Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [145]
Abigail brought Mr. Harley to the green closet. Dear Abigail! She was pregnant and it made such a bond between them. It reminded Anne of those years of hopes … hopes which had come to nothing except in the case of her dearest boy who had lived a while to make the tragedy the greater. And Abigail’s husband and her dear brother were soldiers too.
Such occasions for condolences; and Abigail agreed with her that the Duke was perhaps the only man who wholeheartedly wanted war.
Mr. Harley kissed her hand. He sat beside her and Abigail brought them tea, which though perhaps not to Mr. Harley’s taste he always took.
“Malplaquet!” he said. “A victory, they tell us, Madam. But a bloodstained victory. The Duke never loses a battle—but what he does lose is countless English lives. Madam, forgive me. I am carried away by this terrible carnage.”
“You voice my own thoughts, Mr. Harley. I feel I can scarce attend a thanksgiving service for such slaughter. How long must this dreadful war continue?”
“For as long as it pleases His Grace of Marlborough, it would seem, Madam.”
“I shall not allow it.”
“Then, Your Majesty, the war will end.”
“The Government, Mr. Harley, seem so firmly behind the Duke.”
“Godolphin, Sunderland—family connections! A Marlborough junta Madam. That sort of thing can be very powerful.”
“I never liked the Whigs.”
“Nor did the Duke, Madam, until he needed their support for his war. I have been consulting with my friends.…”
“Yes, Mr. Harley.”
“If we could overthrow the present Government I believe I could present Your Majesty with a Tory Ministry which would be very much to your liking.”
A Tory Ministry! thought Anne. Peace abroad! The Church and State safe! And dear, amusing, clever Mr. Harley at its head. That was a very desirable prospect.
Marlborough had returned from the campaign which had culminated at Malplaquet. He was very anxious; he had heard from Sarah that the reception of the victory had been less enthusiastic than that of Oudenarde and that the joy which followed the news of Blenheim was entirely lacking.
The Queen, Sarah pointed out, continued devoted to her dirty chambermaid, and snake Harley with Slug St. John was continually in her presence.
As for Sarah, she had written to the Queen reminding her of all she had done for her and how she had given her friendship over the years, and had had no reply.
Marlborough himself asked for an audience with Anne.
She received him with affection. He was such a charming man and had none of his wife’s overbearing manners. Anne would always have a fondness for Mr. Freeman however much his wife provoked her. He never forgot that she was the Queen and although he was the hero of so many great battles and his brilliant generalship had astonished Europe, he was far more modest than Sarah ever was.
“Dear Mr. Freeman,” said Anne, “I am pleased to see you home safe and well and I trust you will remain here with us for a long time.”
He knelt and kissed her hand.
Marlborough replied that there was nothing which would delight him more but that he had the Queen’s interests to protect and he feared they would soon take him from home.
Anne sighed, remembering the casualty lists from Malplaquet.
“I wish,” said Marlborough, “to make sure that Your Majesty and the country are safe for ever. And there is only one way in which I can be sure of bringing this about.”
“And that way, Mr. Freeman?”
“If Your Majesty would make me Captain-General of your armies …”
“But you are that already.”
“I have my enemies, Madam. They could replace me