Queen in Waiting - Plaidy Jean - Страница 6

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There was one at the Dresden Court of whom Magdalen von Roohlitz was in awe and that was her mother. She would never forget that it was her mother who had first put her in the Elector's way and who, once the liaison had started, conducted it so cleverly from the shadows that she had made what might have been a fleeting affaire into what it was at this time.

The extremely ambitious Madam von Roohlitz was the widow of a Colonel of the Guards; not a position in which she could have had high social ambitions if she had not possessed an outstandingly beautiful daughter. She had been the first to appreciate Magdalen's charms and assess their value. She had always known that Magdalen's brains did not match her beauty; but since she had a very clever mother this was not an insurmountable difficulty—in fact, it was proving an asset. Magdalen could make full use of her erotic genius while her mother planned calmly behind the scenes.

Magdalen had little to complain of so far. She was, in fact, astonished how easily she could please her lover when all she had to do was satisfy his sexual desires, and as hers were as eager for fulfilment as his, that was no hardship. Mother arranged all the tiresome details and was ver)' happy to do so. That seemed a pleasant enough arrangement to Magdalen; and she was surprised to discover that Mother was not pleased.

She had come to her daughter's apartment because it was time they had a little talk.

"You need not frown, daughter. If you will do exactly as I say it will be easy enough."

Magdalen nodded and stretched her limbs luxuriously.

What a magnificent creature she is! thought her mother. It would be churlish to reproach her for not being able to think, when she is so expert in other matters.

"That man would do a great deal for you."

"He always says so."

"Talk is one thing, actions another."

Magdalen yawned.

"You must listen to me because this is important. You are a Countess now, my dear; you are very rich, and that is as it should be. I'm delighted. But things could be so much better."

"Could they?" asked Magdalen.

"Of course. What happens when important visitors arrive? Who has to receive them? You or her? Then she is brought forward, isn't she? She is after all the Electress of Saxony and his legal wife."

"He's never with her."

"That is not my point, Magdalen. She is received. She is accepted. I wish that for you."

"Well, she's his wife."

"You should tell him how humiliated you feel."

Magdalen raised her eycorows. "How humiliated do I feel?"

"You, whom he swears he loves as he can never love another woman are snubbed, covertly insulted by visitors from other courts."

"But I'm not. Mother."

"They say, *Oh she's only his mistress.' And they pay Court to Madam Electress."

"Oh no, Mother..."

"Listen to me. You could become Electress."

"How?"

"By insisting that he marry you, of course."

"He's married already."

"You are determined to see the obstacles."

Magdalen looked puzzled. "Well, she is his wife, isn't she? They were married in Leipzig."

"Oh yes, their dear friends the Brandenburgs saw to that."

"Because you had been too busy with your dear friends the Austrians."

"Because you, my dear, were not subtle enough. I had to find money from somewhere and you betrayed the fact that we had friends in Austria who had been kind to us. But never mind. That's all behind us. Let's think of the future. How would you like to be the Electress of Saxony?"

"I shouldn't mind it. I shouldn't mind it at all."

Madam von Roohlitz gave her daughter a playful slap.

"Well, listen to me. I have an idea. Pay close attention."

"Yes, Mother."

Caroline was in her mother's bedchamber reading aloud to Eleanor who lay on her bed, her nervous fingers pulling at the coverlet; Caroline knew that she was not listening. Yet if she stopped she would realize it and ask her gently to go on.

It seemed useless and ineffectual; for Caroline was not really paying attention either.

Caroline stopped reading and said: "We were happier than this in Ansbach."

"What did you say?" asked Eleanor.

Caroline said: "Mamma, couldn't we go away somewhere for a little change?"

Eleanor looked startled. Then she said: "Where could we

go?"

"To Ansbach perhaps."

"We should not be welcome there."

"We are not welcome here."

"Caroline, what do you mean? This is our home?"

Home! thought Caroline. Where you were unhappy! Where no one wanted you! Where people whispered about vou in corners.

"Perhaps," she said, "we could go to Berlin."

"To Berlin. I doubt whether they would want us there either."

"Mamma, how can you know? The Electress Sophia Charlotte was so kind. She talked to me about lessons and things like that."

"I hope you are getting on well with your studies, Caroline." That worried look was in her eyes. She was thinking: I neglect my daughter. She is allowed to run wild. Oli what will become of us?

"I try to work at them," answered Caroline gravely. "The Electress Sophia Charlotte said I should. Do you think she will ever come here to see us?"

"Nobody ever comes here to see us."

There was no bitterness in the tone, only a sad resignation.

Nothing will ever change, thought Caroline.

But even as the thought entered her mind one of her mother's attendants came into the room. She was agitated and showed clearly that something had happened to upset her.

She did not seem to see Caroline sitting in her chair, but went straight to tiie bed, and handed a paper to Eleanor. "I couldn't believe this when I read it, Your Highness. It is ... terrible."

Eleanor took up the paper in trembling hands.

"What ... Oh, I had heard ... Oh, no."

"They are saying that it could not have been circulated without the Elector's consent. Your Highness."

**I am sure that is so."

Caroline shrank back into her chair and watched her mother intently.

She threw the paper on to the bed. **This is the end," she said wearily. **He is determined to be rid of me."

**They will never allow such a law. Your Highness."

"If he insists ..."

"No. It can't be. It's another plot of that von Roohlitz woman. Nothing can come of it."

"A great deal has come of her plans. I feel very faint."

"It's the shock. Lie still. Your Highness."

"Lie still," murmured Eleanor. "Yes, for what else can I do. Just be still and wait ... for whatever they plan against me."

Caroline sitting in her chair wanted to run to her mother, shake her and cry out: It's not the way. You shouldn't allow them to hurt you. You should fight them as they fight you.

But she sat still while the woman brought an unguent from a cupboard and rubbed into her mother's forehead.

"That's comforting," said Eleanor.

The pamphlet fluttered to the floor not far from Caroline's feet. She picked it up and read it. It was obscurely phrased but the gist was that it might be advantageous for men who could afford to support more than one wife to have another.

So the Elector thought this a good idea! The reason was plain. He was able to support another wife, he was not satisfied with the one he had, and there was someone he would like to set up in her place.

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