Queen in Waiting: (Georgian Series) (16 page)

‘Yes, I will.’

‘And you will give your answer soon?’

‘I must speak to my brother. There is no other House of which I would rather be a member than that of Hanover but… I must have time to think…’

The Baron bowed and left her.

Caroline walked up and down her apartment. She was thinking of the little man who had smiled at her so warmly, who had shown so clearly how he admired her.

She liked him… as well as one could like anyone on such a short acquaintance. But she had liked Archduke Charles. If it had not been a matter of leaving Sophia Charlotte… if it had not been necessary to become a Catholic… Well, then she might by now be married to him.

But here was George Augustus – more ardent than Charles, because he was less polished, perhaps. About Charles’s gallantry there had been a suavity which George Augustus lacked. Yet George Augustus was a pleasant young man; he admired her; he had helped her take one step out of the despondent morass into which the death of Sophia Charlotte had plunged her and she
had
regretted his departure.

She went to the window and looked out across the gardens, now beautiful with summer roses. She could go to Sophia Charlotte’s home, the Leine Schloss, Herrenhausen, the Alte Palais – of which she had talked so much that Caroline felt she knew them already. Between herself and the Electress Sophia there was already a bond – their love of Sophia Charlotte. Not only that, but they were of a kind. They were interested in discussion and ideas; and it was rare to find a companion who cared for
anything but gossip, clothes and court scandal.

It was almost as though Sophia Charlotte’s voice was coming to her over the immense distance which separated the dead from the living.

‘I cannot be with you, my darling, but this will help you. Go to my mother; she will love you and you will love her. You have to marry sometime. It is the best way of life. You will agree when you have children. You will be there in my old home. My dearest child, it is the best thing left to you.’

The best thing left! They were right when they said she could not go on mourning for ever, for one could not live with the dead.

Her brother came into her apartment. It was easy to see how delighted he was.

‘Baron von Eltz has spoken to me. Why, Caroline, this is an excellent proposal. He wants your acceptance quickly. I hope you will give it. It is the best thing that could happen to you. You will accept this proposal?’

She hesitated only for a second.

‘Yes, I accept.’

Baron von Eltz rode with all speed to Hanover and in few days he was riding back to Ansbach with instructions from the Elector to arrange the marriage of his son with Princess Caroline.

Not until George Lewis had the documents back in his hand would he break the secrecy and it was characteristic of him that he should send Count von Platen to tell his mother what had taken place.

Sophia had risen from her bed, for she was beginning to recover, and when she received Platen in her audience chamber, he was smiling a little secretively as he bowed.

‘Good news, Your Highness! The Electoral Prince is soon to be married.’

Sophia stared at him in astonishment; anger threatened to betray itself, but long practice had disciplined her to keep it in check.

‘Yes, Your Highness, your son thought it was high time, and he is sure you will agree with him. So a marriage has been arranged and we hope that it will take place very shortly, as
neither the Elector nor the Electoral Prince see any reason for delay.’

A marriage! thought Sophia furiously. But I wanted Caroline for him. Why will George Lewis never listen to me!

‘The matter has been arranged in some secrecy. The Prince rode to Ansbach with von Eltz… two gentlemen calling themselves Busch and Steding… travelling for pleasure.’

‘To Ansbach!’ cried Sophia. ‘Then…’

‘The Princess Caroline of Ansbach is to marry the Prince, Your Highness. She has accepted him and the negotiations have now been completed.’

The Electress did not know which was the greater – fury at being kept out of a plan which she herself had suggested, or joy that what she so desired had come about. Being the sensible woman she was she quickly suppressed the former and indulged in the latter.

She composed her features.

‘I am delighted,’ she said. ‘Pray tell my son that if I had been consulted I should have suggested that the best possible bride for my grandson would be the Princess Caroline of Ansbach.’

