Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [53]
Oddly enough he knew as they faced each other that Sarah felt the same—his wild tempestuous Sarah who could be tender only to him, and then rarely so. Yet, he told himself, for him her frequent anger made her occasional sweetness all the more precious.
She clung to him now. “Oh, John,” she whispered, “there’ll be dangers over there.”
“And here there’ll be dangers too. You will have to be careful of your behaviour, my love, for although I go to war with a ruthless enemy you stay behind in a country of tigers and wolves.”
Sarah’s eyes glinted momentarily. “I’d like to see them attack me. Just let them try.”
“They’ll try, Sarah. They’ll never cease to try.”
“I shall be ready for them. Now that I have got young Abigail Hill to take over some of the more unpleasant duties I have more time for important affairs. I’m thankful for that girl, John. She does her task well. And she is respectful and grateful.”
“As she should be.”
“As she should be. She dare not be otherwise. But it is rarely that I have to remind her what I have done for her. She should serve me well. But I’ll reward her.”
He touched her cheek lightly with his finger. “It is always well to reward a good servant.”
She took his hand and kissed it. “You will think of me when you are away?”
“Constantly.”
“Let not thoughts of me turn you from those of war. I want this finished quickly. I want you back in England.”
“You can be sure that I shall lose no time in hurrying to you.”
“Oh, my love, these are great days.”
“Yes,” he replied, “this will be warfare with a difference. I want to beat the French in the field and then march on to Paris to take their capital. That is the only way to beat the French.”
“And you’ll have opposition to those plans, I’ll warrant.”
“There is always opposition. To turn to Spain would be suicidal … and if we succeeded there no decision would have been reached.”
“Well, John Churchill, I do not think you are the man to let others fight your wars for you.”
“As usual my love is right.”
When the hour for parting had come and he must set sail, leaving her behind, Sarah declared her intention of seeing him go aboard, for she was determined to be with him until the very last moment.
“How I wish that I were coming with you!” she cried vehemently.
“Ah, my love, then I should indeed be happy. But there are affairs at home which need your attention.”
She nodded. “Have no fear. Sidney Godolphin will do as I wish and Harley seems amenable. I believe he is delighted that you selected him to join you. He as much as told me so.”
“He’s a clever fellow whom we can’t afford to have as an enemy.”
“I shall be watching them. I wish I didn’t have to listen to Morley’s gossip. Sometimes I could scream at the old fool to be silent.”
“You must never do that, Sarah.”
“I believe that woman would take anything … just anything from me.”
“I beg you do not put it to the test.”
“Oh, come, Marl, you can trust me.”
“With all my heart, but you can be a little impetuous, my love.”
“She dotes on me. Her stupid old face looks almost human when she sees me.”
“She is not a fool, Sarah. She is a woman who successfully hides her true feelings as well as any. I’ve heard that said and I know it to be true.”
“I know what her true feelings are for her beloved Mrs. Freeman, I do assure you.”
“God bless you, Sarah. Take care of yourself and the family.”
One last embrace. Then she must let him go. He stood on deck watching her; and she stood waving to him, praying earnestly, and what was so unusual, humbly. “Let him come safely back to me.”
Marlborough held up his glass that he might see her for as long as possible; and when he could no longer see her he could only endure the parting by writing to her without delay.
“I watched with my perspective glass for a long time in hopes that I might have another sight of you. At this moment I would give my life to come back to you.”
“Hill,” said the Queen, “pray bathe my feet. They are most painful today.