Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [85]
Anne then agreed to a passage in the Act of Security which allowed Scotland to choose its own King irrespective of what England did.
A backward step, was the comment; and one which could bring back the old days of war between the North and South.
It was a hot summer and George could not breathe in London so Anne and he went to Windsor.
George shook his head over the state of affairs. He was clearly thinking how different it would have been had he been allowed to be Commander-in-Chief.
“I believe in Mr. Freeman,” said Anne; and no matter what criticism was levelled at Marlborough she repeated the phrase.
Abigail had returned to her old place, for Sarah was often at St. Albans. She had found the court unendurable during those hot days and believed that if she had to endure more of Anne’s exasperating ways she would scream the truth at her which was that she was a foolish old woman and Sarah hated to be near her.
Sarah wanted none of these passionate relationships with her own sex. Sarah wanted John with her—a John returned successful from his campaigns.
She had to face the fact that the position looked grim, and that made her all the more eager for his return. But he must come triumphant or they would put him in the Tower. She remembered the agonies of those days when he had been a prisoner there.
She raged against his enemies: Rochester, Nottingham in the House of Lords; Sir Edward Seymour in the Commons. How dared they—just because he was bold and adventurous. Did they not know that that was the only way to success?
Let them beware. Marlborough would succeed and then he would be the most powerful man in England.
Anne lay back in her chair. She was so tired.
“Hill,” she called. “Hill! Oh, there you are. Never far away.”
“Your Majesty would like me to make you tea.”
“I think that would be very pleasant.”
Anne stroked the dog in her lap. Life had become very difficult lately, after having been so pleasant. Her people had loved her for bringing back the old custom of touching for the King’s Evil and then of course there was her Bounty. But wars made Kings and Queens unpopular and Mr. Freeman’s boldness was not appreciated at home. She had had news from France which she found very worrying.
There was Hill with the tea. It was so soothing.
“Your Majesty is disturbed, I fear,” said Hill.
“I am, Hill. I don’t know what is going to happen to our Armies.”
“They are safe with the Duke, Madam, do you not think?” Abigail tried to keep the note of excitement out of her voice. She had talked quite often lately with Samuel Masham about the growing unpopularity of the Marlboroughs.
“I hope so, Hill. I hope and pray so.”
“But Your Majesty has the utmost confidence in the Duke?”
“Oh yes, Hill. But the Government seems quite angry with him. They are talking of impeachment.”
“It would never come to that, Madam, surely.”
“No, because the Duke will succeed. Of course he will succeed. But the French seem very confident. I have a despatch here, Hill.”
Abigail was trembling slightly. A despatch. So it had come to this. The Queen was going to show her a despatch!
“The King of France gave a great fête and banquet, Hill, at Marly on the Seine, and the banquet was for my step-brother and his mother. He is calling them the King and Queen of England.”
“It cannot be so, Madam.”
“Yes, I fear so. Read this. Read it aloud to me.”
“It was a sumptuous repast,” read Abigail, “with new services of porcelain and glass on tables of white marble. At nightfall, drums, trumpets, cymbals and hautbois announced that the fireworks were about to begin and after supper the King and Queen of England returned to St. Germains.”
“The King and Queen of England!” repeated the Queen. “You see that is an insult, Hill … to me.”
“But it is only the King of France, Madam.”
“And Marlborough has the Army in Germany. Oh dear, I do hope he succeeds in what he is trying to do,