an interesting country. Have you ever felt that you would like to see it?’
‘I think it is always interesting to see new places,’ replied Caroline noncommittally.
The stay of the Archduke at Weissenfels was short. He had merely come to take a look at the bride he was being offered to assure himself that she was not deformed or distasteful in any way.
Then he rode on to the Hague to embark for England and Caroline went back to Lützenburg.
When Caroline reached the palace she went immediately to Sophia Charlotte, embraced her, and told her what had happened.
‘I’ll never… never leave you!’ she cried.
‘But you liked him… this Archduke Charles?’ said Sophia Charlotte.
‘He was pleasant enough but…’
‘He could well become the King of Spain. Have you thought of that?’
‘I could only think that you would be in Prussia, I in Spain.’
‘And that is enough to make you want to refuse this match?’
‘It is. I am certain of it.’
‘My dearest, I cannot be always with you.’
‘But why not?’
‘Because I am older than you, and none of us can expect to live for ever.’
‘Let us swear to be together… until death parts us.’
‘My darling, it is not right. It is not good. There is your future to think of. You will soon be twenty-one. In a few years they will be saying you are too old for marriage. You have no great titles or riches, remember, to attract a bridegroom. It is my duty to tell you that you might never get an offer to compare with this.’
Caroline put her arms round Sophia Charlotte’s neck. ‘I choose to stay with you,’ she said.
The King of Prussia sent for his ward. When she stood before him he looked at her more intently than he ever had before. It seemed miraculous that she could have received such an honour. Of course she was a Hohenzollern and connected with the Brandenburgs, but without fortune, without honours and titles. Why had she been chosen by the Imperial family to marry one of the sons of that House? It was true Archduke Charles was a second son, but he could be Emperor one day; he could also be King of Spain. Of course, the Empire was not the mighty power it had once been, and Charles was a young man with ambitious hopes rather than actual possessions; all the same this was a brilliant offer for Caroline and he hoped she realized it.
It was Sophia Charlotte who had made this possible. She had brought up the girl in such a manner as to make her a desirable wife, without dowry and titles though she might be, and all who had met her at Lützenburg had been impressed by her accomplishments, for she was perhaps the most well-educated and cultivated princess in Germany. Sophia Charlotte haddetermined to educate her as though she were her own daughter – and this was the result.
He would be glad to see the girl married, for she was not going to have his son. He was afraid that Sophia Charlotte would attempt to persuade him and, although he was determined to remain firm, he might waver.
‘Now, Caroline,’ he said, ‘I have great news for you. The Archduke Charles is asking for your hand in marriage.’
Caroline sought to control her feelings, which amazed herself. She was horrified because this would mean separation from Sophia Charlotte, and yet at the same time she would have been hurt if the offer had not been made.
The King gave her his wintry smile. ‘You clearly made a good impression during your meeting at Weissenfels.’
‘I… I’m pleased about that.’
‘Well, you don’t seem to realize the honour this is. I expect at first it overwhelms you. I can tell you I did not expect anything quite so exalted. This is your great opportunity, and I am sure you are clever enough to realize that. As your guardian I am invited to meet the Elector Palatine to discuss terms, but there is one condition which will be essential. You will have to become a Catholic.’
‘Become a Catholic!’
‘Don’t look so startled. What chance do you think a
‘I think it is always interesting to see new places,’ replied Caroline noncommittally.
The stay of the Archduke at Weissenfels was short. He had merely come to take a look at the bride he was being offered to assure himself that she was not deformed or distasteful in any way.
Then he rode on to the Hague to embark for England and Caroline went back to Lützenburg.
When Caroline reached the palace she went immediately to Sophia Charlotte, embraced her, and told her what had happened.
‘I’ll never… never leave you!’ she cried.
‘But you liked him… this Archduke Charles?’ said Sophia Charlotte.
‘He was pleasant enough but…’
‘He could well become the King of Spain. Have you thought of that?’
‘I could only think that you would be in Prussia, I in Spain.’
‘And that is enough to make you want to refuse this match?’
‘It is. I am certain of it.’
‘My dearest, I cannot be always with you.’
‘But why not?’
‘Because I am older than you, and none of us can expect to live for ever.’
‘Let us swear to be together… until death parts us.’
‘My darling, it is not right. It is not good. There is your future to think of. You will soon be twenty-one. In a few years they will be saying you are too old for marriage. You have no great titles or riches, remember, to attract a bridegroom. It is my duty to tell you that you might never get an offer to compare with this.’
Caroline put her arms round Sophia Charlotte’s neck. ‘I choose to stay with you,’ she said.
The King of Prussia sent for his ward. When she stood before him he looked at her more intently than he ever had before. It seemed miraculous that she could have received such an honour. Of course she was a Hohenzollern and connected with the Brandenburgs, but without fortune, without honours and titles. Why had she been chosen by the Imperial family to marry one of the sons of that House? It was true Archduke Charles was a second son, but he could be Emperor one day; he could also be King of Spain. Of course, the Empire was not the mighty power it had once been, and Charles was a young man with ambitious hopes rather than actual possessions; all the same this was a brilliant offer for Caroline and he hoped she realized it.
It was Sophia Charlotte who had made this possible. She had brought up the girl in such a manner as to make her a desirable wife, without dowry and titles though she might be, and all who had met her at Lützenburg had been impressed by her accomplishments, for she was perhaps the most well-educated and cultivated princess in Germany. Sophia Charlotte haddetermined to educate her as though she were her own daughter – and this was the result.
He would be glad to see the girl married, for she was not going to have his son. He was afraid that Sophia Charlotte would attempt to persuade him and, although he was determined to remain firm, he might waver.
‘Now, Caroline,’ he said, ‘I have great news for you. The Archduke Charles is asking for your hand in marriage.’
Caroline sought to control her feelings, which amazed herself. She was horrified because this would mean separation from Sophia Charlotte, and yet at the same time she would have been hurt if the offer had not been made.
The King gave her his wintry smile. ‘You clearly made a good impression during your meeting at Weissenfels.’
‘I… I’m pleased about that.’
‘Well, you don’t seem to realize the honour this is. I expect at first it overwhelms you. I can tell you I did not expect anything quite so exalted. This is your great opportunity, and I am sure you are clever enough to realize that. As your guardian I am invited to meet the Elector Palatine to discuss terms, but there is one condition which will be essential. You will have to become a Catholic.’
‘Become a Catholic!’
‘Don’t look so startled. What chance do you think a
Similar Books
