Indiscretions of the Queen

The Meeting

AFTER three days at sea the Jupiter arrived off the coast of Yarmouth.

Caroline, who was a good sailor, and had not suffered from seasickness as some of the company had, was on deck to get the first glimpse of her new country but all she saw was mist and the Captain told her that they could not land in such a fog but must wait a few hours before proceeding to Harwich. She had chatted familiarly with him throughout the voyage and he, like all the other officers on board, found her charming.

‘There’s nothing haughty about the new Princess of Wales,’ was their comment.

Lord Malmesbury looked on and saw much of his training dispensed with.

Often he heard her shrill laughter, noticed her coquettish glances at the men, deplored her habit of making what he called ‘missish friendships’ with her attendants and the habit into which she had slipped once more of calling her maids, ‘my dear’, ‘my heart’, ‘my love’. It pleased them perhaps— but it was not royal. And he heard too that Lady Jersey had been appointed as one of the ladies of her bed-chamber. This was a cruel action on the part of the Prince, but he supposed His Highness had been cajoled into it; and knowing something of that lady, Malmesbury saw great trouble ahead for his Princess.

The Prince, however, was almost certain to be a little interested in his bride.

His love of women would surely arouse in him a certain curiosity and if he found Caroline just a little to his taste he would be ready to be her lover, if only for a brief time, The fog lifted and the Jupiter was soon sailing past Harwich; they anchored at the Nore and then next day sailed on to Gravesend.

There Caroline said goodbye to the captain and officers of the Jupiter in a most affectionate manner and boarded the royal yacht Augusta for the journey up the Thames to Greenwich.

Malmesbury was beside her as they came up the river eager to see the effect the country had on her. The sight of those green fields touched him deeply.

Nowhere on Earth, he believed, was the grass so green. Caroline thought it beautiful and for once seemed to find nothing to say as she gazed at those fields, shut in by their hedges, and the graceful houses with their gardens coming down to the river’s edge; and as they came to Greenwich she could see the city’s buildings on the skyline dominated by the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Now, thought the Earl, there should be members of the Prince’s household waiting to greet his bride. He looked for them in vain.

So the Princess of Wales stepped ashore at Greenwich and found no one to welcome her.

As she sat in her carriage on the way to Greenwich, Lady Jersey was contemplacently smiling. We shall be at least an hour late, she thought, and that is exactly as I would wish it to be. She had in fact arranged that it should be so. Madam Princess would have to learn quickly that the lady who ruled the Prince’s household was his mistress and there was going to be no change in that arrangement now that he had a wife.

She was sure there was nothing to fear from Caroline— if her information was correct. The young woman was gauche, without grace and not particularly clean. How that had amused her! To think of Malmesbury— that most urbane of diplomats— finding it his duty to warn the Princess that she should take more baths!

One day she would amuse the Prince with an imaginary account of the scene.

But not yet. She must tread carefully for a while. Let him learn that the creature disgusted him without— as he thought— her help.

She had whispered all sorts of information to him, gradually damning Caroline, just as she had when she had had Maria Fitzherbert to deal with. Maria, aloof at Marble Hill, gave her greater cause for anxiety than the Princess of Wales, for she knew that the Prince thought often of Maria.

However, she herself could still enthrall the Prince and she was going to keep a tight hold of the leading reins by which at the moment she held him.

With her she had brought a change of costume for the Princess which she herself had had made. She had had many descriptions of the Princess’s physical appearance and had decided to dress her in white which would, Lady Jersey felt, be the most unbecoming; she had brought with her a tightly fitting hat which would hide Caroline’s hair because by all accounts it was beautiful. Lady Jersey had it all cleverly planned.

She was amused now to see the discomfiture of her companions, Lord Claremont and Colonel Greville, both of whom had been commissioned by the Prince to meet the Princess and, with an escort of the Prince’s Own Light Dragoons, escort her to St. James’s.

How they fidgeted; and they knew in their hearts that Lady Jersey had deliberately delayed them so that the Princess might have the humiliation of being kept waiting.

The Governor of the Hospital at Greenwich, Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, received Caroline and the company with the utmost grace, but he could not hide the fact that he was uneasy because the escort had not arrived.

Malmesbury was deeply conscious of the reason for the delay and thought it augured no good for Caroline’s future.

