The King and Clive, because they had known each other for so long, talked frankly when they were alone and could not be overheard.
Clive often told the King that if he had the money himself, he would help him down to his last penny.
But he had to be extremely careful not to fall into debt as that would mean having to dismiss a great number of the people who worked on his Scottish estate.
“What it really comes down to,” the King declared finally, “is that you and I, Clive, need to marry into money. Whatever the woman looks like, if she shines like a guinea, we will be forced to be content with her!”
He sighed before he added,
“I suppose we have to make sacrifices and perhaps the hardest part of all will be to give up a woman we really wish to be with – ”
Clive knew without him saying