Hanover was in a state of excitement preparing for the wedding. It was no longer a secret. In his apartments the bridegroom was strutting before his mirror, commanding his servants to help him dress in the clothes which were being made for his wedding. He tried on his wigs and wanted them built up in the front to give him height. For the first time he was the most important person in the court, the focus of all attention; and he was delighted with himself. Even his father treated him with a new respect. George Augustus was a happy bridegroom.

In the kitchens there was great activity; banquets to surpass all banquets must be prepared to celebrate the wedding; comedians and actors were commanded to concoct plays and entertainments to enliven the celebrations. Even the Elector, usually inclined to be parsimonious, had implied that a little extravagance was warranted on such a happy occasion. It was a unique occasion. For the first time most people remembered the Elector was pleased with his son.

Sophia Dorothea was as excited as her brother.

‘Marriage is in the air,’ she declared. ‘I shall be next. And I’ll tell you something, George Augustus, the Crown Prince of Prussia is asking for me.’

‘You think his father will allow that? He’s furious about my marriage. He wanted Caroline for himself, some say.’ George Augustus stood on tiptoe and studied himself in the mirror. The King of Spain wanted her; the King of Prussia wanted her; but she wanted me.’

‘Well, you’re the last one to be surprised at that!’ retorted Sophia Dorothea. ‘And it’s no use anyone’s saying I’m not to have Frederick William because I’ve decided that I am… and so has he.’

‘He told you this?’

‘He said he would make life unbearable for everyone until consent was given to our marriage.’

‘There’s a bold lover for you!’

‘The only sort of lover I would have.’ Sophia Dorothea was serious suddenly. ‘George Augustus, I wonder what our mother
feels
about this?’

‘Feels? What should she feel?’

‘Can’t you put yourself in her place? Her son, her first born, is about to be married and she is shut away and not allowed to join in and be happy with the rest of us.’

George Augustus was silent; his mouth turned down angrily. ‘I hate our father for what he did to our mother.’

‘You hate him for a lot of other things besides,’ Sophia Dorothea reminded him. ‘Grandfather Celle is on his way, did you know? He is coming to congratulate you and say how happy he is. But I don’t think he’s very happy. I don’t think he was happy from the day he allowed our father to marry our mother. We’re lucky to
choose
our partners… or more or less choose them. Fancy being presented with our father and told you had to marry him! No wonder our mother was unhappy; no wonder it made Grandmother Celle turn away from Grandfather Celle and never love him again in quite the same way.’

George Augustus was thinking of his childhood. He remembered his mother more clearly than Sophia Dorothea. He could still recall the fear when she had disappeared; and how he had once tried to rescue her.

‘I shall always hate our father,’ he said. ‘Even though he didn’t try to force me into marriage I’ll always hate him.’

Sophia Dorothea nodded. ‘Marriage!’ she said. ‘They all dance and make merry and congratulate. But is it a matter of congratulation?’

‘Mine will be.’

‘Of course. George Augustus and Caroline are going to live in harmony for ever after.’

‘Why shouldn’t they?’

‘Because no one ever does. All you can hope for is a compromise like Grandmother Hanover had. She was Queen of the household because she never interfered with Grandfather Hanover’s mistresses.’

‘Caroline will never interfere with mine.’

‘Oh, won’t she? I shall not allow my husband to have any.’

‘You think any husband would allow that?’

‘Mine will.’

‘You have strange ideas of marriage.’

‘Perhaps Caroline shares them.’

‘Caroline!’ George Augustus smiled dreamily into the future. ‘She is very beautiful, sister. And she is docile. She is quiet when I wish to speak; she is a little sad; and she will be grateful to me for ever because I married her.’

‘Yours is certain to be a happy marriage,’ said Sophia Dorothea scornfully. ‘Grandmother Celle has gone to Ahlden. She will not come here because she hates our Father. She has never forgiven him for what he did to our mother. I saw Fräulein von Knesebeck once. She loved our mother and suffered with her and she told me. She said that she never saw a pair of lovers like Grandmother Celle and Grandfather Celle. He lived for her until our mother married our father and then they quarrelled, because Grandmother was against the match and he for it, and when the tragedy happened she blamed him and never loved him again. All her love was for our mother. Isn’t that sad, George Augustus? Doesn’t it make you hesitate when you think about marriage?’

