The Prince and the Quakeress: (Georgian Series) Read Online Free PDF

people started to sing: “Billy the Butcher has lost his knife.” That is what the people think of your Uncle Cumberland. How different he is from your father. Did he tell you that your father wanted to take command of the forces that went against the Pretender? Of course, your grandfather wouldn’t hear of that. He wanted all the glory for the Butcher. How different it would have been if your father had obtained the command. There would have been victory just the same – but glorious, not shameful victory. Did your uncle tell you that your father obtained the release of Flora MacDonald, that your father is a kind, human man, who is tolerant in his ideas?’
    ‘He did not,’ said George. ‘He did not mention that lady. Who is she?’
    ‘She is a brave woman. She is mistaken, of course, because she supported the Stuarts. But then, she is Scottish and knew no better.’
    ‘Uncle Bute is Scottish.’
    A soft look spread itself across the Princess’s face. ‘You should not mention his name in the same breath as that woman’s. His loyalty to us is all the more to be admired because he is Scottish.’
    ‘Oh yes, yes, Mamma.’
    She was a little embarrassed under his gaze. She said quickly: ‘I was telling you of Flora MacDonald. She helped Charles Edward Stuart to escape and was captured and brought to the Tower. It was your father who pleaded for leniency for this woman; he pointed out that she was a simple creature who was led astray. He obtained her freedom. He is a good tolerant man.’
    ‘I’m so glad Papa did that.’
    ‘You should be glad you have such a good kind Papa. And I can tell you this, your Uncle Cumberland is no friend to him. His great desire is to take the throne from him. He hates your dear kind Papa simply because he was born before he was and so is Prince of Wales. What do you think of any man who canhate your dear kind Papa? Must he not be a rogue to do so?’
    George agreed. Only a rogue could hate dear kind Papa.
    *
    Augusta was brought to bed of another boy – her fifth.
    He was christened Frederick William and it was decided, to George’s consternation, that he was to be one of the sponsors. It was his first public duty and he was terrified that he would make a fool of himself. It was easy to confide his fears to Lord Bute who did not laugh at him but told him that there was nothing to fear, and actually explained the whole ceremony to him. It was very simple, said Lord Bute, and if there was anything George feared at any time he would be honoured and delighted if he would come and tell him about it.
    ‘I will,’ declared George.
    His father would have been kind, but Lord Bute always seemed to sense his uncertainties and be ready with his comfort before it was asked. And his mother was so pleased when Lord Bute offered his advice. ‘It is as though you had two kind fathers,’ she would say. ‘You are a fortunate Prince.’
    Fortunate indeed, thought George, when he remembered the stories of how his grandparents had left his father in Hanover when they came to London and how he had had to threaten to elope with his cousin before they would bring him to London. What disaster if that had happened! He would not then have married Mamma. And what would have happened to him and Edward, and William and Henry, and Augusta and Elizabeth, to say nothing of this newest arrival to whom he was to act as sponsor.
    Grandfather had given his permission which it was necessary to receive, but fortunately he was away in Hanover, where he so often was.
    ‘Long may he stay there,’ said Papa, and Mamma echoed his words as she always did.
    So fortunately the old King would not be present at the ceremony; and with kind Papa to help him – and, of course, dear Uncle Bute – it might not be such an ordeal.
    ‘You will have to get used to ordeals like that,’ his sister Augusta, who was a year older than he was, told him brusquely, and he knew she was right.
    But it passed off well. He did what was