He was glad that he had warned her to be on her guard against women such as Lady Jersey.

He was not displeased with the Princess who, since she had stepped ashore, had behaved with some decorum This aught have been due to the fact that she was nervous, but it was still admirable. She had been far too noisy on the Jupiter but it was true that she had endeared herself to the officers; and if she could win the approval of the people through her free manners perhaps they had some virtue.

She looked charming, too. In fact he had rarely seen her look so well. The clothes which she put on for this occasion had been chosen by Madame de Hertzfeldt and Malmesbury was thankful for the good taste of that lady. Madame de Hertzfeldt had made Caroline promise that she would wear these clothes for her entry into England and although Caroline had thought them too quiet, she had promised.

Madame de Hertzfeldt had chosen well. The muslin dress over the blue- quilted satin petticoat was the most becoming color she could have chosen; it gave a touch of blue to Caroline’s rather protruding pale green eyes which was attractive; but it was the hat which did more for her than anything else. It was black beaver trimmed with blue and black feathers; it shaded her face; it subdued the rather too high colouring; and it showed her pretty hair to advantage.

Presentable, thought the Earl. I wonder whether she thought to change her linen. She stood at the window with the Earl beside her.

How much longer! he wondered. This is disgraceful. They should have been an hour early to make sure of being here. I am sure the Prince would be most displeased. Sir Hugh was doing his best to entertain the Princess and she was already becoming friendly towards him. She was quite comfortable, she said. She liked looking around. And seeing some of the crippled pensioners in the courtyard below the window, many of them having lost a limb, she said with a little laugh: ‘Tell me, do all the English lack a leg or an arm?’

Malmesbury saw Sir Hugh flinch and his lips tightened as he said with the utmost severity: ‘Do not joke on such a matter, Madam, I beg of you.’

And Caroline was silent for a few moments and then to his relief he saw that the first carriage had arrived. Lady Jersey alighted and came into the Hospital to greet the Princess on behalf of the Prince of Wales.

Caroline was all eagerness to see this woman of whom she had heard so much. She was astonished. She had imagined some monster and there curtseying before her, with the utmost display of homage, was the daintiest creature she had ever seen.

How pretty she is! thought Caroline.

Lady Jersey was raising the most beautiful eyes Caroline had ever seen, smiling charmingly. Could it be possible that she was a grandmother? How did she remain so slender, so beautiful?

‘Your Highness, I have come to serve you.’

The Princess nodded and Malmesbury closed his eyes because he could not bear to look.

Lady Jersey was thinking: She is more attractive than I had been led to believe But it is that hat— it would make anyone look attractive. That must be discarded.

‘Madam,’ she said, ‘there has been some unaccountable delay—’

Unaccountable, fumed Malmesbury, inwardly . Very accountable, I should think! ‘If you would give your permission for us to proceed with the dressing immediately ‘Why yes, yes, of course,’ cried the Princess ‘Then if you will allow me to conduct you to a room where we can thus serve Your Highness—’

‘Come along,’ cried Caroline.

Lady Jersey and Mrs. Harcourt left with the Princess.

Malmesbury looking after them thought: She has learned nothing— nothing.

‘I have here, Madam, the clothes which have been especially designed for your journey to St. James’s.’

‘Clothes!’ Caroline was eager to see them. ‘White?’ she cried.

‘Yes, Madam. The symbol of purity.’

Caroline laughed aloud, and Lady Jersey looked surprised.

‘Your Highness is amused?’

‘Just a little.’

‘Indeed, Madam.’

‘My father’s mistress used to say that white never suited me.’

‘White not suit you! But Your Highness has the most beautiful colouring.

Such freshness. White, if you will pardon me, Madam, is for ladies like Your Highness.’

Lady Jersey— herself so elegant— must know, thought Caroline. Madame de Hertzfeldt had seemed elegant, but that was in Brunswick. She could not compare with this dainty creature.

‘It is the most beautiful satin available. Pray touch it, Madam. There, Do you not long to try it on?’

‘I never saw such satin,’ admitted Caroline.

‘No, Madam, I daresay not. I ordered it especially for you. Nothing but the best would be worthy of Your Highness and I chose the best dressmakers in London. Would Your Highness try it?’

Caroline removed the beaver hat.

