Peace of Amiens - 19. Chapter 19

November 4, 1801

Portland Place

London, England

“My lord, Lady Brentwood is here,” Cheevers said. When Granger and Caroline had first separated, Cheevers and the staff had been unable to hide their contempt for her. Now that he and Caroline had become more friendly and some time had passed, Cheevers was able to seem quite civil on the surface, but Granger knew him well enough to know that his disdain was still there.

“Please show her back,” Granger said. He stood up and poured Caroline a drink, then waited for her. She breezed into the room, looking a bit more fashionable than she usually did. “Welcome,” he said warmly and took her hands in his, then kissed her on the cheek.

“It is good to see you, George,” she said. “I am bidden to call on some people shortly, so you will please forgive me if I get to the point of my visit.”

“Have a seat,” Granger said, gesturing at a chair. She sat down and he handed her the glass he had poured.

“Thank you,” she said. “I have thought about your request and have decided what I will require as compensation for my services.”

“I am most anxious to hear your conditions,” Granger said, hiding the dread he felt.

“I have four things on my list,” she said in a businesslike way. “The first is that I will need £2000 to spend while I am in Paris.”

“I am more than happy to give you that,” Granger said.

“I want you to return to me the jewels you bought me when we were married,” she said. “Specifically, I want the diamonds that you purchased after you captured the Précieuse, and the sapphires you brought me back from Paris.” It was no surprise that those items were the most expensive of the jewels he had acquired for her.

“I am not willing to give them to you, but I am willing to lend them to you,” Granger said, getting a scowl from her. “I ultimately want to pass them on to Elizabeth and Charlotte, so if you will be a good guardian for those purposes, I will be more than happy to let you borrow them.”

“In other words, you don’t want me to decide to pawn them,” she said in annoyance.

“I do not,” he answered factually. She stewed over that for a bit, then seemed to resolve her internal conflict.

“I can work with that,” she said, mildly annoyed.

“I’m glad,” Granger said. “I think that it is important our daughters are bejeweled when they debut.” He was very happy that he hadn’t told her about the fabulous diamonds he’d bought from the Duchesse d’Angoulême. She ignored his comment and pressed on with her list.

“I have seen that the digging has started at the site of your new palace on Cleveland Row,” she said, her irritation quite evident in her tone. It made sense she would be especially bitter about that, since she would not be part of the plans to construct and decorate it, nor would she be able to occupy it. In effect, her inability to access it was a visible sign that she was not a significant part of his life.

“I have engaged Mr. Nash to supervise that project, and he has moved with great speed to start construction,” Granger confirmed.

“When that is completed, and you move, I want you to give me this house,” she said. Granger had planned to lease it to Freddie and Davina, but he could hardly tell Caroline that, as she detested his sister-in-law.

“And what is your fourth demand?” Granger asked, wanting to hear her final condition before he gave away one of the nicest townhomes in Portland Place.

“I want you to help me restore my reputation, and to do that, the Queen must receive me,” she said. Granger nodded solemnly as he thought about that.

“That is quite the list you have given me,” Granger said. He was annoyed that she was all but trying to fleece him, making him feel as if he were bargaining in a Turkish bazaar.

“It is, but as I see it, you have little choice,” she said smugly.

“I think that I do indeed have a choice,” Granger said. “Instead of being merely separated, I could divorce you. I think that with royal pressure, that could be accomplished quite quickly.”

“Not quickly enough to hide Amelia’s baby,” Caroline countered.

“Perhaps,” Granger said. “It is also possible to find a different courtier to accomplish the same goal. In that situation, I would still look like a genius for having dreamed up this plan, but you would be even more reviled by Her Majesty,” Granger said in a very firm way.

“I am not sure that is worse than where I am now,” she said, intimating that she had nothing left to lose.

“You have evidently forgotten the world of politics you have so recently left behind,” Granger said coldly. “In that situation, you will truly be ostracized, and it will impact not only you, but also your mother.” She did not seem overly concerned about the cost of her full banishment to her mother, but as Granger had little love for Lady Heathford, he did not let that bother him.

“I think you overstate the consequences,” she said.

“I think you are being greedy, and it is most unattractive,” Granger shot back.

“You may think whatever you like,” she said in a snitty way.

“Putting aside your other demands for right now, there is no way that I can credibly pledge that Her Majesty will receive you,” Granger said.

“Then Her Majesty can explain to His Majesty why his favorite daughter is pregnant,” she said obstinately. He was intensely irritated with her, but he hid it well. It said much about how distant they were that she did not seem to discern his mood.

“What I will do is pledge to work diligently to get Her Majesty to receive you,” Granger said, maintaining his calm.

“That is a very vague commitment,” she said petulantly.

