He took up his pen. The answer was no— no, no. Couldn’t he understand that, eh, what?
‘I had flattered myself to have heard no further on the subject,’ he wrote angrily.
Then he buried his face in his hands and asked: ‘What next, eh, what?’
The Prince was furious.
‘He thinks I’m a child,’ he raged. ‘By God, I’ll make him repent that.’
‘Remember,’ said Maria, ‘he is a very sick man.’
‘That may be. But he’s representing me to the people as a coward. Am I going to stand aside and see that happen?’
‘My dearest, there is nothing else you can do.’
‘My dear love, I have thought of something. The obvious way to let the people know the truth.’
Maria had risen alarmed.
‘Oh, yes,’ he said triumphantly. ‘I am going to publish our correspondence.
That will let the world know that I am not the one who is holding back.’
Lord Nelson had made an attack on the fleet which Napoleon had accumulated for the invasion of England and this changed the Corsican’s ideas of easy conquest. The whole of England knew that though he might conquer Europe, Napoleon was no match for Lord Nelson.
Invasion fears died a little; but the country was still in danger and its militant mood persisted even though the situation was easier, and the King still had his troubles.
When he saw the correspondence between himself and the Prince published in the Morning Chronicle he was overcome with rage and grief.
Once more, an open quarrel in the royal family! He raged and stormed and talked perpetually and incoherently of his eldest son’s treachery to him.
As Prime Minister Addington remarked to Pitt, this was enough to turn the King’s brain again. They would have to be, watchful.
Caroline, happy at Montague House looking after Willikin who was fast growing objectionably spoilt, was not very pleased to hear that the Douglases were back in Blackheath.
Lady Douglas lost no time in calling at Montague House and was somewhat taken aback when she was informed that the Princess of Wales was not at home.
This might have been so, but the next day she received the same answer and as she knew that this time the Princess was in residence she realized that she was being turned away.
She was furious. She raged to Sir John: Did the Princess think she could treat her in this way? She would find she was mistaken.
‘I know too much,’ said Lady Douglas ominously.
She called at Montague House again to receive the same answer..
‘Oh, dear,’ sighed Caroline when she heard. ‘I shall have to tell her that I don’t wish to see her.’ She called to one of her women. ‘Vernon, dear, I want you to write a letter to Lady Douglas and tell her not to call again.’
When Lady Douglas’s reply was brought to her Caroline turned her head away. ‘Send it back to her,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to read it. I want nothing more to do with that woman. She’s dangerous.’
When this letter was returned to her, Lady Douglas was furious.
‘Does she think she can treat me like this? She will see that she is not dealing with some humble servant. She is a vulgar woman for all that she is Princess of Wales. I’ll not endure this.’
‘Be careful,’ warned Sir John. ‘Remember this is royalty.’ But when had she ever taken his advice? She had only scorn for him.
She sat down to write to Mrs. Fitzgerald, a letter which held veiled threats.
The Princess of Wales had confided in her about a matter of great importance not only to herself but the country. She had respected the Princess’s confidence but if Her Royal Highness were going to treat her so churlishly, why should she behave with such meticulous honour towards Her Highness? She had written to Mrs.
Fitzgerald because the Princess refused to read a letter addressed to herself.
Perhaps Mrs. Fitzgerald would acquaint Her Highness with the contents of this letter.
Mrs. Fitzgerald was very perturbed,. She went at once to Caroline.
‘My precious pet! He is my child, my dear. That’s how he is to me. But what this creature is suggesting is that I gave birth to him. Is that it? And that I confided this to her? What a liar she is.’
‘Yes, Your Highness, but perhaps a convincing one.’
‘A convincing one. What do you mean, my dear? How could she convince anyone of such a falsehood!’
How indeed? thought Mrs. Fitzgerald sadly, when the Princess of Wales was so familiar in her attitude to the men who visited the house, when she had been seen kissing Sir Sydney Smith in a game and had shut herself in a room with Sir Thomas Lawrence to be painted and was always so delighted Captain Manley and so affectionate in her manner towards him Heaven help us, thought Mrs. Fitzgerald, if that woman really tried to make mischief would it be so difficult? ‘Tear up the letter, Fitz dear, and think no more about it. She’ll stop making a nuisance of herself when she realizes that I am determined not to see her.’
But Lady Douglas was not a woman to be lightly put aside. She had made a plan of revenge and she lost no time in putting this into action.
Caroline received another letter and this one she read. It was very short and extremely mystifying. Lady Douglas wrote that she had received the anonymous letter Caroline had sent her together with the drawing.
‘What is the woman talking about?’ demanded Caroline. ‘What letter? What drawing?’
Neither Mrs. Fitzgerald nor Mrs. Vernon could throw any light on the matter but they were deeply disturbed.
Another letter followed which was signed by Sir John and Lady Douglas and Sir Sydney Smith. They asked for an audience with the Princess because they felt that in the peculiar circumstances they must have an explanation.
‘What are they talking about?’ demanded Caroline.
‘I don’t know, Your Highness,’ said Mrs. Fitzgerald, ‘but I find it very disturbing and I think that you should get advice on how to act.’
‘You know what she is saying, Your Highness. It is that Willikin is indeed your child.’
Advice? thought Caroline. Yes, she did need it. This matter was too important to be ignored. And what was Sir Sydney Smith doing in it? She had thought he was her friend.
She could go to the King. No, he was too ill and he would be so shocked at the prospect of any scandal, moreover he had been too much worried already by his children, she did not want to add to those anxieties.
The Princes— apart from her husband— had always been friendly towards her; perhaps she could ask one of them.
Her choice fell on Edward, Duke of Kent, who was the most sober of all the Princes; he was good-natured and kind-hearted. She would ask him to come to see her and help her throw some light on this affair.
As soon as he received her invitation, he came to Montague House and listened carefully to all she had to tell him. She explained how she had met Lady Douglas and had become friendly with her but how she had heard that Lady Douglas had gossiped most scandalously, after which she had refused to see her.
Then had come letters and finally one referring to an anonymous letter and another requesting an interview with the Douglases and Sir Sydney Smith.
Caroline had no idea what Lady Douglas was attempting to do and why Sir Sydney Smith should be involved.
The Duke of Kent looked grave.
‘The matter must be examined,’ he said. ‘I don’t know these Douglases but I have met Sir Sydney Smith. I will see him and hear what he has to say.’
The Princess thanked him and remarked to Mrs. Fitzgerald after he had gone: ‘My kind brother-in-law will soon get to the bottom of this affair, and that will be an end of it.’
Sir Sydney Smith called on the Duke of Kent as requested and with him brought the anonymous letter and the drawing to which Lady Douglas had referred.