Виктория Холт - Queen in waiting

And who was to blame? The Government, the King, the Prince, the King's mistresses, the Cabinet ministers who had known all along that the South Sea Company was not the rich enterprise it had been made out to be, but merely an empty name to provide a gamble at which they could grow rich at the expense of the ignorant?

Caroline, still mourning the manner in which she had been outwitted, came out of her listlessness to listen aghast to the news.

People were massing in the streets. Riots could break out at any moment. And these people who had been ruined through what they were calling the South Sea Bubble, were looking for a scapegoat.

Why not the Germans whom they hated? The Prince was involved in this. He had been advised by Walpole how to gamble through the South Sea Company on the stock exchange and had made large sums of money. What some had gained others had lost. It was a frightening situation.

Henrietta came to her in panic and told her that it was being said that the royal family should leave England. They had never been so unpopular. They should get away while they had a chance.

"It will pass," said Caroline.

Walpole came to see her. She had been cool to him since the reconciliation and had told him that she understood how she had been duped.

He had been deeply concerned, assuring her that he had done everything in his power to restore her children to her. All the same she had made it clear to him that he was out of favour with her.

He had done something to regain her esteem by showing how her dissatisfaction disturbed him and using every effort to win back her approval.

She saw him differently now; to her he was a man of unattractive appearance; he was too bulky in figure, too coarse in his habits; and she had heard he drank heavily and lived an immoral life. Even so, she made excuses for him. His married life was not happy; his wife went her own way as he did, and took lovers while he took mistresses. He had a daughter who was a chronic invalid and her sufferings distressed him deeply. And in spite of all this he was the most brilliant statesman of his day.

She was aware of this and wanted him to be on her side. He knew that she was a clever woman married to a foolish husband who would one day be King. They both respected each other and would continue to do so whatever the differences between them.

Now it was as though his fearful disaster had brought them a little closer. She confided in him what she had heard and he replied that there was some feeling against the royal family but it would be folly to run away. The trouble would pass although he believed it would mean the fall of Stanhope.

"But that, Madam," he said his eyes twinkling, "need be no great concern of yours. Stanhope was scarcely your friend."

"They are blaming him?"

"He's one of the culprits. Sunderland too. They'll have to resign."

"And then?"

Walpole smiled. "I was warning people, you know, before the crash. I advised them not to buy."

"And you yourself?"

"I sold out at the highest price."

"This will not be held against you?"

"Why should it? I warned others to sell. I was ignored."

"And now you are able to go ahead with your building plans."

"Yes, Madam. I hope one day to have the honour of entertaining you and the Prince at Houghton. I will show you the pictures I am collecting. I am sure they will enchant you."

"You will not retire to Houghton again?"

"I doubt it. Madam. I doubt it now."

He was right, of course. Stanhope, rising in Parliament to defend himself, dropped to the floor unconscious, and the next day died. The strain was too much for him. Sunderland, as Walpole had predicted, was forced to resign.

This was the opportunity for which Walpole had been waiting. He was ready.

Sir Robert Walpole became Prime Minister.

Caroline had adjusted herself to her new role. Now she was the first lady of the Court. The King showed no objection to this for he had always had quite an affection for her. If she had had the character of his Duchess of Kendal, if she had not been his son's wife ... he admitted to himself he might have looked for a warmer relationship. But he was not one to seek a complicated life. All the same he was not displeased to have her back in her place. He liked to listen to her conversation when she spoke French and German. He could even understand her English better than that of his English ministers, interspersed as it was with French and German words and all pronounced with a decided German accent. Yes, his daughter-in-law was a fine woman, yet, as he had always known, one who would have to be watched.

He was content enough with the Duchess of Kendal and Darlington and other mistresses whom he picked up and dropped from time to time.

Dangers came and went. The affair of the South Sea Bubble had subsided and it had brought him Walpole, who, he knew very well, was the shrewdest minister in both England and Germany.

James across the water was a menace and always would be. Particularly now that he had married and produced a son, Charles Edward—so that now the line would continue and this boy could well grow up to harry them, though doubtless that would be in the days of George Augustus, his foolish son.

Well, at least he would have a clever wife to help him.

She hated her father-in-law of course. She'd never forgive him for keeping Frederick at Hanover and the girls under his control.

Well, she was pregnant again; and he would put no restrictions on this child. If it lived she should keep this one. That might make her a little more affectionate towards her father-in-law.

Mary Bellenden had given little attention to what was happening, being absorbed by her own affairs. She was wondering what would happen when she betrayed her secret; and she would have to sooner or later. The Prince still eyed her lasciviously although he had taken several mistresses recently.

He had changed—everybody was changing.

We're growing older, thought Mary. It was true; she was no longer the frivolous young girl she had been; nor was Molly Lepel; not even Sophie.

That reminded her. She had meant to speak to Molly about Sophie who had changed more than any of them. A short while ago she had been so frivolous that they had all scolded her. She seemed not to have a serious thought in her head. Lately she had been very quiet. What was on her mind?

She found Molly Lepel putting the Princess's clothes away.

"I should be helping you," said Mary. "I quite forgot."

Molly murmured something; and that was not like her usual talkative self.

"Is anything wrong?"

"Well... hardly that. Mary ... I'm married."

"You... too!''

"You mean ..."

Mary nodded; and they both began to laugh.

"I might have known/' said Molly at length. "How long "

"Too long to keep it secret. I thought we'd better when the Prince was getting more of a nuisance than ever. And you?"

"Lord Hervey."

"Lord Hervey! Molly! Who would have thought..."

"That he would have a wife?"

Mary was silent. Molly and Hervey! It was incredible. What a handsome pair they would be and yet ... She could not imagine Hervey as a husband. Still, Molly looked happy.

"I want to retire to the country. I'm tired of Court life," said Molly. "And you?"

"John has to stay at Court so I shall, too. One in the Prince's household, one in that of the Princess. You must admit it's convenient. I wonder if Sophie's married too and that's why she's been so quiet lately."

"We must find out," said Molly.

"I know she has been meeting Anthony Lowther lately."

"We'll ask at the first opportunity. After all if we tell her our secret, she should tell us hers."

The opportunity came a few days later.