Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [133]
She waited in vain for the summons, but her daughter Henrietta, who had been visiting at the palace, came to her to tell her what magnificent apartments Abigail was occupying there, and when Sarah asked her to describe them her eyes narrowed with anger.
“Why,” she cried, “I know those apartments although I have never occupied them. William had them made for Keppel. You remember Keppel was at one time a very great favourite with William and he could scarce bear the young man out of his sight. When William died and George took over the Palace—which he did with scarcely respectable speed—Anne said that those apartments should be mine. And that gooseberry-eyed slut is occupying them! I shall soon put a stop to that.”
Although she had pleaded lack of time to go to Court before this, Sarah went straight there and demanded that the housekeeper show her the rooms which were being occupied by the Mashams.
As soon as she saw them she gave vent to her rage.
“These rooms were given to me by the Queen when she first came to the throne!” she declared, and went off to see the Queen, thrusting aside those who would restrain her.
“I can assure you that Her Majesty will put nothing in the way of seeing me!” she declared.
It may have been that Abigail had seen her approach or it might have been one of those rare occasions when she was not in attendance, but Sarah found one of the other bedchamber women with the Queen.
“It is not often that we have the pleasure of Mrs. Freeman’s company,” began the Queen.
But Sarah burst out, “I have heard disturbing news. Mrs. Masham has taken my lodgings.”
Anne looked dismayed and Sarah rushed on. “It is not the first time that she has sought to take that which belongs to me. I’ll not have her in my apartments.”
“Masham has none of your rooms,” said the Queen.
“The housekeeper has shown me that she has. Your Majesty gave me those rooms and I will not have Masham using them.”
“But Masham has none of your rooms,” repeated the Queen, “and to say to the contrary is false and a lie.”
“If Your Majesty will send for the housekeeper, who knows very well which apartments here are being used by whom, he will tell you that Masham is using that apartment which William gave to Keppel and which you gave me. I will summon him.”
“Pray do not,” said the Queen coldly. “I do not wish to see him because I know Masham has none of your rooms.”
Sarah asked leave to depart and the Queen did not detain her. She was so certain that Abigail was using her rooms and could not let pass an occasion for proving herself in the right. It did not occur to her that the Queen was telling her politely that she could no longer consider the apartment hers, and that it had been given to Abigail.
Sarah must prove herself right.
She went once more to the housekeeper. She looked at the apartments again and stalked back to the Queen.
“Masham is in my apartment,” she said.
“Masham has not made use of your apartment,” retorted the Queen coldly.
“I can bring those to Mrs. Morley who will assure her that Masham is in my apartment.”
“How could she help using an apartment which is near my own?” demanded the Queen. “She must be at hand, for the Prince and I need her.”
Sarah was exasperated. How could one talk to a woman who one moment was so emphatic, and then calmly admitted what one had been trying to prove.
Anne made no attempt to placate her; so Sarah took her leave and as she did so she heard her say: “Where is Masham? I have such a headache. Send her to me.”
This was too much to be borne and Sarah was furious. So the Queen no longer cared whether she visited her or not. She would care though if she lost her Commander-in-Chief. And by God, thought Sarah, if I have to endure much more insolence I shall insist on Marl giving up his command. If he were here now she would tell him so, but he was at this moment in Holland, fighting the Queen’s battles while his wife at home was being insulted.
In the heat