The Regent's Daughter: (Georgian Series) by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page B

papers,’ she wrote, ‘some of which it will be necessary for him to burn.’ He was so much more pleasant than the Bishop so she expressed the wish that the King would look after him and make him a bishop. That would put the Bish-Up’s nose out of joint and she would leave him merely her Bible and Prayer Book – he, being such a good man, would think these the greatest gifts anyone could bestow.
    And dear Louisa. She hoped the King would reward her and dear Mrs Gagarin for their services most handsomely and give them a house to live in and look after them.
    And Mrs Udney. That made her laugh.
    ‘To Mrs Udney,’ she wrote, ‘ nothing, for reasons.’Everything she did seemed to raise a storm, thought Charlotte. Who would have believed that the mere act of making a will could have caused such trouble.
    She had omitted to put the will away and ‘someone’ had read it and reported to Lady de Clifford.
    That Mrs Udney, I’ll swear, thought Charlotte, and chuckled to picture the woman reading what had been written about her.
    ‘Of course,’ said Mrs Udney to Lady de Clifford, ‘you see what has happened. Mrs Campbell dictated the will. Sharing her jewellery with you! Do you think Charlotte would have thought of that?’
    ‘It would not surprise me what Charlotte thought of.’
    ‘Campbell always hated me and so does Dr Nott. That man is quite a menace. It’s time someone spoke to the Bishop about him.’
    Mrs Campbell was red-eyed and Charlotte wanted to know why.
    ‘They are saying I dictated your will. They are making the most hideous slanders. My health won’t stand it.’
    ‘They are wicked,’ said Charlotte. ‘I will go to Cliffy and tell her that I am quite capable of making a will without being dictated to.’
    ‘It’s no good,’ sighed Mrs Campbell. ‘I feel so faint. I really think I ought to resign from Your Highness’s service.’
    ‘No, no, dear Camby. I won’t allow it.’
    ‘Dearest Princess, if only everyone was as sweet as you!’
    ‘Sweet,’ cried Charlotte. ‘I do not like that word. Are you going to eat me then? Sweet! I think it is such a silly word for a person.’
    ‘My dear good Princess.’
    ‘Good! Good for what? What am I good for?’
    Mrs Campbell sighed. Her Highness was in a cantankerous mood doubtless because of all this fuss about the will for which she blamed herself.
    She had almost made up her mind to retire. She looked forward to a quiet life in which she could devote herself to her ailments.
    Dr Nott was in a quandary. This was most embarrassing. The Princess Charlotte had suggested that he should be made a bishop and that much should be done for him. Had this beenput into the mind of the Princess, everyone was asking. And who would have put it there but Dr Nott?
    With downcast eyes Dr Nott gave her her Latin lesson. She was not listening; she was thinking of poor Campbell who had been so wrongfully accused and who had really seemed as if she wanted to go away and be ill in comfort.
    ‘Your Highness is not attending this morning.’
    She sighed. ‘No, dear Doctor. I have a great deal on my mind.’
    ‘It was good of Your Highness to have mentioned me for a bishopric in your will.’
    ‘Good again,’ she said. ‘Good for what? as I said to dear Campbell. It was not good at all. It was being just . You deserve a bishopric and I trust the King will grant my request.’
    Dr Nott smiled in his meek way and said that if it meant he must wait for the Princess to die that he might receive the bishopric it would be a great tragedy for him ever to have it offered to him, so he trusted Her Highness would outlive him by many years – which he thought was most likely – and he would be happy to serve her for as long as she needed him.
    ‘That was a pleasant speech, dear Doctor,’ she said, ‘and it moves me so much that I am in no mood for Latin this morning. Therefore let us put an end to the lesson.’
    She rose, but unfortunately he had put his foot on the train