‘Great and blessed events often begin as dreams.’

‘You’re very romantic tonight, Bernstorff.’

‘I cannot help thinking how pleasant it would be to see the two Houses in harmony.’

‘I admit it would be pleasant, but the Duchess would never agree. She has been too humiliated by the Duchess Sophia and in such a manner as she will never forget. She is determined on an alliance with Wolfenbüttel. Anton Ulrich has always been a good friend to her. Moreover, the Princess herself is becoming accustomed to the young man and her mother will never allow her to be married where she has no inclination.’

‘She could grow to like her cousin.’

‘George Lewis is scarcely attractive. But what nonsense we are talking, Bernstorff. Soon we shall have a triumphant announcement from Sophia that her first-born is to become the husband of an English Princess. Won’t that make her happy?’

Bernstorff laughed. He could see that he had sown speculation in the Duke’s mind. George William would be pleased to see a union with Hanover, for was it not the wish of every German princeling to keep the family estates intact? And he was an easygoing man; he hated being on bad terms with his brother and would welcome an opportunity to get back to the old friendship.

‘I think, much as she loves the English, she would be equally happy to see Celle and Hanover united.’

‘Never, you don’t know Sophia. And we have been on very bad terms.’

‘Only on … account of the Duchess.’

It was daring; it was underlining a truth. The Duke frowned and Bernstorff wondered if he had gone too far.

‘The Duchess has of course suffered great provocation,’ said Bernstorff hurriedly. He laughed a little uneasily. ‘She would not be pleased with me if she knew I had made such a suggestion. I pray you will not betray me, my lord.’

George William laughed. ‘Rest easy. I shall say nothing.’

Clara waited for the secrecy of the bedchamber before she made her attack.

‘Have you heard the news from England?’ she asked.

‘News, what news?’

‘They have passed the Exclusion Bill in the Commons but it has been rejected by the Lords and the King has dissolved Parliament. No Exclusion Bill, and James to follow Charles as King of England – Catholic though he may be.’

‘Far off politics don’t concern me.’

‘With George Lewis trying his luck for the Princess Anne?’

‘What do you think this will mean?’

‘That George Lewis will be unacceptable as a husband for Anne. As a matter of fact I have heard rumours …’

‘Come, Clara, have you spies everywhere?’

‘In your service, my lord.’

‘Ah, Clara, what should I do without you? What did I do before you thrust your attentions upon me?’

‘Why concern yourself with the lamentable past? Here I am at your service and this I tell you: George Lewis has not made a favourable impression.’

‘Who expected him to? If he ever did it would be the first time in his life.’

‘They won’t have him. He’ll be sent packing with his tail between his legs.’

‘Charles wouldn’t so insult his dear cousin Sophia.’

‘Let us see that he doesn’t have a chance to.’

‘You mean we should send for him?’

Clara nodded.

‘On what pretext?’

She was silent for a while and then plunged. ‘There is one plan which is very dear to you, I know. There is one thing in your life which you greatly regret.’

‘We were talking of George Lewis.’

‘This concerns George Lewis. You deeply regret your quarrel with your brother the Duke of Celle. In fact, now that I know you so well I believe you regret that more than anything that has ever happened to you in your life.’

‘You say this, Clara, when I am telling you how much I regret not meeting you earlier.’

‘That is past and rectified, but this quarrel still exists. I should like to see an end to it; I should like to see Celle and Hanover united. I should like to see friendship where there was once enmity, and the old tradition of one ruler for one family back with us.’

‘Clara, what are you saying?’

‘That there is a Princess at Celle who will inherit vast wealth and land; and there is a Prince at Hanover who might marry her.’

‘George Lewis marry Sophia Dorothea! Clara … are you serious?’

‘Deadly serious.’

‘And you think the Duchess Sophia would agree to this?’

‘No. She has set her heart on that paradise … England. But England is not for George Lewis. That is very clear to me. We should draw him out while we can do so with dignity and this alliance between Celle and Hanover should at least be considered.’

‘It’s so … unexpected.’

‘Good plans often are.’

Ernest Augustus whistled softly under his breath.

‘Clara,’ he said, ‘you’re a brilliant woman.’

‘My brilliance is at the disposal of Your Highness,’ she answered.

‘But …’ he added.

