‘She would never …’
‘If she did, if it could be proved … then you would take action against him … against her.’
‘Action would then of course be necessary,’ said Ernest Augustus.
Clara sat by his bed exulting.
I’ll be revenged, she promised herself. I’ll be revenged on them both.
Tragedy in the Leine Schloss
KÖNIGSMARCK WAS BACK in Hanover. His stay in Dresden had forced him to a decision. He was tired of the gay life; he wanted only to be with Sophia Dorothea. He was certain of it now. There was no happiness for him apart from her.
He was going to be bold and reckless and carry her right away from Hanover to where they could be happy together living the simple life.
He was not received with enthusiasm at court. The news of his gossip at Dresden was one reason; it had incensed the Crown Prince and his mistress and those who wanted to please them had to pretend to be disgusted too. He had accepted a commission in the army of Saxony when he had one in Hanover. Some explanation would eventually be expected of him.
When Clara saw him her desire for him made her forget her hatred. If he would come back to her, be her lover again, she would forgive him everything. As for Sophia Dorothea, the loss of Königsmarck would be her punishment. That was enough for any woman, Clara decided. How she would enjoy flaunting her enjoyment of the man in Sophia Dorothea’s face; she would visit her and discuss his perfections with her as he had discussed her with his friends in Dresden.
‘She waylaid him and cornered him on the day of his return. Brilliantly painted, seductively gowned, she barred his way in one of the ante-rooms of the palace.
‘So you are back.’ She stood close to him, her hand on his arm. ‘I am pleased to see you.’
Königsmarck looked over her head. ‘I am honoured.’ His voice was cold.
‘You should visit me at Monplaisir.’
‘I fear I have no time for such a visit.’
Angry lights shot up in Clara’s eyes.
‘You will be too busily engaged elsewhere?’
‘I hope to be,’ he answered.
‘And if I were to promise you …’
‘Nothing you could promise me would make me change my mind.’
Why was she standing here accepting insults? Clara asked herself. Why did she not abuse him, call him traitor, gossip – and the worst of scandalmongers who betrays the confidences of the bedchamber?
She hated him and yet her desire for him was a raging torment.
He bowed coldly and passed on.
This was the end of Königsmarck, Clara decided. She could no longer tolerate his presence in Hanover. He had made it clear that he would never be her lover again.
And if, said Clara to herself, he will not be my lover he shall be no one else’s.
She saw herself every night thinking of him wherever he was with other women – Sophia Dorothea in all probability. How could she endure that? And to think that he should prefer Sophia Dorothea, that pretty little creature without character, without experience! It was not to be borne.
In the heat of passion she sat down and wrote a letter. She knew Sophia Dorothea’s handwriting and she could easily do a draft which could be mistaken for it even by one who had received many letters from her. It was addressed to Königsmarck, telling him he must visit her that night at the Leine Schloss. It was imperative.
She then sent for one of her spies in Sophia Dorothea’s household and told her that the letter must be given to Königsmarck with the information that the Princess had asked her to deliver it.
It was getting late. Ernest Augustus would soon be retiring for the night. Clara said: ‘I must see you alone.’
Then she told him that she feared what could happen unless prompt action were taken.
‘You are too tolerant of rogues,’ she told him. ‘Königsmarck has shown that he is no friend to Hanover in the last months. Now I have proof to offer you. He is planning to elope with Sophia Dorothea.’
‘Impossible.’
‘Is it? He is visiting her tonight. He’ll spend the night with her making love and plans. They are going to leave Hanover and seek refuge in Wolfenbüttel.’
Wolfenbüttel! The mention of that name was enough to arouse Ernest Augustus’s anger.
‘What a scandal! What do you think they will say of us at Hanover? They’ll be rising against us soon. And all because you have refused to believe what is going on under your nose. I should have thought the Mölcke affair would have been a warning but you refused to believe ill of your beautiful daughter-in-law. She could do no wrong. No! Only receive her lover at night, only plot her elopement, only plot against you who have shown her nothing but kindness.’
‘Are you sure she is receiving Königsmarck tonight?’
‘Absolutely sure. There is only one thing to do – arrest him when he is leaving her apartment. Then you will see that what I have told you is true.’
‘Yes, arrest him.’
‘Leave this to me,’ said Clara. ‘We do not want a scandal. I will instruct the guards who are to arrest him. We will do it as quietly as possible. We do not want the whole of Europe to know that the Crown Princess receives a lover in her bedchamber. There’ll be doubt of the parentage of her children if it becomes common knowledge. Will you trust me with this arrest?’
Ernest Augustus nodded. ‘I know why you want to have charge of this, Clara. He’s a very handsome man. You want him treated gently.’
‘I want to make sure that I do the best for you.’
In the small room in the Leine Schloss Clara threw off her cloak and confronted the four halberdiers whom she had summoned there.
The light of candles threw their flickering glow on a flagon of wine set on the table.
Clara produced the document to which Ernest Augustus had put his signature.
‘You will wait in the corridor close to the apartments of the Princess of Hanover,’ said Clara, ‘until you see a man emerge. He will have to pass along the corridor and you will wait for him. The Elector’s orders are that he should be taken … dead or alive.’
‘Dead or alive!’ repeated the leader of the men.
‘Fortify yourselves,’ said Clara, pointing to the flagon. ‘He may try to defend himself. He’ll be a desperate man.’
‘We will carry out the Elector’s orders, Countess,’ was the answer. ‘We’ll get him … dead or alive.’
Clara left them and went to wait in a small room close by. Pictures came unbidden to her mind; she tried to chase them away and could not. Sophia Dorothea and Königsmarck together now… .
Disguised in an old jacket and a rough brown cloak Königsmarck made his way into the Leine Schloss. In his pocket he carried the note which he believed had come from Sophia Dorothea. Something extraordinary must have happened for her to take this risk; but he could not be concerned with that. He was going to be with her again; and now that he was here it seemed to him that nothing on earth mattered but that. He loved Sophia Dorothea, He was a different man from the careless adventurer of the past. He had been weak and foolish, even after loving her, but he was going to break away from the old meaningless life; he could not do it at one stroke. But now he knew he would in time because nothing else in the world mattered but their happiness. Tonight he would persuade her to leave everything and run away with him.
He entered the castle and made his way to the wing in which he knew the Princess had her apartments. He quickly passed through the rittersaal – the knights’ hall – to a smaller hall close by; now he could see the door which led to the Princesses’s apartments.
Swiftly he went to it and lightly scratched. It was opened by Eléonore von Knesebeck, who looked startled.