Page 114 of May I Have the Pleasure
“Well… King Charles was on one of the days when he actually attended to his duties, which are not as common as you might hope. When he found out the man was lying to his face, he had him hanged on the spot. He did not care about the campaign, nor that the man was lying, but that the rest of the court knew both things.Thathe could not abide. He cannot stand to be embarrassed. He promoted the captain who actually managed the affair to general, then forgot the entire matter.”
“Oh, Lizzy! How do you stand it?”
“I stand it because I must.”
“Are there others?”
“There are a few… I must admit, a very few who are—”
“Who are what? Do you meanfew, or do you meanone?”
“The latter.”
“Can you tell me?”
“I… would need to ask you to keep my confidence… even from your husband… which is too much to ask.”
“I shall give it. Richard understands the occasional need for secrecy as well as anyone.”
“There is Prince Gustav.”
“And?”
“He is honourable, constant, kind to all from the meanest street urchin to the king, intelligent and energetic in his quest to make the world a better place. He can think tactically and strategically, tries his best to think well of everyone, but he is not in the least bit naïve, and has a backbone of iron. I must admit that he is among the best of men. He reminds me of—”
“You can say it. He reminds you of Darcy.”
“Yes.”
“What are you leaving out?”
“There are many… well… many in the court, including the king, who would like to see me married to him. They are exerting… pressure… pressures I cannot tell you about.”
“What kind of pressures?”
“I cannot be explicit. My marriage is… complicated. It is not just a couple saying vows before God. It is governed by an international treaty, as well as the laws of two countries and the church—not to mention the fact that I still own considerable property in England. There are factions within the court that want… different things. Then there are the Swedish King and the English Prince Regent, both of whom have vested interests and their own desires. There are pressures being brought to bear.”
“I see! Are you considering it?”
“I am.”
“For certain.”
“Yes.”
“If this prince is as described, it does not sound like doing your duty would be a punishment. He sounds like a wonderful man.”
“No, it would not. He can easily stand beside the best men I have ever known.”
“And yet, you have not decided.”
“No, I have not.”
“Why?”
“Charlotte… do you… do you—”
“Go ahead. I can see it is exceedingly difficult.”