Her hair is lovely, thought Lady Jersey. That must certainly be put out of sight. That turban will be excellent. Caroline took off her muslin dress and put on the white Satin.

‘It couldn’t be better,’ cried Lady Jersey. ‘Do you not think so, Mrs.

Harcourt?’ Mrs. Harcourt, whose position in the Princess’s household depended on Lady Jersey, must agree with her, so she did, but reluctantly, for she had grown fond of the Princess and had been pleased to see her look so well in her muslin gown. Nothing, thought Lady Jersey complacently, could have brought out the coarseness of that ruddy complexion better than the harsh white satin.

She picked up the hat. ‘It is charming for some purposes,’ she admitted. ‘A ride in the country perhaps. But this is Your Highness’s first ride through the Capital, and we need something much more fine.’

She produced a turban trimmed with white satin and decorated with white feathers. This she placed on Caroline’s head, making sure that her hair was hidden.

The result was too much for Caroline to accept. It was quite hideous. It accentuated the deep colour of her cheeks while taking all the colour from her eyes.

‘It’s ugly,’ cried Caroline.

‘Your Highness, it is the height of fashion.’

‘Then the height of fashion is not for me.’ Caroline tore off the turban and threw it across the room. She shook out her hair and put back the beaver hat. The effect was ruined by the harsh white satin dress.

Lady Jersey was disappointed, she had reckoned on discarding that hat, but she saw it would be unwise to press the point. And in any case the beaver hat with the white satin was quite ridiculous.

‘At least Your Highness will wear the dress,’ said Lady Jersey anxiously.

Caroline smoothed down the folds. She had never felt such soft material. Oh yes, she loved the dress.

‘Then you must allow me to touch up Your Highness’s complexion— just a little. The ladies of the Court do, you know. It’s the fashion.’

Caroline looked at Lady Jersey’s delicately tinted cheeks. She really was a little beauty. It would be pleasant to look like that.

Caroline sat down and Lady Jersey applied rouge to the florid cheeks. The effect was startling but it seemed to please Caroline as much as Lady Jersey.

She was ready for the journey so putting on a green satin cloak trimmed with gold loops and tassels she allowed herself to be conducted to the coaches.

Lord Malmesbury was horrified by the change in her. He should have prevented this. He should have foreseen what that wicked creature, Lady Jersey, would do to his innocent Princess. For innocent she undoubtedly was and was almost ready to treat the woman as a friend in spite of what she had heard of her.

At any moment she would be calling her my love.

Caroline got into the first coach and Lady Jersey was about to take her place beside her when Lord Malmesbury pointed out that the Princess should sit facing the horses and her ladies opposite her. No one should sit beside the Princess. Lady Jersey put her hand over her eyes.

‘I feel sick when I sit with my back to the horses.’

‘How unfortunate, and you a Lady of the Bedchamber! I should have thought such a disability would have disqualified you from taking such a post; but since it did not I suggest that you ride in the second coach with me which will give me great pleasure and prevent any unfortunate occurrence.’

‘But who will ride with the Princess ‘ demanded Lady Jersey.

‘There is the second lady-in-waiting.’

‘It would be most improper for Mrs. Ashton to ride with Her Highness,’

declared Lady Jersey. ‘My place is in the first carriage and I will take it— not matter what the consequences.’

The Princess was about to offer to change places so that Lady Jersey might be comfortable, but a stern look from Lord Malmesbury stopped her.

‘The Princess must sit facing the horses,’ he said firmly, ‘Anything else is unthinkable.’

The horses were whipped up and the journey began Caroline thought: So this was his mistress. Could it be that she had wanted to sit in the place of honour to show she was of more importance than his wife? Still she had been kind to her; she had had this beautiful dress prepared Perhaps they could be friends.

How gauche she is! How unroyal! thought Lady Jersey. Simple, too He will loathe her on sight And that dress is quite hideous. I must compliment the dressmakers on making exactly what I wished for, She does give herself airs, thought Caroline. Of course she is very pretty. But she must be quite old— yet I admit beautiful and very experienced. They say the Prince admires experience. ‘You should not think that I am an innocent girl, she said suddenly, ‘I am not so young, you know. Do you think I have lived like a nun in a convent?’

‘I had not thought of the matter, Your Highness.’

