Caroline the Queen

The Marriage Plot

IN the old Leine Schloss Frederick, Prince of Wales, was wondering why his parents did not send for him. He could not understand the position. When his grandfather was alive it had been reasonable enough. Grandfather had been King of England and Frederick’s father Prince of Wales. As his grandfather was also Elector of Hanover it had seemed natural enough—at least not incomprehensible—that he, Frederick, should remain at Hanover to represent the family. That was his grandfather’s explanation on his visits. But now, his father had been King for over a year and still he was not invited to go to England.

‘I don’t understand it,’ he said to his friend Lamotte, who was an officer in the Hanoverian army. ‘Surely I should be in England by this time.’

‘Doubtless Your Highness will be recalled soon now.’ ‘Soon! I’ve been waiting for more than a year for that summons.’

Frederick stood up and paced up and down the apartment. He was a good looking young man, but short like his father; he had the heavy rather sullen Hanoverian jaw and the rather protuberant blue eyes; but because of his youth these had not become accentuated as in the case of grandfather and father—and the good skin and bright hair gave him a pleasing appearance.

‘Well, Your Highness enjoys life in Hanover.’

Frederick considered it. It was true. He had his position and everyone wished to be in his good graces. He had his mistresses and his men friends, and both pleased him equally. It was not that he had anything to complain of in Hanover. But he was the Prince of Wales; he had never seen England; and he had not seen his parents since he was seven. Therefore he was piqued because although they had been at liberty to send for him for more than a year they had not yet done so.

Did they think he was a child still?

If they did, he would soon disillusion them.

‘I have no intention of waiting another year, Lamotte,’ he said.

‘What will Your Highness do?’

‘I’ll think of something. It’s time I was married for one thing. I should be producing a family ... a legitimate family. After all it will be for me to provide England with a future king. I want to try my skill on the battlefield. In fact I want them to understand I am no longer a boy. If they don’t act soon, Lamotte, I promise you I shall. There is my cousin, Wilhelmina. We should be married by now.’

‘You think your father will agree to the match?’

‘But it was arranged by my grandfather. Wilhelmina and I would be married by now if he hadn’t died. My Aunt Sophia Dorothea wants it.’

‘It will depend, of course, Your Highness, on your uncle the King of Prussia and your father the King of England.’

‘Everyone knows that my uncle of Prussia is a madman.’

Lamotte was silent and Frederick burst out laughing.

‘Oh come, Lamotte, you don’t have to be cautious with me. You know how he treats his family. I should imagine Wilhelmina will be glad to escape. She will look upon me as her rescuer and she’ll love me for that alone.’

The Prince was gazing dreamily ahead. The boy had very romantic notions, Lamotte thought.

‘Why should I wait! ‘ cried Frederick suddenly. ‘Poor Wilhelmina! What will she think of me? Doubtless she is waiting for me to come and rescue her and take her away from Berlin ... for what a hell that must be. My uncle is brutal to them both ... I don’t know how they endure it. They say he thrashes them with his own hands—my cousin Fritz and Wilhelmina. I’ll swear she is waiting for me to come and take her away.’

‘She will know, Your Highness, that everything depends on the whim of her father ... and yours.’

‘Oh, these parents! Why should they rule our lives when we are of age? I tell you this, Lamotte: I am going to marry my cousin Wilhelmina and there shall be no more delay.’

‘I don’t see how, Your Highness ...’

‘Of course you don’t. But I’ve thought of a plan. I am going to Berlin and if necessary I shall carry off my cousin. I shall bring her back to Hanover and together she will come with me to England.’

‘You think she would agree?’

‘Have you forgotten that in the first place she will escape from that hell on earth and in the second by marrying me she will become Princess of Wales. And you ask if she will agree!’

‘So Your Highness plans to go to Berlin.’

‘Not just at first. First I shall send an ambassador ... a secret ambassador. How does that strike you, Lamotte? He shall travel to Berlin and find a way of sounding the Princess Wilhelmina, and the Queen.... The ambassador will tell them that I intend travelling to Berlin and that if the King of Prussia and the King of England won’t give their consent we shall do without it.’

