‘He can be very stubborn,’ said Platen. And vindictive too, he thought, when he is crossed. George Lewis would remember a score for years, Platen was sure; and that was a point to remember when it was certain that one day he would rule in place of his father.

‘Something will have to be done. How is his English?’

‘I am uncertain, Madam. Perhaps you would wish to speak to his tutor?’

‘I would,’ she said.

‘Then, Madam, if you will excuse me, I will find out and send him to you.’

Glad to escape, Platen went out and in a few minutes returned with John von dem Bussche, the Princes’ chief tutor.

‘Now,’ said Sophia, ‘I am asking how my eldest son progresses with his English.’

‘Not at all, Madam, I fear.’

‘Not at all! But he must speak English. It is almost his native tongue.’

‘He has no aptitude, Madam. He is tolerably good at other languages but English seems to be beyond him.’

‘He must speak English. It would be such a disgrace if he did not. He is part English, as you know. I wish him to study not only the English tongue, but English history, for that is the history of my family.’

The two men caught each other’s eye. Sophia’s preoccupation with England and the English were well known through the palace. It might even be that the recalcitrant George Lewis knew this and that was why he shut his mind to all things English … and in particular their tongue.

‘Well, you will see that he learns his English. And I am most disgusted by his awkwardness. If you wish to keep your posts at least teach him how to bow and move with some grace. He may have to go to England one day and I would be most ashamed for my relations there to see my son as he is today. I can tell you this, that my cousin the King of England is one of the most charming men in the world. His manners are perfect … and they always were. I would wish my son to be as my cousin.’

‘In this matter of manners?’ murmured John von dem Bussche with a daring which made Platen wince. Really, he would have to be a little more careful if he wished to keep his post. To refer to the blatant immorality of Charles II before his cousin Sophia was a little dangerous.

Sophia saw fit not to notice the lapse.

‘Let this be attended to,’ she said.

Then she left them to go to her husband, for this matter of her son’s unfortunate character weighed deeply on her mind.

Ernest Augustus was sleeping after a heavy meal; she could smell the sauerkraut about his clothes and person as she approached.

‘Ernest Augustus,’ she said, ‘Wake up. I am disturbed.’

He started and looked at her in surprise. ‘My dear, this is hardly the time …’

‘You were very preoccupied when I wished to have a chat with you before.’

This was a reference to his current intrigue with Esther, one of Sophia’s femmes de chambre. She was mildly irritated, wishing that he would look a little higher in his amours.

‘Well, what troubles you?’

‘George Lewis troubles me, and he should trouble you too.’

‘Is anything wrong? I thought he was in good health.’

‘His health’s rude enough – the trouble is so is he. His manners are disgusting; he makes no progress with the English tongue; he shambles like an idiot; he gapes, and stammers … In other words, he is an oaf, a boor … and something should be done about it.’

‘What?’

‘Perhaps he should be sent abroad on a grand tour.’

‘Well, that might be possible. I suppose you’re thinking of sending him to England.’

‘To England!’ cried Sophia. ‘I should be ashamed. To my own people … and him such an oaf! You know Charles with his gracious manners!’

‘I have heard he performs superbly in the bedchamber.’

‘He is a King and must have his diversions. He is not the only one who spends much time and energy in that room.’

Ernest Augustus was quiet. He marvelled at her tolerance. It was one of her greatest virtues in his eyes. But he did not want to abuse it.

Sophia went on: ‘George Lewis is not ready yet to go to England, but I trust in good time he may be. It would seem that my cousin Charles’s wife is a sterile woman, and that he’ll get no issue from her.’

‘He does very well outside the marriage bed. Ha, ha.’

‘Which shows that the fault does not lie with him. We are not a sterile family. I wonder if he ever remembers that I was once promised to him. That would give him food for thought when he considers my nursery.’

She was a little indignant that Charles had not asked her hand in marriage, and in spite of the fact that she was so proud of her connection with him she bore him some resentment. Yes, she was a proud woman. Ernest Augustus was glad to discover her vulnerability.

‘He seems carefree enough and he has a brother.’

