Page 21 of The Duke Meets His Match

That being said, it didn’t do to dwell on the prince’s weaknesses, which were legion. One couldn’t afford to alienate oneself from the Prince Regent when there were bigger issues at hand. He was sovereign and had power and leverage that could not be ignored.

The door opened, and George turned away from the mantel. “His RoyalHighness will see you now,” the footman said, gesturing with his arm for George to follow.

They proceeded down a corridor George had traveled before but under less formal circumstances. He was not in Prinny’s close circle of friends, nor did he care to be. But he had been in attendance at a social function or two at Carlton House in the past.

Eventually, they arrived at their destination, and George could hear murmuring behind the closed door before them. The footman opened the door and once again gestured for George to follow. It was a formal reception room, ostentatious in itsscale and decor, a room George had never visited before. At the far end of the room were upholstered sofas and chairs arranged to create an area for intimateconversation. The prince was there, seated on a chair larger than the others, gilded, and covered in rich brocade. Seated around him were some of his closest associates and courtiers, amongst them Baron Lawton and the Earl of Frome, toadies and flatterers both, and the Earl of Cosgrove, a notorious rake. Apparently, the PrinceRegent didn’t care about that, which came as no great surprise, considering theprince had carried on several well-known affairs himself, including his long-standing relationship with Mrs. Fitzherbert.

“Your Majesty, the Duke of Aylesham,” the footman announced.

All turned as one to look at George.

“Yes, yes,” the prince said, flicking his hand in dismissal to the footman. “We already know who is here. Come forward, Aylesham, come, come.”

The footman left. George walked the length of the room to the prince and bowed deeply.

“Tut, no need to be so formal, Aylesham,” the prince said.

His Royal Highness Prince George was a man in his fifties whose indulgent lifestyle was catching up with him. He’d gained a great deal of weight over the years from excess food and drink—seated in his chair as he was with his belly resting on his lap, the buttons of his waistcoat straining, and his stockinged legs swollen, he looked older than his years.

He leaned forward. “We have heard good things about you as of late, Aylesham; nay, extraordinary things, have we not?”

The prince’s courtiers nodded and murmured their agreement.

“We are most gratified in your service to the Crown and most impressed,” the prince said.

George bowed his head. “Thank you, Your Majesty

“We have learned, perhaps atriflelate”—the prince paused for none-too-subtle emphasis—“that you have been instrumental behind the scenes amongst our allies in this ongoing battle against Napoleon, usurper that he is. But we donot wish to talk about him. We wish to talk aboutyou.” He leaned back andrelaxed heavily into his chair, although George got the distinct impression that the prince was not relaxed at all—that, in fact, he was studying George carefully, rather like a gambler sizing up his opponent in a game of cards.

George waited for him to make the first move.

“We marvel,” the prince said at last, “at your willingness to use your personalwealth to fund not one, not two, butseveralcrossings to the Continent over this past year or so, assisting Castlereagh and others in negotiations, and that you yourself joined at least one of these crossings, we have heard, at the peril of your life.”

The others nodded. The Earl of Frome gave George an unreadable glance.

“It was my honor to be of assistance,” George said. He frowned in thought. How the prince had learned these details, George did not know; he had intended his participation to remain anonymous. Government coffers had been depleted by war, not just with France but with America as well. The Prince Regent’s own excessive extravagance and debt and that of his family had put a further strain on available moneys. Times were lean, abroad and domestically. As a result, last year, George had privately told Lord Castlereagh that he wished to assist in whatever way he could to help secure the treaties with the Sixth Coalition members, the hope being to create a united front in the battle against Napoleon, finally put an end to this war, and begin solving problems at home for once.

The prince smiled. “We see by your expression that we have caught you unawares. We do have our own sources, you know. You mustn’t be surprised.” He sat forward again. “But are you well, Aylesham?” he asked in a voice that feigned concern. “We heard word to the effect that after your recent journey, you returned to us with a severe case of pneumonia. Is this true?”

There was no denying it when the prince had the facts. “Yes, Sir. I was ill, but as you see, I am well now.” No need to elaborate on the fact that he’d nearly died.

“We are relieved to hear it.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“We also understand that these journeys have aided our cause and that, God willing, victory is close at hand.”

The courtiers all clapped politely.

“That is my hope, Sir,” George said.

“You are too modest by half.” The prince straightened in his chair and donned his most regal demeanor. “We daresay there are few amongst your noble peers who would be quite so generous as you’ve shown to be over the past year, Aylesham.”

Several courtiers actually laughed. “Using your own money, Aylesham,” Baron Lawton said with a smirk. “Hownobleyou are.”

“Perhaps our friends here feel too keenly the demands of familial life or hadother priorities for their funds,” the prince said, shooting Lawton a speaking glance,“whereas,youare unmarried—unattached, as it were, from such responsibilities—notthat we believe you haven’t been fully attendant to your ducal duties: yourestate, et cetera, et cetera. Had you not paid heed to them, you would not have been able to be so generous in the Crown’s cause now, what? Most admirable. We commend you. And now we wish to reward you.”

“Thank you, but there is no need, Sir,” George said emphatically. He hadn’tdone any of this for Prinny, if that was what he had meant by referring to“the Crown.” George did not wish to receive a reward; he’d done only whathe’d considered his patriotic duty. And he absolutelyloathedthe idea of being obliged to the Prince Regent in any way whatsoever; receiving a reward wouldundoubtedly make George beholden to the prince, which he suspected wasprecisely what the prince was trying to do.

There was something suspect going on; George was beginning to feel as though he was in the prince’s crosshairs—

“Which is why,” the prince continued, interrupting George’s thoughts, “we wish to honor you with the gift of marriage to Princess Sophia Augusta of Schönberg-Nusse.”

---