She was his angel and he was foolish and in need of forgiveness.
But how could she have believed he had been serious when he had sent that note telling her he did not want to see her again! Why hadn’t she realized it was meant as a joke? Why hadn’t she laughed at him and refused to believe it? Did she not know that he was her faithful husband until death did them part?
Maria wept as she read the letter recalling that period of desolation when he had left her, thinking of the happy times they had shared together at Kempshott when he was so deeply in debt that he had had to close part of Gariton House.
Could she go back? No, of course she could not. He was married to Caroline of Brunswick and that marriage was accepted in the eyes of the law which meant of course that that ceremony which they had gone through in her house at Park Street was considered to be no true marriage after all.
‘I could never go back,’ she told Miss Pigot. ‘It was different before this public marriage. Then I believe many people accepted me as his wife. Now no one could, for to do so would be to imply that the Princess Charlotte is illegitimate.’
‘These rules and regulations,’ sighed Miss Pigot. ‘What are they? You know you’re his wife. I should have thought that was good enough.’
‘You are trying to tempt me.’
Ah, thought Miss Pigot, so she admits it is a temptation! Miss Hayman brought the news to Montague House.
‘The Prince is courting Mrs. Fitzherbert very ardently.’ ‘Well, I hope he’s successful,’ cried Caroline.
‘People are saying that he’s as much in love with her as he was in the beginning.’
‘We should drink to the success of our fat lovers,’ laughed Caroline.
Miss Hayman was surprised at the Princess’s attitude; but Caroline was always unaccountable.
‘Come, fill a glass and drink with me. I have said that I hope he won’t feel me to be an impediment to his reconciliation with the lady.’
‘Your Highness has said that?’
‘Oh come, Hayman, let us be honest. I don’t want the man.’ She shuddered.
‘That wedding-night of ours. He was drunk. It was the only way he could face me. How many brides do you think have a husband who spent his wedding-night lying under the grate?’ She began to laugh and Miss Hayman joined in, for if the Princess saw the matter as a joke she was prepared to do the same.
‘I’ll tell you something, Hayman,’ went on the Princess. ‘I’ve made many faux-pas in my life as you can imagine, but the biggest one I ever made was to marry Mrs. Fitzherbert’s husband.’
She began to laugh immoderately.
Lord Cholmondeley did not know how to lift his master from his despair. He was continually being summoned to talk about the Prince’s problem.
‘Cholmondeley,’ he cried, ‘I am frustrated at every turn! My father denies me the right which is every other English man’s— to fight for his country. I have offered my services and they are refused. I have pointed out that I have six brothers who could take my place if I should die in action. And what is the reply.
No! No! It has always been the same. It is not the first time I have offered to fight for my country and been refused the honour.’
‘As Prince of Wales, Your Highness—’
‘I know what you are going to say, Cholmondeley. And how can I gainsay it?
It’s true I’m the heir to the throne. It’s true that the state of my father’s health is— precarious. But I have brothers.’
‘But Your Highness is the Prince of Wales.’
But he had not summoned Cholmondeley to talk of war but of love.
‘Denied my rights as an Englishman and as a husband. Yes, my dear Cholmondeley, as a husband. Oh, I am not referring to that object with whom they made me go through a form of marriage but to my own dear wife, Maria Fitzherbert, with whom I can make no headway— no headway at all.’
‘I am sure Your Highness will in time.’
‘In time! Ever since I left the Princess Caroline, I have been trying to persuade Maria to come back to me. The answer is always No.’
Cholmondeley was thoughtful. There had been Lady Jersey, of course, and it might well be that Maria Fitzherbert was not absolutely certain that that affair was ended. But he would not remind the Prince of that lady for His Highness disliked being reminded of what he preferred to forget.
‘I do not think, Your Highness, that the lady will persist in holding out against you.’
‘She has so far. I sent her a copy of a will I made a few days after that public ceremony. In this, I left her everything I possessed and I referred to her as my dear wife, my second self, for that is how I shall always think of Maria.’
‘And still she is adamant?’
‘She does not answer most of my letters.’
‘Perhaps she fears to offend the Princess of Wales.’
‘Why should she? That woman is of importance whatsoever.’
Was His Highness unaware of the cheers which followed the Princess wherever she went? Was he unaware that the King was attached to her? And most important of all that the people of the Country were taking sides and they were supporting the Princess against the Prince.
‘And she continues to live in Ealing— Ealing, Cholmondeley— in a rather humble way when she could live in Pall Mall in splendour.’
‘Mrs. Fitzherbert has never been a woman to flaunt her position, Your Highness. She is, I think, the most regal lady I ever beheld but—’
The Prince’s eyes had become glazed with emotion.
‘Regal, indeed. If she could have been accepted as the Princess of Wales, I should have been the happiest man on Earth, Cholmondeley. As it is, I am thrust into this position and am the least happy. Although, if she came back to me—’
‘I heard Your Highness that the Princess of Wales expressed a wish that the reconciliation you hope for with Mrs Fitzherbert be successfully concluded to your mutual happiness.’
‘Did she say that? She has at least a good heart, though the most repulsive body in the world. I tell you Cholmondeley, I feel quite ill to think of it.’
‘Then perhaps Your Highness should refrain from doing so.’
The Prince was smiling. ‘So she said that, did she? It shows, does it not, that it is obviously the right solution— since even she is aware of it. To think that the one who is standing in the way of my happiness is Maria. She is breaking her marriage vows. Did she not swear to be with me for better or worse? It’s true, Cholmondeley, and I shall have no more of this. I am determined that she shall come back to me. And I will tell her that I command this. If she will not, I will make public the fact that I went through a ceremony of marriage with her. Her brother and uncle were witnesses at the ceremony. She is my wife, Cholmondeley, and by God, she shall be made to do her duty.’
Cholmondeley was startled, but he knew the Prince enough to realize that it was useless to attempt to restrain him.
Maria read the letter and turned pale. Miss Pigot was beside her. ‘What is it?
What now?’
‘You may read it,’ said Maria, and Miss Pigot picked up the letter which had fluttered to the floor.
Miss Pigot gave a short whistle. ‘So he’ll make a public statement that he’s married to you, will he? Well, I thought that was what you’d always wanted.’
‘You talk foolishly. Don’t you see that this would have been dangerous before the Princess Caroline came here. Now— It’s doubly so.’
‘Dangerous?’
‘If he proclaims our marriage then how can he be married to the Princess Caroline?’