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palace and recalled memories of her childhood; she lingered in the courtyard

where she had often talked with Major von Töbingen. And there was her bedroom

where she had staged that disastrous scene when she had pretended she was

pregnant.

What anxieties she had caused to her dear good father! She was sorry for it

now.

But the more they cage me,
she thought,
the more outrageous I become. It is
not that I am wildly eccentric so much as that I wish people to believe I am. They
suspect me and I want to make them go on suspecting. What causes it? Who will
ever know? Perhaps wise Madame de Hertzfeldt would. No one else.

She had no desire to stay longer in Brunswick at this time but told her brother

she would come back in the spring. Her intention was to spend the winter in

Naples.

————————

Before reaching Naples she decided to stay a while in Milan, and it soon

became clear to her that she needed an Italian courier to arrange her travelling and he must necessarily be an Italian to overcome the language difficulties.

When she met General Pino at a banquet given in her honour she consulted

him on this matter and he in turn consulted the governor of Milan, General

Beliegard,

The Governor called at the villa she had taken and told her that he knew of a

man whom he could thoroughly recommend. This was a certain Baron

Bartolomeo Pergami— a man whose fortunes were in reverse through no fault of

his own. The Baron Pergami had distinguished himself in the recent campaigns

and was something of a hero, but it was true that he had fallen on hard times and although it might be beneath his dignity to take a post of courier in the ordinary way, as this would be in the service of the Princess of Wales he might consider it.

Caroline’s attention had already been attracted by one of the loveliest children

she had ever seen. This was Vittorina Pergami— a sparkling, vivacious, black-

eyed little girl with a mass of dark curling hair. Dear Willie, whom she loved

devotedly, was scarcely handsome with his pale eyes, sandy hair and rather

petulant mouth. Caroline wanted to know more of this enchanting child and as

soon as she heard the name Pergami she wondered if there was any connection.

She soon discovered that there was and that the Baron Pergami who was coming

to see her was her father.

And as soon as Bartolomeo Pergami stood before her, she was attracted by

him. He seemed to her to be the complete adventurer. He looked the part with his

fierce moustache and his head of thick curling black hair; his eyes flashed; his

bearing was that of a soldier; he looked lithe and strong and was six feet in height.

What a man! thought Caroline.
If the Prince Regent could know that he was

in my service there would be some fluttering excitement among his spies.

For that reason alone she would engage this man. But for purely personal

reasons he was such a joy to look at.

He told her of his life, of lost splendours due to the wars, of his own service in the recent fighting. He was gallant and respectful— though not too respectful; he laughed frequently, seeing a joke as readily as she would— her sort of joke— and

when he did so he showed beautiful white and even teeth. Caroline was more

excited than she had been since she left Worthing.

‘I have fallen in love with your daughter Vittorina,’ she told him. ‘And I

wondered how I could keep her with me. Perhaps by detaining her father?’

‘That would be a necessity, Your Highness,’ he told her. Clever man. He

knew who she was although she had now dispensed with the title of Duchess of

Wolfenbüttel and had become the Countess of Cornwall.

‘While I am in Italy I shall need someone to arrange my travels. It is not a

post worthy of you, I know; but if you would consider it for a start.’

‘For a start—’ The bold black eyes were alert with speculation. ‘Madam,’ he

said with a bow, ‘it would be a privilege to serve you in any capacity, however

humble.’

That settled it. Baron Bartolomeo Pergami was attached to the entourage of

the Princess of Wales.

Lady Elizabeth Forbes had left. She had assured Her Highness that she found

travelling too taxing and that she had family matters to which to attend in

England.

Lady Charlotte Campbell however was returning.

‘They are all seeking a chance to desert me, Willikin,’ she said.

‘Why?’ asked Willikin.

‘Because they don’t love me as you do, my angel.’

Her angel settled closer to her and helped himself to the sweetmeats she

always provided for him.

Let them go,
she thought. She didn’t want them if they didn’t wish to stay.

Pergami was worth a hundred of any one of them. Very soon he had ceased to be

a humble courier and was her chamberlain. He showed exceptional abilities; he

was capable of managing the entire household; this brought him into daily contact with the Princess— which was a great pleasure to her. His delightful daughter

Vittorina was her constant companion— so it was natural that the dear child’s

father should not be far off.

Dear Pergami— so efficient, so sunny tempered, so amusing and so

handsome! She looked forward to the times when he came to report to her on her

household and she would keep him talking of the past— the glorious past when

he had been a great baron and had not been forced into service even of so great a lady.

‘Poor, poor Pergami,’ she would sigh. ‘How I feel for you.’

‘But, Your Highness,’ he told her with an ardent look, ‘to serve you gives me

greater happiness than I have ever known before.’

‘These Italians,’ cried the Princess later to Lady Charlotte Lindsay, ‘they

certainly know how to treat a woman.’

‘I daresay His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has already heard that the

Baron Pergami has joined your household.’

‘I hope he has. I see no reason to make a secret of it.’ Lady Charlotte sighed.

She never saw reasons— or if she did, she did not care.

And after that conversation she was even more friendly to the handsome

Baron.

————————

On her journey from Milan to Naples Caroline startled the people as she

passed along. She had ordered a carriage in the shape of a shell and in this she lay over-dressed, over-painted, with enormous feathers rising from her hat and falling about her shoulders; her gowns were always low-cut and she liked to sit, most

inelegantly, with her short fat legs exposed to the knees. Willikin often sprawled beside her, his eyes round with wonder at the sights he saw; and she had grooms

dressed in pink tights decorated with spangles. Everywhere she went she left

behind a trail of gossip.