‘And how do you think the Queen will respond to that?’’My dear Lamotte, she wants this marriage more than anything in the world. It was her idea in the first place that there should be a double marriage plan. Wilhelmina for me and my sister Amelia for her son Fritz. Her daughter to be Queen of England in due course and her niece, my sister Amelia, to be Queen of Prussia. It will keep the two crowns in the family. That is her plan and she longs to see it put into practice. There will be no opposition from that quarter.’

‘And you think your ambassador will succeed in this mission?’

‘I am sure he will. He has never failed me before.’ ‘So you have chosen him.’

Frederick smiled. ‘Certainly. You will begin making your preparations to leave at once, my dear Lamotte.’

Lamotte was uneasy as he came into Berlin.

It was all very well for Frederick to assure him that he had been given this mission because he was a trusted friend. There were times when it was safer not to be on too intimate terms with Princes. This was a delicate mission and it could so easily go wrong; and those who had been commanded to help carry out such missions were often blamed.

Would it be possible for Frederick to marry without the consent of his father? He supposed so if the King of Prussia gave that consent; and if the King of Prussia knew that it was against the wishes of the King of England that his son should marry Wilhelmina he would most certainly approve of the match; for nothing could give the King of Prussia more pleasure than the discomfiture of the King of England.

Yes, it was indeed a delicate mission. And how best discharge it?

Frederick had sworn that he would give Lamotte three weeks to prepare the way before he himself left Hanover for Berlin; by the end of the time he expected Lamotte to have found out what his reception would be—but, he had pointed out emphatically, he intended to come in any case. If they were prepared to welcome him all well and good; he would come and marry Wilhelmina. If not he would come in secret and elope with her.

The Prince must be welcomed to Berlin, thought Lamotte. An elopement would be disastrous; in any case Wilhelmina might decide against such a measure. Lamotte was not as certain that she was as eager for the marriage as Frederick was.

Lamotte had a friend who was a chamberlain to the Queen of Prussia and to this young man, whose name was Sastot, he decided to present himself. If Sastot could arrange a meeting with the Queen that would be the best move because of one thing Lamotte was certain: the Queen of Prussia was as eager for this marriage as Frederick himself.

But the affair must be kept an absolute secret for it could be disastrous if a hint of what was happening reached the ears of the King of England.

He presented himself at Sastot’s residence telling the servants that he was a nobleman travelling for pleasure and had just arrived in Berlin so thought he would call on an old friend.

Sastot was delighted to see him and when they were alone together Lamotte asked him if it would be possible for him to obtain an interview with the Queen.

‘A gentleman travelling for pleasure wishes to be presented to the Queen! What are you thinking of, Lamotte. You know that’s not possible.’

Lamotte sighed. ‘I feared not. I shall have to disclose the nature of my business for I have no doubt that that will secure me an interview.’

‘Your business? What business is this?’

‘You must keep this secret. If it became known why I am here the whole plan would founder.’

‘I can’t wait to hear.’

‘Now, Sastot, you swear secrecy?’

Sastot swore.

‘I come from Frederick, Prince of Wales.’

‘I guessed it.’

‘He is impatient for marriage with the Princess Wilhelmina and as his father seems to have forgotten his existence he has decided to take steps on his own.’

‘I don’t think there will be any difficulty in my obtaining an interview for you with the Queen if that is your mission.’

‘But remember, Sastot, the most absolute secrecy. If this became known the King of England would certainly take action and heaven alone knows what the King of Prussia would do.’

‘Lock his daughter away and starve her to death most likely. On the other hand I heard him shout at her only last week that it was time she married and stopped being a burden to him.’

‘Poor Princess! She will be devoted to the Prince if he rescues her from that. So you will go to the Queen without delay, tell her I am here, and impress on her the need for speed.’

‘I will. She will be delighted.’

Guessing his mission, Queen Sophia Dorothea could scarcely wait to receive the ambassador from Hanover.

If this marriage could come about it would be wonderful. It had always been her most cherished ambition; and once it was completed she would have Fritz married to his cousin Amelia and Amelia would come here in Wilhelmina’s place when Wilhelmina went to England. What better arrangement could there be?

