‘How kind.’
‘If you could persuade Lord Hervey to read his latest poem to you ...’ began Stephen.
But Hervey silenced him with a loving smile.
‘Let us discuss my talents,’ said Hervey. ‘I thrive on flattery.’
‘This is no flattery,’ said Pulteney.
Anna Maria who hated prevarication said bluntly: ‘They want you to join the Patriots.’
Hervey took a kerchief from his sleeve and waved it before his face. Stephen half rose in alarm; Molly sat smiling and Pulteney was very alert.
‘That would be far from simple,’ murmured Hervey. ‘Why so?’ asked Pulteney sharply.
‘I have my appointment to serve the Queen.’
‘Why should you not continue in it?’
‘Do you think Walpole would allow one who was no longer a friend to hold a post so close to the Queen?’
‘That would be for the Queen to decide,’ said Anna Maria.
‘The Queen and Walpole share each other’s views, Madam. What Walpole thinks today the Queen thinks tomorrow.’
There was silence.
‘I should be the loser by one thousand pounds a year,’ declared Hervey languidly.
‘Your father would be delighted to give you a thousand a year,’ suggested Molly.
He smiled at his wife tenderly.
‘My dearest, you think all have as high an opinion of me as you have.’
‘I dislike Walpole,’ said Molly. ‘He is a coarse creature. He tried to seduce me once when I was at Court.’ ‘Unsuccessfully?’ enquired Hervey.
‘Certainly unsuccessfully.’
‘The fool! ‘ said Pulteney. ‘He is a disgrace to the country.’
‘A disgrace who has brought peace,’ suggested Hervey. ‘It was time for peace. There is always a time for peace after wars.’
‘He is credited for the peaceful times and the new prosperity.’
Molly said: ‘If your father would make up the loss of the stipend you receive as the Queen’s Chamberlain would you consider leaving Walpole?’
There was silence in the room.
Hervey looked at them; Pulteney so flatteringly eager; Anna Maria suspicious, the vixen; and Molly, cool, seeming impartial. She wanted him to say yes. She did not care that her husband should be the crony of the man who had tried to seduce her. Fastidious Molly, how she must have hated the coarse old man. Was she capable of feeling elated at the thought of his fury when he knew he had lost such and important adherent as Hervey? It would be interest. ing to see.
‘My father would not do so,’ he said.
‘But if he did ...’
Hervey lifted his shoulders; the assumption was that his loyalty to Walpole hung on his stipend he received as the Queen’s Chamberlain.
Stephen was alarmed, for he knew more of the secret plans of his dear friend than anyone.
‘If you gave up your post you would hardly be received intimately at the Court.’
‘That’s so, dear Stephen.’
‘But ... it is necessary ... that you are at Court.’
‘Entirely necessary.’
‘And yet ...’
‘Dear boy, you disturb yourself unnecessarily. There is no question of my giving up my post. My father will never agree to pay me the thousand a year.’
‘And if had ...’
‘He never will. My dear boy, do you imagine that I would give up this brilliant chance of being in close Court circles. Never! But if I say to my wife I wish to be on friendly terms with your would-be-seducer, she will be displeased. And if I say to William Pulteney: You are a clever fellow but I prefer to stand in the good graces of one whom I think is more clever—he will be offended. But if I say I do what I do for the sake of one thousand pounds a year, they are only disappointed; they understand and in a way they approve. Madam Vixen also. She has always such respect for money. It’s the line of least resistance. I shall go back to Court, sighing because I must smile at the man who would have seduced my wife, I must call my friend the enemy of one who believes himself to be my true friend. Oh, blessed thousand a year.’
Stephen smiled.
‘How clever you are!’
Hervey nodded. ‘And growing a little tired of the country life. This intrigue here in Ickworth has made me eager to plunge into others. Our stay will be shorter than I had at first planned.’
Lord Hervey had miscalculated. His father, Lord Bristol, who disliked Walpole intensely, was pleased that his son was considering severing his connection with him.
Molly had written to him explaining that her husband would have allied himself with Pulteney but for the fact that he had to consider the thousand pounds he received each year in payment for his duties as Chamberlain to the Queen. It went without saying that to turn from Walpole would be to lose the post, and it was for this reason only that dear John did not raise his voice against Sir Robert.
The Earl replied to his dearest daughter-in-law that he understood the predicament and was ready to do anything that would help his dear Jack. Therefore he need have no fear of relinquishing his post for his father would make up for all that he lost.
When Molly received the letter she did not run out to the gardens where Hervey was walking in deep conversation with Pulteney; that would have been showing an eagerness and Molly never did that.
She was as serene as ever and it was only after they had dined and were seated together in the retiring chamber when she produced the letter from Lord Bristol.
Hervey listened in dismay. Stephen’s large eyes were fixed fearfully on his friend’s face.
‘So,’ said Pulteney, ‘this matter is settled.’
‘No, that is not so,’ answered Hervey.
‘But you can have no objection now. You will lose nothing. Your father is willing to reimburse you.’
‘I do not recollect saying that my decision depended on this thousand a year.’
‘But you distinctly ...’
‘I do not believe I passed an opinion. You assumed. I said nothing.’
Pulteney was furious. Hervey had never seen him so angry.
‘You said ... you implied ...’
‘I implied nothing. As I remarked, and I pray you forgive the repetition, you assumed. And wrongly as it has turned out. I have no intention of relinquishing my post.’
With that Hervey rose and bowing to his wife and Anna Maria declared his intention to retire. He had a great deal to do for he intended to set out for St James’s without delay.
He left the next day, leaving a furious Pulteney who refused to speak to him.
Molly paid him a placid farewell and went back to her social life, giving parties, looking after the poor of the district, caring for her children, as though she had never attempted to persuade him to leave the Walpole party in favour of the Patriots.
Hervey smiled as the carriage rattled through the Suffolk lanes on its way to London. He was singularly blessed in his marriage. As for Pulteney—a plague on him!
As soon as Hervey returned to Court he began to ingratiate himself with Frederick. This was not difficult, for Frederick was always looking for new friends, flattery, and excitement; and Hervey, with his wit and elegance, his knowledge of the world and of politics seemed to the Prince a most engaging companion.
Frederick was restive. There were plenty to tell him that he was not treated fairly by his parents. He was kept short of money which was a bore and a humiliation. His sisters with the exception of Caroline openly disliked him; so did his parents. Whenever he could plague them, he would. And there were plenty to help him do it.
But he was not serious by nature. He did not want to be seriously involved in politics; he liked to surround himself with merry companions and drink together, play cards, or perhaps wander incognito through the town to see what adventures came their way.