Goddess of the Green Room: (Georgian Series) (24 page)

‘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.’

‘He will grow tired.’

Dorothy had seated herself in an arm-chair and Hester had taken the stool at her feet. It was a position they had occupied in those long ago days in Leeds when the whole family had looked to Dorothy’s skill – as they still did. But in those days it had had to be proved; now it was.

‘You will be sorry when he does.’ Dorothy hesitated and Hester added quickly: ‘You are growing fond of him.’

‘He is charming and he never shows anger because I continually flout him. He always tries to please me… far more than Richard ever did.’

‘Has Richard said anything?’

‘About marriage?’ Dorothy’s lips curled. ‘He has not changed his mind if that is what you mean.’

‘The Duke could not marry you.’

Dorothy laughed aloud. ‘Here I am between the two of them. One who swears he would if he could and one who could if he would. A fine state of affairs, Hester. And I think of the girls. What will happen when it is time for them to marry? Oh, Richard is cruel. After all, they are his children.’

‘All but Fan.’

‘And Fan… what will become of her? I worry about them, Hester. I know how Mamma felt about us. She longed for marriage and it was denied her. How odd that my position should be so like hers. She wanted marriage for me so much; and in the same way I want it for the girls. It will be a great hindrance to them if they cannot have their father’s name. Look at me: Mrs Jordan. A name given to me by Wilkinson! A name to which I have no legal right! I don’t want that for the girls. Surely Richard must understand this.’

‘He does and I am sure he would marry you if…’

‘If he were not afraid of his father! What sort of a man is he?’

‘What does he say about the Duke’s attention?’

‘Nothing. Precisely nothing.’

‘Perhaps it will force him to some action.’

‘I find the situation quite humiliating. I might…’

Hester was alert, but Dorothy did not go on.

Hester could not help visualizing what changes might be in store for the household.

Dorothy’s brother, George, called at Somerset Street with Maria Romanzini. George was doing fairly well and had had one or two minor parts; he was now a qualified actor but without pretensions to greatness, while Maria Romanzini’s fine singing voice was her great asset and made up for her somewhat squat figure and unfashionable swarthiness.

Dorothy guessed what they had come to say as soon as she saw them and she could not suppress a pang of envy although she was pleased for George’s sake.

‘Dorothy,’ said George solemnly, ‘we have come to tell you something.’

Hester laughed and said, ‘I don’t think you need to, George.’

‘So you’ve guessed,’ cried Maria, opening her great dark eyes which with her plentiful rippling black hair was her only beauty.

‘It’s written all over your faces,’ Dorothy told them. ‘So you decided to marry at last.’

‘At last!’ cried George. ‘It hasn’t been so very long.’

Dorothy kissed the bride and groom and told them that she wished them every happiness, and Hester brought out a bottle of wine so that they could drink the health of the newly married pair.

‘Neither of us is doing so badly now,’ said Maria almost apologetically, ‘so we thought that there was no sense in waiting.’

‘We want a family,’ added George.

‘Of course,’ agreed Dorothy. ‘It’s all very natural and God bless you both.’

They drank and talked excitedly of the future. George would not be playing small parts for ever; and Maria might go into opera. There was a growing popularity for opera, she believed. They would manage in any case.

They talked about parts and the theatre and how Drury Lane was doing better business than it had for years.

‘It’s your Pickle that brings them in, Dorothy,’ said George. ‘It must be wonderful to get on that stage and see that big audience and know that it has come to see you.’

Dorothy smiled. Yes, she thought, but there are more
wonderful things. If Richard would marry her as George had married Maria that would give her more pleasure than all the full houses in the world.

Yet she was not in love with Richard any more. He had disappointed her. In the beginning she had felt as Maria and George so obviously did, but he had failed her. Solemnly he had promised. It was absurd to say that his father would object. He was not a boy any longer. They would do without his father’s money and approval.

Maria was looking at her with envy. Maria, who was a good actress, a fine singer, but who knew she would never rival the talents – some called it genius – of Dorothy Jordan. Dorothy was at the top of her profession; a royal Duke was in love with her; she was the mother of three children. And the one thing she wanted – respectable marriage, security for the girls – was denied her, and by the man who was supposed to love her and could so easily have given her what she wanted.