Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [105]
“It is not to be wondered at. Like Your Majesty I do not like his temper and I know I could never have a friendly relationship with him.”
Delight spread across the Queen’s face. It was always pleasing when someone took up her phrases and used them as their own.
“Your Majesty will agree with me,” went on Harley, “that we must not allow this to come to pass.”
“I am so pleased, Mr. Harley, that you are in such agreement with me.”
“Your Majesty is so gracious that you forget you are the ruler of this realm.”
“I could not rule it without the help of my ministers and it is necessary that I enjoy a friendly relationship with them.”
“Of the utmost necessity,” agreed Harley.
“And with that man …”
“Your Majesty never could.”
“It is so very, very true.”
“I fear, Madam, that there is a conspiracy afoot.”
“A conspiracy!”
“To form a strong alliance of a certain family …”
Abigail was holding her breath. This was very dangerous ground. Anyone who had seen the Queen and Sarah together must know how strong were Anne’s feelings for her friend. This was coming out into the open most dangerously.
“Madam,” went on Harley hurriedly, for he was well aware of the danger, “I owe much to the great Duke. I was his protégé. He helped me to my place. But I serve my Queen with all my heart, and if to show my gratitude to those who had been my benefactors in the past means betraying my Sovereign—then, Madam, I must needs be ungrateful.”
“Dear Mr. Harley, I understand you. I understand perfectly.”
“Your Majesty’s powers of perception have always encouraged me. It is for this reason that I dare speak to you thus now.”
“Pray, Mr. Harley, be completely frank with me.”
“Then, Madam, I will say this. It is not good for the welfare of this country that one family should be so strongly represented that it is in fact the ruling family. There is one ruler of this country and one only. I will serve my Queen with all my heart and soul but I will serve no family which by clever contrivance has ousted her from her birthright.”
“Contrivance!” gasped the Queen. “Ousted!”
“I speak too strongly. I crave Your Majesty’s pardon.”
“No, Mr. Harley. You speak sincerely and that is what I would wish.”
“Then have I Your Majesty’s leave to continue?”
“You have, Mr. Harley. Indeed you have.”
“Then, Madam, I say this, that if Marlborough’s son-in-law is Secretary of State, while Marlborough is Commander in chief and Godolphin, father-in-law to Marlborough’s daughter, is your Lord Treasurer, and the Duchess continues to select your ministers … then it would seem you are no longer Queen in truth. You will be a cipher to the Churchill family, Madam. And that is something it would grieve me to see; and while I serve my Queen with all my heart and soul I should not serve these … usurpers.”
There was silence in the green closet. The Queen was shaken. Harley stared down at his hands. Had he gone too far? It was all very well to attack Sunderland and Godolphin; even Marlborough. But Sarah—the Queen’s beloved friend!
He was reassured when he heard Anne’s voice, a little trembling, but with the obstinacy as strong as ever.
“I could never endure Lord Sunderland’s temper and there would never be a good relationship between us.”
Sarah was down at Woodstock harrying John Vanbrugh, who wanted to retain part of the old Manor of Woodstock on account, he said, of its archaeological interest. Sarah, who had no feeling for archaeological interest declared that the house was to be a monument to the Duke of Marlborough’s genius and nothing else need be considered. She was unsure of the plans, too. The place was going to be vast, and although she approved of all the very best workmanship and materials going into the building, at the same time she wanted the Palace to be a residence as well as a monument.
This occupied her attention, but she had only shelved the matter of Sunderland and intended to come back to the attack later on. The Queen at the moment was intensely stubborn, but if