Free Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill: (Georgian Series) by Jean Plaidy

and the light affair did not give him the same satisfaction as what he was pleased to believe, while it lasted, was the love of a lifetime. That was why Perdita had been so important. The long wooing, the sighing, the locks of hair, thetender messages engraved on miniatures and lockets, this was what he craved. He took great pleasure in writing of his sufferings and aspirations and even the fate of those letters which he had written to Perdita could not deter him. He recognized the difference between lust and love – and although he was as ready to indulge in the first as any of his companions, he never forgot the worth of the second. He often told himself, and others, that what he wanted was to settle down with the woman of his choice, marry her and live happily – and faithfully – ever after.
    For a short time he had deluded himself with Lady Melbourne; she had even borne a child which was said to be his – a boy this time and named George of course.
    Actresses had always interested him. There was the fascinating young German actress known as Mrs Billington who had a house near the Thames at Fulham. She was a pretty and very lively young woman with the most original methods of making love. Most intriguing, and at one time he had been constantly at the theatre – not to see the play, of course, but Mrs Billington. It had been so easy to visit her, she being so near the river; and every night when she was not playing she would have musical evenings, for Mrs Billington was noted for her singing; it gave him great pleasure to sing duets with the ladies who attracted him. His voice could not of course compare with that of Mrs Billington, which was of remarkable compass and one of the most melodious he had ever heard.
    But although her eccentric methods had excited him in the beginning he had tired of them. Mrs Billington might have been amusing but she was not-romantic. He did not care for her coarse approach, and when he remarked to Fox: ‘The only pleasure I have in that woman’s company is when I shut my eyes and open my ears,’ Fox knew, and so did the Prince, that the liaison was nearing its end.
    What would please him would be to fall deeply in love; he longed to experience all those emotions which he had known in the early stages of his affair with Perdita. He might be the leader of fashion; he might find pleasure in horse-racing and boxing, riding and hunting; he might enjoy dabbling in politics and the friendship of brilliant men – but the overriding need in his life would always be Romance. And whenever hevisited any banquet or ball, any place whatsoever, the thought always in his mind was what women would he meet on that occasion.
    So it was not surprising that on his first visit to Brighthelmstone, he should be thinking of women.
    The inhabitants of the little town were aware of the honour which was about to be done them and they had turned out in strength to welcome him.
    How enchanting it was with the shingle beach and the ocean – today deep blue and placid as though on its best behaviour to welcome the Prince of Wales. There were gulls on the brown roofs, and on the three-cornered stretch of grass fishing nets and lobster pots; a salty tang was in the air; and as the phaeton dashed into the town a great cheer went up. His Highness the Prince of Wales had come to Brighthelmstone.
    People crowded about the house on the Steyne which had been taken over by the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. The Prince embraced the Duke to the cheers of the crowd; with even greater fervour he embraced the Duchess.
    ‘How handsome he is!’ was the universal comment; and so he was in his exquisitely cut coat of the finest green cloth with the diamond star flashing on his breast. He stood on the balcony between his aunt and uncle and acknowledged the cheers, his beaver hat in his hand. This enabled the crowd to see his abundant hair, which was frizzed and powdered most elegantly; his eyes looked very blue, his smile so