“Caroline, I cannot promise what the Queen will or will not do,” Granger said, in an attempt to force her to be rational about this. “We are to leave for Paris in just a few days, and that makes traveling to Windsor most difficult.”

“Then I will not do it,” she said stubbornly. She stood up to emphasize her defiance, so he stood with her.

“What if I promise that the Queen will receive you, and then she refuses?” Granger asked. “That would put me in the position of breaching my word to you. I am determined to treat you honorably, so that is something I will not do.”

“You are pledging to treat me honorably?” she demanded. “After what…”

Granger cut her off. “Let us not go back and re-fight old battles,” he said, in a firm tone that was also a warning. “I am pledging to treat you honorably going forward. Is that not sufficient at this point?”

“I really am not inclined to do this if you cannot honor my conditions,” she finally said, giving Granger an ultimatum.

“I understand,” Granger said in a defeated way, then modified his countenance to one that was severe. “I cannot accept your offer. Instead, I will explain to you what the terms are.”

“You are dictating to me?” she demanded, outraged.

“Indeed,” Granger said. “My final offer is this. I will pay you £5000, and I will attempt to persuade the Queen to receive you.”

“You cannot be serious,” she said, and laughed. She had come here with demands worth more than ten times that amount.

“Indeed, I am,” Granger said.

“That is laughable,” she said. “I will not do it. Good luck.”

“Allow me to see you out,” Granger said calmly.

“You are acting like you have choices, when you do not,” she said, reiterating what she perceived was her strongest suit.

“After you leave, I will approach Lord Castlereagh and ask him if he and his wife would be willing to perform the same service I was willing to provide,” Granger said coldly. “They will jump at the chance to ingratiate themselves with the Queen.”

“And when it comes out that the baby is not theirs, but belongs to Amelia and Francis, will you still be as popular with their Majesties?” she threatened.

“The only way it would come out is if you reveal it,” Granger said. “Since you have pledged not to do that, I fail to see how that could happen.”

She glared at Granger, for he had played her perfectly. By giving him her pledge of silence, she had, in essence, made herself toothless. “It still seems like a paltry amount.” Granger scowled at her because he was sick and tired of bartering.

“I have outlined the offer: £5000 and my efforts on your behalf, or nothing. You are free to choose whichever course of action better suits your needs,” he said.

She grimaced, paced up and down the room a few times, then stood in front of him. “I will accept your offer of £5000 and your promise to try to convince the Queen to receive me.”

“Then we have a deal,” Granger said, and held out his hand to shake hers, thus binding the agreement. He smiled at her to thank her, while she smiled back at him projecting the lust she still had for him. She raised her head in a way that all but asked Granger to kiss her, but he did not. Her acquiescence to his plan and their agreement on terms did not extend to rekindling their romance, sexual or otherwise, and after having spent so much time haggling with her, he was in no mood to be accommodating. “I will see you here at dawn on November 9.”

“I will be here,” she said in annoyance, then exited with a flourish. Granger shook his head woefully at her, watching the last remnants of his affection depart with her.

“My lord, we are prepared to serve dinner if it meets with your approval,” Cheevers said, pulling him out of his contemplative trance.

“That is excellent news,” Granger said pleasantly. He made his way to the dining room to find that Carmella, Cavendish, and Daventry had already arrived. “Let us dine,” he said, and they took their seats.

“I thought I saw Caroline leaving the house,” Cavendish noted curiously.

He had wanted to have this conversation with Carmella first, but evidently that was not to be. “I have asked her to accompany me to Paris.”

Carmella put her utensils down loudly and glared at Granger. “And what am I to do?” she demanded loudly, completely outraged.

“You are to stay right here,” Granger told her firmly, then allowed his tone to become softer and more caring. “This changes nothing between us.”

“How can that be?” she asked him, calmer now. He looked at these people and knew that he could trust them completely, but this was big enough that it required some reassurance.

“I can explain my plans to the three of you, but only if you explicitly pledge that you will keep them confidential,” he said. He stared first at Carmella.

“I will preserve your secret; you have my pledge,” she vowed. All he required from Daventry and Cavendish was a brief nod, which they both gave.

“Her Royal Highness Princess Amelia is with child,” Granger announced. “Sir Francis Calvert is the father.” They stared at him in shock as they digested that news.

“I am assuming that His Majesty has not heard the news, as I have not seen the date posted for when Calvert is to be drawn and quartered,” Cavendish said playfully. Granger and Daventry chuckled.

“The objective is to ensure that he does not find out,” Granger said. He outlined his plan to them, his intention to make it look like the baby was his and Caroline’s by taking her to France with him.

“And she agreed to do that?” Daventry asked.