Poor Wilhelmina, she had suffered a great deal from her father’s violence. Her shoulders were still black and blue from the blows he had given her only a few days ago. She always wanted to cry out: Don’t stand there, Wilhelmina, looking indifferent. It only makes him worse. If you’d only whimper and cry he’d stop. He wants to subjugate everyone ... including me, and when he has he loses interest.

Fritz suffered most from the King. Why the boy didn’t turn on his father astonished her. He could have put up a good fight, but he meekly accepted abuse and violence and longed for escape. Perhaps it was because this fearsome husband of hers was the King that they were afraid of him—all, of course, except Sophia Dorothea.

She smiled, remembering those occasions when he had come at her, arms uplifted, eyes ablaze with rage; and she would defy him, or perhaps pick up whatever object was nearest preparing to throw it at him—on one occasion there had been a knife. He had laughed at her, spat at her, kicked her stool across the room, and shouted: ‘You ... you with your puny strength! So you would fight me!’ Then he would laugh as though the idea was too ludicrous to be treated seriously, and stride out of the room.

One thing she knew; he would never harm her. She was too important to him. In his way he loved her, odd as that might seem. And she—well at least she would find life dull without him.

He supplied the excitement in her life; but to her children she was tender and loving; and because they had such a father, they turned to her and were devoted to her.

She was contented; she had her wild mad husband who, she knew, could no more do without her than she could without him; and her two beloved children. There was no fear of the King’s encroaching on the affection they gave her. They loathed him. As for him he didn’t want love from them, only fear. He spoke of them to their mother with contempt. ‘Your daughter, Madam. Your Fritz.’ As thought he had had no part in producing them.

Dear to her heart was her double marriage plan and she believed this would have come to fruition by now if her father had lived. But when George I died, the plan had been shelved, although he had promised that when he next came to Berlin his grandson Frederick should be betrothed to Wilhelmina and Fritz to Amelia. It would have been perfect. The cousins would have been well matched. She would have welcomed Amelia to Berlin; and she was sure that Caroline and George would have welcomed Wilhelmina to England.

And then unexpectedly her father had died, and of course the King of Prussia and the King of England hated each other.

Her brother—strange to think of George Augustus as the King of England—had always been a conceited little popinjay; and he could have his violent moments too. She laughed, remembering how he used to kick his wig round the room in moments of rage. But she did not remember his ever attacking anyone, so perhaps Caroline and his children were safe in that respect. And by all accounts Caroline knew how to manage him. She had always known Caroline was a clever woman from the days when she had first come to Hanover as her brother’s bride. They had liked each other then, but their acquaintance had been brief because very soon after the marriage of George Augustus and Caroline, she herself had married and come to Berlin.

In England Wilhelmina would be happier than in Berlin, for she could trust her daughter with Caroline, and Frederick by all accounts was a young man rather like his father had been. If Wilhelmina was clever she would manage Frederick as Caroline managed George Augustus.

Therefore the Queen gave immediate audience to Lamotte and when he stated his case she told him that nothing could please her more than to further this match; she would see her daughter at once and point out to her her good fortune.

‘Wilhelmina, my child.’

The Queen came quietly into her daughter’s apartment.

‘Oh, Mother!’ Wilhelmina rose and embraced the Queen. She was a tall girl, not beautiful, yet by no means plain; she had a bright intelligent face and at the moment it was softened by the tenderness she always showed towards her mother.

‘You are excited,’ said Wilhelmina, looking into her mother’s face. ‘What has happened?’

‘Such news! I am delighted. Oh, my poor sweet child, how it has grieved me to see you suffer.’

‘Oh ... father?’ said Wilhelmina with a shrug. ‘That is nothing new.’

‘I am always afraid that one day he will kill either you or Fritz.’

‘I don’t think so, Mother. We are after all good bargaining counters. I think he would remember that in time.’

The Queen shuddered. ‘His rages are terrible. It would not surprise me if you are longing for the day you will escape from them.’

‘Escape?’

‘Well, my darling, you will marry one day.’

‘I suppose so.’

The Queen smiled. ‘And perhaps that day is not far distant. There is one young man who is most impatient.’ ‘Who, Mother?’

‘Your cousin Frederick, of course.’

‘I ... I was afraid you were going to say that.’

‘Afraid?’