‘But it’s a hare-brained scheme,’ she finished for him. ‘Perhaps. But at least worth brooding on. Pray you, say nothing of it to the Duchess Sophia. She would never forgive me if she thought I had suggested such a match.’

‘I will certainly say nothing. In any case she would never agree.’

‘We will talk of it together … just the two of us. We will weigh up the advantages against the disadvantages. It will at least be amusing.’

The Princess Anne sat before her mirror while one of her ladies helped her put on her gloves. This was one of the Villiers girls with whom she had been brought up, the eldest of whom had gone to Holland with Mary and, so it was said, became William’s mistress – although it was hard to believe William would ever possess one.

‘My fan?’ said the Princess.

‘Here, Your Highness.’

‘Thank you.’

‘How becoming is the blue, Your Highness.’

Anne smiled; she was always friendly with her attendants and rarely stood on ceremony.

‘Even this young man from Hanover would surely admire that.’

‘You think he does not admire … often?’

The girl looked embarrassed. ‘I … I’d rather not say, Your Highness.’

‘Why, what mystery is this?’

‘It is just a tale, like as not.’

‘I wish to hear it.’

‘It is foolish talk, Your Highness.’

Anne was suddenly authoritative. ‘I have said I wished to hear it.’

The girl bit her lip. ‘It was said Your Highness that this young oaf … forgive me, Your Highness, but his manners incense me and all your friends … it is said that he found you … repulsive and that is why he was so uncouth at the meeting.’

‘He found me repulsive!’ cried Anne, rising, her pink cheeks flushing to crimson. ‘I tell you that . I found him positively nauseating. I wouldn’t marry that man if he were the King of France.’

‘Ah, Your Highness, he could never be mistaken for the King of France who I hear is as courtly and gallant as His Majesty himself … or almost.’

‘I will go and see His Majesty. I will tell him that nothing on earth would induce me to marry this German boor. I will tell him I will die rather. I would rather leave the Palace and go and live as a seamstress … or a laundress.’

‘I am sure His Majesty will never allow you to do that, Your Highness. But I have heard that he too has no great admiration for this fellow.’ She had begun to tremble. ‘You will tell no one that it was I …’

‘Rest easy,’ said Anne. ‘I will tell no one anything but that I refuse to marry this German.’

Anne picked up her fan and went from the apartment and her attendant sat down to write a letter to her sister Elizabeth in Holland to say that she had done as she was told and she believed it had succeeded right well with the Princess.

From a window of her husband’s study Eléonore watched her daughter on horseback in the company of Eléonore von Knesebeck. They dismounted, a groom took the girls’ horses, and arm in arm they entered the castle.

‘What are you smiling at?’ asked George William, coming over to stand beside her.

‘Our daughter,’ she said. ‘I believe she grows more lovely every day.’

‘More and more like her mother,’ said George William, fondly slipping his arm through that of his wife.

‘In September she will be sixteen,’ went on Eléonore. ‘I think it is time she married.’

‘Sixteen … is it possible?’

‘Possible! It’s a fact. I think Sophia Dorothea is ready for marriage. Perhaps we have sheltered her a little but she will want to be loved. I sense that in her; and I should like to see her happily settled.’

Recalling secret conversations with Bernstorff, George William was a little uneasy. He had not dared mention to the Duchess the suggested match with Hanover.

‘Oh she is young yet,’ he parried.

‘You are like all fathers. They want to keep their daughters children for ever.’

‘No, I would not say that.’

Eléonore turned to smile at her husband. ‘But I would. I think something should be done soon, though. A definite betrothal. Anton Ulrich is getting a little impatient.’

‘Fifteen … it is young!’

‘I do not mean for an immediate marriage. We shall need several months to prepare.’

George William began: ‘Er …’ But it was too difficult. He guessed what her reaction would be. Stark horror. He loved her; he could not bear to upset her. And yet, one part of him remembered the look in Bernstorff’s eyes. Did the whole of his court and that of Hanover laugh at him behind his back for a man who was under his wife’s thumb? If this could have been the case secretly, he would not have cared. He realized he was a weak man. He had always been a pleasure-seeker; now he wanted peace and comfort. When he joined with Eléonore he had made a very happy life for himself and he wanted it to remain so.