Moreover she felt ill, for a few weeks before she had almost miscarried. She wanted children—many more—but the months of discomfort while she awaited their arrival were very trying.
So to London and St. James's, and soon she hoped her child would be born.
I shall feel better then, she promised herself. More ready to face the storm which will inevitably come when the King returns.
A week after the royal party had returned to St. James's Palace, on a dark November Sunday Caroline's pains started.
All through the day officials were arriving at the Palace and the Prince summoned certain members of the Cabinet that they might be present when the child was born.
The German midwife, who could speak no English, but whom the Prince had commanded to attend to his wife, was growing anxious. As the labour was going on and on and there was no sign of the child, Mrs. Clayton and Lady Cowper were apprehensive.
"This is no ordinary confinement," said Mrs. Clayton.
"The Princess's are always difficult," Lady Cowper reminded her, "and for that reason it is folly to leave her in the hands of this old German woman."
"An old country midwife!" agreed Mrs. Clayton. "We should call Sir David Hamilton."
"I will speak to the Princess," said the forthright Lady Cowper.
She went into the apartment where Caroline was walking up and down clearly in great pain. With her was the old German woman who was obviously very worried.
"Your Highness, would you allow me to send for Sir David Hamilton?" asked Lady Cowper.
Caroline stopped in her perambulations and stared at Lady Cowper.
"For vat reason?"
"Your Highness may have need of him. He is a trained accoucheur."
"I do not vish a man to be here at this time," said the Princess.
"Your Highness ..."
But Caroline had turned away, but as Lady Cowper went to the door she gripped the bedpost in a spasm of fresh agony. The midwife was shaking her head and letting out a stream of German.
"This is folly," said Lady Cowper; and went back to consult with Mrs. Clayton.
"But if the Princess will not have a man to attend her confinement, what can we do?"
All through Monday and Tuesday the Princess continued in labour. She lay on her bed exhausted and still the child could not be brought forth.
"This is madness!" said Lady Cowper. "She cannot go on like this. Her life is in danger."
The Princess's ladies waited in their apartment for news. terrified and tearful. Lady Cowper raged that she had never heard such folly. The Princess's life was in danger and the only one she would have to attend her was that old fool of a midwife.
Selecting one of the Princess's German attendants, the Countess of Biickeburg, Lady Cowper commanded that she go to the Prince and tell him that the Princess needed the expert attention of Sir David Hamilton and that he must be sent for without delay.
The Countess went to the Prince where he was waiting with his Council.
As he listened to her his face grew red with anger—and with fear.
How dared they suggest that all was not well. Life had become so good. He was treated as a King; he was popular; he had sliown himself to be a virile man. His wife was fruitful; he had a mistress. Very soon he would have another for Mary Bellendcn would not hold out much longer. Everything was well.
"Nonsense," he said. "The Princess's confinements are al-vays like this. Ve alvays think the child vill come earlier . . . it is alvays so. She is veil ... veil ... I tell you."
The Countess retreated in haste and when she reported back to Lady Cowper, the latter with Mrs. Clayton to support her, decided that something would have to be done.
They were certain that the Princess's life was in danger.
Lady Cowper went into the lying-in chamber and called to the midwife.
"What is happening?" she demanded in German.
The old woman raised her eyes to the ceiling. "It is a difficult confinement... very difficult."
"And you are not competent enough to deal with it ... you know it."
"I do my best."
"Admit you're afraid."
"It's a difficult confinement."
"Go to the Prince and tell him you can't manage ... tell him you need help. Ask that a trained accoucheur be sent."
"It is a difficult confinement. The Princess's confinements are always difficult."
"And you are incompetent. I tell you this ... if the Princess miscarries you will be hanged by the neck until you're dead."
The midwife screamed and ran into the ante-room which was thronged with many people who stared at the screaming woman, not understanding a word of what she was saying.
The Prince and Townsend came hurrying into the room followed by several of the ministers who had assembled for the birth.
"What is wrong?" demanded the Prince.
The midwife burst out that she wanted to go away. She could not proceed when the ladies had threatened to hang her.
"Vat is this! " cried the Prince, his face purple with rage.
The midwife cried that she would not go near the lying-in chamber, for if the Princess miscarried they were going to hang her. She had done no harm. Was it her fault that the Princess's labours were difficult?
"Who says they will hang you?" yelled the Prince.
"The ladies ... all the ladies of the Princess. They say they will blame me because I am here and it should be Sir David Hamilton. They say they will kill me..."
In the lying-in chamber the Princess was moaning in her agony.
"You must go to her," said the Prince.
"No ... no ... I dare not. They are going to hang me. I will not stay to be hanged."
"The Princess needs you," said the Prince. "Oh, we know her labours are always difficult. Go in now and attend her."
The midwife went on screaming that she dared not for they were going to hang her. They had said she should have Sir David ... and they were going to hang the poor midwife.
The Prince shouted at the top of his voice. "Of this meddling I am sick. If anyvon meddles more I throw him out of this vindow."
There was silence in the room; the Prince's wig was awry his face a choleric purple, his eyes blazing with hot anger.
Both he and the Princess had decided she should not have a man to attend her—trained accoucheur that he was. She should have the midwife, as Germans always had.
But the midwife was terrified. "They will hang me," she said.
Townsend took her by the arm. He could not speak German but he smiled at her reassuringly and tried to draw her towards the Princess's chamber. But she kept screaming that they were going to hang her.
Everyone gathered round her and began talking at once. German and English mingled; an effort was made to push the woman forward but she would only whimper that they were going to hang her.
A woman's voice was heard shouting above the noise.
"Will you come at once. The Princess is lying very still." There was a deep silence. Then the midwife forgot her fears. She ran into the lying-in chamber followed by the Prince and Townsend.
After five days of labour the Princess had at last given birth.
Her child—a boy—was born dead and she herself was critically ill.
Considering how near death she had been Caroline recovered quickly. Deeply she regretted that she had lost her child but she consoled herself that there would be others.
There was news from Hanover. The king was pleased with his grandson Frederick and had created him Duke of Gloucester.
All very well, thought Caroline, but when is he coming to England? Perhaps the boy would return with his grandfather. If that were so she might almost look forward to the King's return.