"Vot is the joke?" asked Caroline.
"We were speaking of Madam Kielmansegge Your Highness," he told her.
"It was so amusing?"
"It is enough to look at that lady to be amused," replied Stanhope.
"Perhaps, my lord, you are more easily amused than most of us."
"Evidently not more than His Majesty who finds her so diverting."
It was the custom here to speak as slightingly as possible of the King and his affairs and Caroline always encouraged such talk for she believed there were few weapons as effective as ridicule.
Stanhope went on: "The standard of His Majesty's taste as exemplified in this mistress, makes all ladies who aspire to his favour and who are near the suitable age, strain and swell themselves, like the frogs in the fable, to rival the bulk and dignity of the ox. Some succeed. Others burst."
There was a shout of laughter led by Sophie Howe, whether because she was so amused or just enjoying the company of Anthony Lowther with whom she was exchanging affectionate glances. The others joined in and Caroline allowed herself to smile.
"At least," she said, "from her complexion she looks young —not more than eighteen or twenty."
"Oh yes, Madam," retorted Stanhope. "Eighteen to twenty stone."
Again the burst of laughter and eyes were turned their way.
It was always thus with Stanhope. Caroline looked across the room to handsome young Lord Hervey who was equally clever; and how much more attractive!
Still it was a successful evening and typical of many. She was hoping Robert Walpole and his brother-in-law Townsend would look in. They came occasionally and she always welcomed them; she knew of course that they were feeling their way. If they would come out openly against the King and for the Prince and Princess that would be a great step forward. With such men as her political friends and Gay, Pope, Newton to represent art and science she could make a brilliant court worthy to compare with any which had gone before; and in such a court she would build the foundations of her power.
She looked across at the Prince. Life was full of consolations. If she did not have a stupid husband could she have won the respect which she was fast winning? Could she have been the leader of the rival court which all, except the Prince, knew she was?
She must not be impatient. She must not take those miscarriages too much to heart. The day would come when she would have her children back; when everything that she longed for would be hers.
In the meantime there was the waiting.
The Prince rose abruptly from the card table. He looked at his watch. The game was over; he would go to his apartments to prepare for his visit to Henrietta. Since Mary Bellenden had made it clear that she was determined to reject his advances he visited Henrietta every evening. His preciseness was becoming something of a joke.
"The Prince," said the jokers, "does everything to time: eating, drinking, walking and making love." This was giving the opportunity for much ribaldry and Caroline feared ridicule.
If only he would not do this ... or that...
It was becoming a constant thought with her; yet she never dared show one hint of criticism.
The Prince retired and she with him. He would be ready fully ten minutes before nine o'clock and would pace the apartment, his watch in hand, watching the seconds go back, so that he might enter his mistress's apartment exactly on the point of nine.
Caroline shrugged her shoulders. There was nothing she could do. Only young girls and fools complained about their husband's mistresses. The Electress Sophia had taught her that.
Her women helped her undress; she was determined to be careful and bring this pregnancy to a satisfactory climax. Therefore she must guard her health and not allow herself to be distressed or even ruffled by anything the King—or the Prince—might do.
One of her women was hovering; clearly she wished to say something in secret.
Caroline dismissed the others and asked her to remain. She had scarcely noticed her before but now she saw that she was very pretty.
"Veil?" said Caroline. "Vat is it you have to say?"
"Your Highness, I have been thinking about whether I should tell you ... but I feel it is my duty to do so...."
Caroline was alert. "Yes, vat is it?"
"The Prince..."
"The Prince!"
"Yes, Madam. The Prince has made certain suggestions to me ... suggestions which alarm me. I have been brought up to be virtuous and ... Well, I thought Your Highness should know."
"That is enough," said Caroline. "You may go now."
"Your Highness, if I have offended..."
"You may go," said Caroline coolly.
She sat for a long time looking into her mirror. So this was what she would have to endure! She had detected a certain complacence about the girl—an injured virtue. Mary Bellenden was not going to be the only one who had had the honour of rejecting the Prince.
A clever woman accepted her husband's mistresses, of course. But there might be occasions when she did not have to do so.
She lay on her bed; she was very tired; and the most important thing at the moment was to keep the child she carried.
"Henrietta," said Caroline the next day when they were alone together, "one of the new women said something to me which I found rather distasteful."
Henrietta looked alarmed.
"I don't know her name. The new one."
"I know to whom Your Highness refers. Perhaps she is a little new to court ways "
"She made a suggestion about the Prince."
"The Prince, Madam?"
"She hinted that he was making advances which were repugnant to her virtue."
"These girls have strange fancies."
"So I thought. They twitter. They gossip. I do not think she is exactly suitable."
"No, Madam."
"So I will leave her to you, Henrietta."
"Your Highness may safely do so."
That day the new lady-in-waiting left Leicester House, and her going was scarcely noticed; so discreetly was it managed by Mrs. Howard, that even the Prince was unaware of it.
With the coming of summer Caroline felt that it would be unwise to stay at Leicester House. In view of her condition she needed the country air; and it was the custom of a court to retire to the country for the warm months. The King's Court was moving to Hampton.
"I am thankful," said Caroline to the Prince, "that ve shall not have to be there this year. But vere can ve go?"
"Ve must look about for a suitable place, my tear."
"On the river ... but not Hampton," said the Princess. "I have always loved Richmond."
"Richmond," cried the Prince, his face pink with pleasure. "It is von beautiful spot. There is the Lodge."
It was true. Caroline knew it slightly but she had been struck by its charm. For the last hundred years the old palace had been almost a ruin but the Lodge had been preserved and embellished and would make a delightful country house.
"It is in the keeping of Grantham," said Caroline. "I am sure he vould be delighted for us to have it."
"Vy, it was Grantham who put his house in Albemarle Street at our disposal ven ve vere so callously turned out by that vicked old scoundrel. He vill be happy, I know, for us to take Richmond Lodge. He is von goot man."
"Ve must speak to him as soon as possible," said Caroline. "I vant to be in the country as soon as it can be arranged."
"Leave this to me, my tear. You shall be at Richmond in the next week or so."
But it was not so easily arranged as they had thought it would be for the King had his spies at the Prince's Court and it came to his ears that the Prince and Princess planned to spend their summers at Richmond Lodge.