Once, staying at a humble inn, she heard that there was to be a village dance

and insisted on going and dancing with the most handsome of the young men. The

people laughed and applauded but afterwards they thought this was strange

behaviour for a Princess of Wales.

On one occasion the seats of the carriage in which she was travelling were too

high to enable her short legs to reach the floor; so she put them on to the lap of a lady-in-waiting who happened to be sitting opposite and rode along thus to the

amazement of all who beheld her and the complete embarrassrnent of the lady.

The Princess had always been wild, but since she had left England a madness

seemed to have possessed her.

In due course they came to Naples.

The King of Naples gave her an enthusiastic welcome. He received her

ceremoniously and told her he hoped she would stay in Naples as long as she

cared to. Very soon she had set up house and prepared to enjoy the hospitality

which was extended to her on all sides.

It was in Naples that she received the first tangible warning. General

Matthews, a member of her suite, when strolling through the streets of Naples in

the company of an Italian Count, met an Englishman whom he knew. He naturally

wondered what this gentleman was doing in Naples and greeted him.

‘I know you,’ he said. ‘Your name is Quentin, is it not?’

‘That is so.’

‘And you have a brother who is a Colonel in the Hussars and I believe your

serve the Prince Regent in some capacity.’

‘I have a post in His Royal Highness’s household.’

‘And are you here on his business in Naples?’

‘Er— yes. I have been sent by His Highness to look at some horses which he

proposes buying.’

When they passed on the Count said: ‘I’ll swear he has not come to Naples to

look at horses. It’s scarcely the place to do that.’

‘It seems very strange, I admit,’ said the General. ‘But why should he lie?’

‘Because his business is such that he does not wish to speak of it. And it is the affair of your Prince Regent.’

‘H’m,’ said the General. ‘A spy.’

‘You can be sure of that. I will tell you what I will do. I will tell the King

what has happened and he will get to the root of the matter. In a few days time he will know whether this Quentin has in fact been looking at horses or not. And if

not, I think the Princess of Wales should be warned. Do you not agree?’

The General replied that he agreed wholeheartedly.

A few days later the Count came to see the General.

‘Mr. Quentin has not been looking at horses. In fact what he has been doing is

asking a great many questions about the Princess of Wales— and talking to

members of her household.’

‘I shall go to Her Highness immediately and report on this.’

‘There is no need. The King has taken a great liking to her. And he is annoyed

that the Prince Regent should send spies into Naples without his knowledge. He

will deal with this.’

The King kissed Caroline’s hand; she gave him her large warm smile.

He said: ‘My dear lady, I have asked you to come to see me because I have

something very serious to tell you. I trust you will forgive what may seem like

impertinence on my part but I am concerned for you.’

‘Your dear good Majesty! I shall never forget how much at home you have

made me feel in your kingdom.’

But I will not have you persecuted while you are here.’

‘Persecuted! Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have been fêted,

honoured—’

‘And spied on, my dear lady. Now this is what I have to tell you. A Mr.

Quentin has been sent here by the Prince Regent to report on your actions. I

thought you should be warned.’

‘Ha!’ laughed Caroline. I trust he carries back a good tale.’

‘I shall not allow him to remain if you do not wish him to. He shall be

escorted to the frontiers and told not to enter Naples again.’

‘Oh, don’t do that. Poor fellow, he would be so put out and doubtless be in

trouble with his master.’

‘My dear Princess, do you realize that this fellow is spying on you, that he

will carry reports back to England— very likely false ones of your conduct here?’

‘Oh, let him!’

The King was astonished.

‘I wish you to know that if any spies come here and you want them to be

banished, it shall be done.’

‘Let them stay. Let them take back their tales. Your Majesty is good to

consider me so. But I shall not worry about these spies. So, dear Majesty, do not concern yourself with them.’

The King lifted his shoulders. It was for her to say, he reminded her.

————————

‘The dear King,’ Caroline told Willikin, ‘he is so concerned for me. What a

comfort after the way I have been treated in England. I should like to stay in

Naples for the rest of my life!’

‘You’d be too restless, Mamma. You will be off on your travels again soon.’

Caroline laughed. ‘You are right, my dear Willikin.’

It was true that she did not stay much longer in Naples; and the reason was a

dramatic one.

Napoleon had escaped from Elba and Caroline deemed it wise to leave

without delay and in twenty-four hours was on board the
Clorinde
sailing for Genoa.

Genoa, into which she had a triumphant entry, all spangles and feathers, was

excited to receive her and the people came out into the streets to look at the

strange English Princess.

Pergami had arranged everything with his usual efficiency. ‘What should we

do without the dear man?’ she demanded of Willikin who agreed with her that

Pergami looked after them very well. Caroline was becoming more and more used

to familiar with her attractive major-domo and treat such a gentleman, such a

treasure, as a servant.

Often he sat down to a meal with her alone. ‘Just the two of us,’ she would

say. And this delighted her, because he was so amusing and, as she confided to

her servants, she enjoyed a tête-à-tête meal with Peragami more than a State

banquet where there was too much noise and chatter and people had to shout until

they wert hoarse to make themselves heard.

Lady Charlotte Campbell arrived in Genoa with six of her children, which

was a great delight.

How were the little darlings? And how did they like travelling? And were

they pleased to see the Princess again?

They were and so was their mother though a little shocked at the Princess’s

manners which had grown even more free and easy since she left England.

And who, Lady Charlotte asked some of the members of the staff, was this

man Bergami or Pergami whatever he called himself?

There was a little giggling and little shrugging of shoulders.