‘There are many enemies of Your Highness who would seek to stop such a solution to your problems.’

‘I know that well.’

‘I can tell you how angry it has made me to hear the talk. Led by the nose ... that’s His Majesty ... led by Master Walpole. And he does not know it. I hope Your Highness will not allow these people to treat you as scurvily.’

‘I shall not,’ cried the Prince, very bold now that he was not facing them, Sarah noticed. Oh, he would be as easy to lead as a pig with a ring through his nose.

‘Oh, yes, they will do everything to prevent this. They do not want to see you married ... although they know full well it is time you were. They are afraid that married status will give you greater power, that they will have to

increase your allowance. I know them. I can tell you this that in the Duke’s day I had to deal with ... vipers.’

‘I know of your great experience and ...’

‘It is for you to decide. I assure Your Highness that the Lady Diana has many suitors. I could make an admirable match for her tomorrow, so I shall want a speedy answer. I’ll tell you this: Shortly she will be here. You will have an opportunity of observing her, talking to her, realizing her worth. I would not want you to take a pig in a poke. Then you can give me your answer tomorrow. Remember it must be our secret. You can depend upon it everything would be done to prevent your seizing this advantage. Meet my granddaughter. Think of what I have said. I will send for her now.’

Lady Diana Spencer who had been summoned to Marlborough House and ordered to come to her grandmother as soon as she was sent for came into the room.

She was young and lovely; she walked with grace and her eyes sparkled with intelligence.

‘I have a surprise for you,’ said Sarah. ‘His Highness the Prince of Wales has done me the honour to call on me.’

Lady Di curtsied charmingly and the Prince took her hand.

‘Take His Highness and show him the gardens,’ said Sarah. ‘I know he is very interested in them.’

When they had gone she sat back in her chair and laughed aloud. She hoped Marl really was watching.

She had not felt so alive, so in love with life, since he had gone.

The Prince of Wales stood before the Duchess of Marlborough.

‘Well,’ asked the Duchess. ‘What is Your Highness’s answer?’

‘I find Lady Diana delightful.’

‘Ha! Good enough for a prince, eh?’

‘Far too good,’ he said falsely.

Sarah did not deny this.

‘And so you want to marry her.’

He hesitated. ‘Have you considered how angry the King will be?’

"I have never been afraid of Kings ... or Queens,’ she said fiercely.

He looked at her with admiration. It was true. Everyone knew how she had bullied Queen Anne.

‘Then ... I will ask you for the hand of Lady Diana Spencer.’

Sarah chuckled. ‘Your Highness will not regret this. Now ... we must act with the greatest caution, for if this project reached the ears of the King or that dog Walpole they would do everything in their power to prevent it and we might as well face the fact that they have more power than we have.’

The Prince nodded; the more he thought of the proposal the better he liked it. Lady Di was charming; a hundred thousand pounds was an irresistible bait; and in addition he would have the joy of infuriating his parents.

The wedding shall take place at my lodge in Windsor Great Park. I shall be staying there with Lady Di and you must ride out there on some pretext. It will not be difficult. My chaplain will marry you.’

‘Will he agree, do you think?’

‘My chaplain will do as I tell him.’

‘He might be held responsible by my parents.’

‘He is responsible to no one but me.’

‘It seems as though you have thought of everything.’

‘Naturally I have planned this in detail. I want to see you and my granddaughter happily settled. Now, let us make sure that we have thought of every detail; and we must all make sure that we speak of this to no one. Until the ceremony is over, not a soul must know it is to take place.’

‘I understand,’ said the Prince; and he went blithely away.

But it was not to be supposed that he was going to keep this secret.

Anne Vane noticed there was something different about him. He was excited, but he resisted all her efforts to worm the secret out of him.

He did take Bubb into his confidence. Bubb was amused and whispered it to Mrs Behan.

‘What will happen to Anne when he marries?’ she wanted to know.

‘Oh, Princes keep mistresses you know, even though they may have a wife as well.’

Mrs Behan was thoughtful. She did not believe that Sarah Churchill would allow her grandson-in-law to keep a mistress when he was married to Lady Diana Spencer. If the Prince no longer cherished Anne Vane it would not be so amusing to be Anne’s great friend. They would not spend so much time in exalted company.

Mrs Behan thought it was her duty to call on Anne and when they were alone together she said: ‘My dear, how do you feel about the Prince’s plans.’

‘Plans,’ cried Anne. ‘What plans?’

‘Don’t tell me you don’t know.’ Mrs Behan clapped her hand over her mouth while she watched Anne covertly.

Anne was growing angry. ‘I knew there was something. I asked him and he would tell me nothing. What do you know ... that I don’t?’

‘Perhaps I shouldn’t tell.’

‘You’ll tell me,’ declared Anne.

He mentioned it to George. The Duchess of Marlborough has offered him Lady Diana Spencer.’

‘Offered him?’

Mrs Behan laughed. ‘Did you think as his mistress? Not old Sarah. He’s to marry her and get one hundred thousand pounds for it.’

‘And he’s ... going to?’

Mrs Behan lifted her shoulders.

‘He’d do anything for a hundred thousand pounds,’ said Anne blankly. Then she was triumphant. ‘They’ll not allow it.’

‘But they won’t know until it’s too late.’

‘You mean it’s to be ... in secret.’

‘Yes, tomorrow ... at Windsor in the Duchess’s private chapel. The Duchess’s own chaplain will perform the ceremony.’

‘No! ‘

Anne’s future was suddenly bleak. She knew as well as Mrs Behan did that the Duchess of Marlborough would see to it that she was soon dismissed.

She tottered and was about to fall into a heap when Mrs Behan said: ‘Fainting won’t help. Some things might, though.’

That was enough to stop the faint.

‘What?’ demanded Anne.

‘Well, if Sir Robert Walpole knew what was going to happen ... it wouldn’t happen, would it.’

‘But how ...’

‘A note ... warning him. That could stop it. He might get such a note. I mean ... there’s no reason why he shouldn’t, is there?’

The Prince was preparing to leave for Windsor. He was humming to himself the latest Buononcini melody. When they heard they were going to be furious.

He pictured himself presenting Lady Diana to them. ‘Your Majesties, I want you to meet my wife, the Princess of Wales.’

Nothing he could possibly do would infuriate them as much as this.

His horse was waiting. He would gallop all the way to Windsor and there waiting for him would be the fiery old Duchess and her lovely granddaughter. In the forest lodge he would be married.

Diana was beautiful, but it was not her beauty which he found so delightful to contemplate as the anger he would see on the faces of his parents.

Serve them right! They deserved all the trouble he could bring to them. They had never treated him fairly.

He called to his man ... the one he was taking with him to Windsor. A trusted servant. He would take no one else.

The door opened. The Prince stared, then he stammered: ‘W ... what do you want?’