immediately thought of the chief bridesmaid, for she was sure that the King had been thinking of her too, and no doubt wishing her in Charlotte’s place. But she knew enough of the ways of Court to be aware of the fact that many a Queen had arrived in her new land to find her husband’s mistress in possession of his affections. She did not believe Sarah Lennox was George’s mistress; and she felt extraordinarily optimistic since her new intimacy with the King; she believed that nowhe was a husband he would soon stop hankering after that girl.
Her women were whispering together. There was one whom she had not noticed before; flamboyant and beautiful, though no longer young.
The woman was saying: ‘And my Lord Hardwicke met His Majesty coming from the bedchamber and His Majesty seemed in good spirits. He said it was a very fine day; to which my lord replied with accompanying leer: “Yes, Sire, and it was a very fine night.” At which His Majesty was not amused.’
The titter of laughter which followed this gave Charlotte an indication of the sort of joke these women were making although they spoke in English. She had however caught the words His Majesty for those were two with which she had already become familiar.
I must learn English quickly, she thought. They must not be allowed to chatter so in my presence and I not know what they say.
She asked the Marchioness who the lady was.
‘It is Elizabeth Chudleigh, Madam, whom the Princess Dowager has appointed to serve you.’
‘Pray present her to me.’
Elizabeth Chudleigh swept a deep curtsey. Her eyes seemed to be filled with mischief – but how could Charlotte complain of that.
Elizabeth Chudleigh was thinking: My God, what have they given the poor boy now! I’ll warrant he’s thinking of pretty Sarah or perhaps his beautiful Hannah. What a tale I could tell little Crocodile-Mouth if I wished. Elizabeth was sure of herself. She had played her part in the Hannah Lightfoot affair, for the King – Prince of Wales then, of course – had confided in her and asked her help. Was it not Elizabeth who had found the rooms in the Haymarket where George had had those clandestine meetings with his Quakeress? What a part she had played in the elopement! And what great good it had brought her for that sly old matron, the Princess Dowager, would have dismissed her from Court long ’ere this had Elizabeth not been in a position to work a little courteous blackmail. And Lord Bute was afraid of her too!
Well, Elizabeth was now deep in her own affairs; wondering how she was going to get the Duke of Kingston to marry her.He was her doting lover and she the mistress without whom he could not live – but she had married Hervey and she would have to extricate herself from that entanglement somehow. In the meantime she was biding her time and waiting on the newly arrived Queen.
Poor child! thought Elizabeth. Should one warn her of the King’s infatuation for the Lennox girl? Should one tell her that if she were clever she could beat her mother-in-law at her own game. No. Keep out, thought Elizabeth. The great project was how to become the Duchess of Kingston. Let the Queen look after herself.
‘You have been serving the Princess Dowager, I presume,’ said Charlotte in French.
‘Yes, Your Majesty. I think she chose me because the King himself has always honoured me by his interest in my welfare.’
‘I am pleased to hear it.’
‘You are gracious, Madam. I shall hope to serve you faithfully, for that is what His Majesty would wish.’
She is clever and wise, thought Charlotte. She is a woman of great experience. Did they say Miss Chudleigh. Odd that she had not married and become a Countess or Duchess. She would have to find out more about this intriguing woman.
She was ready for the levee and left for the drawing room. There she found her bridesmaids assembled and was quickly aware of Sarah Lennox, looking fresh and lovely and as beautiful in her gown of velvet as
Her women were whispering together. There was one whom she had not noticed before; flamboyant and beautiful, though no longer young.
The woman was saying: ‘And my Lord Hardwicke met His Majesty coming from the bedchamber and His Majesty seemed in good spirits. He said it was a very fine day; to which my lord replied with accompanying leer: “Yes, Sire, and it was a very fine night.” At which His Majesty was not amused.’
The titter of laughter which followed this gave Charlotte an indication of the sort of joke these women were making although they spoke in English. She had however caught the words His Majesty for those were two with which she had already become familiar.
I must learn English quickly, she thought. They must not be allowed to chatter so in my presence and I not know what they say.
She asked the Marchioness who the lady was.
‘It is Elizabeth Chudleigh, Madam, whom the Princess Dowager has appointed to serve you.’
‘Pray present her to me.’
Elizabeth Chudleigh swept a deep curtsey. Her eyes seemed to be filled with mischief – but how could Charlotte complain of that.
Elizabeth Chudleigh was thinking: My God, what have they given the poor boy now! I’ll warrant he’s thinking of pretty Sarah or perhaps his beautiful Hannah. What a tale I could tell little Crocodile-Mouth if I wished. Elizabeth was sure of herself. She had played her part in the Hannah Lightfoot affair, for the King – Prince of Wales then, of course – had confided in her and asked her help. Was it not Elizabeth who had found the rooms in the Haymarket where George had had those clandestine meetings with his Quakeress? What a part she had played in the elopement! And what great good it had brought her for that sly old matron, the Princess Dowager, would have dismissed her from Court long ’ere this had Elizabeth not been in a position to work a little courteous blackmail. And Lord Bute was afraid of her too!
Well, Elizabeth was now deep in her own affairs; wondering how she was going to get the Duke of Kingston to marry her.He was her doting lover and she the mistress without whom he could not live – but she had married Hervey and she would have to extricate herself from that entanglement somehow. In the meantime she was biding her time and waiting on the newly arrived Queen.
Poor child! thought Elizabeth. Should one warn her of the King’s infatuation for the Lennox girl? Should one tell her that if she were clever she could beat her mother-in-law at her own game. No. Keep out, thought Elizabeth. The great project was how to become the Duchess of Kingston. Let the Queen look after herself.
‘You have been serving the Princess Dowager, I presume,’ said Charlotte in French.
‘Yes, Your Majesty. I think she chose me because the King himself has always honoured me by his interest in my welfare.’
‘I am pleased to hear it.’
‘You are gracious, Madam. I shall hope to serve you faithfully, for that is what His Majesty would wish.’
She is clever and wise, thought Charlotte. She is a woman of great experience. Did they say Miss Chudleigh. Odd that she had not married and become a Countess or Duchess. She would have to find out more about this intriguing woman.
She was ready for the levee and left for the drawing room. There she found her bridesmaids assembled and was quickly aware of Sarah Lennox, looking fresh and lovely and as beautiful in her gown of velvet as
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