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herself from temptation and leave him to fall in love with someone else. The prince’s response was to threaten to kill himself. In July 1784 he pierced his chest with an ornamental dagger, just enough to draw blood. He ordered his barber to dress the wound with used bandages so that the damage would look greater. He then sent a message to Maria that he was dying of a self-inflicted wound. She was horrified, worried but suspicious too. Her chaperone wasn’t available to go with her to see the prince so in desperation she called on the Duchess of Devonshire to go with her.
    The scene of the prince, pale and lying still on a bed swathed in bloodied bandages, was enough to make Maria swoon, even if she hadn’t already nursed two husbands as they were dying. Yet surely she must have realised it was nothing more than a ruse to get her to do his bidding? Although trying not to judge her, one has to wonder why she wasn’t furiously indignant that he dared to pretend he was dying when both her husbands, who had been good men, had suffered real fatal injuries.
    Perhaps Maria was so truly in love with the prince that she was prepared to be duped. As she was about to leave the prince swore his love for her and promised he would marry her, giving his word on the ring he kissed and placed on her finger (and which he had to ask the Duchess of Devonshire for). Maria took her leave. As she was getting into her carriage Lord Southampton ran after her saying she was to sign a document to the effect that she would marry the prince. The duchess took her to Devonshire House where the paperwork was prepared and signed by Maria before witnesses. Tired, distraught and not thinking properly, Maria Fitzherbert had unwittingly signed the document that would seal her fate.
    On returning home to finish packing, and thinking hard upon what had happened, Maria realised she had been tricked. If the document got into the hands of the king she could be arrested. It was illegal to enter into an agreement to marry the prince without the king’s permission and she would be seen to be as guilty as the prince. He would be admonished but she could serve a prison sentence.
    France and the convent seemed safer and more attractive than ever. Maria finished her packing and took off without leaving a clue as to where she was going. The prince pleaded with his father to let him go after her but, of course, the request was refused. The king was anxious for the nonsense to be over and once again told his son it was time he married a suitable Protestant princess. It fell on deaf ears. The king changed tactic and promised to pay off his son’s outrageous gambling debts, as well as give him money to help with his extensive renovations of the prince’s residence at Carlton House. Money talked and the prince agreed to settle down, yet he did not take any steps towards fulfilling his promise.
    Instead of searching for a suitable wife the prince sent his friend, the Duke d’Orléans to track down the missing Maria. When her place of hiding was discovered the prince bombarded her with passionate letters imploring her to return to him.
    Finally, worn down by his entreaties and wanting to go home, Maria decided she might be able to undergo a morganatic marriage with the prince. This would mean that any children from the union would be legitimate but would not be able to inherit from their father, and therefore not pose a threat to the throne. She asked her priest whether such a secret marriage would be recognised by her Church and was assured that it would, although it would be considered illegal by the law of England.
    In December 1785 Maria returned to England and married the Prince of Wales in a secret ceremony held in her own house, with her uncle and brother as witnesses. The clergyman who married them was easily persuaded to do so. He asked a fee of £500, and to be appointed as one of the prince’s chaplains, to be upgraded to that of bishop when the prince ascended