Captain Manley came to Montague House a great deal too. He was very interested in her boys and told her that the sea would be a fine career for any of them who were suited to it.
‘Why, you are like a father to my darlings,’ she cried in her impulsive way, and once when he took his leave she kissed him heartily to show him how grateful she was.
She did not realize that her behaviour was noticed and commented on not only among her friends but among her servants. Nor did she know that some of the latter had be placed in her household on the orders of the Prince of Wales that her conduct might be observed and reported.
‘Dear, dear Captain Manley,’ she would say. ‘What wonderful man he is! And so kind.’
As for dear Sir Sydney, she had a great affection for him too. He was the life and soul of any party and she enjoyed his high spirits and those occasions when he would hold the all entranced with some tale of the sea in which Sir Sydney always played the part of dashing hero.
Since she had come to Montague House she certainly was building up a little coterie around herself which was making life very agreeable.
The King called with presents for herself and little Charlotte. She was sad because she saw that his health was deteriorating. He spoke in that rapid manner which was so alarming and he was a trifle incoherent.
‘Well, well, well, so you are settled here, eh? It’s wrong you know, wrong, wrong, wrong. Ought to be at Carlton House. And little Charlotte? How is the child? Are you seeing her? Glad of that, glad of that. Should be there, though.
Don’t like trouble in the family. My father quarrelled with his father— his father quarrelled with his father— and now my son— Who would have sons, eh? Lucky to have a daughter. Worried about Amelia, though. Do you never see the Princesses?’
‘I never see them, Uncle dear. I think they may have had orders to stay away.’
‘Don’t like it. All wrong— wrong— should all be friends. Like to see you back with the Prince.’
‘He’d never have me, Your Majesty, and I don’t think I’d want to go. I’m happy here. If I could have little Charlotte here I’d want nothing else—’
‘Happy, eh? Like it here? Not suitable really for Princess of Wales. Should be at Carlton House. Don’t like it.’ He looked at her in an oddly appreciative way.
He said: ‘Pretty woman— fine bosom— should be painted. Should have your portrait painted. Has it been done since you came? Should have it done, I’ll send a man to do it. You’d like that, eh, what?’
‘Why yes, Your Majesty. I’d be delighted.’
‘Leave it to me. Only right. I’ll send a man, eh, what?’
Poor, poor Uncle George, thought Caroline when he had left. One of these days he will go completely mad. She believed that he would forget the promise to have her portrait painted and expected to hear no more, so she was surprised when Sir Thomas Lawrence, R.A., arrived at Montague House.
Caroline was delighted with the painter from the beginning. He was handsome, in his early thirties and had an extremely gallant manner. She was discovering that she liked to be surrounded by admiring men; their attentions and compliments helped her to forget the insults of the Prince of Wales, for although she pretended that she did not care and that she was no more attracted to him than he to her, her pride had been deeply wounded; and men such as Captain Manley and Sir Sydney Smith, with their perpetual gallantries and air of ‘Ah, if I but dared’ were a comfort to her. And now to their number was added the handsome young painter.
How should she be painted? Let them decide together. She had seen some of his portraits. Would he make her as handsome as some of his other sitters?’
‘If I tell the truth Your Highness will be more beautiful than them all.’
She laughed aloud; she slipped her arm through his. He was a little astonished at the familiarity but like everyone else, he had heard of the eccentric behaviour of the Princess of Wales.
So there was the additional pleasure of sitting to Sir Thomas who had taken up residence at Montague House.
‘I shall be sitting with Sir Thomas for the next two hours,’ she would tell her servants. ‘See that we are not disturbed.’
There were sly nods and winks below-stairs.
‘We see life,’ they said to each other, ‘serving such a mistress.’
She was ‘a one’ for the men. As if Sir Sydney and Captain Manley were not enough— now they had Sir Thomas Lawrence as well.
One morning Mrs. Fitzgerald came to tell Caroline that there had been an accident. Mrs. Lisle, one of her ladies, had fallen and hurt her foot.
Caroline was immediately sympathetic. She ran into Mrs. Lisle’s room and found her lying on her bed, her ankle very painful and swollen.
‘Oh my dear, my love, does it hurt? We must call the doctor at once, Fitz dear, will you see that they send for him. Oh, my poor, poor Lisle! Now be perfectly still and don’t move.’
She asked questions about the ankle, how it had happened, how painful was it.
And she would be very, very angry with her dear Lisle if she got up from that bed before the doctor had given his verdict.
Mrs. Lisle thought how endearing the Princess was. It was true she behaved in a manner most unsuited to a Princess, but who else would be so concerned about a sprained ankle— or whatever ailed her. At times like this one loved the Princess.
The doctor came and diagnosed a bad twist to the ankle. Her foot was also damaged. He said she must certainly not stand on her feet more than was absolutely necessary for at least a fortnight.
‘I have my duties,’ began Mrs. Lisle.
Caroline, who had insisted on being present, cried: ‘What nonsense! Of course she shall stay in bed. I myself will see to it, Doctor.’
‘The Princess has the kindest heart in the world,’ said Mrs. Lisle.
Caroline said ‘Nonsense!’ again, but she was pleased, it was true she did love those who served her, and wanted to do the best possible for them.
Lady Douglas came that day. She was coming more frequently than ever and she and Caroline were considered to be fast friends. An added bond between them was Lady Douglas’s pregnancy.
‘Lucky lucky you!’ cried Caroline when she had heard; and it was this fact which made her more eager than ever to talk to Lady Douglas.
Caroline greeted her warmly. ‘And how are you today, my dear? Taking good care of yourself, I trust? Oh, how I envy you. And no one attempts to keep you from your darling Charlotte. I saw mine the other day. What a tomboy! She is going to be a wild one. You cannot think how I miss her. And you, lucky creature, have your daughter all the time and a new child coming. What do you hope for? A girl or a boy?’
‘What does it matter?’ said Lady Douglas. ‘Once one has a child that child is all one ever wanted.’
Caroline clasped her hands. ‘How right you are, my dear. And pray tell me how are dear Sir John and dear, dear Sir Sydney?’
Lady Douglas suppressed the wave of jealous anger which rose in her. Sydney said there was nothing serious in his relationship with the Princess; it was merely a flirtation. Could she trust him? Not at all. He was a born adventurer and he took adventure where he found it. Had he found it here? She could never be sure.
Was Caroline having love affairs with Manley and Lawrence? There was gossip enough and she saw that her servants were on friendly terms with those of Montague House. Servants were such good detectives; not only did they have opportunities but an extra sense where the scandals of, the families they served were concerned. Some said yes and some said no.