‘Yes,’ said Sophia, ‘with two daughters. Who knows, one of them might do for George Lewis.’

‘That would delight you! An English wife for George Lewis!’

‘And, has it occurred to you, if one of those girls were Queen it might be the crown of England for George Lewis.’

‘You set your ambitious ideas very high, Sophia.’

‘That’s what ambition is, my dear husband. I want George Lewis to be ready … if fortune should be good to him. His boorish manners shock me deeply. Something must be done. I think that as soon as it can be managed he and Frederick Augustus should do a tour of Europe. Not England … no, no… . He must improve before he goes there. But perhaps Italy … France… . What do you say?’

‘I think you’re right, as you invariably are. If there was more money, if they were a little older …’

‘It is a matter to be considered then?’

‘Most certainly.’

As they were discussing the possibilities this might open up for their sons, a messenger came to tell them that Schütz, Duke George William’s ambassador, had arrived at Osnabrück.

Ernest Augustus had rarely seen Sophia so angry as she was when Schütz stated his case.

‘My lord Chancellor,’ she said, ‘I am sure my husband the Duke will willingly show you the documents which your master has signed, in which he swears never to marry.’

‘I know of the existence of such documents, Madam, but my master is asking your indulgence.’

Ernest Augustus put in: ‘But there is no releasing him from his vows. If I did so he would still have to face his conscience.’

‘My master has satisfied his conscience, my lord Duke. His great concern is for your help in this matter.’

Sophia nodded at her husband who said: ‘What you ask is quite impossible.’

‘We are surprised, Herr Schütz,’ added Sophia, ‘that you should have allowed yourself to be the carrier of such a request.’

‘Madam, I follow my duty which is best to serve my master.’

‘By advising him to break his vows!’

‘All he asks is that his marriage may be recognized as legal and his daughter legitimized.’

‘All he asks is to break his solemn vow,’ cried Sophia. ‘And my husband and I are agreed on this: the answer is no.’

Schütz returned to Celle to report that it was useless to hope for any help from Osnabrück because both Duke Ernest Augustus and Duchess Sophia had made up their minds to do everything to stop the marriage.

‘Well,’ said Eléonore, ‘at least we know what to expect. As a matter of fact, I very quickly learned that Sophia was an enemy. She never forgave you for passing her over to Ernest Augustus and me for winning the affection you could not give to her.’

‘So,’ sighed George William, ‘it is useless to fight.’

‘There I cannot agree,’ said Eléonore. ‘This is where the fight begins.’

‘But if Ernest Augustus will not release me …’

‘We shall go higher than Ernest Augustus.’

‘You mean?’

‘The Emperor.’

‘Eléonore!’

‘Why not? What harm can it do? I am sure he will be sympathetic if I state the case precisely. In any case, it is what I intend to do.’

‘My dearest, you are a very determined woman.’

‘I have to be. I have my daughter’s future to think of.’

To the surprise of George William, Eléonore received a reply to her letter from the Emperor Leopold.

He understood, he said, and he sympathized; and what she asked was by no means impossible. He was, however, very busily engaged. He was faced with wars which had to be his main pre-occupation. He had to fight the Turks and the King of France – to whom he knew Eléonore, although a Frenchwoman, had no reason to be grateful. He was sure that Eléonore’s husband would be as glad to help him as he would be to help Eléonore if he had the opportunity. Firstly of course he must settle his pressing affairs. He was in need of men and arms. If the Duke of Celle could help him, he could rest assured that he would do everything in his power to repay such a service.

When Eléonore read the letter she gasped with surprise. To write to the Emperor had been the defiant gesture of a desperate woman and she had never dared hope for such a reply.

Well, here it was. George William must first send men to help the Emperor – and then his reward should be considered.

She ran to George William who read the letter in amazement.

Then he looked at Eléonore, his eyes shining with pride.

‘You are a wonderful woman,’ he said.

‘And you will do this?’

‘My dearest, the Emperor can make a bargain with you; rest assured that I shall do everything … just everything in my power … that you ask of me. Leopold shall have his troops.’

This was the first step, thought Eléonore. She was certain that she would take the rest unfalteringly to victory.