“For a price,” Granger said, then explained the conversation he had just had with her. All of them laughed riotously as Caroline’s plans to extract money from him had failed and resulted in a £5000 gratuity.

“I suspect that Caroline will find having her influence restored to be of great value,” Daventry said.

“I am wondering if she will remain on good terms with you after that,” Cavendish mused.

“I would think she would have little choice,” Granger replied. “Her Majesty’s favor can easily be revoked.”

“It can, but only if Caroline does something heinous,” Daventry pointed out. “She will have done the Queen a great service. That will help to protect her.”

“You are suggesting that by rehabilitating Caroline’s reputation I may end up with a very powerful enemy?” Granger asked them.

“I don’t know if that will happen or not,” Daventry said, “but she will certainly have that potential.”

“And you should remember that she is smart, and she can be ruthless,” Cavendish added.

“What would you have had me do instead?” Granger demanded of them.

“You should give her the jewels,” Carmella said. They all looked at her. “She wants them. You have outsmarted her, but to help her save face and to feel good about this arrangement, you should give them to her.”

“I would not have thought of that myself, but I think that is probably wise,” Cavendish said.

“You had outlined an agreement where she was basically the guardian of those gems,” Daventry said. “Perhaps that would be sufficient?”

“Perhaps,” Granger said.

November 5, 1801

Windsor Castle, England

Granger’s meeting with Caroline had bothered him for many reasons, but the most pressing was his commitment to try to persuade the Queen to receive her. He had told Caroline that finding time to go to Windsor was too difficult, but in the end, he found his staff had the plans for traveling to France well in hand, so he’d chosen to spend the day here. He’d opted to ride, taking Petrie and another footman named Thorn with him, and they’d made remarkable time. As he arrived at the castle, he pulled in the reins of his fatigued horse and handed them to a groom. The cost for his speed had been the exhaustion of his beast. “He needs to be cooled down,” Granger said.

“We’ll take care of him, my lord,” the groom said, then glanced at the footmen’s mounts and saw them to be no better. “And the others.”

“Thank you,” Granger said. Petrie and Thorn dismounted and they followed Granger, carrying his baggage with them. As soon as they were in the Middle Ward, he pulled Thorn aside. “I need you to deliver this note to Sir Francis Calvert.”

“Right away, my lord,” he said, then went off to handle that while Petrie helped Granger freshen up after his ride. No sooner had he accomplished that than Calvert arrived. Petrie left them alone, closing the door as he left Granger’s bedroom.

“I did not expect to see you before you went to France,” Calvert said, even as he hugged Granger tightly. “This is the best surprise!”

“I had enough time to ride out and spend a bit of time with you,” Granger said.

“Then let us make the most of it,” Calvert said. Winkler was not there to intercede with anyone who would interrupt them, but they were able to barricade the door with a chest, giggling as they did. They made love, taking their time, savoring the experience that can only be shared by lovers who know each other’s bodies completely. They ended up in Granger’s bed, panting, each on his back staring at the ceiling. “That was a wonderful interlude.”

“That was definitely worth the ride from London,” Granger said, then pivoted so he was looking at Calvert. He ran his hand across Calvert’s chest, then across the scar on his neck from the wound that had almost killed him. “I did have an ulterior motive.”

“That is so disappointing,” Calvert replied playfully. “What other reason brought you out to Windsor?”

“I met with Caroline, and worked out a deal with her,” Granger said.

“How bad was the cost?” Calvert asked nervously. “I will contribute whatever I can so you do not have to pay for my mistake.”

“Francis, your child will not be a mistake,” Granger said lovingly. “I will cherish him or her.”

“The day I fell in love with you was the best day of my life,” he responded earnestly. They gazed at each other until their emotions faded enough to resume their conversation. “Now how much does Caroline want?”

Granger laughed. “She asked for £2000, the diamonds and sapphires I bought her when we were married, and she wanted me to transfer my home in Portland Place to her when my new residence is complete.”

“She certainly isn’t trying to make this easy,” Calvert said sadly.

“There is one more thing,” Granger said. “She wants the Queen to receive her.”

“I anticipated that she would request such a meeting, and I have broached the subject with Her Majesty, as has Amelia,” Calvert said. “The Queen will do it, but she is most unhappy about it.”

“Caroline tried to squeeze me for so much money because she thought she was our only hope to save the situation,” Granger told him. “I explained to her that there were other courtiers who would be more than willing to perform such a service for Her Royal Highness and Her Majesty.”

“I had not thought about that,” Calvert said. “I guess I had ruled that out because I wanted this child to bear your name, and I wanted you to be the one responsible for raising it.”

“In the end, I managed to convince Caroline to take a more gracious approach,” Granger said, smiling. “She gets £5000 and I have pledged to try to get the Queen to receive her.”

