Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [159]
That night the bonfires were lighted and there was great rejoicing in the streets.
THE LAST MEETING
he sound of carousal could be heard in St. James’s Palace. Abigail smiled secretly as she ministered to the needs of the Queen.
Dear Masham! thought Anne, I should like to honour her with a title, but if I did, could I expect a lady of rank to do the menial tasks she does for me? I do not want any change. I want everything to be as it is now between us.
“There is excitement in the streets tonight, Madam.”
“Yes, Masham. The people regard this as a victory for Dr. Sacheverel.”
“And for Your Majesty. They have linked you with him. So often I have heard them shout, Long Live the Queen and Dr. Sacheverel.”
“He stands for the Church and I do not believe my present Government has the good of the Church at heart.”
“Your Majesty will doubtless soon have a new Government.”
“I have had petitions from the people to dissolve the present Parliament.”
“Bringing Dr. Sacheverel to trial has ruined them,” added Abigail.
“I shall seek an early opportunity of dissolving Parliament so that the people will have a chance of electing the Government they want.”
Abigail was exultant. This would be good news for Robert Harley and she would convey it to him at the earliest possible moment, although, of course, he knew, for the outcome was inevitable.
“Play to me for a while,” said the Queen. “I have a fancy for a little music.”
So Abigail went to the harpsichord and played the Queen’s favourite Purcell airs, but as she played there was such a sound of conversation from the ante-room that she stopped and, turning to the Queen, saw that she had fallen asleep.
Abigail went to the ante-room where she saw Lady Hyde and Lady Burlington laughing together.
Abigail said: “The Queen is sleeping.”
A short while ago they would have resented the intrusion, now they knew that a word from Abigail to the Queen could do them much harm so they smiled ingratiatingly at her and asked her if she had heard of the Duchess of Marlborough’s latest impertinence towards Her Majesty.
“I have not,” answered Abigail, “and should like to hear it.”
“Well,” said Lady Hyde. “Lady Marlborough was acting as sponsor at christening with the Duchess of Somerset and Lady Somerset suggested naming the child Anne. And what do you think Madam Sarah said to that? ‘There was never anyone good for much of that name. I’ll not stand for a baby named Anne!’ ”
“How dare she!” cried Abigail.
“Sarah would dare anything. Did you not know that?”
Mrs. Darcey, one of the palace ladies, came into the room, just as Anne, awaking and missing Abigail, called to her.
“Masham,” said the Queen, when Abigail entered, “you look disturbed. Is anything wrong?”
“I am just angered, Madam, by a further impertinence of the Duchess of Marlborough.”
“What is this?”
“It is just another rudeness, Madam. Scarcely worth the notice.”
“Nevertheless I would hear.”
Abigail told the Queen of the christening incident.
“That woman is continually showing her lack of respect and animosity towards me,” complained the Queen. “I’ll not endure much more of it.”
Mrs. Darcey, who overheard the last remark, went to Sarah and told her what had been said.
“You see,” cried Sarah to John, “there is continual tittle-tattle against me.”
“But what of this christening matter?”
“I was there,” admitted Sarah.
“And you made this remark?”
Sarah put her head on one side. “I was joking about the occasion when the Duke of Hamilton christened his boy Anne—hoping for royal favour, of course—and I said since this was a girl, why not, after the fashion set by Hamilton, make a boy of her and call her George.”
“It might be a good plan if you could see the Queen and explain this.”
“My dear Marl, I am heartily sick of