The Prince and the Quakeress: (Georgian Series) (36 page)

*

Lord Bute was delighted. He called at once on the Dowager Princess to give her the good news.

‘I think all will be well,’ he informed her, and proceeded to tell her of his great good fortune in securing the note which Newbattle had written to Lady Sarah, giving details of the rendezvous in Holland Park.

‘But you are a… genius!’

‘I would not say that, my dear. But my entire life is given to you and the King, as you know. It is only natural that such devotion should bring results. And this was better than I hoped. I did not ask the King outright to accompany me but I
guessed he would be unable to resist coming. And I was right.’

‘And you saw this meeting?’

‘Yes. The lady was, however, accompanied by Lord George Lennox who, you may remember, is married to Newbattle’s sister. I was a little dashed when I saw this, for I believe that flighty young woman capable of real indiscretion.
But
 . . . there was no doubt that she is on very affectionate terms with Newbattle and was certainly not repulsing his advances. I do believe that as far as I can see they were making some arrangements and what could those possibly be with Lord George present? Only this: Newbattle is going to ask his father’s consent to his marriage with Sarah Lennox. Well, the sooner we see that mischievous young woman safely settled into matrimony with master Newbattle, the happier I shall be.’

‘And George – how was he affected by all this?’

‘Very deeply. He is in a state of great melancholy and while I am pleased that he has seen the girl for what she is I am disturbed because it shows how deeply his affection for her goes.’

‘He is a very affectionate young man, I fear. He was really quite cut up over…’

Lord Bute placed his hands playfully over the Princess’s lips. ‘Don’t let us even mention her name.’

‘I often think…’

Lord Bute kissed the lips his finger had touched.

‘Then you must not, my dearest. And our problem at this moment is the Lady Sarah Lennox. Tell me this: What news from abroad?’

‘Colonel Graeme left as you suggested and is now at Mecklenburg-Strelitz. I have not yet had his report on the Princess Charlotte but I am sure when it comes we shall be pleased with it.’

‘That is good. Trust a Scotsman to get on with the job. Let us hope that his report will be good, for we have to act very promptly.’

‘But what he saw in the Park…’

‘Our King is in love. I am sure if my Lady Sarah gave him a good account of what she was doing there he would be ready to believe all she told him. We must be prepared.’

Augusta nodded.

‘Colonel Graeme is well aware of the urgency of the situation.’

*

Sarah could not believe her eyes. She read the letter several times. It was impossible. The Earl and Countess of Ancram could not give their consent to their son’s marriage with the Lady Sarah Lennox.

It was an insult. And worse still, her lover’s attitude to the affair was despicable.

‘In view of my parents’ views we must perforce end this matter. It is with the deepest regret…’

‘Regret!’ cried Sarah. ‘What a coward he is! Why did I ever think I loved such a man?’

She threw herself on to her bed and wept bitterly. She was weeping – on and off – all through the morning and her sister, Lady Caroline, came to her room to see what was wrong with her.

‘Good Heavens,’ cried Caroline. ‘What a sight you look! And you have to attend the King’s levee this afternoon.’

‘I shall not go.’

‘Don’t be a fool,’ retorted Caroline. ‘Of course you will go. The King expects you.’

‘I don’t want to see the King. I don’t want to see anyone.’

Lady Caroline summoned the maids and told them that the Lady Sarah was suffering from a cold. She must attend a levee this afternoon and Lady Caroline suggested that her face should be bathed and pads of witch-hazel put over her eyes. She was to lie flat on her back for an hour in this state, by the end of which time she should look more like herself. Lady Caroline would choose what gown she was to wear.

‘And you will stop being foolish this instant,’ she hissed.

Lady Sarah lay on her bed and thought about Newbattle’s letter and his so-called love for her which had been forgotten at the first sign of opposition. George was different, she told herself. But she did not want George.

I don’t want either of them! she murmured. And if I don’t want them, I won’t have them.

She was sullen when it was time to dress for the levee; but Lady Caroline declared that she was passable. She was, in fact,
so pretty that nothing seemed to hide that prettiness. So the party set out.

