Free Queen in Waiting: (Georgian Series) by Jean Plaidy Page B

William had certainly not learned better manners at Hanover. It was hardly to be expected that he would. He had taken a violent dislike to his cousin George Augustus and waylaid Caroline in the gardens to tell her about it.
    ‘You’ve grown taller since I’ve been away, Madam Caroline,’ he said.
    ‘I daresay you have too, but I don’t notice.’
    The angry lights leaped into his eyes, and she was startled to see how violent he could quickly become.
    ‘Then notice now!’ he demanded.
    ‘It is of no interest to me.’
    ‘I command that you do.’
    ‘Are you in a position to command me?’
    ‘The Electoral Prince has power to command all his dependents.’
    Caroline laughed. He took her by the shoulder, his lower lip projecting in an ugly fashion, and for a moment she thought he was going to strike her.
    ‘I’ve no doubt,’ she said. ‘But he should not make the mistake of trying to command those who are not.’
    ‘And you… the penniless orphan…’
    ‘I am here at the wish of the Elector and Electress of Brandenburg who, let me remind you, have the power to command the Electoral Prince.’
    He laughed suddenly. ‘You have spirit for a girl who has nothing.’
    ‘How can I have nothing if I have my spirit?’
    ‘Now, Caroline, you’re being clever. Save that for old Leibniz and the rest. Don’t try it on me.’
    ‘I admit it would be wasted.’
    He brought his face close to hers. ‘Now you’re afraid I’m going to kiss you. Poor Caroline, who has never been kissed. You really are getting old for such ignorance. You want knowledge. Well, why not seek it.’
    She pushed him aside.
    ‘Don’t get ideas,’ he said. ‘My cousin Sophia Dorothea is ten times prettier than you. I wouldn’t look at you when she was around.’
    Disturbing! Particularly as marriages were often made without the consent of the two concerned.
    A storm cloud had appeared in the skies over Lützenburg; one could not be young forever; one could not remain protected from the ugliness of the world under the cloak of an adored guardian. Change would come and Caroline was growing up.
    There was nothing the Electress Sophia enjoyed more than a tête-à-tête with her daughter. She admired Sophia Charlotte more than any living being and loved her more dearly than anyof her children, Sophia Charlotte was not only beautiful and talented, she was wise.
    The Electress Sophia could not see how she herself could better have handled her own life. She had not loved Ernest Augustus when she had married him and would have much preferred the man to whom she was first betrothed, the Duke of Celle, father of her ill-fated daughter-in-law Sophia Dorothea who was now a prisoner at Ahlden; but she had accepted Ernest Augustus and her rank and dignity had given her a certain power. All she had to do was let him go his way, let him keep his mistresses, never protest or show that she minded; and in return he accepted her position as Electress, as a Princess of royal birth, and she could have her will in all matters that did not clash with his desires. It was the kind of compact only an extremely wise woman could carry through; and she had done it.
    Sophia Charlotte had one gift which her mother lacked: beauty. And this, the old Electress would be the first to admit, was a very valuable one. Because of it she had not to placate a husband who preferred other women to herself; she was able to lead her own life as determinedly as Sophia had led hers, but with greater charm and dignity.
    It was a pleasure to see her here in her magnificent palace; and the Electress was most proud of her daughter.
    ‘And what do you really think of my Caroline?’ asked Sophia Charlotte.
    ‘I find her a pleasant creature and I am ready to love her because her companionship has made you very happy.’
    ‘Few have given me greater happiness than that girl. I brought her here because I thought it my duty. Oh, I took a fancy to her from the first, but I never thought that I