Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [156]
“Madam,” he said, “we have won many great victories but we are not yet at peace. I cannot endanger the future of this country by making discord in the ranks. This would most certainly happen if a high command were given to an inexperienced soldier when veterans were overlooked.”
“So you will not give this colonelcy to Hill?”
“Madam, I would resign my post rather than do so.”
He bowed himself from her presence.
She was not a fool. At least on this point he spoke good sense. She would not give up, of course; but it seemed as though Abigail’s brother might have to wait until he was a little more experienced before he received promotion.
Abigail was disconsolate because she had failed to give the colonelcy to her brother; but she believed that this was a small matter compared with the great victory which was just in reach.
She was certain that very soon the Godolphin–Churchill Ministry would be defeated and Robert Harley’s set up in its place.
The Duke of Marlborough was preparing to leave for Flanders for the spring campaign and came once more to the Queen before he left.
Anne was gracious to him, for she had always had a fondness for him, and even when she felt him to be most dangerously arrogant he was always charming.
“I have come to speak to Your Majesty on behalf of the Duchess?” said Marlborough, and immediately noticed the stubborn set of the Queen’s lips. “She wishes to remain in the country a great deal and asks that her posts may be bestowed on her daughters.”
Anne was relieved. “This should be so,” she said, and her relief was obvious. Anything, she was implying, to be rid of Sarah.
The Duke took his leave and Sarah arrived to thank the Queen for bestowing honours on her family.
Anne listened, in silence, and when Sarah asked if there had been some misunderstanding, she replied, “There has been none. But I wish never to be troubled more on this subject.”
Sarah opened her mouth in protest. But Anne repeated that she did not wish to be troubled more on the subject.
Sarah knew that she was defeated.
For once she had nothing to say.
Marl was going away once more; and now everything depended on the outcome of the trial of Dr. Sacheverel.
Abigail was alarmed. She realized now that she was in the forefront of the battle for power. At last her importance had been recognized. Not only was it known that she had ousted Sarah Churchill from her place in the Queen’s affections, but she had allied herself with Robert Harley, making it possible for him to have many an intimate interview with the Queen, so that now there was consternation in the Whig Ministry—for the Queen had the power to dismiss Parliament—and it was realized that the trouble could be traced to one who had seemed to be nothing more than a humble chambermaid.
First it was a whisper, then a slogan; and after that it was a battle cry: “Abigail Masham must go.”
The Earl of Sunderland, Marlborough’s son-in-law, always inclined to rashness, declared that nothing must be spared to banish Abigail Masham from the scene of politics. His plan was that Marlborough should give the Queen an ultimatum: either Abigail Masham left the Queen’s service or the Duke of Marlborough would.
There was a conference at Windsor Lodge, presided over by Sarah.
“It is too risky,” said Marlborough. “What if she should choose Masham.”
“And disrupt the Army!” cried Sarah.
Marlborough looked tenderly at his wife; and even as he did so he thought how different everything might have been if she had not lost the Queen’s favour by her own rash outspokenness, and her inability to see another point of view than her own. But how could he blame Sarah? He loved her as she was. Had she been sly like Abigail Masham she would not have been his dashing flamboyant Sarah.
“We have powerful enemies,” he reminded her.
“Harley. St. John—that cabal … and of course whey-faced Masham.”
“The Queen cannot