Courting Her Highness_ The Story of Queen Anne - Jean Plaidy [92]
Yet he had not attracted scandal by his affairs with women. He was respectably married and by all accounts was faithful to his wife, although he was a notoriously heavy drinker and a lover of the night-life of London. But what did it mean?
She watched him talking to the Queen. He knew how to pay a compliment and Anne was obviously pleased with his company. And Mr. St. John could supply his own particular brand of wit.
It was a successful afternoon—Prince George comfortably sleeping without snoring too loudly, Anne sipping tea and listening contentedly while Mr. Harley talked of the advantages which had come to the country since the Queen’s reign. He did not mention Blenheim, though.
It was when he was taking his leave that he found an opportunity of coming close enough to Abigail to whisper: “Could I have a word with you alone?”
She looked startled and he went on, “I have a matter to discuss with you which I think will be of great interest … to us both.”
“Why … yes,” she murmured.
“I will wait in the ante-room. Come when you can.”
Shortly afterwards she made her way there to find him patiently waiting for her.
“I knew you would come,” he said, his voice warm and friendly.
“You said you had a matter to discuss.”
“Yes, I have made a very pleasing discovery.”
“About … me?”
“You and myself. We are cousins.”
“Cousins! Is it indeed so?”
“You are in the same relationship to me as you are to the Duchess of Marlborough. Your father was my cousin.”
“Mr. Harley, is it really so?”
He laughed. “You seem more surprised than pleased. But I can prove it to you.”
“But of course I am honoured to be so … so well connected.”
“It was your name that caught my attention. Abigail is my mother’s name. It is a popular name in our family.”
“It is scarcely unusual.”
“But that was what interested me and then … I discovered the connection. I was … delighted, and I could not refrain from telling you so.”
“It is a pleasure for me,” said Abigail, “but for you …”
“You are indeed as modest as I have always heard you are. There is one thing I wished to say to you and it is this: Cousins should meet now and then, should they not? A relationship is a bond. Do you agree? I hope therefore that we shall meet often in Her Majesty’s green closet.”
“I am sure Her Majesty will be pleased to see you at any time.”
“And you too?”
“I, of a certainty,” said Abigail with a blush.
She went back to the Queen a little bewildered but pleased. What exalted relatives she possessed! And how much more charming was Mr. Harley than the Duchess of Marlborough. He talked to her as though she were a friend—not, as the Duchess did, like a poor relation only fitted to be a glorified servant.
Abigail was excited. Why, she asked herself, had Mr. Harley seemed so pleased by the relationship? He was not a young man to be easily excited. He was a very ambitious middle-aged one.
A thought came to her. Could it possibly be that Robert Harley, one of the leading politicians, believed the acquaintance of a chambermaid was worth cultivating?
What did Harley want? Abigail was no fool. He wanted a closer relationship with the Queen and he believed he could reach it through his cousin. People were noticing the Queen’s fondness for her. This must be the case. It had come to Robert Harley’s ears, and because of it he was proud to recognize his cousin.
For, pondered Abigail, I have been his cousin for a very long time, but it is only now that he has taken the trouble to find out.
She could think of nothing else but Harley’s pleasure in his discovery, the courteous manner in which he had spoken to her.
I am important, thought Abigail. Not only to fetch and carry for the Queen, but for the influence I can have with her. I am becoming a little