"These are the King's apartments; and I am in charge of the King."
"You forget, Madam, that I am the Regent."
"Not yet... not yet."
"When my father is incapable of government it is my right to do so."
"Your right!" She laughed. That unfortunate word. If Fox had not used it everything would be settled now. He would undoubtedly be Regent. A curse on Fox!
"Madam, I command you to go to your apartment."
"My apartment! The servants' rooms which you have allotted to me here? Writing our names over the doors! I never heard such arrogance! You are not king yet, Prince of Wales. I should remember that."
"Madam," said the Duke of York, "I believe you to be as deranged as the King. Come, George."
The brothers left her and she stood staring after them. When they had gone she put her hands over her eyes. She wanted to shut out this room, shut out the scene which had just taken place.
What is happening to the family? she thought. It seems that we are all going mad.
Fox called at Carlton House in answer to a summons from the Prince who said he would ride from Kew to meet him there.
As soon as he saw the Prince, Fox was aware of the change of his manner. It lacked the cordiality to which he was accustomed.
"A weary business, Charles," he said. "What is Pitt up to?"
"I think, Your Highness, that he means to offer you a Regency with such restricted powers that it will be beneath your dignity to accept it."
"And then?" asked the Prince. "It may well be that the Queen will take it."
"That's something I shall not allow. But this man Pitt..."
"He is determined to make you nothing but a figurehead." The Prince's eyes narrowed. He looked at Fox—very different from the Fox of a few years ago. Where was the sparkle of Mr. Fox, that irrepressible genius with words, that quick incisive mind which would have dealt peremptorily with Pitt. Gone! Left behind in Italy ... lost in disillusion and frustration. Fox was a disappointed politician.
The Prince said: "What if the question of Maria should be brought up?"
"We must do all in our power to prevent that."
"And if it should be raised?"
Fox was silent. Then he said: "It could have grave consequences. Your Highness, may I be frank?"
The Prince wanted to shout: No, you may not if you are going to tell me truths about Maria. Yet he said: "But of course."
"Your association with Mrs. Fitzherbert can bring nothing but harm to Your Highness. I fear that during the debate on the Regency that man Rolle ... or someone like him ... might bring up the point once more."
The Prince's expression had hardened, but this was no time for prevarication and Fox went on: "If the lady received the rank of Duchess; if she were given an income of £20,000 a year"
"To desert me?" said the Prince.
Fox sighed unhappily. "It is her religion Your Highness. If she were not a Catholic ..."
"I am sure Maria would decline the offer you suggest, Charles."
"Then ..." But Fox did not finish, nor did the Prince ask him to.
The Prince walked to the window and looked out and with his back to his old friend he said: "Charles, there was a letter I wrote to you before ... Some years back. The one in which I said I had no intention of marrying. Do you remember it?"
Did he remember it? It was the letter on which he had based his denial.
"Charles, I should like you to bring that letter to me. I should like to have it back."
Fox thought quickly. While he had that letter in his possession he had every excuse for his conduct in denying the Prince's marriage. He had only to produce it and there would be evidence of how the Prince had deceived him; the letter would provide vindication for the denial.
He lied: "Your Highness, I no longer have the letter."
"You ... have lost it?"
"It is no longer among my papers. It may have been burned with others. I saw no significance in it ... at the time."
The Prince was silent for a few seconds but his manner had grown more frigid.
When Fox took his leave he knew that their friendship had suffered a severe blow.
Back to Chertsey, to consult with Lizzie.
"You see, Liz, I need not have come back post haste. Perhaps it would be better if I had stayed in Italy."
Lizzie was inclined to agree.
"Can you imagine my making such a blunder? A right to the Regency. Of course he has, but it's unethical to say so."
"It's said that you should not put your faith in princes."
"I'm a fool to put my faith in anyone but you, Liz."
"Well, where do we go from here? Back to Italy."
"What a pleasant prospect! I have no desire to go to the House and be questioned by that man Rolle. You can depend upon it he'll attempt to bring up the Prince's marriage again."
"Well, your health has suffered in the last few weeks, so what about staying at home and being sick for a while. I am an excellent nurse."
"Excellent in all things, Liz. I have blundered and have no desire to take part in this debate. Yes, Liz, I think I'll be ill for a while."
"A wise decision," said Lizzie. "I will immediately begin to nurse you."
During the early part of the year there was little talk of anything at Court but the Regency Bill.
Society divided itself into two camps—those for the Prince and those for the King. The Duchess of Devonshire was wholeheartedly on the side of the Whigs and the Prince of Wales; everyone who came to her parties wore Regency caps. The Duchess of Gordon, a staunch Tory, gave parties at which the ladies wore ribbons inscribed with the words "God Save the King'. Maria entertained more lavishly than ever before—the chief of the Prince's supporters.
When the Regency Bill was brought up for discussion in the House it was inevitable that the Prince's marriage should be referred to.
One of the clauses in the Bill stated that if the Prince resided outside Great Britain or should at any time marry a Papist the powers invested in him should cease.
Mr. Rolle moved an amendment to change the wording of this clause.
He wanted to add: "Or should at any time be proved to be married in fact or in law to a Papist."
Mr. Pitt, however, declared that the amendment was unacceptable as the clause was the same as that he had found in other Regency Bills and he believed it offered sufficient security.
Sheridan and Grey both rose to attack Mr. Rolle. The absence of Mr. Fox was commented on by their opponents and, as Fox had feared, the question of the Prince's marriage was again brought forward.
Grey stated that had Mr. Fox not been fully satisfied that his statement on a previous occasion had been true he would have risked his life—however ill he might be—to come to the house on this day.
It was an uneasy situation.
The Prince heard accounts of the debates and wondered what was going to happen next.
Maria was his great anxiety now, as she had been on that previous occasion. But for Maria he would have nothing to fear. It was entirely due to Maria that he must feel this uneasiness now. What big sacrifices he made for Maria!
He entertained guests at Carlton House or in Pall Mall every night. He went to see Fox, and finding him indeed looking in poor health his conscience smote him. Charles had been a good friend to him and when he was with him he remembered this. The ever ready tears came into his eyes as he talked to Fox of the old days. And there was Lizzie, as lovely as ever, to add a discreet word now and then to the conversation.
"When this miserable business is settled, Charles," he said, "you shall be my Prime Minister."
Prime Minister, thought Charles, after the Prince had gone. It had been the dream of a lifetime.
Then he fell to wondering whether the Prince would keep his word. And he remembered the letter which he had not given up and which should be a warning if ever anything was.