Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean - Страница 33

"George Augustus does not like to be crossed," said Sophia Dorothea.

"Who does?" answered Caroline with a sinking heart, for she recognized the warning in her sister-in-law's voice.

"He more than most. He so very much wants to be ... appreciated."

"I understand." Caroline changed the subject abruptly; she did not want George Augustus to discover that she discussed him with anyone. Whatever her opinion of her husband, she knew she must keep it to herself. "Tell me about Madam Schulemburg and Madam Kielmansegge. It has been suggested that I should invite them to my soiree. I have no intention of doing so."

"Oh, they are my father's mistresses."

"What sort of women are they?"

"The Schulemburg is very tall. She is quite ugly now but was a beauty in her youth. Since she had the smallpox she lost most of her hair, her skin is pockmarked, and she's a real scarecrow. Particularly now that she's so thin—and looks thinner because she is so tall. She is as pale as a ghost under all her rouge which looks dreadful over the pock marks; and the red wig she wears makes her look worse than ever. But she has been there for so long that no one notices her. She has been my father's mistress for years and she's still the favourite. He doesn't seem to notice

how ugly she is ... or perhaps he doesn't think so. He has no sense of beauty."

"I meant rather what sort of woman is she."

"Oh ... stupid. Quite stupid. But that's in her favour. She never argues. That to my father means more than silken locks and peach-like complexion. Lips are fascinating to him not because they are luscious but because they keep silent."

"You think that she has kept her hold on your father because she never disagrees with him?"

Sophia Dorothea nodded. "Her stupidity is one of her main attractions."

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course. Some men like to feel superior. My father doesn't consciously feel superior. He's merely convinced he is. If anyone disagreed with him he would think they were stupid. Some are different. They have to be continually reminded of their superiority because they doubt it. They perhaps are the more dangerous ones."

"I see what you mean," said Caroline slowly; and then more briskly: "Tell me more about Schulemburg."

She came to the court when she was a young girl and was introduced to my father by the Countess von Platen—not the present one ... the wife of the elder Count von Platen. She was my grandfather's mistress and she ruled the Court."

"Then your grandfather did not share this love for stupid women."

"No. He was different. But even he liked them to be clever enough to know when to keep quiet and was as determined to have his own way as my father is. Only he was gallant and witty whereas my father..." Sophia Dorothea shrugged her shoulders. "To get back to Schulemburg: Countess von Platen was in love with Konigsmarck who was my mother's lover so she hated my mother. She advised Schulemburg how to keep my father's favour and my mother quarrelled with him over the creature. He wouldn't have interference from his wife any more than he would tolerate her having a lover. You see how unfair it is for us women?"

Caroline nodded.

"Well Schulemburg suited my father. She's really fond of

him and he of her—as much as he could be of anyone. When my mother was sent away Schulemburg was treated like his wife. But she never argued; she never quarrelled; she never criticized him even when he took another mistress, but was always waiting gratefully when he came back to her. That is what the Hanoverians expect of women."

Caroline's eyes narrowed. "So she kept her place all those years. It must be nearly twenty. And although she is no longer beautiful she still keeps her place. It is quite an achievement."

"To succeed through stupidity! "

*'But not so stupid."

"Oh it's not by design. That would be clever. No Schulemburg is as she is because nature made her that way."

"And the other ... Kielmansegge?"

"Ah, she is a different kind altogether."

"Yet she keeps her hold too."

"Yes. It must be because my father is too lazy to change. But you could scarcely call him lazy. No. It is habit, perhaps; and the conviction that all women are more or less the same and the only ones who are disagreeable to him are those who voice opinions. Kielmansegge is as ugly in her way as Schulemburg is in hers. She's the daughter of the Count von Platen. You see how useful that family is. Schulemburg introduced by Platen; Kielmansegge the daughter of Platen; and the Countess von Platen, the latest addition to the seraglio, the daughter-in-law of the Platens. Kielmansegge could well be my father's sister. In fact it is more than likely. My grandfather was Clara von Platen's lover over many years, and as her husband was the complaisant kind—he did very well through it as you know—it is more than possible that the children he accepted as his were other people's."

"And she is not in such favour as Schulemburg."

"There is very little in it. She is not so docile ... at least when my father is not about. Schulemburg is completely faithful to my father and always has been. No breath of scandal attaches to our tall malkin; it's a very different matter with Kielmansegge. She is like her mother. The sight of any personable man makes her eyes glisten. She doesn't see why she should reserve herself for my father, particularly when she has

to share his favours with others. I doubt whether he could satisfy her if she was the only one. She is as ugly as Schulera-burg—only her wig is black instead of red but it's as unbecoming. She's as fat as Schulemburg is thin; and her complexion is so ruddy that she has to tone it down with white powder which is every bit as unbecoming as Schulemburg's rouge."

"I see that your father likes variety. These two are exact opposites."

"Perhaps you are right. Then there is the young Countess von Platen, a most conventional mistress, being young and beautiful. And while she is not entirely faithful like Schulemburg and not as promiscuous as Kielmansegge she is not averse to take a lover now and then."

"I begin to understand," said Caroline. "The Elector has tried to have all women represented in those three. It is what I would have expected of such an orderly mind."

"I think you admire him a little."

"He is a good ruler and I am sorry there is such enmity between him and George Augustus. I should like to change that and make them friends."

Sophia Dorothea shook her head.

"You're beginning to understand them. No one has ever been able to teach them anything. My giandmother gave up long ago and she is a wise woman."

"I shall not receive those three women at my soiree. I believe that that will please George Augustus. In fact I know it will. I think perhaps the Elector would realize then how much happier everyone wotild be if he showed a little kindness to your mother. I don't suggest that she should come back to Hanover. That would be too painful for everyone. But I do think that if he would allow George Augustus and you to see your mother, everyone would be happier and the dreadful enmity in the family might come to an end."

"You are a reformer, Caroline."

"That amuses you."

"In a way because I don't think you know us here very well. But you will learn." Sophia Dorothea stood up. "I keep you from your duties. But I have enjoyed our talk. We must make the most of our opportunities before I leave for Prussia. There