Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [202]
“I have only one desire in my life.”
“And I.”
Sarah said without turning her head: “I think I hear footsteps approaching. It would be well to go now.”
The lovers looked longingly at each other for a few more seconds; then John dropped Anne’s hand and she went to Sarah.
Mulgrave watched the two young women walk into the palace.
In the Princess’s apartments Anne was telling Sarah about her love for Mulgrave. Sarah was displeased; she had learned of this through her own indefatigable efforts as she would always discover any intrigue; but it was disturbing that Anne had not confided in her, for it was unlike the Princess to exclude her from her secrets.
Although Sarah was lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of York, she was constantly in the company of the Princess Anne; and before Mulgrave had enchanted the Princess, Sarah had been more important to her than anyone. Sarah was piqued, but she did not show it. Arrogant and overbearing as she invariably was to others, she was careful in her approach to Anne.
Little fool! thought Sarah. Her sister Mary has a husband, and I have a husband; therefore she must have one. She always had to imitate, not having a mind of her own.
So she had chosen to fall in love with the Earl of Mulgrave—an ambitious young man, if ever Sarah saw one; and she was not going to tolerate ambitious people about the Princess, particularly those who would have more influence than Sarah Churchill.
She did not tell her this now; instead she pretended to be pleased.
Anne was explaining how she had loved him from the first moment she had seen him. “And the fact that his name was John … like your dear husband’s … endeared him to me, Sarah.”
“Ah, Madam, you always wish to do as I do.”
“Mary used to say I imitated her. Alas, I can no longer imitate my dear sister.”
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Abigail Hill
In the Princess’s Apartments
Queen Anne
A Death in the Family
King’s Evil
Queen’s Bounty
The Jealous Duchess
Blenheim
Intrigue in the Green Closet
The Sunderland Controversy
The Masham Marriage
After Oudenarde
Sarah in the Death Chamber
Marlborough’s Request
Wine for a Laundress
Dr. Sacheverel
The Last Meeting
The Fall of Godolphin
The Golden Keys
Disgrace and Departure
Queen Anne Is Dead
The Exiles Return
At Langley Marsh
The End of the Favourites
Bibliography
Excerpt from Royal Sisters