“Why is that so important to her?” Calvert asked.

“Because she is all but banished from the part of society that truly matters, but once the Queen receives her, Caroline will be able to work her way back into the ton,” Granger explained.

“Based on how much she hates me, I am trying to decide if that is a good thing,” Calvert said.

“I suspect that she will act benignly towards you,” Granger said, but could tell Calvert didn’t believe him. “You have not yet grappled with how much influence you now have.”

“I don’t understand,” Calvert said.

“After the Queen receives Caroline, she will probably restore her influence,” Granger explained.

“That is what worries me,” Calvert said.

“It worries me as well, but in this situation, I think you are relatively safe from her,” Granger said.

“I would think I would be one of the people she was most anxious to smite,” he said, making Granger laugh.

“If she causes you problems, you can talk to Amelia or the Queen, and they will compel her to cease such activities,” Granger explained. “If Caroline does not, she will end up back where she is now.”

“I guess I hadn’t thought about that,” Calvert said. “I am so used to being vulnerable to people who are better connected than I am, it is unfamiliar to not have to worry about that.”

“You must still worry,” Granger said, smiling. “Only not as much.”

November 7, 1801

Portland Place

London, England

Granger strode confidently into his parlor, looking quite well turned out. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with black pants, both fitted perfectly. The only accessories he wore were the ribbon and star from his knighthood, making the entire outfit look sleek. He saw Caroline’s back as he entered, then her face as she turned to greet him. “Thank you so much for coming to call on me,” Granger said sincerely, even as he gave her a warm kiss on the cheek.

“I must admit I was surprised to get your request since I thought we had completed our arrangements a few days ago,” she said a bit coolly.

“Will you join me in the library?” he asked. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, then put her arm through his and let him escort her to that room. George did not realize how accommodating she was being, for Caroline had always considered the library to be his, and yet she was walking willingly into his domain.

“You can see I am most obliging,” she said, as she took a seat.

“I am glad that you are,” Granger said. He poured them each a drink and handed hers to her, then he sat in the chair next to her. “We worked out our arrangement, as you noted, but I am very unhappy with how that turned out.”

“I thought you got a spectacular deal from me,” she objected, and almost got enraged.

“I did,” Granger said. “Too spectacular.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, and truly was confused.

He got up and went over to his safe, then opened the contraption. He pulled out the jewels she’d requested, closed the safe, then went back and sat next to her. “These are yours.”

She took the cases and opened them. The first contained a gorgeous diamond necklace and matching earrings, gems that had cost at least half of his proceeds from the capture of the Précieuse. The second contained beautiful sapphires that Granger had acquired when he’d been a captive in France. They were heirlooms of the Richelieu family, and were the kinds of stones that one did not normally encounter: they were that exquisite. “You are giving these to me?” she asked, surprised.

“I felt very embattled when we were negotiating your compensation, and that made my mood sufficiently foul to treat you with disrespect,” Granger said. “I asked you to do me a favor without taking into account the inconvenience to you, and I then made you feel bad.”

“So you will make up for it by giving me thousands of pounds’ worth of gems?” she asked coyly.

“That is exactly what I am going to do,” he replied. “When you came to see me before I left for Portsmouth and proposed that we support each other, an alliance of sorts, I agreed because I do not want to fight with you, and as you noted, because of our progeny our interests are aligned.”

“You are trying to tell me I am right?” she asked.

“That is exactly what I am trying to tell you,” he said, and smiled at her. “I meant it then, and I mean it now, but I am still trying to figure out how to make that work.”

“So your natural instincts, when I came and tried to extract an unreasonable amount of money from you, were to become defensive and fight back?” she asked. “You see, George, you are not the only one who is trying to figure this out.” He laughed, truly laughed, and she joined him, and it was marvelous.

“So these are yours, and you are welcome to pawn or sell them if you want to,” Granger finally said.

“I think it is highly unlikely I would do such a thing, but it is nice to know that is within my power,” she said. “Thank you.”

“And thank you,” he said sincerely. “We will pick you up on the way to the ship on November 9.” Before, he had told her that she would have to meet him here.

“That sounds perfect,” she said. “You look very nice tonight.”

“I am going to the opera,” Granger said nervously.

“Ah yes, your new lady is performing,” she said somewhat bitterly.

“She is, and I am excited to hear her voice onstage,” Granger said, ignoring Caroline’s tone. “This is the first show of the season, so she will be a bit more nervous.”

“I am sure that seeing you there will be reassuring,” she said.

“I am hoping that is the result,” Granger said.

“Well then, I mustn’t keep you,” she said.

“I’ll see you on the morning of the 9^th,” Granger said. He kissed her cheek then escorted her out, wondering if he would regret helping her rehabilitate her reputation.