Perdita's Prince: (Georgian Series) by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page A

the King. Who but a fool would choose a wife for her eyelashes?
    ‘Well,’ said the King, ‘so you’ve come here to Kew, eh, what?’
    ‘Yes, George. I thought we should make an end to this quarrel.’
    So it was George, eh? The brother, not the subject. As though it were for him to decide such a matter.
    ‘I said I’d not receive you at Court and I meant it. You understand that, eh, what?’
    ‘At Court, yes. I understand that. I’ve been involved in scandal, but I am your brother George.’
    ‘H’m,’ grunted the King. ‘A regrettable fact.’
    Cumberland looked hurt and the King was immediately sorry. ‘Scandalous,’ he said gruffly. ‘Don’t you know that? Eh? What?’
    ‘Yes, of course. But it’s in the past.’
    ‘And then to marry without consulting me. And those letters.’ The King blinked his eyes as though trying to prevent himself seeing those lurid phrases.
    ‘It’s over, George. Grosvenor’s had his pound of flesh.’
    ‘Yes, at whose expense?’
    ‘You’ve been a wonderful brother and a wonderful king to me, George.’
    The King grunted.
    ‘I’ve thought a great deal about you. You’re a lucky man,George. When I think of your family. Octavius is the thirteenth and the Queen will soon be presenting you with another. A lucky man, George.’
    ‘H’m,’ said the King, and thought of young George. What was he up to now? One never knew. And rising eighteen. Something would have to be done when he was eighteen. He’d have to be given a little freedom. And when one considered what tricks he could get up to without it – that was an alarming proposition. Still, he was fortunate to have such a fertile wife even if she lacked eyelashes a yard long.
    ‘I feel deprived, George, not to know my own nephews and nieces. I’d give a great deal to be allowed to visit them.’
    Oh, no, thought the King, you are not going to contaminate the children.
    ‘I will conduct you to the Queen,’ he said. ‘I don’t see why you should not pay your respects to her .’
    Cumberland ostentatiously wiped his eyes. He was succeeding beyond his hopes. He had always known old George was a sentimental fellow. He had told Fox so. It was only because he had made no special effort at a reconciliation that there had been none.
    ‘George, it would give me such pleasure …’
    ‘Come this way,’ said the King.
    Charlotte was sitting at her embroidery, her snuff box beside her, a few of her ladies working with her. She looked startled when she saw her brother-in-law and at a sign from the King dismissed her women.
    Cumberland approached her and kissed her hands. ‘This is a very happy day for me, Your Majesty,’ he said.
    ‘My brother called on me and so I brought him to you,’ said the King.
    And even as he spoke he noticed how plain she looked and he kept thinking of his brother’s wife who, he had heard, was one of the most beautiful women in the country. Charlotte never looked her best during pregnancies – she was so small – and one scarcely saw her otherwise!
    It was wrong of him to criticize her for doing her duty. He should be grateful. Cumberland might have a beautiful wife buthe did not possess thirteen children and a fourteenth on the way.
    ‘I am constantly hearing of the Prince of Wales,’ said Cumberland.
    Startled lights appeared in the Queen’s eyes. What had George been doing now? What new scandal?
    Cumberland saw their alarm and delighted in it.
    ‘The people dote on him. He is so handsome. That is what I hear.’
    The Queen breathed more easily. ‘He is a very good-looking boy.’
    ‘And a scholar too.’
    ‘He was always good with his books. He speaks several languages fluently.’
    ‘German is one, I hear. Our ancestors all spoke that fluently, but George is fluent in French, Italian and English too. And a classical scholar.’ Cumberland raised his eyes to the ceiling. ‘How did we produce such a genius, George?’
    The Queen looked pleased. A discussion of the Prince’s