‘Your father!’ Sophia Dorothea raised her hands in an expression of incomprehension.

‘Since he grudges me my food it is scarcely likely that he will provide me with a dowry. And if I shall not be accepted without ...’

‘You despair too easily, my dear.’

‘I don’t know that I would call it despair. I do not wish to leave you, Mother.’

‘My dearest! But Princesses cannot stay forever with their mothers. You will have to marry in time and your cousin Frederick is a very impatient young man. He declares he is in love with you and refuses to wait any longer.’

‘Since he has never seen me, the first seems unlikely; and as he is not in a position to decide whether or not he will marry the second seems equally so.’

‘I have not explained. He has sent a messenger to tell me he proposes to come to Berlin and if your father will not consent, to carry you off.’

‘It sounds as though he is a very foolish young man.’ ‘He is a romantic young man who is in love.’

‘With a woman he has never seen?’

‘With his cousin of whom he will have heard a great deal. Wilhelmina, this is your chance. You will one day be Queen of England. Think of that.’

‘And never see you again?’

‘I shall visit you there.’

‘Papa will never allow the expense.’

‘And you shall visit us here.’

‘That would cost money too.’

‘Don’t be so glum, child. This is a wonderful opportunity. You will marry. You will leave this place. Oh, my dear, when I see the way your father treats you I could long for the day ... much as I shall hate parting with you. But you will have a good life. You will manage Frederick as Caroline manages your uncle. All you have to allow him to do is have his mistresses. He’ll ask nothing more. And you will go to your Aunt Caroline who is a sensible woman. I know that. I liked her when we were at Hanover together. She will tell you how to manage Frederick as she manages your uncle.’

‘It is not my idea of marriage, Mother.’

‘Oh, romantic notions! I should have thought life here would have long stifled those.’

‘Rather they have encouraged them. All marriages can’t be like yours and father’s.’

‘And you want one which is not like ours?’

‘As unlike as possible.’

The Queen sighed. ‘My darling, you are wise in so many ways; it is only experience you lack. I tell you this: I am delighted with the prospect. And the fact that Frederick is impatient for the marriage pleases me more than anything else. Wilhelmina, I am so delighted. I shall at last see you settled and happy and at the same time see all my wishes realized. What greater joy could I ask. Why, you are crying.’

‘It is the thought of leaving you, Mother.’

They embraced and Wilhelmina tried to hide the misgivings she felt. She tried to set aside her doubts as she listened to her mother’s explanations of what a glorious prospect lay before her.

This was such a cherished dream of Sophia Dorothea’s, and Wilhelmina longed to please her mother.

The King came in while they were talking together.

He looked at them through his little bloodshot eyes and cried out: ‘What plot’s this, eh? You look sly. Out with it. Your girl had better tell me what she has been up to, woman, or by God I’ll flay her till there’s no breath left in that slothful body of hers.’

‘We were merely discussing a little project.’ retorted Sophia Dorothea, always pert with him because to have showed fear would have put her into the position her son and daughter were in. ‘And I fancy even your high and mightiness might not be displeased with this one.’

‘Do you think she would ever please me? She sits about this place eating my food, drinking my wine. By God, when I think of what she costs me I wonder I keep her. Come here, girl.’

Wilhelmina stood up. She was defiant, her mother noticed and that was better than cringing.

Her father seized her by her hair and shook her to and fro. Wilhelmina’s face was scarlet but she kept her eyes lowered.

‘Don’t be impudent you slut, you whore, you lily livered spawn of a ...’

He looked at his wife.

‘Of a madman,’ said Sophia Dorothea to turn his attention from her daughter to herself.

It succeeded; he released Wilhelmina, throwing her from him so that she fell to the floor. Sophia Dorothea saw that she was unharmed. She and her brother had had long practice in falling where their father threw them. Sophia Dorothea said quickly: ‘Go to your own apartments.’ The girl hesitated. Why would both she and Fritz think they had to protect her from their father. Didn’t they know yet that she could manage him.

‘Go,’ she repeated imperiously; and picking herself up Wilhelmina obeyed.

‘Well?’ The King advanced scowling.

The Queen picked up a heavy book which was lying on a table and laughed at him. She saw the mad mischief leap into his eyes as he approached.

‘So you think to fight me with that book. Where will you aim for?’

‘At your mad eyes,’ she answered.

‘Well, I’m waiting.’

‘It would be more sensible to talk.’

‘Sensible. You ... sensible!’

‘A little more than you, I hope, or heaven alone knows what would happen to us all.’

‘Don’t show your concern for me, Madam. I should get along very well without you and your children.’

‘Who happen to be yours.’

‘Can I be sure of that?’

‘It’s true they seem sane reasonable beings ...’

‘You are going too far, Madam.’

‘You have already gone too far. But I will talk to you. Save your quarrels for another time. The Prince of Wales wants to marry Wilhelmina without delay.’

‘I always thought he was half-witted.’

‘I happen to think him a most sensible young man. He is tired of being neglected by his family.’

‘Huh! That fool of a brother of yours. Of all the conceited young idiots....’

‘He’s not so young now. He’s a father ... a little older than you are in truth. And he has a son and a daughter ... as you have. Yes, you may call them mine, but they are yours also and it is time you remembered your duties as a father. Frederick is coming here and he wants to marry Wilhelmina.’

‘He’d have to take her without a dowry.’

‘Don’t be a fool. Of course she’ll have a dowry.’

‘By God, I’ll take my riding whip to you if you don’t control your tongue.’

‘All in good time, but before you try your stable manners on me I’d like you to think of this plan. It’s the best thing that can happen for Wilhelmina and imagine—you won’t have to feed her in future. That will be for her husband to do.’

‘I suppose in return they’ll want us to have that girl of theirs here.’

‘Amelia for Fritz. It is part of the plan.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I’ll not have her here. I’ve heard something of her. I want no haughty young woman walking about my Court with her nose in the air, making trouble. No I don’t want George Augustus’s girl here and I won’t have her.’

‘Fritz will have to marry at some time. Why not a daughter of the King of England?’

‘I tell you I won’t have that girl here. If I ever hear you or Fritz mention her name again I’ll flog you both. Fritz will marry when I say so and I’ll choose the bride.’

‘Well at least you will not say no to Wilhelmina’s taking Frederick.’

He took her by the shoulder and shook her; she knocked his hands away. He could have struck her and sent her falling to the floor but he didn’t. He didn’t want to hurt her physically. He only wanted to enjoy verbal battles with her. He’d save the floggings for his children.

‘I’ll be glad to be rid of the girl,’ he growled.

So, thought Sophia Dorothea, half of the marriage plan would be fulfilled. And when Wilhelmina was safely married the time would come for Fritz to marry the Princess Amelia. She had no doubt that she could bring that about.