‘I know there was once a plan and that when my grandfather came here it was discussed.’

‘If he hadn’t died you would be married by now. I’ll swear.’

‘I don’t know, Mother. Sometimes I think even grandfather wasn’t eager for the marriages.’

‘My dear, he was just bargaining with your father. He wanted a bigger dowry for you.’

Wilhelmina looked relieved. ‘That is something he will never get from father.’

‘Your father will have to do his duty.’

‘I didn’t know that he ever did that. He does what he wants not what is his duty.’

‘Your father!’ Sophia Dorothea raised her hands in an expression of incomprehension.

‘Since he grudges me my food it is scarcely likely that he will provide me with a dowry. And if I shall not be accepted without ...’

‘You despair too easily, my dear.’

‘I don’t know that I would call it despair. I do not wish to leave you, Mother.’

‘My dearest! But Princesses cannot stay forever with their mothers. You will have to marry in time and your cousin Frederick is a very impatient young man. He declares he is in love with you and refuses to wait any longer.’

‘Since he has never seen me, the first seems unlikely; and as he is not in a position to decide whether or not he will marry the second seems equally so.’

‘I have not explained. He has sent a messenger to tell me he proposes to come to Berlin and if your father will not consent, to carry you off.’

‘It sounds as though he is a very foolish young man.’ ‘He is a romantic young man who is in love.’

‘With a woman he has never seen?’

‘With his cousin of whom he will have heard a great deal. Wilhelmina, this is your chance. You will one day be Queen of England. Think of that.’

‘And never see you again?’

‘I shall visit you there.’

‘Papa will never allow the expense.’

‘And you shall visit us here.’

‘That would cost money too.’

‘Don’t be so glum, child. This is a wonderful opportunity. You will marry. You will leave this place. Oh, my dear, when I see the way your father treats you I could long for the day ... much as I shall hate parting with you. But you will have a good life. You will manage Frederick as Caroline manages your uncle. All you have to allow him to do is have his mistresses. He’ll ask nothing more. And you will go to your Aunt Caroline who is a sensible woman. I know that. I liked her when we were at Hanover together. She will tell you how to manage Frederick as she manages your uncle.’

‘It is not my idea of marriage, Mother.’

‘Oh, romantic notions! I should have thought life here would have long stifled those.’

‘Rather they have encouraged them. All marriages can’t be like yours and father’s.’

‘And you want one which is not like ours?’

‘As unlike as possible.’

The Queen sighed. ‘My darling, you are wise in so many ways; it is only experience you lack. I tell you this: I am delighted with the prospect. And the fact that Frederick is impatient for the marriage pleases me more than anything else. Wilhelmina, I am so delighted. I shall at last see you settled and happy and at the same time see all my wishes realized. What greater joy could I ask. Why, you are crying.’

‘It is the thought of leaving you, Mother.’

They embraced and Wilhelmina tried to hide the misgivings she felt. She tried to set aside her doubts as she listened to her mother’s explanations of what a glorious prospect lay before her.

This was such a cherished dream of Sophia Dorothea’s, and Wilhelmina longed to please her mother.

The King came in while they were talking together.

He looked at them through his little bloodshot eyes and cried out: ‘What plot’s this, eh? You look sly. Out with it. Your girl had better tell me what she has been up to, woman, or by God I’ll flay her till there’s no breath left in that slothful body of hers.’

‘We were merely discussing a little project.’ retorted Sophia Dorothea, always pert with him because to have showed fear would have put her into the position her son and daughter were in. ‘And I fancy even your high and mightiness might not be displeased with this one.’

‘Do you think she would ever please me? She sits about this place eating my food, drinking my wine. By God, when I think of what she costs me I wonder I keep her. Come here, girl.’

Wilhelmina stood up. She was defiant, her mother noticed and that was better than cringing.

Her father seized her by her hair and shook her to and fro. Wilhelmina’s face was scarlet but she kept her eyes lowered.

‘Don’t be impudent you slut, you whore, you lily livered spawn of a ...’

He looked at his wife.

‘Of a madman,’ said Sophia Dorothea to turn his attention from her daughter to herself.