George was watching for her eagerly when she arrived and he was debating with himself whether or not he would speak to her. He had told himself that Lady Susan had probably forgotten to say anything to Sarah and that was why she had gone to meet Newbattle. She surely would not have gone if she knew what he had said.

Yes, he told himself, that is it. She was waiting for some declaration and despairing of ever getting it she went to meet Newbattle in the Park. After all, her brother was with her. There was nothing wrong… just a little immodest perhaps, but then Sarah was so young she would not realize that.

Once he had heard that she did not know what he had said to Susan he would say it to her himself, and what joy it would be to watch her pleasure!

He went to her.

‘Have you seen your friend Lady Susan lately?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’

That bewildered him. But then she had seen the girl, who had not told her. That was it.

‘Has she told you what I said to her?’

‘Yes.’

He was astonished. Then why was she looking so miserable? This was something he had not considered.

‘Did she tell you all?’

‘Yes,
all
.’

‘And… do you approve?’

Sarah turned her head away. How could she say to the King: I don’t want you. I’m in love with Lord Newbattle who has decided to forget all about me because his parents tell him to.

George was astounded and mortified. There was nothing he could do but walk away.

*

Her family were furious. What had she done? She had ruined her chances.

‘I don’t care. I don’t care. I am tired of them… both.’

‘Oh, so this is pique on account of Newbattle, is it?’

‘What if it is?’

‘Oh, Sarah, you fool, you fool. You have thrown away the greatest chance that ever came to a woman.’

‘And a good thing, too.’

‘Everyone could see that the King was most hurt. I doubt he will ever want to speak to you again.’

‘Then I’m glad.’

‘You silly creature.’

‘I don’t want to stay here to see… Lord Newbattle. I want to go away for a while.’

‘It’s a pity you didn’t leave with Susan and stay in Ilchester for a while.’

‘Yes, a great pity. I wish I had.’

‘Well, I think it would be a good idea if you left town for a while. Go to Goodwood and stay there until you are in a better mood. Don’t stay too long, for if you do the King may have forgotten you.’

The next day Lady Sarah left for Goodwood.

*

On the road to Goodwood, Sarah’s carriage was overtaken by another and when she saw who was in it she cried out in delight, for it was Lord Newbattle.

He left his carriage and came into hers.

‘So you are off to Goodwood,’ he said.

‘How did you know, and it is no affair of yours.’

‘I learn everything about you and it is my affair. I always make it my business to find out where you are.’

‘Have you Papa’s permission to do so?’

‘You didn’t think that letter was important, did you?’

‘What else should I think of it?’

‘I wrote it because they stood over me and expected me to. I didn’t mean it, of course.’

‘You didn’t mean it!’

‘Of course not. What a simpleton you are, Sarah. Of course I didn’t. We’ll be married, and when the deed is done we’ll tell them and they’ll have to accept it. That’s the way it’s done. You ask your sister and Mr Fox.’

Sarah was laughing.

‘Still,’ she pouted. ‘You should not have written such a letter. I cried over it, and then I was very sullen with the King.’

‘Serve him right,’ said Newbattle. ‘That’s what I like to hear. I shall be a constant visitor to Goodwood.’

He left her, and the carriages, one behind the other, rattled on to Goodwood – which was only two days ride from London.

Sarah was looking forward to a very pleasant time. She had made up her mind. Lord Newbattle was the man she really loved. It must be so because he only had to appear to make her happy; besides it was because she was so angry with Lord Newbattle that she had snubbed the King.

*

When the Foxes and Richmonds heard that Newbattle was visiting Sarah at Goodwood they were incensed and they decided that she should not stay there. Lord Ilchester suggested that she should go to his estate at Bruton in Somerset and as his daughter Susan was already there, Sarah agreed.

When she told him she was going, Newbattle was annoyed.

‘That is too far for me to come and see you. You must refuse to go.’

‘Too far. So I am not worth such a journey?’

Newbattle yawned. Lady Sarah was certainly capricious and it had been quite enough to ride out to Goodwood. He was certainly not going all the way to Somerset to see her. There were many other young ladies who found him fascinating; and although Sarah was the prettiest of them – and admired by the King – he was inclined to think she took him for granted. In fact, although Sarah was attractive he wished her to realize that he was equally so, and he was certainly not going to Somerset to see her.

