In February he was able to prosecute his deferred journey, and on the 13th he made his appearance at the Louvre where his mother then was. She was sitting at dinner when the boy came hastily in and knelt for her blessing.[[57]] What kind of reception she gave him we do not know, but when all is said and done, Henrietta, capricious as she could be, was an affectionate if injudicious mother, and there must have been a keen sense of satisfaction in receiving her young son after their long separation and his adventurous travels.

For a time James settled down among his hitherto unknown relations. The famous princess, Anne Marie Louise d’Orléans, the redoubtable heroine of the Fronde, “la grande Mademoiselle,” was very kind to her new cousin at a time when she was flouting his elder brother. The Duke of York, between thirteen and fourteen years of age, was then, she says, “very pretty, well made, with good features, who spoke French well, which gave him a much better air than had the King his brother,” who was at that time completely ignorant of the language, though he was eagerly put forward by his mother as a suitor for the hand of his imperious cousin, who could bestow such a magnificent dowry on any husband on whom her choice might fall.

[57]. Nicholas Papers.

In the September of 1649 Charles determined to go to Jersey, the Channel Islands having remained steadily loyal to the royal cause, and he took his brother James with him, probably intending to detach him from their mother’s influence.[[58]] At Caen they visited Lady Ormonde, who was living there at that time in exile, and at Coutances, not far away, the bishop received the brothers with some distinction, giving a banquet in their honour at Cotainville on the following day. However, as the boats were waiting, they started at once, and reached Jersey on the 18th. Here they passed the winter, and the Duke of York won golden opinions from those who came in contact with him.

[58]. “History of the Rebellion.” Clarendon.

He was by this time a tall slight boy, almost as tall as his brother, lively and gracious in manner, while his bright complexion and fair hair displayed a marked difference from the swarthy young King. The two were then in mourning for their martyred father, whose tragic death had taken place in the previous January, and James is described as dressed “in an entire suit of black without any other ornament or decoration than the silver star displayed upon his mantle, and a purple scarf across his shoulders.”[[59]]

[59]. “Charles II. in the Channel Islands.” Hoskins.

The brothers were much together in those early days of exile, and it could not be for the advantage of the younger, seeing what manner of men Charles chose to encourage about him, though after all, considering his own youth and circumstances, the latter was scarcely a free agent in this respect.

The two quarrelled at times, and indeed somewhat later Charles manifested a certain jealousy of his brother which can scarcely be a matter for surprise.[[60]]

[60]. “Travels of the King.” Eva Scott.