It succeeded; he released Wilhelmina, throwing her from him so that she fell to the floor. Sophia Dorothea saw that she was unharmed. She and her brother had had long practice in falling where their father threw them. Sophia Dorothea said quickly: ‘Go to your own apartments.’ The girl hesitated. Why would both she and Fritz think they had to protect her from their father. Didn’t they know yet that she could manage him.

‘Go,’ she repeated imperiously; and picking herself up Wilhelmina obeyed.

‘Well?’ The King advanced scowling.

The Queen picked up a heavy book which was lying on a table and laughed at him. She saw the mad mischief leap into his eyes as he approached.

‘So you think to fight me with that book. Where will you aim for?’

‘At your mad eyes,’ she answered.

‘Well, I’m waiting.’

‘It would be more sensible to talk.’

‘Sensible. You ... sensible!’

‘A little more than you, I hope, or heaven alone knows what would happen to us all.’

‘Don’t show your concern for me, Madam. I should get along very well without you and your children.’

‘Who happen to be yours.’

‘Can I be sure of that?’

‘It’s true they seem sane reasonable beings ...’

‘You are going too far, Madam.’

‘You have already gone too far. But I will talk to you. Save your quarrels for another time. The Prince of Wales wants to marry Wilhelmina without delay.’

‘I always thought he was half-witted.’

‘I happen to think him a most sensible young man. He is tired of being neglected by his family.’

‘Huh! That fool of a brother of yours. Of all the conceited young idiots....’

‘He’s not so young now. He’s a father ... a little older than you are in truth. And he has a son and a daughter ... as you have. Yes, you may call them mine, but they are yours also and it is time you remembered your duties as a father. Frederick is coming here and he wants to marry Wilhelmina.’

‘He’d have to take her without a dowry.’

‘Don’t be a fool. Of course she’ll have a dowry.’

‘By God, I’ll take my riding whip to you if you don’t control your tongue.’

‘All in good time, but before you try your stable manners on me I’d like you to think of this plan. It’s the best thing that can happen for Wilhelmina and imagine—you won’t have to feed her in future. That will be for her husband to do.’

‘I suppose in return they’ll want us to have that girl of theirs here.’

‘Amelia for Fritz. It is part of the plan.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I’ll not have her here. I’ve heard something of her. I want no haughty young woman walking about my Court with her nose in the air, making trouble. No I don’t want George Augustus’s girl here and I won’t have her.’

‘Fritz will have to marry at some time. Why not a daughter of the King of England?’

‘I tell you I won’t have that girl here. If I ever hear you or Fritz mention her name again I’ll flog you both. Fritz will marry when I say so and I’ll choose the bride.’

‘Well at least you will not say no to Wilhelmina’s taking Frederick.’

He took her by the shoulder and shook her; she knocked his hands away. He could have struck her and sent her falling to the floor but he didn’t. He didn’t want to hurt her physically. He only wanted to enjoy verbal battles with her. He’d save the floggings for his children.

‘I’ll be glad to be rid of the girl,’ he growled.

So, thought Sophia Dorothea, half of the marriage plan would be fulfilled. And when Wilhelmina was safely married the time would come for Fritz to marry the Princess Amelia. She had no doubt that she could bring that about.

She was receiving guests in her apartments and everyone noticed what good spirits she was in. Bourguait, the Envoy from the Court of St James’s, was especially graciously received, and he complimented her on her healthy looks.

‘I am in very good spirits,’ she told him. ‘And it is because of a very special piece of news.’

‘Then I am delighted.’

‘And a little curious?’

‘While not presuming to enquire the nature of Your Majesty’s good fortune I should naturally be delighted to congratulate her.’

‘Which you could do much better if you knew what it was about.’ She laughed. Sophia Dorothea was not noted for her discretion. She decided then that as the Prince of Wales was so determined and the King of Prussia would clearly put nothing in the way of the project there was no need to keep silent about it. ‘Then I shall tell you,’ she said. ‘My daughter is going to marry the Prince of Wales.’

‘Your Majesty!’

‘Oh, yes. It’s true. Frederick the Prince is so impatient he has decided to come here and claim his bride. Of course we shall welcome him. And the King will raise no objections. Between ourselves he is as eager for this marriage as I am . . . and as our dear young people are. You look startled?’

