Part 22 (1/2)

So she must act with care.

By good fortune for her she encountered the Prince of Wales when he was alone and was immediately struck by the change in him.

Our Prince has turned into a very serious young man, she thought. Something has happened.

Elizabeth must naturally find out what without delay.

She dropped a charming curtsy.

'What pleasure to see Your Highness looking so well. It is long since that pleasure was mine.'

'You have been away from Court, I believe, Miss Chudleigh?'

'Yes, I had to pay a duty call on my aunt and uncle in the country and I used that opportunity to take a little air.'

'You are looking well for the change.'

'How gracious is Your Highness.' She took a step nearer. 'Oh, this is presumptuous of me... but it is out of my deep regard for Your Highness. I... I trust all is well?'

'All is well, Miss Chudleigh.'

'I was thinking of... that dear friend of us both.'

The Prince coloured. 'She... she is better, thank you.'

'So she has been ill?'

He looked at her steadily for a few moments; her lovely face was suffused with tender affection. Much as he loved Hannah he could always be deeply affected by a beautiful woman, and there was something motherly about Elizabeth at that moment.

He longed to confide in someone; he was deeply worried. He had done something which he knew his mother would consider disastrous. Only that day she and Lord Bute had talked about the day he would marry; they had talked complacently as though they were looking forward to it. He had made an effort to tell them, but he could not bring himself to do it. Lord Bute had been saying that people might like their King to have an English bride, but his mother said that he must have a royal Queen and that his ancestors had always taken their wives from Germany.

It was painful to listen to such talk and yet he could not bring himself to stop them, to explain to them. He had wanted to, but he knew and he was realizing this more and more every day what a shock it would be to them when they heard of his marriage to Hannah.

Therefore it would be comforting to explain to someone who would be sympathetic and he knew she would because she always had been.

'Miss Chudleigh,' he said quietly, 'I wish to confide in you.'

'Yes, Your Highness.' She tried not to sound too eager.

'You were so kind to me... and to Hannah.'

'Your Highness, it is my duty to serve you with any power I have. As to Hannah... I look upon her as a very dear friend. If I could do anything... just anything... to make you two happier, I beg of you, I implore you, to let me know what it is.'

'Miss Chudleigh, I have married Hannah.'

She caught her breath. It was incredible. Fresh from her own adventure with the church register of Larnston it still seemed fantastic. The future King of England married to a little Quaker girl the niece of a linen-draper! Oh no. It couldn't be true. It simply could not.

He was watching her eagerly, so she forced her features into an expression of deepest sympathy.

'It seemed to me the only possible action, Miss Chudleigh.'

'I understand.'

'I knew you would. Oh... I knew you would. So you are not shocked.'

'I think you have done a brave and n.o.ble thing.' She forced the tears into her eyes; it was not easy, but she had taught herself this trick and in any case she was so surprised that it was not so difficult as usual.

'Oh, Miss Chudleigh, I feel much better having confided in you.'

'I am glad Your Highness so honoured me. Have you... told any others?'

'Only my sister Elizabeth and Edward... my brother. Edward was our witness.'

'And who married you?'

'Dr Wilmot. I commanded it. They cannot blame him.'

'Your Highness is your own master and will ere long, I doubt not, be the master of us all. So... no one else knows.'

He shook his head. 'It is a great relief, Miss Chudleigh, to share this burden. I want to explain. Hannah is ill... she fears she may not live. It was necessary, you see. She could not die with this sin... on her soul. I had to do this, Miss Chudleigh. It was the only way.'

'I understand. I am sure you were right. It was good and n.o.ble. I am sure of it. And Mr Axford... ?'

'The marriage to Mr Axford was no real marriage. It took place at the marriage mill, which is illegal. Mr Axford himself believes this, for he has recently married a Miss Bartlett. Dr Wilmot helped me discover the truth of this and there is no doubt of it.'

'So... there is a Princess of Wales,' murmured Elizabeth.

'I do not know whether Hannah would wish to be so described... nor that my grandfather...'

Elizabeth nodded. Here was excitement. This made her little adventure seem like a nursery prank. The Prince married and the King in ignorance of it. And the Princess and old Bute... ! She wanted to laugh, but she smiled benignly, sympathetically and affectionately.

'Your Highness, may I dare to advise you... ?'

'Oh, Miss Chudleigh, please do.'

'Say nothing of this to anyone... who does not know already.'

'I certainly will not. And thank you for your kindness.'

'Your Highness, you must not thank me. I have done nothing... though I wish you to know that I will do anything to serve you now and at any time.'

The Prince went to his apartments considerably comforted by the encounter; and Elizabeth went to hers in a state of great excitement.

Elizabeth presented herself to the Dowager Princess. Augusta forced herself to smile. She wished the woman had stayed in the country. There was something quite brazen about her; and when one thought how much she knew of that unfortunate affair of George and the Quaker it was really quite disconcerting.

'So you have returned,' said Augusta.

Elizabeth swept a demure curtsy. 'And have come to ask Your Highness's pardon.'