Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [24]
“Have no fear, Alice. We shall never be allowed to forget.”
“Do you know, Abby, I feel proud to be connected with her.”
Abigail nodded and said nothing.
When she saw her brother John he talked excitedly about the household of the Prince of Denmark.
“He’s kind,” was John’s verdict, “and always on the point of falling asleep. Someone said of him that it is only the fact that he breathes which makes you know he’s alive—in all else he is dead. It’s true he says little; but you should see him eat—and drink. And his answer to everything is ‘Est il possible?’ In the household they call him Old Est il Possible? But he is rarely annoyed and everyone likes working for him as they do for the Princess.”
“Is he often with the Princess?”
“Yes. But when he visits her he falls asleep. Then she talks to our cousin who is always in attendance.”
It was remarkable how the conversation always came back to Sarah.
“How does he feel about cousin Sarah? He must be put out by her influence over his wife.”
“He is never put out. He has the sweetest temper in the world. Besides, the Princess dotes on our cousin and for that reason he too is fond of Cousin Sarah.”
Abigail considered this and believed she would never understand how one who was as overbearing and took no pains to be pleasant should be so admired.
But when she was face to face with her cousin she was conscious of Sarah’s power. This happened one day when a message was brought to her that Lady Marlborough wished to speak to her without delay.
Abigail went at once to Sarah’s apartment which was connected with the Princess’s by a staircase; and there Sarah was impatiently waiting her.
“Ah, Abigail Hill.”
Yes, she was magnificent; her handsome looks, her vitality, her strident voice; her laughter sudden and coarse; her presence commanding.
“You sent for me, Lady Marlborough?”
Sarah nodded. “I have good news for you. You have done well at your post and I am going to see that you are rewarded.”
“Your ladyship is good to me.” Abigail gave no indication of her apprehension. What would be her reward? Not to return to St. Albans!
“I know that I can trust you. I am going to put you closer to the Princess.”
“I … I see.” Abigail’s face had become faintly pink; it would show, she was aware, in her nose and she would look even more unattractive than usual.
“Yes,” went on Sarah, “I know that you are well aware how to be discreet. You will be a chambermaid and you will do small tasks for the Princess … fetching and carrying when necessary. It is a pleasant post; in fact it is close to my own. You will not only be near the Princess but near me.”
“I don’t know how to thank you, Lady Marlborough.”
“You will please me if you do your work well. The Princess needs you to bring what she wants without her asking. You must anticipate her needs. See that her dish of sweetmeats is replenished, that her cards are always at hand and that none is lost and that they are replaced when necessary; you will see that her clothes are in order, that when she needs gloves you have them. At the same time you must behave as though you are not there. Her Highness would not wish you to intrude. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Lady Marlborough.”
“I am glad. You will take over tasks which I once performed and for which I now have not the time. Your duty in fact is to let it seem that I am there when I am not. Speak only to the Princess when spoken to. I doubt she will speak to you. You will discover what is needed of you as time goes on. I am going to take you to Her Highness now and explain that you will be there to perform the more menial tasks of the bedchamber. Don’t forget. Don’t speak unless you are spoken to. You will have to remember that you are in the presence of Royalty. Do you think you can?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Very good. Then come with me.”
Sarah swept imperiously into the Princess’s apartments where Anne was at her table writing a letter.
“My dear, dear Mrs. Freeman,” she said, looking up and smiling. She peered past Abigail as though she were not there. “How pleasant it is to see you. You can