Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [141]
“Do not speak of him so!”
“Dear Mrs. Morley, I speak only for your welfare. It is my only concern. If you went to St. James’s you need not see anyone you did not wish to see. And you might see any person that is a comfort to you … there as anywhere else.”
Anne nodded slowly. “It is true,” she said.
“I will take you in my coach. We will draw the curtains and none will be aware that it is you. You will feel better when you leave this place.”
“Leave me with him for a while,” said the Queen, “and then send Masham to me.”
Sarah looked stricken for a moment and then the blood rushed into her face; but the Queen had turned from her and Sarah could do nothing but leave her.
Send for Masham. Never!
The Queen looked up as the door opened and her disappointment was obvious when she saw Sarah instead of Abigail.
“I did not send for Mrs. Masham,” announced Sarah. “There are bishops and ladies of the bedchamber waiting to see Your Majesty and I thought it would make a disagreeable noise if you kept them out on account of a chambermaid.”
“I asked for Masham …” began the Queen.
“Your Majesty can summon her to St. James’s … if you wish.”
“I need to prepare for the journey.”
“My dear Mrs. Morley, it will be the pleasure of Mrs. Freeman to wait on you. I will send for your travelling clothes and we will leave at once.”
To Sarah’s dismay the maid who brought the Queen’s travelling cloak and hood was Alice Hill, and Sarah in her jealous awareness saw that the Queen’s expression lightened a little at the sight of Abigail’s sister.
Anne bent towards her. “Tell Masham that I need her. She is to come to me at once,” she whispered.
Alice, aware of the thunderous expression on Sarah’s face, inclined her head and curtsied to show that she understood and would obey the Queen’s order immediately; and Anne wrapped in her travelling cloak passed on with the Duchess behind her.
In the gallery along which she must pass, certain of her household were gathered—among them Dr. Arbuthnot and, to Anne’s delight, Abigail herself.
Anne smiled and as she passed leaned towards Abigail and pressed her hand.
Abigail understood. She was to follow the Queen without delay; and when Anne had left and Alice came breathlessly to her to give her the Queen’s message, Abigail lost no time in setting out for St. James’s.
Sarah took the Queen triumphantly to her apartments.
“Dear Mrs. Morley, I pray you leave everything to me. Friends should be together at a time like this.”
Anne did not answer.
“If Mrs. Morley would like to go to the green closet I will take her there and have something warm and soothing sent to her.”
Anne nodded and together they went to the favourite room.
The green closet! There he had sat dozing in his chair while Masham played on the harpsichord, made bohea tea or produced something stronger which she served so daintily, moving noiselessly about the apartment. How she longed for the return of those days which were gone for ever. But Masham was still here.
She wanted Masham to come and Sarah to go and leave her alone. She never wanted to see Sarah again.
But Sarah was giving imperious orders. “Bring broth for Her Majesty. Yes, Mrs. Morley, it will do you good. You must eat. It will give you strength.”
The broth was brought, and Anne sipped it without tasting it.
“Now,” said Sarah, “I will see about ordering you a really nourishing dish. You will feel so much better when you have had something really good to eat. It was well that I brought you from that dismal place. You could do no good by staying there.”
Sarah went out and after a few moments there was a light scratching at the door.
Anne gave the order to enter, and when she saw who was there she gave a cry of joy. Abigail ran to her and knelt at her feet, kissing her hands.
“Masham … dearest Masham!” said the Queen.
Abigail lifted her face to the Queen’s; Abigail’s was blotched with weeping. The Queen stretched out her hands. “Such comfort