Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill: (Georgian Series) (32 page)

‘She did not say there was a ceremony?’

‘She did not’, replied Sheridan. ‘I believe the Prince has made her swear to secrecy.’

Fox was thoughtful. ‘No doubt she is thinking of the ceremony with the ring at the time of the false suicide. That is what it must be. A hundred curses on this man Rolle and a thousand more on Pitt. But never fear, I shall know how to deal with this.’

‘I thought you would,’ said Sheridan. ‘I wish to God you’d been in the House on the 27th.’

‘I couldn’t have done anything more than you did, if I had.’

‘It’s that devil Pitt.’

‘Yes, it is often that devil Pitt. Cheer up, Sherry. You’ll see the Fox at work. I always liked a fight; and believe me there’s no one I’d rather have for my opponent than clever Mr Pitt.’

‘Are you seeing the Prince?’

‘No. I have what I need.’

Fox was smiling slyly. Had there been a marriage ceremony? That was not exactly the point as he saw it. What he believed was that there had to be a denial of the ceremony. That was imperative or the succession would be imperilled. A fine thing after all the work he had done in bringing up the Prince to
support the Whigs if Pitt attempted to divert the succession to the Duke of York, which he might well do if it were disclosed that the Prince of Wales had married a Catholic – for that was exactly what Fox would have done in Pitt’s place.

The denial – a categorical denial was necessary, and he was going to make it. He had every reason to make it because he had in his possession a letter from the Prince of Wales dated 11th December 1785 in which His Highness most definitely stated that he had no intention of marrying Mrs Fitzherbert. And as that letter had been written only a few days before the Prince and Mrs Fitzherbert had quite clearly become lovers, that was all he needed for his case.

Alderman Newnham had announced that he would bring forward his motion concerning the debts of the Prince of Wales on April 30th; and that day saw a crowded House of Commons.

Fox was in his place and with him Sheridan; and there was an air of excitement as members waited for the expected duel between those two great politicians: Pitt and Fox; and more than anything for the revelation which must inevitably be made.

Alderman Newnham rose and began: ‘On Friday last much personal application was made to me from various quarters of the House to press me to forgo my purpose, and much has been said of the dangerous consequences which might result from the discussion of such a subject. One gentleman has gone so far as to contend that it would draw on questions affecting Church and State …’

Members leaned forward in their seats; eyes were turned towards Fox and Sheridan; and when Newnham had finished speaking Fox was immediately on his feet.

Fox began by asking the House’s indulgence for his absence on the previous Friday. He had not heard, he said, that a subject of so much delicacy and importance was to be alluded to.

‘I should like the House to understand,’ he went on, ‘that I speak from the immediate authority of the Prince of Wales when I assure the House that there is no part of His Highness’s conduct that he is afraid or unwilling to have investigated.’

He then went on to speak of the Prince’s debts. His Highness
had been amiable towards his father to whom he had been both dutiful and obedient; and he was prepared to give a general and fair account of his debts although the House would readily see how impossible it was for him to give details of every single item. He could assure the House that there was not a single case in His Highness’s life which he would be ashamed to have known.

‘With respect to the allusion to something full of danger to Church and State made by the honourable gentleman, one of the members for Devonshire, until that gentleman thinks proper to explain himself, it is impossible to say to what that allusion refers. I can only suppose it refers to that miserable calumny, a low malicious falsehood. In this House, where it is known how frequent and common falsehoods of the time are, I had hoped that a tale only fit to impose on the lowest persons in the street would not have gained the smallest portion of credit; but when it appears that an invention so monstrous, a report of a fact which has not the smallest degree of foundation, a report of a fact actually impossible to have happened, has been circulated with so much industry as to have made an impression on the minds of members of this House, it proves at once the uncommon pains taken by the enemies of His Highness to propagate the grossest and most malignant falsehoods to deprecate his character and injure him in the opinion of his country. When I consider that His Royal Highness is the first subject in the Kingdom, and the immediate heir to the throne, I am at a loss to imagine what species of party it was which could have fabricated so base and scandalous a calumny … a tale in every particular so unfounded and for which there is not the shadow of anything like reality.’

