Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [139]
Sarah never stopped to consider the effect her words might have—written or spoken—and immediately despatched the letter to the Queen.
How tired I am of her perpetual quarrels! thought Anne. But since she asked for Marlborough’s letter to be returned she wrote briefly:
“After the commands you gave me at the thanksgiving of not answering you, I should not have troubled you with these lines, but to return the Duke of Marlborough’s letter safe into your hands; and for the same reason I do not say anything to that nor to yours which enclosed it.”
When Sarah received that letter she began to believe that she was indeed losing her power over the Queen. Never had Anne written to her in such a cool and regal manner.
She was disturbed. She wrote copiously to Marlborough telling him what was happening at home. She also could not refrain from writing to the Queen.
But Anne had no time for correspondence. She was eager to return to her husband and she set out with Abigail and a few attendants for the house in Windsor Forest, where Dr. Arbuthnot greeted her with the idea that he thought a cure at Bath might be beneficial to the Prince.
Anything that would help him Anne was willing to do and immediately made arrangements to set out for the Spa which she herself loved to visit.
Bath welcomed the Queen and her consort, and it seemed as though Dr. Arbuthnot was right, for the Prince’s health certainly did seem to improve.
Anne’s spirits rose. As she said to Abigail: “It is long since I have felt so pleased with his state of health.”
SARAH IN THE DEATH CHAMBER
he Bath visit having proved such a success, the royal party returned to Kensington. The Duchess still kept in the shadows and Anne and her husband, with the Mashams in close attendance, settled into the ground floor apartments of the Palace.
Each October the Queen went to Newmarket for the racing and although Anne did not feel the Prince was quite well enough to accompany her she made preparations for the journey.
A few days before she was due to leave she noticed that George seemed unhappy and as, in spite of his sufferings, this was unusual with him, she noticed his mood immediately.
“What is it, George?” she asked. “Are you anxious about something?”
He took her hand and said: “I wish you were not leaving me.”
“You are not feeling so well?”
“I haf a feeling that I do not vish for you to go.”
“You do not care to be parted from me, is that it? We have been married for more than twenty-five years.…”
“Est il possible?” he asked.
“Yes, George, it is … and you still do not like to be parted from me.”
“My love,” he said, “I haf this feeling …” He touched his heart. “… in here … that I vould not vish you to be away from me … at this time.”
Tears filled Anne’s eyes. “Then, my love, I shall remain.”
That night the Prince became very ill. Anne, alarmed, aroused the Mashams. Abigail helped her to hold up George to enable him to breathe while Samuel hurried for the doctors.
“He knew,” whispered Anne. “Oh, my poor dear angel, he knew. He begged me not to leave him.”
This was a more virulent attack than usual and both women knew that the end was near.
“I thank God that I have you with me, Abigail my dear, to help me bear this trial,” said the Queen.
“I suffer with Your Majesty,” Abigail answered, as she expertly lifted the Prince and helped to maintain him in a more comfortable position.
“How … can so little a person … hold such a big one …” whispered George.
“Don’t talk, my dearest. Masham is an angel. And I don’t know what we should do without her. But don’t talk, my love.”
The doctors arrived and eased him a little. But there was consternation throughout the Palace.
Prince George, old Est-il-Possible?, who had never been really unkind to anyone since he had come to England, was dying.
Sarah heard the news. The Prince dying and she not at the Palace! Others would be attending the Queen at this important moment. It was unthinkable.