His Highness hurried forward to greet her, while Johanna Elizabetha instinctively drew nearer to the Duchess-mother, catching the Erbprinz by the arm.
Wilhelmine bent low in an elaborate courtesy. Her Highness held out her hand shyly for her rival to kiss. The Duchess-mother watched the comedy for an instant, then turning to the Duke who stood behind Wilhelmine, nervously fingering his rapier-hilt, she said:
'Serenissimus will have the kindness to present to me the Landhofmeisterin, as I have not the pleasure to know her.'
'Madame, my mother permits me—This is Madame la Comtesse de Würben, Landhofmeisterin,' he stammered, and the Duchess-mother threw him a contemptuous glance.
'Ah, Madame de Würben! how sad it must be for you to be obliged to leave your husband in Bohemia,' she said. 'Have you good news of him now? I am so interested in illness. Tell me exactly what ails poor Count Würben.'
Wilhelmine stared at this formidable dame in consternation. Würben's fictitious ailments were difficult to name.
'He suffered—from—from—smallpox some years ago, your Highness, and has never recovered his health,' she said haltingly.
'Ah! smallpox; yes, indeed, a terrible malady, and but too common. Did your husband contract it at the same time as you did, Madame? I see you must have been a great sufferer,' said the Duchess-mother, fixing her sharp brown eyes on the few hardly distinguishable pockmarks on Wilhelmine's face. The favourite flushed.
'I was not married to Monsieur de Würben at that time, your Highness,' she answered.
'Oh, indeed! Madame, forgive me; I did not know how long you had been married. Have you any children, Madame de Würben? No? Ah, a sad pity! The little ones would doubtless have been a consolation to you while you are forced to be absent from your husband; but perhaps we may have the pleasure of seeing Monsieur de Würben in Stuttgart before long?'