Mr Pitt watched his opponent without betraying his feelings; he was, as usual, the calmest member of the House. Fox went on stressing his point, his eyes flashing with contempt and indignation.

‘His Royal Highness has authorized me to declare that as a peer of Parliament, he is ready in the other House to submit to any, the most pointed questions, which can be put to him, or to afford His Majesty or His Majesty’s ministers the fullest assurance of the utter falsehood of the fact in question, which never has, and which common sense must see never could have, happened.’

When Fox sat down Pitt had little to say. He had achieved his purpose; the matter of the Prince’s marriage had been brought up and denied by Fox, on, so said Fox, the Prince’s authority. Rolle, however, had something to say. He replied that he knew and they knew that there were certain laws of Parliament which forbade a marriage such as that which they had been discussing, but it was absurd to say that it could not have taken place. Therefore it was desirable that the matter should be elucidated.

Fox was immediately on his feet. ‘I do not deny the calumny in question merely with regard to the effect of existing laws, but I deny it
in toto
, in point of fact as well as in law. The fact not only never could have happened legally, but never did happen in any way whatsoever, and has from the beginning been a base and malicious falsehood.’

Rolle retorted: ‘Has the Right Honourable gentleman spoken from direct authority?’

‘I have spoken from direct authority,’ replied Fox.

It was enough.

Fox, friend and confidant of the Prince of Wales, had ‘on direct authority’ denied the Prince’s marriage to Mrs Fitzherbert.

Fox left the House of Commons with the feeling of a man who has done what had to be done in the best possible manner.

Passing Brook’s Club he decided to look in for a gamble before going to Chertsey to tell Lizzie about the day’s proceedings.

No sooner had he entered the club than Orlando Bridgeman came up to him. Bridgeman’s face was rather flushed and the young man looked extremely mortified.

‘Charles,’ he said. ‘I’ve just heard your speech in the House.’

‘I daresay. Every member must have been present. I’ve rarely seen the place so crowded.’

‘But you were
wrong
.’

‘Wrong? What do you mean?’

‘They
were
married.’

‘Nonsense.’

‘Oh yes, they were. I was at the wedding.’

Fox looked sceptical.

‘I assure you I was. It was on the 15th December. I went to Park Street with the Prince and waited outside to make sure that no one came into the house while it was taking place.’

‘Ah, but you weren’t an actual witness.’

‘I tell you, Charles, it did happen. I swear it.’

‘You had better do no such thing. Your best plan is to forget all that happened on that night.’

‘But what of Maria … Mrs Fitzherbert?’

‘If it took place … she might as well forget it too.’

‘You couldn’t have had the Prince’s authority …’

‘I have the Prince’s authority,’ said Fox. ‘Look here, my dear young man. This is a delicate matter … a dangerous matter. You heard our friend Rolle. This could put the throne in danger … or could have. I have dealt with it in the only way it is possible to deal with it.’

‘But what of that lady?’

‘The Prince’s mistress? Well, that’s considered a very fortunate position for a young lady.’

‘Not Maria!’

Fox shrugged his shoulders. Then he was stern suddenly. ‘I should advise you not to tell anyone else what you have told me. Weren’t you sworn to secrecy?’

‘Why, yes.’

‘Well then, keep your vows and don’t worry about anyone else’s.’

Fox did not go on into Brook’s but decided to go straight to Chertsey. So the deceitful young romantic had gone through a ceremony after all; and he had not told Fox. Well, it was fortunate he had not, because that declaration had had to be made; and it was easier making it when one believed one might be speaking the truth and far more difficult if one knew one were lying. So, a few days after he had written that letter – four days to be precise – he had gone through a ceremony of marriage!

Put not your trust in princes, thought Fox. But that he should have deceived me so utterly.

Now he will have to face the fury of his lady; and it is no use his asking kind Mr Fox to help him escape from that.

