The Drunken Feathers

Scene vii

(Brook's Club, later that night. FOX, SHERIDAN, LORD STORMONT, LORD LOUGBOROUGH, the DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, and GREY are present. They play cards at a round table.)

SHERIDAN

I called on Prinny today. The poor fellow is in shambles—drinking every minute, breaking into tears, throwing himself onto his bed, threatening suicide—just as he did in eighty-four.

FOX

Thank you for warning me. I shall make a point of avoiding him.

SHERIDAN

If he goes on in this way, he shall drink himself to death.

FOX

Give him not a minute of your concern. He's recovered once, and he shall recover again.

BRIDGEMAN

(Off-screen)

He only recovered because he married her.

(The WHIGS turn in their seats to see ORLANDO BRIDGEMAN, pipe in hand, standing languidly behind FOX as he smokes.)

LORD LOUGHBOROUGH

Married whom, say you?

BRIDGEMAN

Why, Mrs. Fitzherbert, of course.

FOX

And you are, sir?

BRIDGEMAN

(Tips his hat)

Orlando Bridgeman, an acquaintance of His Royal Highness and his uncle-in-law, Mr. Errington. Mr. Fox, I hear that you have denied in the House the Prince's marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert.

(The WHIGS, mostly not believing BRIDGEMAN, return to their card game.)

FOX

So I have. What of it?

BRIDGEMAN

You have been misinformed. I was at the marriage.

(The WHIGS all drop their cards and turn toward BRIDGEMAN in shock. FOX stands from the table.)

FOX

The Prince himself swore that it never took place!

BRIDGEMAN

Then His Royal Highness has deceived you, my poor man. A tricky bloke, he is. No one has ever denied it.

DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE

Can you prove yourself, sir?

BRIDGEMAN

Certainly. Let me begin...

(He smokes his pipe as a flashback begins. The PRINCE OF WALES' magnificent carriage is shown driving away from Carlton House and FOX, and arriving at MRS. FITZHERBERT's house. Snow falls heavily from the dark sky.)

BRIDGEMAN (narrating)

The Prince of Wales arrived at eight o'clock on the evening of December the 15th, 1785 at Mrs. Fitzherbert's house in Mayfair. A blizzard was upon us, and the Prince managed to arrive on time for once in his life. He had asked me in advance to guard the door so that the ceremony would not be discovered or disrupted, so I duly gratified him. I'd always wanted to witness a clandestine wedding; legal ones are far too dull.

BRIDGEMAN (flashback)

What weather this is! I should wonder how your carriage didn't...

PRINCE OF WALES