‘I ... I have to remind Your Majesty that I am the Envoy of His Majesty the King of England who is as deeply concerned in this matter as Your Majesties of Prussia. It is my duty to inform him without delay.’

‘That is surely not necessary. The Prince has made up his mind.’

‘Your Majesty, I must humbly point out that the marriage of the Prince of Wales is most decidedly the concern of his father the King, and that I should be failing in my duty if I neglected to tell him of this plan.’

‘But to do so could spoil everything!’

‘If the Prince is so determined it may be that the King will be pleased to give his consent. The Princess Wilhelmina and the Prince of Wales have been considered almost formally betrothed for some time.’

‘Of course. The King of England will be delighted that his son has shown that he can act like a man.’

‘It may well be so.’

Bourguait said no more; but as soon as he left the Queen he despatched a messenger to St James’s with the news that the Prince of Wales was planning to visit Berlin, his intention being not to wait for his father’s consent to his marriage.

George came hurrying into Caroline’s apartments, his wig askew, his eyes bulging.

‘Something is disturbing Your Majesty,’ said the Queen, rising from the table where she sat reading some of the state documents which she made a habit of perusing each day.

‘Dismiss these people. Vat a fool you are! Can’t you see that I vish to talk to you.’

That was the manner in which he addressed her since the appearance of that unfortunate verse—and always in the presence of others.

Caroline flushed slightly but showed no resentment at his rudeness; she merely nodded to her attendants who quickly retired.

As soon as they had gone the King sat down and testily waved a paper.

Caroline came to him, took it, and read it.

She caught her breath in dismay. How could Frederick be so disobedient. The idea of taking matters into his own hands, and trying to arrange his own marriage. He must be mad.

‘Vell?’ growled George.

He was looking at her almost appealingly. She must say what must be best done and then he would tell her that he had made up his mind what action to take.

‘That he could dare!’ she whispered.

‘My Got, ve shall trouble have vith this young man.’

‘Perhaps Your Majesty vill decide there is only von thing you can do now.’

He nodded, waiting.

‘They are saying he should come here. Perhaps you vill think there is no alternative but to bring him to England now, since it is clearly not safe for him to be out of Your Majesty’s control.’

‘To bring him here!’ the King said dismally.

‘Perhaps I am wrong ...’ said Caroline hastily.

‘Do ye vant him here? He vill von big trouble be.’ The King’s English always suffered when he grew agitated, and he was agitated now.

‘He vill be trouble there ... more trouble perhaps than here. Here he vill have to obey Your Majesty.’

They looked at each other dolefully.

‘I hav my mind made up,’ said the King. ‘I vill him teach to make a marriage vithout my consent.’

‘I am sure you are right,’ said the Queen. She smiled. ‘As you alvays are.’

He leaned towards her and patted her shoulder. It was only when others were present that he remembered he was displeased with her.

Lamotte had returned to Hanover and Frederick was delighted with what he heard.

‘Tell me about Wilhelmina,’ he insisted.

‘She is a handsome girl, very tall and good looking.’ ‘And meek? Is she meek?’

‘Her father has seen to that.’

‘That is good. I always wanted a meek wife. And is she delighted that she is soon to have a husband?’

‘She is not a girl to betray her feelings. The Queen is overjoyed. The King is not displeased. There will be no difficulty. They will now be preparing a great welcome for you.’

‘I wish I could see my parents’ faces when they receive the news. They’ll be furious. They’ll regret leaving me alone all this time in Hanover. They’ll see too that I don’t need them. I shall take Wilhelmina to England ... without delay. What do you think of that, Lamotte ‘

‘I am not sure what kind of reception you would have.’

‘They would have to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales.’

‘Perhaps, Your Highness. But the King is of greater importance than a Prince and I remember how your grandfather treated your father when he was Prince of Wales.’

‘It seems to be a habit in this family to quarrel. But I was on the side of my grandfather in that dispute, you know.’

‘That was because you never saw your parents and heard only his side, perhaps.’

‘I didn’t dislike Grandfather. He was always good to me. I wonder how I shall feel about my father and mother. I wonder if my mother wants to see me. By all accounts she is the one who rules, so had she wanted me presumably I should have been recalled.’

