Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [38]
Sarah went on, “Of course we shall never allow it to happen. I was talking to Mr. Freeman about it. He agrees with me that it is preposterous. Bring that little bastard to England! Why, if he is in truth the heir to the throne, what is William doing on it! No. It shall never be. Never, never, never!”
“My dear Mrs. Freeman is so vehement.”
“Always—on behalf of Mrs. Morley!”
“It is comforting to know you think so highly of me … always.”
Sarah was more than angry, she was alarmed. She might sneer at William, call him the Dutch Abortion, Caliban, and the Monster, but she had to admit that he was a brilliant leader. When he believed in something he went out to get it with such enthusiasm that he invariably succeeded; such vitality was not natural in one so frail, and Sarah was definitely disturbed.
In an attempt to make the people accept what he was doing William had engaged the brilliant and witty writer Thomas d’Urfey to produce a few ballads about the coming of the boy whom many called the Prince of Wales. William had never forgotten what a part the old Irish song of Lillibullero had played in the Irish battles. Many believed it was as responsible for victory as William’s tactics. This was an age which was becoming very susceptible to the written word. The pen was actually proving to be mightier than the sword. Those who could produce telling words must be cosseted and wooed; they must be on one’s side.
In the streets they were singing,
“Strange news, strange news! the Jacks of the city
Have got,” cried Joan. “But we mind not tales—
That our good King, through wonderful pity,
Will leave the crown to the Prince of Wales.
That peace may be the stronger still.
Here’s a health to our master Will.”
It was small wonder that Sarah was grinding her teeth in anguish. If this boy came over, Anne’s position would remain the same as it always had been. And if the boy was brought up as a Protestant who was going to quarrel with that?
But Sarah’s fears miraculously disappeared.
James declared that he absolutely refused to put his beloved son in the care of William.
William looked greyer every day; Sarah was more jubilant.
“Warming-pan babies! Who ever heard of such a thing!” cried Sarah gleefully. “The man is in his dotage, and if ever I saw a fellow with one foot in the grave that man is Dutch William.”
It was a marvel to everyone that Sarah Churchill was not sent to the Tower. She must have uttered twenty treasonable statements a day. The King loathed her, but was afraid of offending the people if he attempted to interfere with Anne’s freedom, so she remained.
It was noticed that her manner towards Anne was becoming more overbearing; but since Anne voiced no objection it was presumed that the Princess accepted her friend as she was. But Anne herself was thoughtful. She liked to talk to Abigail Hill when they were alone together; she had discovered the pleasure of talking instead of listening, which was what one was obliged to do with Sarah. Abigail rarely offered an opinion unless it was pressed out of her; and then it was not to be despised. But what was so comforting was to be able to talk as though thinking aloud, and to have her murmuring assent, never contradicting.
Anne was becoming more and more addicted to these monologues and looked forward to the time when they should be alone and she might indulge in them.
When news of her father’s death reached her she was glad to talk of it to Abigail. Sarah was so impatient if she mentioned it to her; and the matter was so much on the Princess’s conscience that she had to talk of it to someone. She went into mourning; and wept a little. She knew that he had wanted her to stand aside for her half brother. This distressed her; and although she had no intention of confiding her true feelings to a chambermaid, she liked to talk to Abigail who never probed into her innermost thoughts or tried to trap her into some admission she would regret later.
“Of course, Hill,” she mused, “the King invited that boy over here and his father would not allow him to come. I don’t