‘I love a Prussian officer. He is very handsome. I would give a great deal to be going to marry him I love his little finger better than the whole person of the Prince of Wales.’

‘Is that so, Your Highness?’

Lady Jersey was finding it difficult to suppress her laughter. How amused the Prince will be to hear of these confidences, she thought.

They had arrived at St. James and the old palace loomed up before her. There was a crowd of people come to cheer her.

She alighted from her coach.

In the Prince’s Light Dragoons which had led the cavalcade from Greenwich, Ensign George Bryan Brummell watched the arrival.

‘My God,’ he thought, ‘what a fearful sight! I feel quite ill to see a woman who could be moderately attractive look so inelegant.’

The Prince drove from Carlton House to St James’s. The moment was close at hand. What will she be like? The reports he had heard of her, though not effusive in her praise, at least conjured up visions of a not unattractive woman. Perhaps he could educate her, teach her to be cultivated and beautiful.

In his heart he was a little tired of Lady Jersey. He wondered if he had ever been in love with her. Certainly not in the way he had been with Maria And what was Maria doing now? What was she thinking? She would be in her drawing room at Marble Hill— how well he remembered it!

And he thought: How I wish I were there now!

But at least a new woman was waiting for him, and he confessed to a certain amount of curiosity. And if she were not too unattractive he might grow fond of her. It was his duty in any case to provide heirs to the crown.

He was dressed in his Hussar’s uniform which was very becoming, he thought, the gold lacing suited his hair. He was a little too florid though, and had put on weight. He weighed seventeen stone which was really too much He was perhaps too fond of drink, but he did take plenty of exercise It’s a family failing, he thought; and touched the swelling at his neck, carefully hidden, of course.

And now he must go and meet his wife.

Yet all the way to St. James’s he could not get Maria Fitzherbert out of his mind.

In the reception room of the palace Caroline was waiting. Malmesbury would present her to the Prince, and protocol demanded that no one but the three of them should be present for it was the ambassador’s duty to deliver Caroline of Brunswick to George, Prince of Wales.

Caroline had begun to feel nervous.

Malmesbury was whispering last minute instructions. ‘When the Prince approaches, you must kneel— immediately. You understand?’

Caroline nodded— for once too overawed for speech.

‘Listen. He is coming.’

The door was thrown open. Caroline caught a glimpse of a large glittering figure. She knelt. The Prince was standing before her and as he raised her, a shudder he could not repress ran through him.

This— this— thing they have dared bring to me! This over-rouged, repulsive, ill-smelling object! Caroline looked at him. He was flushed, not nearly as handsome as the portrait she had received, and fat— So very fat. She smelt the perfume that dung to him; she saw his short nose wrinkle in disgust.

Her hands were damp and hot. He could not bear the touch of them. He dropped them quickly and turning to Malmesbury said: ‘Harris, get me a glass of brandy quickly. I feel ill.’

Caroline stared at her future husband in dismay. Malmesbury replied: ‘Your Highness, would you not rather ; have a glass of water?’

‘No, by God,’ cried the Prince. ‘But— no matter. I must— go to— the Queen.’

With that he turned and walked from the room.

Caroline looked at Malmesbury who, for once, was overcome by confusion.

Poor child, he thought, how gauche, how unattractive in that dreadful white satin gown! And she had not changed her linen. The Prince’s delicate nostrils would have detected this at once. It was the reason he had flown. He was always inclined to turn his back on what he considered unpleasant and that was clearly what he was doing now.

Caroline was recovering herself. She had visualized this moment many times since the proxy marriage but never had she imagined anything like this. She was angry. He did not like her. Well, she did not like him either.

She said in her shrillest voice: ‘My God, is the Prince always like this? I found him very fat and not nearly so handsome as his portrait.’

Malmesbury had recovered himself. ‘His Royal Highness is a great deal affected at this first interview. His feelings were too much for him so— he retired.’

‘It seems very strange behaviour. I thought I had to be so careful of mine. He does not seem to be of his.’

‘You will find him very different at dinner.’

‘I should hope so,’ cried Caroline.

‘I will see that you are conducted to your apartments now. I expect the King and Queen will wish you to visit them.’

‘Then I trust, cried Caroline, ‘that they have better manners than their son, for I do not much like his.’

Malmesbury flinched.

I would to God, he thought, that I had never taken part in this unfortunate affair.