The Decadent Duke (50 page)

“It is my pleasure, Mr. Prime Minister. If there is anything I can do, all you need do is ask.”

“Not so fast, Your Grace. I am about to propose something, but if you have any reservations I hope you won't hesitate to say no. You have always championed the Irish, and Catholic emancipation has been a cause close to your heart. Though we managed to pass the Act of Union, Dublin has no real political status. To compensate we must provide them with pomp and pageantry. Charles James Fox and his nephew, Lord Holland, have proposed that I appoint you lord lieutenant of Ireland.”

“You do me great honor, Mr. Prime Minister.”
Henry, you old dog, you didn't give me a hint.

Pitt held up his hand. “The position of viceroy pays only twenty thousand pounds per annum. Unfortunately, the expenses are several times that amount, and only a wealthy and generous man could take it on.” Pitt cleared his throat. “I can think of none more suitable for this appointment than the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. Lady Georgina's vivacious charm and political savvy would make her the perfect vice queen. If you will take this appointment, you have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation.”

“Mr. Pitt, it is my great honor to accept.”

“Father's home!” From an upper window, Johnny had seen his father's carriage drive in. He rushed downstairs and ran to the stables. “My cat had two kittens, a boy and a girl. And I watched them be born.”

“Witnessing the miracle of birth is an unforgettable experience.” He handed Johnny a traveling bag, picked up the other, and the pair headed to the house.

Georgina had quickly donned one of her husband's favorite dresses and was eagerly awaiting him in the reception room. The moment Johnny carried the bag upstairs, Georgina threw herself into her husband's arms. “Darling, I've missed you so much!”

John kissed her soundly, set her feet back on the carpet, and they said in unison, “I have something to tell you.”

John laughed. “Ladies first.”

“We are going to have a baby!”

John was stunned. “Good heavens, I thought you were going to tell me the cat had kittens.”

“That's when it dawned on me. I was telling Johnny the gestation period for a cat was six weeks, and we began to count. Then it hit me. I began to count the days since my last menses, and realized what was causing my morning sickness.”

“That's marvelous, sweetheart. You look absolutely radiant.” With their arms about each other, they entered the sitting room. “Georgy, why don't we get married again? The last time was just a private ceremony, but now I want you to have the wedding you deserve. The one you always dreamed of, where you invite half of London.”

Georgina's eyes sparkled. “John, you are such a romantic at heart. That is a splendid idea. Oh, Mother will be absolutely thrilled to death. I must write and tell her the news immediately.” She hurried over to her writing desk. She sat down and smiled up at him. “What was it you wanted to tell me?”

“I've been appointed lord lieutenant of Ireland.”

Georgina shot out of her chair. “John! You devil! Why didn't you tell me immediately? This is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me. Beyond marrying you and having a baby, of course.”

He picked her up and swung her round. “Pitt thinks you will make the perfect vice queen. Your main duty will be hosting parties for Dublin society. As well as Dublin Castle, we will entertain at the vice-regal lodge in Phoenix Park, which has seventeen acres of parkland. The castle has sumptuous state apartments and a throne room.”

“We'll be like royalty! We'll take Johnny, of course.”

“Of course.”

“But first, I must make plans for our wedding. It will do double duty as our going-away party. This is all so exciting!”

John Russell had no illusions about his appointment. He knew it would be extremely difficult to govern a deeply divided country. On principle, he was opposed to any system of exclusion, and believed concessions to Catholics were necessary for peace. Violence often flared in various counties, and it would be his job to restore calm and order.

He voiced his concerns to Georgina. “It won't be all beer and skittles, you know. We'll often find ourselves in delicate political situations.”

“If we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with a ball and supper at the castle, it will greatly please the Catholics. I have decided to have all my clothes made in Ireland, and shall encourage any ladies who come to court to do the same.”

“And give up your decadent Parisian fashions?” he teased.

She laughed. “In a few months they won't fit me anyway.”

“We'll be apart some of the time. You'll have to hold the fort in Dublin while I tour the counties to encourage agriculture, and I'll have to sit in on magistrates' hearings and various disputes.”

“I will dutifully support you in all things, John.”

“Being the wife of a politician is second nature to you, Georgy. You've always been a champion for the underdog.”

“I had a good teacher. Oh, and speaking of Mother, you mustn't mind when she arrives and starts organizing and planning for the wedding. We deprived her of throwing the wedding of the decade when we said our vows at a private ceremony. This time I want her to be able to indulge herself without any thought to expense.”

“You are a most considerate daughter, Georgy. You have a generous heart.”

“Au contraire!
I have a generous husband.”

 
“Here comes the bride!”

Georgina glided between the assembled guests, followed by her four sisters holding up the long train of her wedding gown. The ballroom at Woburn was festooned with roses and lilies, and their delicate scent perfumed the air.

Alexander, Duke of Gordon, resplendent in his Black Watch kilt, once more gave his daughter Georgina to John Russell, Duke of Bedford, and took his place beside his duchess, Jane. She was at the pinnacle of her matchmaking career, and preened appropriately.

When the bride and groom plighted their troths, and the minister pronounced them man and wife, Georgina, hand in hand with John, turned to the assembled guests and announced, “I want to share a secret with you.”

John held his breath.
I know she is an audacious baggage, but surely she isn't going to announce that she's with child?

Georgina bestowed a radiant smile upon her audience and said, “I shall put an end to your speculation. I want everyone to know that this is Britain's greatest
love match
!”

John breathed with relief and grinned from ear to ear as the guests sent up a loud cheer.

