Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [126]
“How?”
“If Sidney and I refuse to serve with him, he will have to go.”
“And you will do that?”
“We will feel our way first.”
“Trust you for that!” laughed Sarah affectionately.
“In the old days,” said Marlborough sadly, “it would have been easy for you to have explained to the Queen.”
“And now alas she won’t listen to any but that dirty chambermaid.”
“Who,” put in Godolphin, “will fight for Harley!”
“Marl,” said Sarah, “you go and see her. She is fond of you, and if she has any gratitude she should not be able to refuse you anything.”
It was agreed that Marlborough should see the Queen.
The Queen sat back in her chair exhausted, and sent for Masham.
“Your Majesty is very tired,” said Abigail anxiously. “I fear the Duke has wearied you.”
“So tired, Masham. Far more so than when I go hunting the stag, I can assure you.”
Abigail said that she was terrified every time the Queen hunted in the high wheeled chair which was drawn by the fastest horse in her stables. “I sit and tremble until Your Majesty returns. You are quite intrepid, Madam.”
Anne pushed aside Abigail’s fears. “I have hunted since I was a child, Masham; and my one-horse chaise is excellent for me nowadays.”
“And now Your Majesty is as tired as after the hunt.”
“More so, Masham, more so.”
“Your visitor proved tiresome?”
“I’m afraid so, Hill. The Duke is such a charming man and I have always been so fond of him; and of course I never forget his brilliance in battle. But … I cannot give way in everything however brilliant a commander he is, can I?”
“I am sure Your Majesty should never give way. It is others who should give way to you.”
“I have grown so fond of dear Mr. Harley. Of course the Duke does not like him. He says that he does not care to serve in a ministry which contains Mr. Harley.”
“I see,” said Abigail.
“Yes, that is what he wants. And Godolphin is with him. It would not grieve me greatly to do without Godolphin, but I do not see what our armies would do without the Duke.”
Abigail was silent.
“Oh dear,” went on the Queen. “There seems to be nothing but quarrels. Make me some tea. I feel I need a little sustenance.”
Abigail made the tea and planned at the same time as to how she could get the news to Harley that Marlborough and Godolphin were attempting to oust him from his post.
When she returned with the tea she sat on the stool at the Queen’s feet.
“That’s better,” said Anne. “Just the right amount of sugar. Of course I told the Duke that I could not do without Mr. Harley. I have come to depend upon him. I shall summon a meeting of Council; then they will have to attend. Perhaps then they will put their complaints of Mr. Harley to his face.”
“But Your Majesty will not ask him to resign?”
“Certainly I shall not,” said the Queen.
Abigail made her way to Albemarle Street; she was let in without question and taken up to Harley’s private study.
He took both her hands and kissed her on the forehead; it was the chaste greeting he often bestowed upon her.
“Marlborough has been to see the Queen.”
He nodded. “I know he is determined to ruin me.”
“He hasn’t a chance. The Queen is firmly behind you.”
“A position, my dear coz, in which you have helped to place her.”
“She won’t allow you to resign.”
“I am wondering if it mightn’t be a necessity.”
“A necessity!” Abigail was aghast.
“My dear cousin, you are so concerned?”
“But everything we have worked for …”
“Will not be lost. Depend upon it, in the long run we will drive Marlborough and his virago of a Duchess out of office. But the time is not yet.”
“Something has happened?”
He nodded.
“Something bad … for us?”
He nodded again.
She, who was habitually so calm, stamped her foot in sudden anger.
“They have been clever, our enemies,” he said. “Perhaps we underestimated them. We have been congratulating ourselves on the follies of Sarah, but her friends are strong and ingenious.”
“Tell me,” she said impatiently.
“They have arrested a clerk in my office.”
“What has this to do with us?”
“A great deal. A communication