Randolph, a member of the household was shortly leaving for Germany.
‘It occurred to me that Your Highness might have some special commission for him.’
Caroline declared that the doctor might carry some letters to her family. When was he leaving?
In the next few days, was the answer.
Caroline sat down at her table and wrote home. This was her revenge. She would tell her mother about Charlotte, the dumpy ugly Queen who reminded her of an old duck waddling out with her ducklings following her in order of age. She told of the cool reception she had received at the Queen’s hand; and that the Princesses, her sisters-in-law, were a spineless collection of old maids. They hadn’t a will between them. Mamma said: Persecute George’s wife, so they did their silly best to persecute.
As for the King he was kind and she liked him, though everyone said he was mad. The Prince of Wales was a poor husband and they weren’t to believe the stories they heard of his good looks. He was very fat and even the special corsets he wore couldn’t hide his paunch. She could tell them that the English branch’ of the family would do well in a circus; She sealed the letters and sent for Dr. Randolph.
‘Dear Dr. Randolph.’ She smiled, Lord Malmesbury would reprimand her for her freedom of address. ‘Dear Dr. Randolph,’ she went on, ‘I have heard you are leaving for a journey and will be passing through Brunswick.’
‘It’s true, Your Highness.’
‘Then would you please take these letters to the Court there? They should be delivered into the hands of the Duke and Duchess and Madame de Hertzfeldt.’
Dr. Randolph bowed, accepted the letters and told the Princess that she could rest assured that they would be delivered with all speed.
Lady Jersey smiled at the doctor in the slightly coquettish manner in which she regarded all men.
‘Dr. Randolph,’ she said, ‘I hear that you are about to leave for Germany.’
‘It is true,’ replied the Doctor.
‘And the Princess has honoured you with a commission?’
‘She wishes me to carry some letters to her family.’
‘I see.’ Lady Jersey’s smile widened. ‘A very important Person is interested in those letters.’
Dr. Randolph said: ‘Madam, they have been entrusted to my care. I could not lightly hand them over to any— person.’
‘Not lightly, Dr. Randolph. But there might be a perfectly reasonable way in which this would come about.’
‘I cannot see how this could be.’
‘It is for you to decide. The personage who wishes to see the letters is of the greatest influence. She has the power to bestow rank on those who wish for it, preferment— honours of all kinds.’
‘Preferment?’A Bishopric dangled before Dr. Randolph’s imaginative mental eye. Preferment indeed! For handing over a packet of letters. The important personage was of course the Queen. One had to obey the Queen. There was not only the hope of preferment if one did, but the fear of reprisals if one did not. The Queen, who for so many years had been a nonentity had now become a power in the land, and she was a vindictive woman who would be implacable in her revenge.
If Lady Jersey— and everyone knew on what terms that woman was with Her Majesty— went to the Queen and told her that Dr. Randolph could have put the letters into her hands and failed to do so, that would be the end of Dr. Randolph’s hopes of advancement. Who knew, it might be the end of Dr. Randolph’s career.
‘So—’ said Lady Jersey opening her beautiful eyes provocatively.
‘Madam, you who are in the service of the great will doubtless have some suggestion to offer.’
Lady Jersey was only too willing to explain.
As the post chaise carried him out of London on the way to Yarmouth Dr.
Randolph was thinking of his Bishopric.
It was really a very simple matter. He only had to obey instructions. His great fear was that something would go wrong. Caroline did not notice that the letters were not returned to her.
No. Lady Jersey was very efficient where her own advancement was concerned; and as this was his too, so mu he be. She left Brighton for Carlton House, there to await the birth of her child; and so eager was she for this event that she had little thought for anything else.
He alighted at the inn and there was the messenger waiting for him as had been arranged.
When Lady Jersey gave birth to a boy she laughed. Let her! She had already had a brood of children. What was one more? Caroline was not vindictive and if Lady Jersey had been ready to be her friend, she would have forgotten everything that had gone before and have settled down to cosy chats about babies.
‘Sir, there is disturbing news. Mrs. Randolph has been taken ill and the doctor believes it to be very grave.’
But Lady Jersey was determined not to be friendly. She was eager, as she said, to keep the Princess in her place. Lady Jersey had the approval of the Queen who recognized her as a good servant; the manner in which she had diverted Caroline’s letters into the Queen’s hands was an example of her good service.
And reading those letters was not likely to make Her Majesty feel any more friendly towards her daughter-in-law.
Low, vulgar creature! thought the Queen. What folly ever to have let her come into the country! Everything should be done to make her as uncomfortable as possible. As for the Prince he could scarcely bear to hear her spoken of. The Queen laughed grimly; their mutual dislike of his wife had made a new bond between them. They were almost allies.
Dr. Randolph took the letter which was handed to him. He had rehearsed the scene during the journey to the inn. He put his hand to his forehead and said: ‘My God, what shall I do? What can I do? There is nothing to be done but return home.’
‘Your Highness seems to be carrying a girl,’ Lady Jersey told Caroline.
‘While the horses are being prepared I will write a letter and I wish you to take it with all speed to Lady Jersey in Brighton.’
‘You would know,’ retorted the Princess, ‘being so clever.’
‘It is the method of carrying the child.’
His hands were trembling a little as he wrote the note. N had had grave news of his wife’s illness and was returning home at once. He must therefore postpone his visit to Germany. Lady Jersey would remember that he had been entrusted with a packet of letters by the Princess of Wales. He was wondering now whether he should entrust them to another traveller, who should be chosen by the Princess, or return them to Lady Jersey to hand to the Princess, and was now leaving for London where he would await Lady Jersey’s instructions. He trusted there would be no delay as he was anxious to return home to his sick wife.
‘Well, it is to the grandmothers we must turn to learn of these things,’ replied Caroline.
Lady Jersey saw that there was as little delay as possible. Grandmother indeed! thought Lady Jersey. At least she could be more proud of her appearance than Caroline could of hers.
She had spoken to the Princess of Wales who wished that the letters be returned to her. Dr. Randolph should therefore return the packet addressed to Lady Jersey at the Pavilion. They could be sent from London to Brighton on the post coach which set out from the Golden Cross Inn, Charing Cross.
‘Experience is always so valuable,’ said Lady Jersey; and while Caroline was thinking up a suitable retort, asked leave to retire.
Dr. Randolph sighed with relief, put the packet on the coach-post and returned home to his wife who was spending a few days in bed which she would have found a little irksome but for the promise of future glory as wife to the Bishop.
When she was alone, Caroline thought of the baby.
‘Girl or boy,’ she murmured. ‘What do I care? It’ll be my very own child.
And when it comes— perhaps even these last months will have seemed worthwhile.’