‘My marriage will be different. We shall not quarrel. Caroline will understand me.’

‘Frederick William does not understand me… but it will be
fun learning about him… and for him to learn about me. I don’t think I ask as much from marriage as you do. You want a wife who is a sort of exalted slave, to give way to all your whims, to look up to you as a god. Oh, George Augustus, you have to grow up.’

‘Listen to who’s talking! I believe you’re comparing me with our father.’

‘I wouldn’t compare anyone with him. Do you know our mother wanted to write to you? She wanted to say how happy she is that you are going to be married and she wanted to wish you joy. But Father wouldn’t let her.’

‘He is a monster. I shall always hate him. I shall always be kind to Caroline.’

‘So
good
of you.’ Sophia Dorothea laughed lightly. ‘Let us hope that she will be as good to you as you are to her.’

George Augustus narrowed his eyes. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Wait and see. Wait till five years… ten years… . Just wait and see.’

With that she decided she had had enough talk of marriage. She was tired of looking at George Augustus strutting in his new clothes. She would go and see about her own.

About eight weeks after Baron von Eltz had made the Electoral Prince’s proposal, Caroline, with her brother, set out for Hanover.

Caroline was a little nervous. She had made a complete break with the old life and was now ready for the new. She had determined that her marriage would be a success and that she would find a tolerable life at Hanover – though not to be compared with that which she had known at Lützenburg, for what could compare with the companionship of Sophia Charlotte?

As they left the hills of Ansbach behind them and their coach carried them towards the northern plains, Caroline was thinking of the letters George Augustus had written her when he knew that she had consented to become his wife.

‘I owe you every imaginable obligation for permitting me the greatest happiness that I desire in my life… I hope to show you my inviolable respect and eternal affection…’

‘The time of your departure seems infinitely distant and I
count every day and hour until its arrival…’

‘I desire nothing so much as to throw myself at my Princess’s feet and promise her eternal devotion. You alone can make me happy. But I shall not be entirely convinced of my happiness until I have the satisfaction of testifying to the excess of my fondness and love for you.’

The words of a lover, but a man whom she had seen only during one short visit. Still, happiness… or at least satisfaction… was apparent in everything he wrote to her. She was not a romantic girl. Life with Sophia Charlotte and her own mother’s tragic story had taught her realism. Marriage with this ardent, dapper little man would no doubt be a compromise and she was ready for it.

As she listened to the sound of the coach on the road, she believed she had been wise to come.

She needed a new life.

Now she was on the threshold of it.

At a village outside Hanover Caroline made the acquaintance of her father-in-law.

It was not a very reassuring encounter and had she not been warned of the man she must expect, she would have been depressed. Certainly she would have been surprised had she known that George Lewis was being unusually gracious.

He actually muttered that he was pleased to see her and was glad she was marrying his son.

Dour, having no love for ceremonies, he cut short the interview as quickly as possible, but left her with the impression that he was looking her over to assess what sort of a breeder she would be. She then began to have qualms as to the difficulties of settling into a household of which this man was the head.

Her brother consoled her. George Lewis was a just man; he ruled Hanover well; and it was clear that in spite of his curt manners he was delighted with the match.

Caroline was glad when he returned to Hanover and left her for the last evening alone with her brother.

Just before Caroline made her entry into Hanover the Duke of Celle caught a chill when hunting and died. This cast a gloom
over everything – not so much because a member of the family had died, but because it brought an inevitable reminder of the Elector’s wife. It was scarcely a pretty rumour to be in circulation at the time of a wedding.

However, George Lewis decreed that the period of mourning should be very short in the circumstances.

The coach containing Caroline and her brother entered the main courtyard of the Leine Schloss. The trumpets immediately sounded their welcome and the soldiers formed to make a guard of honour. Standing waiting to receive the bride was the entire Electoral family headed by the Elector and on one side of him his son and on the other his mother.