Fox had left it to Sheridan and Earl Grey to go to Carlton
House to give the Prince an account of what had taken place in the House.

He received them eagerly and was by no means put out when he heard how Fox had denied his marriage.

In fact he was relieved. That matter was settled then. And that other? What of his debts?

Sheridan replied that he did not think there would be much difficulty about that. It was almost certain that a sum of money would be granted for their settlement; all that remained was for them to see it was adequate.

When they had left him, the Prince wrote to Fox telling him that he had heard through Sheridan and Grey an account of the proceedings in the House, and that he felt more comfortable because of this. He believed that some terms were likely to be proposed and if Charles would call on him in the next day at two he would find him at home. He signed himself ‘Ever affectionately yours, George P.’

But when he had despatched the letter he thought of Maria who would now know what had happened in the House of Commons because everyone would be talking of it.

It was not so easy, not so
comfortable
as he had been thinking it. Something would have to be done about Maria.

He must go to see her without delay. He must be the first to tell her what had happened.

When she came to greet him her hands outstretched, he grasped them both and embraced her.

She could not have heard. Thank God, he was here in time.

He laughed suddenly – a little unnaturally. ‘What do you think Charles Fox has done? He has been to the House and denied that you and I are man and wife. Did you ever hear of such a thing?’

Maria released herself from his embrace and stood very still, looking at him questioningly. He felt the colour flood his face; he knew that he had betrayed himself. Maria believed that Fox had been authorized to do what he had done and she guessed on whose authority.

Still she did not speak. She stood as though she were a lifeless statue.

‘Maria!’ he cried. ‘Maria!’

She had known that Newnham had raised the matter in the House of Commons; she knew the issues which were at stake. She had believed in him, this young gay romantic lover who had declared so many times that he would resign his crown for her sake; she had talked to him of her beliefs, her religion, that in her which had made her leave the country to escape him. He knew full well her principles; she had thought he understood since he had arranged that ceremony which was a true marriage in the eyes of the Church and therefore in hers and – she had believed – in his.

But he had denied it … denied it ever had taken place! She, a deeply religious woman, who believed in the sanctity of the marriage tie had agreed to live with him only if she were married to him, and he had wished the marriage to take place; he had wanted a true marriage as she had!

And now he had denied it. He had betrayed her. He had allowed that man whom she had always looked upon as her enemy to get up in the House of Commons and tell the world that she was not the Prince’s true wife; she was his mistress. He had had many mistresses, the most famous of them the notorious Perdita Robinson – and she, Maria Fitzherbert, would now be said to be one of them.

‘Maria,’ he continued, ‘listen to me. Fox has done this … Fox. He has said this. I did not know he was going to say it. If he had consulted me …’

‘He has said it.’ Her voice sounded quiet and calm. ‘He has dishonoured me … publicly.’

‘But Maria, it is only Fox …’

‘Only Fox! Only the man whose word carries more weight than any except Pitt’s!’

The Prince’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Maria, my beloved, can you blame me for Fox’s misdeeds?’

‘But you knew. You must have known.’

‘I swear it, Maria. I did not know. He did not mention the matter to me.’ He began throwing his arms about in dramatic gestures; he threw himself on to a couch and wept. ‘That you should believe this of me! Haven’t I
sworn
…’

‘Yes,’ said Maria, ‘you have sworn.’

‘And can you believe that I would forget my vows?’ He was on his feet, embracing her. ‘You cannot break my heart, Maria.
You know I won’t live without you. Don’t you trust me? Oh, Maria, how can you treat me like this? You doubt my word. You believe
Fox
… rather than me. What of
your
vows, Maria?’

‘So you did not know? You are not in this …
plot
to betray me?’

‘Maria!’

He looked so appealing with the tears on his cheeks; he cried so elegantly; he had had so much practice in the art of weeping and he never did it ungracefully. His conduct since the ceremony had given her every reason to believe that he was devoted to her. He had even reformed his wild ways a little to please her. He was young; her maternal feelings were aroused; she was relenting.