Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [20]
“Her! Oh, she’s got no feelings.”
“I wouldn’t change places with that Abigail Hill … not for all the money in the King’s purse!” was the summing up.
While Abigail was wondering how she endured such a life and was contemplating what might happen to her when all the Churchill girls were married, Lady Marlborough arrived at St. Albans.
There was the usual fuss of arrival, the fond embraces from her children, the loud voice, raised in affection or delivering a scolding—whatever the occasion demanded. But the entire household sprang to life with the arrival of Lady Marlborough.
She had not been long in the house when she was demanding: “Where is Abigail Hill?”
Abigail was summoned to the Countess’s room and there Sarah, magnificently dressed, fresh from Court, greeted her, if not with affection without displeasure.
“There you are, Abigail Hill. And you are looking better than when I brought you here. Good food has improved you, Abigail. I hope you appreciate what I’ve done for you.”
“Yes, Lady Marlborough.”
“When I think of the state you were in when I found you all. Those ragged boys! I could not leave you like that, could I? I’ll daresay you often think of those days and compare them with what you enjoy at St. Albans.”
One had to compare lack of food with lack of freedom, independence with patronage. It was difficult to say, Abigail decided, which was preferable. When one had enough to eat independence and dignity seemed the most precious acquisitions; but then when there was enough to eat one quickly forgot what it was like to be hungry.
She said meekly: “Yes, Lady Marlborough.”
“I have many duties in the household of the Princess Anne, as you know; and there is a great drain on my time, but I have been thinking of you, which surprises you. Confess it.”
What answer was expected? With any other, one would have been surprised; but one knew that Lady Marlborough was so good, so kind, so thoughtful, so devoted to duty that she would not forget even the most humble and insignificant of poor relations.
Would she detect the sarcasm behind such a remark? Of course not. Her great pride and belief in herself would not permit her to see such irony.
“I did know, Lady Marlborough, that you are so very kind and …”
“Ha! And you hoped I had not forgotten you? That was rather impertinent of you, Abigail Hill. Had I forgotten you? Did I not see that you were well provided for in this house?”
“Yes, Lady Marlborough.”
“Well, of what have you to complain?”
“I was not complaining, Lady Marlborough.” The face tinged with pink, the manner alarmed, scared humility in the eyes, the gesture of usually quiet hands.
“But all the same you hoped for a place at Court, did you not?”
“A place at Court. But Lady Marlborough, I …”
“Oh, there are places and places. You did not expect that I was going to appoint you Secretary of State to his most Gracious Majesty. Eh, girl?”
“But no, Lady Marlborough.”
Sarah began to shake with laughter at the thought of Caliban’s receiving Abigail Hill as his Secretary of State.
“It is not the King’s household in which I would place you.”
Nor could you! thought Abigail. You are the last person to whom he would grant favours.
“But that of the Princess.”
“The Princess Anne?”
“Who else? You will see little of the Princess, of course. We need a quiet reliable woman to look after the maids. I thought of you. It will be a good opportunity for you. I did not intend to keep you at St. Albans all your life. The Princess leaves the choice of posts to me and when I knew we wanted a Mother of the Maids I thought of you.”
Abigail’s face was faintly pink, and even she found it difficult to suppress her excitement. She would be near John and Alice; they could see each other, exchange experiences. At last Abigail was to have what the others were enjoying: a place at Court.
“Well, Abigail?”
“I do not know how to thank you, Lady Marlborough.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “I doubt not that you will find a way of doing so. You will have to keep those women in order. Do you think you can, Abigail Hill?”
“I will do my