'Somerset. It is I believe a very pleasant county.'

'Very pleasant, Your Majesty.'

'And my lord Ilchester's seat very... very... pleasant.'

'Oh yes, Sire, my father's house is very pleasant.'

'You will be going there, I suppose.'

'Yes, Sire, for the summer.'

'And nothing will bring you back... before the winter?'

'I don't know of anything.'

The King was silent and Susan was growing more and more embarra.s.sed. One could not broach a subject to the King and must content oneself with answering, but how boring it was. Moreover, she was aware of Sarah's eyes on her from across the room. Sarah was looking sly; she was going to accuse her of trying to s.n.a.t.c.h the King from her as she herself had s.n.a.t.c.hed Newbattle from Caroline Russell.

'Would you... would you come back to see a coronation?' asked the King.

'Oh yes, Sire, I should hope to come back to see that.'

'I have put off my coronation for a while. I have a reason.'

'I am sure Your Majesty has.'

'I thought that a coronation with a Queen would be a much finer sight than one without.'

'That is surely so, Sire.'

The King looked at her so intently that Lady Susan was alarmed. Good heavens, she thought, is he proposing to me? Has it all been a mistake. Am I the one... not Sarah...

She dared not look at the King and lifting her eyes she saw Sarah glaring at her. Sarah would want a detailed account of this conversation.

'I have had a great many applications from abroad,' said the King. 'Foreign Princesses. I don't like the idea much.'

'No, Your Majesty.'

He looked wistful. 'I have had none from at home.' He leaned towards her. 'I should like it better if I had.'

Lady Susan began to tremble. It must be. A proposal of marriage from the King. Oh no! It could not happen in this way. It would have to be a formal approach through her parents. She was dreaming surely... Or the King was mad.

He too was looking across the room at Sarah, which was a relief since he could not see her, Susan's, discomfiture.

'What do you think of your friend? You know who I mean.'

He was smiling at Sarah.

'Oh... oh yes, Sire.'

'Don't you think she is the fittest?'

'Think, Sire?'

He did not seem to hear her. He said firmly: 'I think none so fit.' Then he returned to Susan. 'Come with me,' he said. 'I wish to speak to your friend.'

Susan rose and together they crossed the room. Sarah swept an enchanting curtsy.

'I have been talking to your friend,' he told her.

'I have observed Your Majesty,' she answered pertly.

'So you were... aware of me?'

'Sire, everyone is aware of the King.'

He chuckled. 'Will you ask your friend Lady Susan what I have been saying to. her?'

'If it is your wish, Sire.'

'It is my wish. Yes, it is my wish. Ask her to tell you and make her tell you all I said to her. Will you promise me to that?'

'I promise, Sire.'

George seemed overcome by mirth and emotion. He left the girls and went and joined Lady Pembroke, an old friend of his.

Sarah looked at Susan interrogatively. 'I'll tell you when we're alone. It's too fantastic.'

Susan had repeated every word the King had said not only to Sarah but to the whole of Sarah's family.

She must go through it all when she returned to Holland House. Lady Caroline questioned her, so did Mr Fox.

'Now, Susan, are you sure? He said he thought none so fit. Are you sure of that?'

'Absolutely sure. I remember every word.'

'And then he took you over to Sarah and said you were to tell her what he had said.'

'Yes... it all happened exactly as I have explained.'

'You could have misconstrued.'

'No, I'm sure I didn't. It was all so simple... so straightforward... and so fantastic. Of course I haven't made up anything.'

The Duke of Richmond called at Holland House, and Susan had to repeat the story to him.

There was a long family conference.

'It is tantamount to a proposal,' was the verdict.

'But,' said the astute Mr Fox, 'we must have it made in the correct manner as soon as possible.'

Lady Sarah was in tears. Lady Susan going to her room found her on her bed, face buried in the pillows.

'What on earth is wrong?' cried Susan. 'I thought you were the heroine of the hour.'

Sarah sat up, dabbing at her eyes. 'That's just the point. All this fuss has shown me my true feelings. I love John Newbattle. He's the one I really want and now that the King has proposed through you I'll never be allowed to accept him.'

'You could run away from home and marry him... like your sister did Mr Fox.'

'It's a possibility I've been thinking of.'