Four chambers adjoining the ballroom had been turned into reception rooms where buffet tables were laden with copious amounts of beef, pork, lamb, game birds, and of course the famous Spey salmon. The desserts were spectacular, and the wedding cake was a triumphant tower of magnificence. The Sevres china, Waterford crystal, and ornate Georgian sterling silver duly impressed the two hundred guests.

Awash with champagne and whiskey punch, the
haut ton
danced the night away, as country dances gave way to Scottish reels, strathspeys, and finally the 'Gey Gordons.'

At three o'clock in the morning, the guests gathered at the foot of Woburn's magnificent staircase and cheered as the handsome groom swept his beautiful bride into his arms and carried her upstairs. Then the revelers trooped outside for a spectacular fireworks display.

“Shouldn't we join them for the fireworks?” Georgina teased.

John bit her ear playfully. “I'll give you skyrockets!”

Inside their bedchamber, she knelt on the window seat, watching the illuminations that lit up the sky.

John saw her close her eyes and knew she was making a wish. He slid his arms about her. “What are you wishing, Georgy?”

“I wish that we will always be as happy as we are tonight.”

“I'll do my best to make it so,
little girl
.”

 
In bed, as a prelude to making love, they lay whispering.

“I love you with all my heart, Georgy.”

“Why do you love me?” she demanded precociously.

“Because you are a joyous creature who loves and lives life to the full. You have a passion for nature, and children, and animals, and I never tire of hearing you laugh. Your silvery laughter is the loveliest thing I've ever heard.”

He rolled with her until he had her pinned beneath him in the bed. “When I capture your soft, warm mouth it tastes of delicious laughter and sensual anticipation. It's intoxicating to know that you want me as much as I desire making love to you. Your eagerness spurs me to possess you body and soul, and lure you to surrender your essence to me.”

“Mmm, tell me more.”

“I love to lose myself in the tempting, honeyed depths of your body, where you allow me to indulge any wicked fantasy that I thirst and crave. You bring me blissful, almost unendurable pleasure that allows me to escape. Your lovemaking takes me to a place where only rich, dark sensation exists.V

Georgina finished his litany because she had heard it before. “We indulge in a passion so powerful, it brings exquisite pleasure.”

John took possession of her mouth, and they both abandoned themselves to love.

 
“It's so green! Now I know why they call it the Emerald Isle.” Johnny stood at the ship's rail between Georgina and his father.

The king's yacht,
Dorset
, sailed into Dublin Bay, and the Russells disembarked. Though it was early in the morning, a huge throng had gathered to give the new viceroy and his family a rousing welcome.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford were officially greeted by the lord mayor and the aldermen of Dublin. Then they climbed into an open carriage and set off for the castle with an honor guard of dragoons. The streets were packed with eager spectators, curious for a glimpse of their new lord lieutenant and his wife.

“This is the River Liffey,” Georgina told Johnny.

“And this is Macartney's Bridge,” John added.

The people were so enthusiastic they wanted to unharness the horses from the shafts and pull the carriage themselves, but the postillions discouraged them. John and his son waved, Georgina threw kisses to the crowd, and the carriage proceeded on to Dublin Castle through lines formed by the Irish military.

“What happens next?” Johnny asked. “I am going to write everything down so we have a record of our time in Ireland. I warrant we are making history.”

“The Earl of Hardwicke, the outgoing viceroy, will hold a breakfast reception to welcome us,” his father explained.

“That's good. I'm hungry.”

“Eat hearty. It will be a long day. Your father will be sworn in at three p.m., but I don't believe there will be any food until the levee at four o'clock,” Georgina said.

“I read about the swearing in, Father. You will be invested with the collar of the Order of Saint Patrick, and receive the sword of state. I don't suppose I'll be allowed to keep the sword in my bedroom tonight?” Johnny asked hopefully.

“No, it will be kept in the castle's strong room, where it will be well guarded,” his father explained.

Georgina winked at Johnny. “I shall make friends with the guard, and perhaps sometime he'll let us go into the strong room and rummage about among the regalia.”

“Georgy.” John threw her a glance that told her to behave.

 
After the swearing-in ceremony, the cannons in Phoenix Park gave the Russells a gun salute, which was answered by a volley of musket fire by a squadron of soldiers.

They only had time to hurry back to the state apartments to comb their windblown hair and wash their hands before the levee began where they would meet the leading people of Dublin.

“May I stay up and watch the illuminations tonight?”

“Of course you may, if you are still awake,” Georgy replied.

“I'm hungry. May I go down and get something to eat?”

“Off you go before your father finds out I've given you permission to attend the levee.”

Georgina picked up the list of entertainments she and the viceroy would be expected to host over the next few weeks. She raised her voice so that it would carry into John's dressing room. VWe have a vice-regal box at the theater. I have to attend benefit concerts for all sorts of charities. I think I shall enjoy our sojourn in Ireland.”

Georgina removed her shoulder cape to reveal her exquisite white and silver gown. She donned her magnificent diamonds and posed before the polished silver mirror.

John came out of his dressing room, took one look at her, and stopped dead in his tracks. “Georgy, the décolletage on that gown is positively indecent. And surely it's rather flamboyant to display
all
your diamonds.”

Georgina threw back her head and laughed. “Accept me as I am, or go to the devil,
old man
!”

Georgina and John Russell were married for thirty-six years. They had ten children together—seven boys and three girls.

In their letters to each other, John often called Georgina his “darling little girl,” and she called him her “dearest old man.”

Georgina's youngest stepson, Johnny (Lord John Russell), became prime minister of England in 1846.

The Duke of Bedford built his duchess a palatial summer cottage at Endsleigh, Devon, with picturesque views of the River Tamar. Both Endsleigh and Woburn Abbey are now open to the public.