‘That I should,’ said Caroline, ‘and doubtless I will as they are such near neighbours.’
Such a cold day, thought Caroline. How she wished that she was in one of those hot and sunny spots which dear Sir Sydney talked about with such enthusiasm. Still, her destiny lay here. She had come to England to be a Princess of Wales, one day a queen— though she trusted that would be a long time hence, since it could only be on the death of the King.
She felt restless so she sent for Miss Hayman and told her she was going to walk.
‘Alone, Your Highness?’
‘Yes, dear Hayman, alone.’
It amused her to see the shocked look in dear Hayman’s eyes. They should be used to her by now. She was not treated like a Princess; she was not allowed to live in Carlton House; therefore she would behave like a country lady and go walking alone if she wished.
In her mauve satin cloak and yellow half boots she looked very colourful.
Would Maria Fitzherbert say she looked a little too flamboyant? Well, Maria my love, I am the Princess not you! ‘Now, my love, bring my sable cap and I’ll be off.’ When the cap was brought she set it jauntily on her head. ‘There, my dear, the Princess of Wales takes the air — unescorted— but not desolate. Because it is as she wishes and as she commands.’
‘Your Highness—’
‘No, my dear, I do not need your company. I am going alone.’
She left Montague House smiling as she went. She knew exactly where she was going. She would call on Lady Douglas and see the enchanting child and perhaps Sir Sydney Smith if he were there.
She found the house he had described. How did one call? Did one walk straight up to the door and knock? That was what she had done in Brunswick when she had wished to call on humble folk. But this was not Brunswick; and there she had merely been the Princess Caroline, daughter of a small ducal house.
Perhaps the Princess of Wales should have a different approach.
She put her hand on the gate and hesitated; then she stopped and walked up and down along by the iron railings. What does it matter how I get in? It only matters that I do. An attractive young woman had come out of the house and approached Caroline. Opening the gate, she asked: ‘Do you want something? Can I help you?’
‘Are you Lady Douglas?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘I thought you must be. I hear you are the mother of a very beautiful little girl.
May I see her? I love children.’
‘Madam—’ began the startled woman.
‘Sir Sydney told me about her. Sir Sydney Smith. He was at Montague House, you see.’
‘Montague House— but that is—’
Caroline nodded. ‘Yes, of course. I am the Princess Caroline— Princess of Wales.’
‘Your Highness!’
‘There’s no need to stand on ceremony. Ask me in, please.’
‘My— my humble house is at Your Highness’s service.’
‘Well, come and show me your little daughter.’
So that was the beginning and Sir Sydney was right. The child was enchanting. As for Sir John and Lady Douglas, they were delighted to have the honour of entertaining Her Royal Highness. And while they gave her refreshment Sir Sidney arrived; and then there was a joyful encounter between him and the Princess It was a very entertaining visit and Sir Sidney begged leave to escort her back to Montague House, which permission she willingly gave.
The Douglases were hopeful, they told her, that they might again have the pleasure of Her Highness’s company and that they hoped that next time she came she would give them warning so that they might have the opportunity of entertaining her in a fitting manner.
‘Nonsense!’ cried Caroline. ‘I’ve been most fittingly entertained! I want no ceremony— you shall come to my next Party at Montague House and certainly I shall come again. We are neighbours.’
When Caroline had left with Sir Sydney the Douglases looked at each other in astonishment.
‘I feel I’ve dreamed the last two hours,’ said Lady Douglas.
‘I always heard she was eccentric.’
‘Who would have believed that she— that woman— was our future Queen!’
‘The stories we’ve heard must have been true.’
‘What an adventure!’ said Lady Douglas. She looked at her husband. He was a brave man and had not done badly; he had been given a pension after the part he had taken with Sir Sydney in the defence of Saint Jean d’Acre; but she was the strong one; she had always led the way and he had always followed.
When she had suggested that the gay bachelor, Sir Sydney Smith, should live in their house when he was ashore, he had raised no objection and if he knew of the relationship between herself and Sir Sydney he raised no objection to that either. He was no raiser of objections and that suited Lady Douglas and Sir Sydney very well indeed.
But the Princess of Wales— to call on them like some humble village woman!
‘I hear you have a beautiful daughter!’ mimicked Lady Douglas in a thick guttural accent. ‘What an extraordinary thing!’
‘You found her— attractive?’ asked Sir John.
‘I would say she is an attractive proposition rather than an attractive woman,’
said Lady Douglas with a smirk.
‘You think this could bring good fortune to us?’
‘I intend to see that it does. Good Heavens, can’t you imagine what it could mean to us? Friends in high places! My dear friend and neighbour is Madame Caroline. She’s crazy; she’s wild; she behaves in the oddest way— I grant you that. But she is still the Princess of Wales.’
‘Sydney seemed taken with her.’
Lady Douglas turned away to hide the frown.
‘He would have to be taken with the Princess of Wales, wouldn’t he? So have you to be— and I. So have we all, if we’re wise.’
Lady Douglas left her husband and went to her room as she said to think of what could come out of this.
From her window she watched for the return of Sir Sydney and when he came back and up to the rooms which had been set aside for him, she was waiting for him in his bedroom.
‘Well?’ she demanded.
‘It’s a fantastic thing. I can scarcely believe it.’
‘She’s a fantastic thing, you mean.’
‘Tut tut, Lottie. You’re talking of the Princess of Wales. Remember that.’
‘I trust you remembered it.’
‘Now what does that mean?’
She threw herself against him and put her arms about his neck. ‘You know full well.’
He laughed.
‘Myself— and the Princess of Wales! Come, Lottie, you’re letting your imagination run away with you.’
‘Mind you don’t let yours run away with you where that woman’s concerned.’
He laughed again and embraced her.
‘Your spare time is for me,’ she told him. ‘Remember it.’
‘As if you’d let me forget!’
‘I shan’t. But if you did by any chance there’d be trouble. You know that.’
‘I know my Lottie,’ he said.
The friendship with the Douglases flourished. Lady Douglas, Caroline believed, was a very exciting personality. She was full of fun, ready for the wildest games Caroline arranged for her parties; and there was the delightful little daughter of hers who had been christened Charlotte Sydney.
It made a bond between them that they both had a daughter named Charlotte; and Caroline was constantly bestowing gifts on the adorable little creature.
How pleased she was that she had called on the Douglases that day!
There was a great deal of entertaining and Sir Sydney was in good form at Parties; he had a talent for devising all sorts of games and they were usually games with forfeits. And the price he always demanded from the ladies was a kiss. This caused great merriment. And when Caroline had to pay her forfeit, Sir Sydney did not alter his terms and Caroline was very prepared to kiss him heartily. He was her dear friend who had helped to make her life so much more exciting.