'Sarah, after the King has expressed his desire to marry you!'

'What a way to do it. To tell you because he hadn't the courage to tell me himself.'

'I think it rather charming,' said Susan.

'Because he talked to you? I'll swear you thought he was proposing to you when he started that rigmarole. Oh, you're blus.h.i.+ng. So you did.'

'Of course not. It's not the way Kings propose in any case.'

'This one did.'

'You can hardly call it a proposal. He was only saying what he would like, that's all. Perhaps he has no intention of asking you properly.'

'Nonsense! He said all that about the coronation. My family are sure he wants to marry me. What they've got to do is bring him to the point.' She sighed. 'But there is my dear John...'

'I don't think he loves you as devotedly as the King does, Sarah.'

'What nonsense! He adores me. He told me so.'

'His affection has grown now he knows the King wants to marry you.'

'Well, why shouldn't it?'

'It doesn't seem the right reason.'

'It's not the only reason, idiot. I'll tell you something. He has written to me.'

'Who... the King.'

'No, John. He wants me to meet him in the Park tonight. He has something important to say to me.'

'You shouldn't go, Sarah.'

'Don't be ridiculous, Susan! Of course I must go. I have to choose between them, don't I, and how am I going to do that if I refuse to see them?'

'The King is considering marrying you and you are going out by night to see another man! You are mad.'

'And you are very prim, Susan. In any case, I am going.'

'You have very quickly dried your eyes.'

'Yes, because I thought they were going to force me to marry George. I have made up my mind that I shall decide. So I am going to meet John tonight in the Park and see what he has to say to me. He has written such a letter. I must show it to you. One moment. It's in this drawer. No it's not. Oh, where did I put it? It must be somewhere.'

'You should be careful where you leave letters like that... particularly as...'

'"The King is considering marrying you,"' chanted Sarah. 'Now, listen, Susan. I am the one who is doing the considering and I am not so sure that it is so wonderful being a Queen after all. There are tiresome duties and levees; there are ministers to receive and horrible visiting royalty. I've been thinking that it might be more fun to be a little distant from the throne than actually sitting on it. And it is a matter of whether I prefer gay and amusing John Newbattle to shy George. I think I know, Susan, and tonight I am going to find out.'

Lord Bute, returned from the country, went at once to Kensington to see the King. A very interesting little matter had arisen during his absence. He had always made sure that he had people situated in the right positions to bring him information; and Mr Fox's house was a terrain he had not neglected. The news which had been brought to him did not concern that famous politician this time, but it did concern someone who was temporarily he hoped of more interest still: Lady Sarah Lennox.

A very interesting piece of news. Lady Sarah was inclined to be haughty and was by no means certain that she intended to accept the King's proposal. She had another string to her bow that bold and flirtatious young man, son of the Earl of Ancram and grandson of the Marquis of Lothian John William Newbattle. It seemed that Madam Sarah was inclined to favour that young man in spite of his reputation for fickleness rather than steady King George.

Interesting, and what was more than interesting was the fact that the young lady had agreed to meet John Newbattle in the grounds of Holland House after dark surely something no young lady should do, particularly one who had a chance of being Queen.

The letter from John Newbattle had actually been delivered into his hands. He carried it in his pocket now as he rode to Kensington to see the King.

George was delighted to receive his dear friend.

'It seems you have been long away. I know it is only a few days, but your absences always seem long.'

'Your Majesty is so gracious to me. I am unable to express the pleasure your kindness gives me. I can only say that you, Sire, cannot be so pleased to see me as I am to see you.'

These expressions of affection over, Bute immediately mentioned the matter which was uppermost in his mind.

'Sire, I have given great thought to your problem.'

'Ah, I knew you would. I have been thinking of her since I spoke to Lady Susan... in fact, thinking of nothing else.'

Since he spoke to Lady Susan! Bute knew to what he was referring. Everyone knew what he had said to Lady Susan. The news was fast spreading through the Court and London.

'Has Your Majesty considered what a marriage of this nature would mean?'

'I have considered everything.'

'Of course, the Lady Sarah is a charming girl.'

'I knew you would think so.'

'Young... very young. She is not yet seventeen, I believe.'

'There is no harm in being young, surely.'