‘I think you should act very carefully, Your Highness.’

‘I intend to. But I am determined to leave within the next few days for Berlin. I think I shall give a farewell ball to all my friends in Hanover ... all those who cannot accompany me to Berlin. Don’t you think that’s an excellent idea?’

Lamotte agreed that it was.

Frederick chose Herrenhausen—that favourite of palaces—largely because it was more intimate than the Alte Palais or the Leine Schloss.

The great hall was ablaze with the lights of thousands of candles and all the nobility of Hanover were present. Frederick presided, in high spirits. It was a long time since he had been so pleased with himself.

He led the dance with his favourite mistress and comforted her, telling her that once he was in England he would send for her. She must not grieve because he would have a wife. Wives were necessities but mistresses were for pleasure.

She understood, remembering stories she had heard of Frederick’s grandfather who had been faithful to his two old mistresses until the end and had shut his wife away keeping her a prisoner for thirty years.

Frederick was gayer than any remembered his being before. He was merry with his male friends and assured them that he would send for them too.

During the evening when visitors arrived at Herrenhausen, the Prince was surprised that they should come at such a time, but he declared that on this occasion all were welcome.

The visitors proved to be from England and they were led by a man who announced himself as Colonel Lorne.

‘I must speak privately to Your Highness without delay,’ he said; and the Prince took him into a small chamber close to the ballroom.

‘You have letters for me?’ he asked.

‘From Your Highness’s father. I have them here. I have orders from His Majesty to return to England tomorrow and it is my duty to tell Your Highness that you must accompany me.’

‘Accompany you ... to England.’

‘On the orders of His Majesty your father.’

‘But . . . I am going to Berlin.’

Colonel Lorne coughed deprecatingly. ‘I am sorry to have to inform Your Highness that His Majesty’s orders are that you leave Hanover with me tomorrow, for England.’

Sophia Dorothea spent a great deal of time at the topmost tower of the palace watching the road for visitors. He would come with a small party of friends and followers. She had given orders that he must be entertained royally, and even the King had not objected.

He might pretend that it was because he wished to be rid of his daughter, but he was pleased at the prospect of this marriage. If Wilhelmina married the Prince of Wales and became Queen of England and he no longer had to feed and clothe her he would be delighted.

Sophia Dorothea laughed. The first half of the plan satisfactorily completed. Then she would busy herself with the second.

Soon she would be welcoming the Princess Amelia to Prussia and when Fritz had a wife he would be happier—and his father would not dare flog a married man.

She had thought Frederick would come before this. She had heard such stories of his eagerness.

And then one day she saw the rider. A solitary rider. That was strange. But of course he would come to announce the arrival of his master.

She would tell them they would not have to wait much longer. In the kitchens they could start preparing for the wedding feast—for wedding feast there would be in spite of the King’s objections.

Yes, the rider was in the Hanoverian livery.

She went down to greet him. She wanted to be the first to receive the announcement of the Prince’s arrival.

She took the letter he gave her. She read it. She would not believe it. She could not take it in. Not at this stage. It would be too heartbreaking.

But there were the words staring at her: The Prince of Wales had left Hanover for England on the orders of his father. He would not be coming to Berlin.

So ... there would be no marriage.

The King of Prussia stormed through the Palace. Now it seemed the one thing he had wanted was the marriage of his daughter to the Prince of Wales and it had failed.

He summoned his son and daughter with his wife to his presence.

‘You fools!’ he shouted. ‘You have ruined this between you! By God, I’ll kill the lot of you.’

He had a whip with him and he began flogging his son and daughter.

The Queen shrieked at him to stop; but he shouted back at her to take care he did not use the whip on her. Sick with rage and disappointment she fell fainting to the ground and her women carried her to her bed where she lay in a state of collapse.

The King contented himself with beating his son and daughter in such a manner that they too had to be carried to their beds and their wounds attended to by the Court physician.

He then shut himself in his room and swore at everyone who approached him; the Queen lay sick with disappointment; the Crown Prince stoically thought of the time when his father would be dead and he would be King Frederick of Prussia; and Wilhelmina thought: At least I’m still unmarried.

Meanwhile Frederick Prince of Wales was on his way to England.