opera glasses was trained her way and the Prince of Wales spent the whole evening watching the beautiful young woman he had stared at in the park all those years before.
In the general bustle of leaving the theatre, the prince asked Maria’s uncle to introduce them. It was done unwillingly as the earl knew what the prince was up to. Maria for her part did not like the pushy young man.
The prince found Maria’s reluctance to see him very enticing. He was working himself up into a fixation with her. He enlisted the help of his dear friend Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (and whose own story appears in this volume). Georgiana didn’t think much of the prince’s choice for his latest paramour but she agreed to hold a luncheon party and invite the widow – and to sit her next to the prince.
At the lunch Maria ignored her admirer as much as she could without being openly rude. She was heeding her friends’ warnings about him and alarm bells were ringing loudly. On her return home Maria’s aunt again warned her about the Prince’s reputation. The warning was hammered home when later that day a large bunch of flowers and a bracelet were delivered to Maria at her aunt’s house. She kept the flowers and sent a note thanking the prince for them, but returned the bracelet saying she couldn’t accept that kind of gift.
The prince was far from discouraged and made sure Maria was invited to more gatherings so that they could be thrown together. Despite herself Maria enjoyed the social activities; she even began to enjoy the prince’s company. He was an art lover, particularly of French art and this was one of Maria’s own passions. As their friendship grew, the prince sent her a miniature of himself set in a locket. Maria did not feel the need to send back this item of jewellery and she wore it often. Had she known it was almost identical, although smaller, to one that the prince had given to Perdita Robinson, she may have thought differently.
Maria told her priest of her growing fondness for the prince. He advised her to live a quieter life and move to the country, making accessibility to her more difficult. She took the advice but didn’t move far enough away. She settled on a house in Richmond and began to restore the gardens there. It was not more than a carriage ride, and no distance at all on horseback, so the prince was easily able to visit her in her country idyll. Maria continued to reject his now quite open declarations of love.
Rumours began to issue forth that the prince was so in love with the young widow that he was going to propose marriage. Whether he had any real intention of doing so had no bearing on the matter. He was not yet 25 and therefore could not marry anyone without his father’s (the king’s) permission. What is more, he could not legally marry a Catholic and keep his claim to the throne of England. There was huge opposition to having a Catholic monarch ruling in England. If he had married Maria without his father’s consent then the marriage could be declared null and void. Maria knew this and so did the prince. Yet it seems that the prince was a young man totally self-absorbed. It is doubtful whether he thought further than his immediate pleasure and if he could get Maria into bed he would marry her without thought of the consequences.
Maria, afraid of more rumours circulating to damage her reputation, took on a companion, an older woman, to act as chaperone for the prince’s visits. This meant Maria could begin to really enjoy the prince’s company. Instead of taking it slowly and steadily the prince began to pressure Maria with his assertions, that he needed her to help compensate for his lonely childhood. She sympathised but, wisely, would not give in.
Maria’s confessor advised her to go away again; France was his suggestion. She would go back to her convent and be safe. She told the prince that she did love him but that as they could never be married it was best for her to remove
In the general bustle of leaving the theatre, the prince asked Maria’s uncle to introduce them. It was done unwillingly as the earl knew what the prince was up to. Maria for her part did not like the pushy young man.
The prince found Maria’s reluctance to see him very enticing. He was working himself up into a fixation with her. He enlisted the help of his dear friend Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (and whose own story appears in this volume). Georgiana didn’t think much of the prince’s choice for his latest paramour but she agreed to hold a luncheon party and invite the widow – and to sit her next to the prince.
At the lunch Maria ignored her admirer as much as she could without being openly rude. She was heeding her friends’ warnings about him and alarm bells were ringing loudly. On her return home Maria’s aunt again warned her about the Prince’s reputation. The warning was hammered home when later that day a large bunch of flowers and a bracelet were delivered to Maria at her aunt’s house. She kept the flowers and sent a note thanking the prince for them, but returned the bracelet saying she couldn’t accept that kind of gift.
The prince was far from discouraged and made sure Maria was invited to more gatherings so that they could be thrown together. Despite herself Maria enjoyed the social activities; she even began to enjoy the prince’s company. He was an art lover, particularly of French art and this was one of Maria’s own passions. As their friendship grew, the prince sent her a miniature of himself set in a locket. Maria did not feel the need to send back this item of jewellery and she wore it often. Had she known it was almost identical, although smaller, to one that the prince had given to Perdita Robinson, she may have thought differently.
Maria told her priest of her growing fondness for the prince. He advised her to live a quieter life and move to the country, making accessibility to her more difficult. She took the advice but didn’t move far enough away. She settled on a house in Richmond and began to restore the gardens there. It was not more than a carriage ride, and no distance at all on horseback, so the prince was easily able to visit her in her country idyll. Maria continued to reject his now quite open declarations of love.
Rumours began to issue forth that the prince was so in love with the young widow that he was going to propose marriage. Whether he had any real intention of doing so had no bearing on the matter. He was not yet 25 and therefore could not marry anyone without his father’s (the king’s) permission. What is more, he could not legally marry a Catholic and keep his claim to the throne of England. There was huge opposition to having a Catholic monarch ruling in England. If he had married Maria without his father’s consent then the marriage could be declared null and void. Maria knew this and so did the prince. Yet it seems that the prince was a young man totally self-absorbed. It is doubtful whether he thought further than his immediate pleasure and if he could get Maria into bed he would marry her without thought of the consequences.
Maria, afraid of more rumours circulating to damage her reputation, took on a companion, an older woman, to act as chaperone for the prince’s visits. This meant Maria could begin to really enjoy the prince’s company. Instead of taking it slowly and steadily the prince began to pressure Maria with his assertions, that he needed her to help compensate for his lonely childhood. She sympathised but, wisely, would not give in.
Maria’s confessor advised her to go away again; France was his suggestion. She would go back to her convent and be safe. She told the prince that she did love him but that as they could never be married it was best for her to remove
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