The Widow of Windsor by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online

he would happily abdicate.
    The people were nonplussed. They had been ready to plunge into revolution, to drive the new King from his newly acquired throne, but how could they when he had no desire to retain it and was ready to save them the trouble of revolution by immediate abdication?
    They were amused. He had promised them their constitution. Let them accept it and with it their new King, who was colourful and made them laugh. They quickly discovered that they were content with their King.
    So, much to the surprise of all those who had feared that Frederick’s accession might precipitate the country into revolution, he became in a few days more popular than his father had ever been.
    The people of Denmark wanted no revolution. They had their new constitution and they wanted Frederick as the King, for it was quite clear that he was going to be a very free and easy monarch with the gift of amusing them by his unconventional behaviour.
    Frederick showed no surprise at their attitude. He settled into the Royal Palace with his ex-midinette and they were often seen strolling along the streets of Copenhagen much to the amusement of the people.
    He quickly realised the anxiety of the family at the Yellow Palace and one day in his unceremonious manner he called.
    Christian was in the middle of giving the gymnastic lesson and the King, having told the servant not to announce him, stood at the door watching them.
    ‘I wish I could do that!’ he cried.
    Christian stood on ceremony; the children were very still.
    ‘No need to stand on ceremony,’ said Frederick.
    But Christian signed to them to bow and curtsey.
    ‘His Majesty has honoured us with a visit,’ he said.
    ‘You’d better call me Uncle Frederick,’ replied the King.
    Louise came hurrying in.
    ‘Your Majesty …’
    Frederick smiled. ‘I wanted to have a talk with you,’ he explained.
    ‘Then if you will come into the drawing-room … They should not have let you come in unannounced.’
    ‘Oh, don’t worry. I’m not used yet to being treated like a king.’
    Christian dismissed the children. Alix took Dagmar by the hand and led her away, the boys following.
    ‘Nice little family,’ said the King. ‘Pretty little girls.’
    Christian and Louise exchanged glances. They couldn’t help wondering whether this visit meant they were going to be told they could no longer have the Yellow Palace. But surely if this had been the case someone else would have told them? But how could they be sure with a king as unconventional as Frederick.
    In the drawing-room Frederick sprawled on the sofa as he spoke, pulling at the place there which Louise herself had darned.
    ‘Don’t imagine,’ he said, ‘that my coming to the throne makes any difference as far as this place is concerned. It’s yours while you want it.’
    The relief was too intense to hide.
    ‘My place in the Guards …’ began Christian.
    ‘You don’t think I want to disband my army and lose my best men,’ said Frederick with a grin. ‘There’s a possibility that you will be heir to the throne, you know.’
    ‘Oh no, Your Majesty will have sons.’
    ‘I think that’s hardly likely. I’d have to find a wife first, wouldn’t I? As a matter of fact I’m going to marry Countess Danner.’ He laughed. ‘You look surprised. Perhaps you know her better as Mademoiselle Louise Rasmussen. I’ve just made her a Countess. But of course they’d call that a morganatic marriage, wouldn’t they, and even if we had children they wouldn’t be allowed to inherit.’ He pointed gleefully at Christian. ‘You may well be for it, my boy. So enjoy your freedom from the affairs of state while you can.’
    A very undignified monarch, thought Louise. When her Christian was King – which he might well be – it would be a very different matter. She was secretly elated because her eldest son Frederick could very likely in due course follow his father and be King of Denmark.
    In the meantime there was nothing to