Part 27 (2/2)
Anne was sipping the chocolate Abigail had just brought to her.
”Do try a little, dear Mrs. Freeman. Hill makes it most deliciously.”
”No thank you,” said Sarah. ”Mrs. Morley is I believe pleased with Hill, whom I brought to wait on her.”
”Such a good creature, dear Mrs. Freeman. Your unfortunate Morley can never thank you enough.”
”I am glad she gives satisfaction, for some in your bedchamber do not.”
”Oh dear ...” Anne looked alarmed.
”I refer to Danvers.”
”Danvers! Oh, she is getting old, you know. She is like a dear old nurse to me.”
”That is no reason why she should be insolent to me.”
”Oh dear me. How terrible! My poor dear Mrs. Freeman.”
”The woman is a spy.”
”A spy, Mrs. Freeman. For whom is she spying?”
”That we shall endeavour to find out. But she has been helping herself from the wardrobe. She has had four mantuas, she confessed to me. She thought they were her right and you had no further use for them.”
”But Danvers has often had these things you know. In her position it is accepted that she should have these things now and then.”
”But my dear Mrs. Morley, as Mistress of the Robes I should have charge of the wardrobe.”
Oh dear, thought Anne, how my head aches! I shall have to ask Hill to put that soothing lotion of hers on it.
”Danvers must not pilfer from the wardrobe,” went on Sarah.
”I will tell her that she must take nothing without your consent.”
”And she should be dismissed.”
”I will speak to her.”
Sarah was smiling sweetly and bending towards the Queen. ”And there is that other little matter which Mrs. Morley has been turning over in her mind.”
”What matter is that, dear Mrs. Freeman?”
”Sunderland ...”
Anne's fan came up to her mouth and rested there.
”I have not changed my mind on that,” she said. ”I could never enjoy a good relations.h.i.+p with him for I could not endure his temper.”
At least, thought Sarah viciously, the refrain has changed a little.
She left the Queen who immediately sent for Abigail.
”Such a headache, Hill.”
No need to ask. Hill was ready with the treatment.
Such soothing fingers! What a comfort to be alone with Hill who did not shout.
And poor Danvers! How could one dismiss a servant who had been with one all one's life?
I shall not dismiss Danvers. I will give a little annuity and special gifts and tell her she must allow the d.u.c.h.ess to have the disposal of the wardrobe.
Anxiety-mainly about this appointment of Sunderland's-seemed to increase the gout. Anne, her feet bound up with poultices, her face red and spotty, her gown unb.u.t.toned, would lie back in her chair and find comfort in little but the presence of Abigail. She was scarcely recognizable as the dazzlingly clad Queen of her public appearances. She was becoming one of the most important sovereigns in Europe and was well aware that she owed this in a large measure to the Duke of Marlborough.
This was enhanced when Colonel Richards, the Duke's aide, brought her news of the great victory of Ramillies.
Marlborough wrote that he wished the Queen to know the truth of his heart and that the greatest pleasure he had in this success was that it might be a great service in her affairs, for he was sincerely sensible of all her goodness to him and his.
Anne read this with tears in her eyes. Dear Mr. Freeman! Had she allowed herself to become irritated by all the importunings for that man whose temper she did not like? Such a pity of course that Anne Churchill had married him.
Sarah came to see her, beaming with delight.
”Why, Mrs. Morley, do you realize what this means. It is the greatest victory since that of Blenheim which Mr. Freeman won for you. This is going to make a difference to the whole course of the war. I have heard that Louis is desolate ... quite desolate. I can a.s.sure you that the enemy trembles ... yes, trembles at the very mention of Marlborough's name.”
”It is indeed a great victory, Mrs. Freeman, and I shall never, never forget the genius of Mr. Freeman.”
”It would give him great pleasure to see Sunderland's appointment.”
Even on such an occasion Anne retained her stubbornness.
She turned her head away. ”Dear Mr. Freeman will have much to occupy him on the Continent. There must be a thanksgiving service for this victory. I will speak to my Lord G.o.dolphin of my wishes in this matter.”
Sarah did not pursue the subject of Sunderland which was a great relief to the Queen. In fact Sarah was a little subdued which, in the circ.u.mstances was surprising, but when she told Anne the reason, Anne was full of sympathy and understanding.
”It might easily have been the end of Mr. Freeman,” Sarah burst out. ”I can scarcely bear to think of it, for when I do I must remind myself that every hour he spends over there he is in danger. It was so nearly the end at Ramillies.”
”My poor, poor Mrs. Freeman!”
”He was leaping across a ditch when his horse was shot from under him; he fell. If his aide, Captain Molesworth, had not been there to give him his horse, the Duke might have fallen to the enemy. I shudder to think of it.”
In a moment of rare introspection Sarah saw life without Marlborough. She could not have endured it. She almost wanted to throw away ambition, to have him safe with her at Holywell House, home and safe.
”That's not all,” she said grimly. ”While his equerry, Colonel Bringfield was helping him to mount, a cannon ball struck the Colonel and took his head right off. It might so easily have been ...”
”It was Providence, dearest Mrs. Freeman,” soothed Anne.
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