful enmity in the family might come to an end.’

‘You are a reformer, Caroline.’

‘That amuses you.’

‘In a way because I don’t think you know us here very well. But you will learn.’ Sophia Dorothea stood up. ‘I keep you from your duties. But I have enjoyed our talk. We must make the most of our opportunities before I leave for Prussia. There I shall have to concern myself with my own problems. Ugh! Settling ourselves into new homes is a delicate business. I suppose all wise princesses should remember my mother. Perhaps if she had her chance over again she would behave differently. Who wouldn’t? I daresay like me you would accept a great deal rather than be a prisoner in a lonely castle for years and years?’

There was no doubt about it. Sophia Dorothea was warning her sister-in-law.

Caroline looked startled. Coming towards her was the Elector;
his expression was cold, his mouth grim. Behind him walked two of the ugliest women Caroline had ever seen. They were like grotesque creatures from some fantastic play, one being so tall and thin, the other short and fat. And with them was the young and beautiful Countess von Platen.

The Elector stood before her.

‘I present to you Madam von Schulemburg, Madam Kielmansegge and the Countess von Platen…’

Caroline hesitated. She could say that she had not invited them. And if she did?

She looked into the cold, cruel face of the Elector, and saw the determination there.

The Electress Sophia who was beside her spoke suddenly: ‘Now is your opportunity to meet these ladies. I know it has for some time been your desire to do so.’

Warnings all about her. From the Electress, from her sister-in-law, from the sad prisoner of Ahlden, this band of women who knew what could happen to one of them if they did not accept the right of men to use them, to insult them, to humiliate them.