Sarah retorted: ‘Very well, stay away.’ But in her heart she did not believe he would, for had he not written that letter cancelling their betrothal and then told her he had not meant it. No, with such an attractive young man as Newbattle, who was so very much aware of his charms, it was necessary to show him that he could not hope to hold her affections unless he made an effort to do so.

She was determined to go to Somerset.

*

Lady Susan was there and that was fun. Each day Sarah waited for Lord Newbattle to arrive, but he did not come; and she began to think that he had meant what he said.

Then one day when she and Susan were riding, Sarah fell from her horse and broke her leg. She had to be carried back to Bruton and there the leg was set and news sent to London of what had happened.

When the King heard he was stricken with grief.

‘I must go and see her,’ he declared; but Lord Bute pointed out to him that he could not possibly travel so far. He must remember that he was a King and Kings could not travel without an entourage. It would take a long time to get ready and everyone would know where he was going and why. It was simply impossible. He must realize that.

George, growing more and more sensible of his position, did realize the truth of this.

‘But,’ he said, ‘I shall write to her. She must know that I am thinking of her at such a time.’

Bute was disturbed.

‘He does not appear to have recovered from this infatuation,’ he told the Princess Augusta. ‘She so rudely snubbed him and yet he is deeply concerned because the tiresome creature has broken a leg.’

‘Perhaps we shall soon be having some good news from Colonel Graeme.’

‘I fervently hope so.’

Mr Fox and Lady Caroline travelled down to Somerset accompanied by their son, Charles James, and the Duke and Duchess of Richmond.

Sarah was very amused to see them. She had, in fact, been a good patient and as long as Susan was there to talk to her she did not appear to mind being incapacitated.

‘You see,’ she said to Susan, ‘what an important person I have become.’

Every day she waited in vain for a visit from Newbattle, and Lady Caroline told her rather maliciously that Lord Newbattle had been informed of the accident.

‘And what did he say? What did he do?’

‘He took it very calmly,’ replied Lady Caroline. ‘In fact his remark is being whispered round the Court.’

‘Oh?’ Sarah dimpled. ‘What was it?’

‘Simply that it would do no great harm, for your legs were ugly enough before.’

‘I don’t believe it.’

‘Now don’t excite yourself. It’s time you learned what sort of man he is. He cares nothing for you. He is amusing himself. He thinks it extremely amusing that you could be such a little fool as to throw away the chance of a lifetime… for nothing.’

Sarah’s lips began to quiver. How could he be so cruel, first not to bother to visit her, then not to care that she had broken her leg? And most heartless of all, to say such cruel things about her!

‘Don’t be so silly,’ said Lady Caroline. ‘You are coming back to London as soon as your leg is well enough for you to travel. Then perhaps you will show the King how honoured you are by his attentions.’

Talking it over with Susan, Sarah admitted that her sister was right.

George was the better man – and he was a King. It was characteristic of Sarah that now the decision had been made for her she should return all her enthusiasm towards it and behave as though what she wanted more than anything on Earth was to marry George.

During her convalescence she and Susan discussed at length the excitement of being a Queen.

And as soon as she was well enough to travel she returned to London.

*

It was May when she arrived. As soon as George knew she was back he became excited, and Bute mournfully told the Princess that he was as infatuated as ever.

Hearing that Lady Sarah was going to the play – her first engagement on returning to her brother-in-law’s house – George announced his intentions of going too and everyone noticed that he spent the time looking at Lady Sarah rather than at the performance on the stage. All attention was focused on them. It seemed certain that George had decided to marry her.

The following Sunday when she attended his Drawing Room as soon as he saw her he was at her side and he talked to her during the whole of the session. She was very different from the coquettish girl who had flouted him before she had gone to the country; she smiled and showed quite clearly how his attention delighted her. In such a mood Sarah was more charming
than ever and people remarked that they made a very handsome couple. Soon, thought the Princess uneasily, the people in the streets would hear of this; they would cheer them when they went out, for nothing would please them more than for the King to marry a commoner – and an Englishwoman at that. They would much prefer such a match to a German one.