Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [123]
Anne wrote back:
“You are pleased to accuse me in your last letter very unjustly, especially concerning Masham. You say I avoid giving you a direct answer to what I must know is your greatest uneasiness, giving it a turn as if it were only the business of the day that had occasioned your suspicion. What I told you is very true and no turn as you are pleased to call it.…”
The tone of that letter, so different from those which Sarah was accustomed to receive from her “unfortunate and faithful Morley” should have warned Sarah, but Sarah had never heeded warnings.
As she said, she wanted plain answers to plain questions and she wanted to know how deep was this friendship between Abigail and Anne, whether Abigail had replaced her in the Queen’s affections, and what had happened at those meetings in the green closet between the Queen, Harley, St. John and Abigail Hill.
She wrote to Abigail demanding a meeting as soon as she returned to London from Woodstock; but when she did come back Abigail kept out of her way and Sarah’s fury rose.
She imagined that the “chambermaid” as she referred to her, was being deliberately insolent, particularly when Abigail called on her at a time when she would be aware that she would not be at home.
“If that chambermaid should call again,” shouted Sarah, “I am not at home.”
But Sarah knew that if she could speak with Abigail she would be more likely to get the truth of the situation, and when Abigail wrote a meek little note asking for an interview she granted it.
So carefully worded was that note that Sarah was sure Harley had dictated it. The entire situation was becoming horribly clear. Harley and St. John were the enemies of the Churchills. They always had been, in spite of mealymouthed Harley’s sycophantic admiration for the Duke. Those two had put their heads together to destroy the Churchill faction. She had never liked them. She had told John a hundred times. John had trusted Harley; so had Godolphin. She was the only one with insight into character, and she had known those two were not to be trusted. And all the time they had been in secret conference with the Queen—let in by that snake Abigail Hill, whom she herself had put into the position, to betray them!
They faced each other in Abigail’s apartment.
Oh yes, thought Sarah, she has changed. Not so demure now. The sly creature. Harley has groomed her. She is very sure of herself.
She was dignified, serene and outwardly gracious, knowing her place—Masham now instead of Hill. The Queen’s favourite but still her chambermaid in the presence of the great Duchess of Marlborough.
“So at last I see you!” said Sarah. “I will tell you this that I am astonished by your conduct.”
“I am grieved,” replied Abigail demurely, “and not a little astonished that Your Grace should have found my humble marriage of such concern.”
“Not your marriage—the secrecy that attended it. But let us have the plain truth. The Queen has changed towards me.”
“Your Grace has been much absent. You have so much with which to occupy your time. And added to all else, the building at Woodstock.”
“There is no need to tell me what I do. I know far better than you. I say this—that the Queen has changed towards me because of you, Masham.”
Abigail’s green eyes were very faintly insolent. “Surely that is impossible, Your Grace. A humble chambermaid could not affect the friendship between Her Majesty and the Duchess of Marlborough.”
“Through sly and secret management, yes.”
“Your Grace gives me credit for a diplomacy which is surely beyond my powers.”
“I am just discovering what your powers are. You have been frequently with Her Majesty in private.…”
“As her chambermaid.”
“Don’t evade the truth. You have been with Her Majesty as … a friend. Don’t deny it. Do you think I don’t know her. You have slipped in like the serpent in Eden.”
Abigail smiled.
“Take that smirk off your face, woman. You have wormed your way into the Queen’s favour; and while you have been doing this you have taken every measure possible to hide it. And to hide it