Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [154]
She had not seen Sarah since the last outburst, but Sarah continued to write. It seemed that the woman must give in to her feelings somehow, and she could not rid herself of the desire to direct. The insolence of the woman was almost past belief; as Anne said to Abigail, if she had not the evidence before her eyes such behaviour would seem incredible.
Christmas had passed and the unsatisfactory state of affairs still persisted. Sacheverel was still waiting trial; and a great deal would depend on the outcome of that. But the new year, Anne told Abigail, would bring great changes.
They were sitting in the green closet when a messenger brought a package which by the writing on the outside Anne knew to come from Sarah.
She sighed and calling Abigail to her stool, asked her to open the package. This Abigail did and together they read Sarah’s long letter of recrimination and advice.
“There is a copy here of Jeremy Taylor’s Holy Living and Dying together with a prayer book,” said Abigail.
Anne read Sarah’s letter and sighed. How could she ever have cared so deeply for such a woman. Sarah once more told her of her follies and how she should reform. The passages marked in the books were meant to convey a lesson to the Queen.
Sarah Churchill for all her vitality, for all her arrogance, thought the Queen, was a fool. She wants to return to her old place and everything she does makes me feel that I never want to see her again.
“What shall I do with the books, Madam?” asked Abigail.
“Put them in a drawer and let us forget them. These are very trying times, Abigail. I should like to get away for a short time to think.”
“Yes, Madam. Have you anywhere in mind?”
“I like the quiet of Hampton.”
“Shall I make preparations at once?”
Anne’s fingers rested on the sandy hair. What a comfort! she thought. How different!
Hampton was delightful even in January. The Queen used a small chamber because of the cold, and it was very cosy to sit there with Abigail and talk of pleasant things like the virtues of Prince George and the brilliance of their boy; the future of Samuel Masham and the charms of his daughter Anne.
But there were other matters which could not be ignored.
“How I long to be rid of this Marlborough junta. But how? Only an election can dislodge them.”
“The people are eager to be rid of them too, Madam.”
“Yes, but the Ministry cannot be dismissed as easily as that. There is one drawback to Hampton, Masham. Mr. Harley cannot visit me so secretly. If he came to Hampton he might be seen. And then there would be talk. From St. James’s it was easy for you to take a message; but if you left Hampton your absence would be noticed. You are being watched now, my dear.”
“Oh yes,” said Abigail. “I am not simply the chambermaid now. But perhaps an idea will occur to us.”
“We will watch for it,” said the Queen.
It came when the Lieutenant of the Tower, the Earl of Essex, died. The Marlborough faction immediately chose one of their men to fill the vacant post, which was, naturally, in accordance with their policy.
“Your Majesty cannot allow them another victory,” warned Abigail. “You should decide on the man for the post and insist.”
“You are right of course. How I wish it were possible for you to bring Mr. Harley up to me by way of the back stairs so that I could discuss this matter with him.”
Abigail agreed on the wisdom of this. But how bring Mr. Harley to Hampton without attracting attention?
“If we send someone with a message to him—someone who is so humble that his departure would not be noticed …” began Abigail.
“But it must be someone whom we could trust,” replied the Queen.
“Your Majesty is surrounded by servants who long to serve you.”
“We must select carefully, my dear,” replied Anne.
They chose one of the gardeners. He was astounded when Abigail approached him as he worked in the gardens and gave him a letter which she said the Queen wished him to take with all speed to Mr. Harley in Albemarle Street. The man expressed his willingness to serve the Queen; and even the lowest servant knew that Mrs. Masham came