The Regent's Daughter: (Georgian Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

position.’
    Charlotte coaxed: ‘Oh come now, please tell me. I do want to know. And why shouldn’t I? It concerns me, does it not?’
    ‘It does, Your Highness.’ Mrs Udney’s little pink tongue licked her lips and she really looked as though she found this rather to her taste. ‘Your Highness would not tell tales of me.’
    ‘Tales of you? Whatever for?’
    ‘If I were to talk of this matter it might be frowned on.’
    ‘I have told you I will frown if you do not.’
    Mrs Udney came close to the bed and said: ‘You know all is not well between the Prince and Princess. You know they do not … live together.’
    ‘Of course I know this. The Prince lives at Carlton House and Brighton; and my mother is at Montague House; and if she comes to London she stays at Kensington Palace.’
    ‘I mean they do not live … as husband and wife. Your Highness understands?’
    ‘I understand p … perfectly,’ declared Charlotte, stammering a little because it was one of those lies which Dr Nott deplored.
    ‘But that does not prevent their having other … friends.’ Mrs Udney’s smile was sly; Charlotte felt that it was distasteful in some way but she was not sure why.
    ‘Friends. Of course they have friends. Everyone has friends … I hope.’
    ‘Rather special friends, Your Highness. And with special friends there are sometimes … results.’
    ‘Results? What results?’
    ‘Your Highness always disliked the boy. Your Highness said more than once that he was a vulgar little brat.’
    ‘You mean … my mother’s adopted boy?’
    ‘I did mean William Austin, Your Highness.’
    ‘What has he to do with this?’
    ‘Everything.’
    Charlotte was puzzled.
    Mrs Udney put her face close to Charlotte’s and all her fine manners had suddenly gone. ‘Some are saying that the Princess of Wales did not adopt the boy. They are saying that he is her own.’
    ‘That he is my father’s son! How silly. If he were …’ The enormity of the possibility overwhelmed her.
    Mrs Udney went on: ‘Oh, no, not the son of the Prince of Wales. There were plenty of other gentlemen ready to be the … friend of Her Highness.’
    Charlotte did not fully understand but she knew that was some fearful slander against her mother. How dared this … this creature stand there looking so sly and knowing … yes, and pleased .
    The ungovernable temper of which Dr Nott and Lady de Clifford despaired was in the ascendant.
    Charlotte brought up her right hand sharply and gave Mrs Udney a stinging blow across the cheek.
    Then, appalled by what she had done and what she had heard, she ran out of the room.
    Mrs Udney could not allow such treatment to pass and immediately reported it to Lady de Clifford.
    ‘Why, Mrs Udney,’ cried her ladyship, ‘what on earth has happened?’
    Mrs Udney’s eyes were blazing with fury and there was a red mark on her cheek.
    ‘Her Royal Highness has just seen fit to slap my face.’
    Lady de Clifford put her hand to her eyes. ‘Oh, no, no! How could this have happened?’
    ‘Madam came into my bedchamber in a mood. She fired a few questions at me, was not pleased by my answers; then she rose and slapped my face like a vulgar fishwife.’
    ‘Where does she learn such manners?’
    ‘Where could she but at Montague House?’
    ‘I greatly fear she is growing like her mother. Oh dear, if only she were a little more like the dear Prince.’
    ‘I pray she does not behave as her mother does.’ Mrs Udney’s fury was diminished slightly by a certain gleeful pleasure at the prospect. ‘Then there would be ructions at Carlton House and Windsor as well.’
    ‘I beg of you, Mrs Udney, do not even suggest such a thing.’
    ‘I believe she has heard something of what is happening.’
    ‘Do you think she could?’
    ‘Everyone is talking about the Investigation and the general belief is that William Austin is the Princess’s little bastard by Sir Sidney Smith or Captain Manby or Lawrence the painter. Young Willikins