The King gasped. "What? What's this? Frederick ... in a duel. He can't. Royal Dukes can't ... But he has, eh? what? Frederick? Oh, my son ..."
The Queen had hurried to the king's side and was trying to soothe him and the Prince said quickly: "It is all right, Father. He is unharmed. Lennox's bullet grazed his ear and that's an end of the matter. The Duke did not fire. He just wished Lennox to know that he would accept his challenge and that was that. He had no wish to take life ... only to defend his honour."
But the King was staring wildly before him.
"Frederick," he said. "My son Frederick ... the Hope of the House. Frederick ... my son. He's dead. Oh, yes, he's dead ... I know it. You're deceiving me. You've come to break the news gradually, eh, what?"
The Prince said: "He is alive and well, sir. He is outside in my carriage. I guessed you would wish to see him to make sure that he had suffered no harm. I had no wish to upset Your Majesty, only to bring home the point to some people that these wicked slanders are dangerous and must stop."
"So he is dead," said the King, " eh, what? So you have come to tell me my son Frederick is dead."
The Prince immediately sent an attendant down to the carriage to tell the Duke of York to come at once to the King's apartment.
When Frederick came the King embraced him with tears in his eyes.
"I'm here, Father," cried Frederick. "Alive and well. But I had to accept Lennox's challenge. You wouldn't have a coward for a son, would you?"
"Never thought you were that, son. The Hope of the House I always said. The best of the bunch ... Wish you'd been the eldest, eh? what?"
"I'd never have cut such a fine figure as George," said the Duke, grinning at his brother. "Now Your Majesty is satisfied, eh? But there shouldn't be this trouble in the family. I'm sure Your Majesty agrees."
The King continued to embrace his son and the Prince watched his mother through narrowed eyes.
She was discomfited. This was a bad business. But the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York need not think that she was going to be ousted from her position because they happened to have scored this time.
The occasion of the King's birthday ball was coming nearer. The news of the duel was common knowledge and everyone had been particularly interested in the Queen's attitude towards Colonel Lennox who might so easily have killed her son. It was astonishing, but she had received him warmly, even affectionately, and he had not been reproached for challenging a royal duke to a duel.
The Prince of Wales who must, of course, appear at such a function did not believe that the Queen would allow the Colonel to attend the ball; and on receiving the information that the man would most certainly be there, he arrived at the ball at seven o'clock, although it was not due to start until eight, and demanded to see the Queen.
She was dressing, he was told, and was unable to receive him.
By God, he thought, am I the Prince of Wales or am I not? He pushed aside her attendants and strode into her dressing room.
She sat at her mirror and her cold gaze met his through the looking glass.
"So ... it is the Prince of Wales"
"Madam," he said, "when I wish to speak to you I will do so. The King is still an invalid."
"Thanks to the anxiety caused by his sons."
"Perhaps his wife is not entirely blameless."
"What do you mean?" the Queen demanded shrilly; and the Prince thought that this was another change in her character. In the old days she used to be calm; now she lost her temper easily. Madam is no longer in control of her feelings, he thought.
"That is a question, Madam, that you best can answer. I have not come here to discuss it, but to tell you that Colonel Lennox should not be allowed to come to the King's birthday ball."
The Queen shrugged her shoulders. "It is too late now to cancel invitations."
"So you mean that you have asked this man to the King's ball?"
"Colonel Lennox is a member of the household."
"Colonel Lennox is the would-be murderer of your son."
"Prince of Wales, you are too dramatic"
"I should have thought a mother might have shown some concern at the prospect of her son's murder."
"I know full well that Frederick provoked the Colonel. I have investigated the matter and have learned that it was the Duke's own fault. He showed more eagerness to fight Colonel Lennox than the Colonel did to fight him."
"Madam, I have not come to argue with you but to tell you that Colonel Lennox must not come to the ball"
"I could not cancel the Colonel's invitation until I have consulted the King."
"I know full well who decides such matters nowadays."
The Queen was exultant. Yes, it was she who decided now; she, who was in the old days had never been allowed to give an opinion. How that had changed!
"You are aware of the state of your father's health. I could not disturb him with such a request. I will wait until Mr. Pitt arrives. The decision can rest with him."
The Prince said coldly: "I shall not expect to see at the ball tonight the man who wished to murder my brother."
And with that he left his mother.
The King's birthday ball! Who, a few months ago, would have thought it could have taken place; but here was the King receiving his guests, happy to be among them, looking a little-strained and fatigued it was true, and perhaps there was a wild light in his eyes and all felt wary of him—but still he was able to attend.
He received his sons with affection; and he was delighted to have his daughters with him.
He could scarcely bear his youngest daughter Amelia out of his sight and he kept her at his side. Amelia had forgotten how frightened she had been when he had embraced her so tightly and seemed as though he would hug her to death. She now talked lightheartedly to him in a manner which delighted him.
The Queen was triumphant. She had told Mr. Pitt of the Prince's demand that Colonel Lennox should not be allowed to attend the ball and she wished Mr. Pitt to confirm her opinion that there was no reason at all why the Colonel should not attend. This Mr. Pitt had been happy to do, and consequently the Colonel was present.
She made a point of receiving him with very special favour and during the evening was seen to kiss her fan to him. This was deliberate and calculated to annoy the Prince of Wales, which it undoubtedly did. The inevitable crisis came when the Prince was partnering his sister, the Princess Royal, in a country dance. The Prince and his sister must trip between two rows of dancers and the Prince must dance with each lady in turn and the Princess with each gentleman.
When the Prince reached Colonel Lennox and his partner he bowed low to the lady and said: "Madam, I crave your pardon, but this dance is over. This is not meant as an insult to you. I think you will understand." And with that he took the hand of his astonished sister and led her back to the Queen.
The Queen said: "But what has happened? Your Highness is tired?"
"By no means," replied the Prince.
"Then you find it too hot?"
"Madam, in such company it is impossible not to find it too hot."
"I suppose you wish me to break up the ball."
"I do wish it, Madam."
The Prince bowed and left the ballroom and the Queen had no alternative but to bring the ball to a close.
In a way, a victory for the Prince.
He went back to Carlton House, angry and dissatisfied.
He knew what he would do. He would leave all this—and go to Maria in Brighton.
There was no lack of warmth in the welcome he received at Brighton. Everywhere he went he was cheered, and the people were glad to see him back. There he could forget his troubles, for his friends rallied round him and sought to make him for get his disappointment at not having acquired the Regency and the humiliations he has suffered at the hands of his parents.