One night, after the show, he said to her: ‘Do you find me not persistent?’

‘The most persistent playgoer in the house, I believe.’

‘It is not in my play-going that I am persistent but in my admiration for you.’

‘I am honoured.’

‘And yet you will not have supper with me?’

‘Your Highness, I wish you to understand my position.’

‘I do understand it. I have discovered everything I can about you. I know of your attachment to Mr Ford and that you have been faithful to him for many years.’

‘Then you will understand that I am of the faithful kind.’

‘I would not have it otherwise. I would be also.’

‘I have proved my fidelity,’ she said with a smile. ‘I shall go on doing so.’

‘I wish you would give me a chance to prove mine.’

‘Your Highness must understand…’

He put his hand over hers almost reverently.

‘I can remain silent no longer,’ he said. ‘I am in love with you. I have been ever since the first night I saw you. If it were possible I would ask you to marry me, but I cannot do this. I have to ask my father’s consent and he would not give it.’

Dorothy could not help smiling ruefully. It was the same story; but in his case it was true. As the son of the King he was in the line of succession to the throne and if the Prince of Wales and Duke of York did not marry and have children, this young Prince could be the King. It was different from Richard’s case. She granted him that.

‘But,’ he went on, ‘while I cannot marry without my father’s consent I can refuse to marry at all – and that I should do. With us it would be a marriage… as my brother’s with Mrs Fitzherbert. I want to live respectably… as married, and be faithful to one woman all my life; and now that I have met you, I know that there is only one woman who could fill that role in my life – and she is you.’

‘You are charming,’ she said, ‘but I am committed.’

‘Richard Ford is not your husband.’

‘We shall marry in due course and two of my children are his.’

‘We could have children, you and I.’

She shook her head. ‘I shall never forget the honour you have done me, but I consider myself married to Mr Ford and as you have said: I am faithful.’

‘I shall never stop loving you,’ he assured her. ‘And I shall not give up hope. Will you have supper with me tonight?’

‘I must say no,’ she said with a smile, ‘for I must go home to my family.’

William called at Carlton House and George received him in the library with his windows looking out on to the gardens.

‘What a lovely place you have here, George!’ cried William, throwing himself into a chair and gazing disconsolately out at the gardens.

‘It didn’t grow of itself,’ the Prince reminded him. ‘It has taken me quite a time, the advice of architects and the skill of artists, but I flatter myself I now have a worthy dwelling here and at Brighton. You haven’t been to the Pavilion lately, William. You must come. How is Clarence Lodge progressing?’

‘Very well, but I did not come to talk about houses, George.’

‘No? Then what?’

‘Women. Or rather a woman.’

‘Mrs Dorothy Jordan.’

‘How did you know?’

The Prince laughed. ‘My dear William, didn’t you realize that we are watched by a thousand eyes; we are listened to by a thousand ears and a thousand pens a day are taken up to ridicule or libel us in some way. I have been reading snippets concerning a certain exalted young gentleman and Little Pickle. I couldn’t help knowing to whom that referred. So you took my advice and went to Drury Lane and there you saw the delectable Mrs Jordan.’

‘You think she is charming?’ William smiled beatifically.

‘I think she is utterly delightful.’

‘I always said there wasn’t a man in England with better taste than you.’

‘I am inclined to agree with you. And I will say this, that if I were not so entirely and absolutely committed to my dearest love, my Maria, I would be your rival.’

‘Oh, don’t say that. I should be terrified. She would never be able to resist you as…’

‘As she is resisting you?’

William nodded wretchedly. ‘That’s what I wanted to see you about. I want your advice. You see, George, she is a wonderful woman. She considers herself married to this man Ford. And there are children. Two of his and one of Daly’s – some theatrical brute who forced his attentions on her. You see I have learned all about her. And because she considers herself married to Ford she is faithful to the fellow.’

‘What sort of fellow?’

‘A barrister of a sort… not very successful. Dorothy keeps the home going with her salary, so I hear.’

