Jean Plaidy: The Third George

Horace Walpole, that old gossip, had remarked that each morning he must ask what fresh English victory there had been for fear of missing one. Pitt had declared that he could save England and he was the only one who could. He had taken over the ministry in all but name when England was engaged in a war that seemed disastrous, for her only ally was Frederick the Great, and he and England stood together against the combined forces of France, Austria, Russia and Spain. Pitt was fighting out the conflict in America and India and doing what he had said he would do: turn a kingdom into an Empire.

Recognizing the man's genius, Bute would have been contented to work with Pitt. It was Pitt who had shown so clearly that he would not work with Bute. Pitt had stood firm against the folly of nepotism. The right man for the job, was his cry. And he was proving how right he was. Yet if ever a man hoped to climb through favouritism that man was Bute. He had relied for years on the love of the Princess Dowager; now he relied on that of the King. Bute wanted to rule England; and Pitt had already declared that if the unfortunate day arrived when Bute moved in, he, Pitt, would move out.

Ever since that day Bute had made up his mind that Pitt should go and he was waiting for the time to come when he would have an opportunity of disposing of his enemy.

As he smiled at the Princess he was thinking how safe he was with her. She adored him and he was very fond of her. They worked together, saw eye to eye; Augusta was not a promiscuous woman; she had been the perfect wife when Frederick had been alive; she had stood firmly beside him, accepting his policies, hating those whom he hated, favouring those whom he favoured; and she had not been unfaithful, although Bute knew that often she wished to be ... with him. And as soon as Frederick died there was nothing to prevent their union; neither of them asked for the impossible, which marriage would have been. They were wise enough to do without that mixed blessing. They were as one in mind and body; and they asked nothing more.

Lady Bute came to Court. Thank God-, he had been wise enough to choose a sensible wife. She knew of the relationship between her husband and the Princess. He had given her a large family: "Fourteen children," the Princess Augusta had remarked admiringly, 'in as little time as it takes to get them." She had special privileges as the wife of one of the most prominent men at Court, and so did her children; Bute himself had become a member of the Privy Council, Groom of the Stole and First Gentleman of the Bedchamber; the King consulted him at every turn and he was fast becoming, to all intents and purposes, the Prime Minister. Lady Bute had been created Baroness Mount Stuart of Wortley; and this, her husband had assured her, on one of the rare occasions when he could absent himself from the side of his mistress to spend a little time with her, was a beginning. Yes, Lady Bute was a sensible woman, determined to put no obstacle in the way of her husband's advancement. So with his women he was singularly blessed.

"Nothing will go wrong with this, my love," he said firmly. "But I agree with you that the sooner our Princess arrives and is formally married to His Majesty, the happier we shall all feel.”

"The girl should be grateful," said the Princess. "After all, what is this place, Mecklenburg- Strelitz? Can you imagine their feelings when Colonel Graeme made our intentions clear to them?”

"They must have been overwhelmed with joy.”

"I should think so! And Charlotte should be grateful. I hope she will be. We do not want any interference from her.”

"You will know how to manage her, my dearest. I am sure of that.”

"Oh, yes." The Princess was very confident. "I shall let the child see that she must do as I say. She is very young and will need guidance.”

"Let us hope that she will be wise enough to take it.”

"My dear, I shall insist on that wisdom.”

Bute laughed. "I am sure of it. But His Majesty ...”

"What of George?”

"If he should become enamoured of her and she plead with him for her own way ...”

The Princess nodded. "George does become enamoured in the most single-minded fashion. That Sarah Lennox ...”

"It was not insuperably difficult to part him from her. It is not Sarah Lennox who alarms me so much as ... the other.”

"That was when he was young and I believe he was led into that folly. He would never be so foolish again surely. It is merely a matter of managing Charlotte. And I am sure I shall be able to do that. Sarah Lennox is a minx... and Hannah Lightfoot must have been a strong-minded woman.

German women are brought up much more sensibly. They know their places. So it will be with our little Charlotte. And I shall be hoping that she becomes pregnant as soon as possible.”

"Then your mind is at ease?”

"As much as it can be until George is actually married to a safe little German princess.”

While they were talking the King burst in upon them. It was clear that something had happened to alarm him. His face was pinker than usual a sure sign that he was distraught. His mouth with its thick Hanoverian lips was trembling a little.

"George ... my dearest son, what is wrong?”

"News," he said, 'from Mecklenburg.”

"Pray tell me quickly." It was Bute who took the letter from the King's trembling hand and read that the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz had died and that in the circumstances the wedding would have to be postponed.

The Princess Augusta sat down heavily. It was what she feared. Some impediment, something that would stand in the way of getting George married promptly. Was she imagining it or did she see a look of relief in the King's eyes? Was he saying to himself: It could happen that the marriage does not take place after all. And there is Sarah ...

Bute took charge of the situation as he had on so many occasions, promptly, tactfully and resourcefully, thought the Princess fondly. This is sad news," he said, 'but I do not see why the death of our little Queen's mother need delay the wedding. Poor little lady, she will be so desolate and in need of comfort... the comfort her husband can give her. I think Your Majesty should write immediately and insist that the plans are not held back in any way whatsoever.”

"It is very sad ... for Charlotte," said George.

"I knew," said Bute warmly, 'that you would want to comfort her. Let us write of your feelings without delay. And we will say that on no account should the Princess Charlotte... our little queen ... delay her journey to her kingdom and her King.”

George allowed Lord Bute to lead him to his mother's writing table while the Princess watched her forceful lover. What an ally! How she adored him. More today, than in those weeks which had followed their first meeting in the tent when the new excitement had come into her life. More than ever, she thought fondly, after all these years.

Lady Sarah Lennox came down to breakfast at Holland House looking fresh and lovely, as though she had not a care in the world. Her sister Lady Caroline Fox regarded her with some impatience while her brother-in-law looked up from his plate sardonically as she fell into her chair. Lady Caroline found it difficult to forgive her for losing, as she said, the greatest chance that would ever come her way, for Lady Caroline was sure that had her foolish young sister played her cards as any wise girl would have done, she would now be betrothed to the King and not known throughout the Court as the girl he had jilted. What was so irritating was Sarah's indifference. In fact Sarah's indifference was at the whole root of the trouble. If Sarah had shown some enthusiasm for the King's courtship in the first place, Caroline was sure George would have been so determined to marry her that nothing would have stopped him.