Perdita's Prince: (Georgian Series) (45 page)

Ah, the Prince! He was never far from the surface of her mind. How could he be? She constantly heard news of him. It was inevitable. His exploits were on everyone’s lips. He must soon be the King of England.

She wished that she had been able to keep those letters he had written her. How she would have enjoyed reading them again! But they had been sold for the pension she now enjoyed and which would continue after her death to be paid to Maria. At least she need not worry about Maria – her dear daughter who had nursed her and loved her over the years of her affliction.

And to think that Maria had come from her union with the hated Mr Robinson who had long since through death ceased to trouble them.

Such, she thought, was life.

*

But it was death which was now her concern.

She called Maria to her, for she knew there was not much time left.

‘Maria, my dearest daughter,’ she said, ‘I should like to be buried in the churchyard at old Windsor … close to the river. I have always loved the river.’

‘Do not speak of death, Mamma,’ begged Maria.

‘My dearest, we cannot ignore it. It is coming soon, I know.’

She could not bear to see Maria’s tears yet she could not prevent herself playing the part of the dying woman. It was natural for her to act. She knew this was so and wanted to explain to Maria. Her mind was wandering a little. She talked of Mr Garrick who had been so brusque but who had promised to teach her; she talked of Mr Fox and the Prince.

‘Is that someone at the door, Maria? He’s come. I knew he would come at the last.’

Maria shook her head, but Perdita was already seeing him – not as he was now but as a charming prince, eager and loving.

‘Maria love, give me the paper heart … “Unalterable to my Perdita through life”. He meant it then … He will remember …’

‘No, Mamma,’ whispered Maria gently.

But she did not hear.

She was quoting to herself the poem she had written and which Maria had always known referred to the Prince of Wales.

Thou art no more my bosom friend,

Here must the sweet delusion end,

That charmed my senses many a year

Through smiling summers, winters drear.

Ah, yes, thought Maria, here must the delusion end. The Prince of Wales, deeply immersed in his own tempestuous life, could scarcely be expected to be aware of the passing of one who had amused him briefly twenty years before.

Perdita was smiling. Perhaps, thought Maria, she believes he has come to her. Perhaps the sweet delusion is still with her.

Maria put her arms about her mother and Perdita lay in them, smiling as life passed away.

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Epub ISBN: 9781448150434

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First published 1969 by Robert Hale and Company

© Jean Plaidy 1969

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