Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean - Страница 27

"You needn't look at me like that, von Eltz," said George Augustus. "I'll play my part."

The days were long. Caroline could settle to nothing. She could not go on in this way. She had no desire to return to Liitzenburg which the King of Prussia had now renamed Charlottenburg after his wife. She had never had any love for the King of Prussia. She would stay here with her brother until her grief grew less acute—if it ever did.

She spent long hours in the Hofgarten remembering the past because the future was too painful to contemplate.

Sometimes she rode through the streets of the town, through the narrow streets, past the little houses from the windows of which people leaned out to see her go by. They called affectionate greetings. They loved her the more because she had refused marriage with the Archduke Charles. She had given up a possible empire and a crown for the sake of her faith. That was how they saw it and it seemed an admirable thing to have done.

"Long live our Princess," they called. "Good fortune to Your Serene Highness."

She smiled her sad smile and they understood her sadness and loved her for that too.

William Frederick said to her one day: "You'll be ill if you go on grieving in this way. I suggest we leave this place and take a short holiday at Triesdorf. It will be beautiful there at this time of year."

Listlessly Caroline agreed to accompany him to their

summer home and they had been there only a few weeks when the Margrave came to his sister's room to tell her about the new arrivals.

"Two gentlemen have come from Hanover. They bring letters from the Count von Platen, the Hanoverian Prime Minister, asking us to be kind to these two travellers."

Caroline said, "Must I see them?"

"It would seem discourteous not to as there are these letters from Platen."

"That's true, and I might hear news of the Electrcss. I wonder she did not give them a message to bring to me."

"Perhaps she did not know they were coming. She wouldn't since they are merely noblemen travelling for their own pleasure."

"I will come down this evening," said Caroline.

So she met George Augustus, not knowing that he was other than Monsieur de Busch.

He bowed, and murmured tliat he was overwhelmed by the honour and that it was a great moment for them.

She replied that he was welcome. She was delighted to see anyone from Hanover and she hoped he might give her news of the Elcctress Sophia.

He believed he could do that.

The travellers were entertained in a homely and intimate manner for the Margrave did not live in the same state in his summer residence as he did at the Palace of Ansbach.

Young Monsieur de Busch talked animatedly of Hanover; his friend, the more sober Monsieur Steding devoted himself to the Margrave leaving his young friend to talk to Caroline.

Since she was forced to pay attention to him Caroline looked more like he»- old self than she had since Sophia Charlotte's death. Her brother noticed this and thought: We must entertain more. She must not be allowed to shut herself away.

Meanwhile Monsieur de Busch was growing very excited, although he hid this. She was charming, this young woman. She was the type that most appealed to him. Masses of fair hair, blue eyes, a little quiet, always giving him the opportunity of speaking. She seemed modest and a little sad; but he knew why that was. She was a beauty; and she would be amenable;

and she had refused the Archduke Charles. He had made up his mind in the first half hour.

Caroline saw an animated young man—short but good-looking, with a lively expression and neat features. He was about her own age, she judged, and there was an unusual dignity about him. She liked him.

After the meal the Margrave suggested a game of cards. Monsieur de Busch asked if he might have the honour of sitting next to the Princess and this was granted.

So they played cards in a desultory manner for that was how the visitors wished it.

Caroline asked how the Electress Sophia was progressing after her illness.

"I hear she is recovering slowly," she was told. *'She is a wonderful lady."

Monsieur de Busch agreed that this was so. "Your Serene Highness should visit her. I believe nothing could speed her recovery more than that."

"I should have to wait for an invitation from the Elector. I might not be very welcome.'*

*'I cannot imagine Your Serene Highness being unwelcome anywhere."

"You are very kind."

His almond-shaped eyes were warm—perhaps a little too warm, but strangely enough she did not mind that. By forcing her to entertain him he was making her feel more alive than she had since the tragedy.

"It would be my greatest pleasure, if it were possible for me to show you kindness."

Hardly the manner in which a casual visitor should talk to a Princess. But he was young and she liked him for he had made her feel so much better.

"It is your turn to play. Monsieur de Busch," she said. He watched her beautiful slender fingers with the cards. She was enchanting.

I'm in love, he told himself. Caroline shall be my wife. My father will be pleased and the King of Prussia will be furious. And what will the King of Spain think when she has accepted me after refusing him!

He was in high spirits; and he was his most attractive when he was happy. His smile was sweet and he became very gay. Perhaps he was a little bold; perhaps he showed too clearly his admiration.

But Caroline even laughed now and then which made her brother look up sharply.

He was glad the travellers from Hanover had come to Tries-dorf.

George Augustus came unannounced to the Baron's bedchamber.

"We must leave at once for Hanover," he declared. "We must tell my father that the mission is a success. I don't propose to wait another day. I have decided."

"Your Highness has come to a very quick decision."

George Augustus threw up his hands in the gesture his father so disliked. "But I am in love with her. She is beyond my expectations. Surely you can see for yourself."

"The Princess is charming, but..."

"I have decided."

"Then in that case, in the morning I will tell the Margrave that we have been called back to Hanover on urgent business."

"Do that. I shall not have a moment's peace until she is in Hanover."

"If Your Highness is assured tliat you are not being too hasty..."

"I always make up my mind quickly."

The Baron forbore to mention that this was not always with the happiest results. George Augustus would not listen. He was in love.

Would he have been quite so infatuated with the Princess of Ansbach if the Archduke Charles had not sought her hand? wondered the Baron. He knew his Prince.

The Princess was a charming creature, capable of affection, as her sadness at the death of the Queen of Prussia showed. The Baron hoped she would not expect too much from his mercurial little Prince—if she decided to accept him.

In the morning he told the Margrave that they were called

back. They took outwardly regretful leave, although George Augustus could not completely hide the fact that he was bubbling over with excitement.

They returned to Hanover after a very brief absence; but the Elector was as near pleased as the Baron had ever seen him at the result of his strategy.

After the visitors from Hanover had left Triesdorf Caroline felt melancholy. They had certainly relieved the tedium and it had been pleasant to be so obviously admired by the young Monsieur de Busch.