‘She is a good woman,’ said the Prince, ‘and believe me, there is nothing so important to a man – and to Princes like ourselves – as a good woman. If I could have married Maria openly I should have been the happiest man on Earth.’

‘But are you absolutely faithful to Maria?’

‘That is not the point. I would never leave Maria. She knows that. I should always go back to her and although I might stray now and then – for as you know I find it very hard to resist a pretty woman and there are so many of them and all so charming in their different ways – it is Maria whom I regard as my wife. I could not live without Maria nor she without me.’

‘That is how I feel about Dorothy, but I should always be faithful to her.’

‘But then you see, my dear William, I am a married man of some standing whereas you are about to be married. That is the difference in our points of view.’

‘About to be married?’

‘Well, in a manner of speaking.’

‘George, she refuses me. Every time she tells me that she will be faithful to Ford.’

The Prince smiled reminiscently. ‘Maria would not consent for a whole year… and more. She went away… abroad… and I was faithful to her. I wrote the most heartrending letters.’

‘I haven’t your power with the pen.’

‘Nor do you need to have because she is here.’

‘But I can get no further with her.’

‘I had to attempt suicide for Maria.’

‘Do you think I should for Dorothy?’

‘Not at this stage. But don’t give up. Try to think what would appeal to her and you will win in the end. You have your royalty, and royalty is an asset which few women can resist. In addition you are young, tolerably handsome; you are not without charm; and I am sure you could please the lady more than this… what’s his name?’

‘Richard Ford.’

‘More than he does. Persistence is your line. Never give up. Now, since I knew of your interest in the lady I have been considering her and I have found many little items in the gossip columns about her. Actors and actresses are considered fair game for gossip – just as we are. I have gathered that there are often stormy scenes between Mrs Jordan and Mr Ford. I cannot believe he can offer as much as you can.’

‘But she is not to be bought.’

‘Everyone is to be bought by one thing or another. It may be love; it may be money; it may be fame. But there will be something. She has children. She is a good mother. Now if I were in your place… But then I am not. Through my tribulations I have come to happiness with my Maria and our circumstances were different from yours.’

‘George, you were saying… if you were in my place.’

‘If I were in your place I should ask myself where she was most vulnerable. It is through her children. It is because she is anxious for the welfare of her children that she clings to Richard Ford. They are his; he accepts them as his. Perhaps this is the reason. Suppose you were to agree to shoulder those financial burdens. Suppose there was some agreement… a real agreement drawn up by lawyers say… in which you undertook to provide for the children.’

‘Could I do that, George?’

‘Why not?’

‘But I should need money.’

‘Money!’ said the Prince of Wales, wrinkling his charming nose in the manner which was famous. ‘My dear William, Princes do not concern themselves with money.’

‘You and Fred are in debt to thousands, I know. I couldn’t be.’

‘Why should you? Just by providing for these children? My dear William, you are the King’s son. My brother. I think you forget that at times.’

‘Perhaps I do. It was all those years at sea when I was treated like a common sailor.’

‘How revolting!’ said the Prince with another wrinkle. ‘But don’t worry about money. It always comes from somewhere. Continue to see her. Let her know that you are sympathetic, that you love children, that you are concerned for hers. Win her confidence and let her see that all Richard Ford can do for her you can do – for it seems that he does not marry her.’

‘I think you are right, George. I knew you would be. How can I thank you.’

The ever-ready tears filled George’s eyes. He regarded his brother with affection.

‘There is one way you can thank me – by winning the delightful lady and being happy with her.’

Dorothy and Hester had put the children to bed. It was one of Dorothy’s free nights.

‘What are you playing tomorrow?’ Hester asked.

‘Beatrice in The Panel.’

‘I suppose he will be there.’

‘You mean the Duke of Clarence?’

‘Whom else?’ asked Hester.

‘He is always there when I play.’

‘You speak with some complacence.’

‘Well, it is not a matter for congratulation when the King’s son comes to the theatre every time one appears.’

‘I wonder where it is going to end.’