Part 30 (1/2)
”I will send Mrs. Vain to you and then Your Majesty will see for yourself.”
Anne's fan came up to her lips and stayed there.
”I do not want a bedchamber woman,” she said. ”And when I do I shall choose an unmarried woman.”
Really, thought Sarah, this was becoming too tiresome when there had to be a battle over the installation of a new bedchamber woman! But it was no use talking to Anne when she was in that mood.
Sarah took her leave and went to keep her appointment with Mrs. Danvers.
The woman certainly looked ill.
”It was good of Your Grace to come,” she said, curtseying with great respect.
”What's the matter, Danvers?”
”I am getting old, Your Grace and I fancy I haven't long for this world. I have something on my mind ... and I felt it was my duty to put this before Your Grace.”
”Well, what is it?”
”It is not easy to say it, but I'm anxious on account of my daughter. If I should die I should like to know that Your Grace would ... keep an eye on her.”
”Oh,” said the d.u.c.h.ess.
”Yes, Your Grace. She's a good girl and would be most grateful to Your Grace, and you will understand a mother's anxiety.”
”I understand,” said the d.u.c.h.ess, ”and if an opportunity should arise I will see that your daughter is not forgotten.”
”She would serve you well and would not be like some.... It is on this matter that I asked Your Grace to call.”
The d.u.c.h.ess's brilliant blue eyes opened wider and she cried: ”What's that?”
”Well, Your Grace, I was thinking of Abigail Hill.”
”What of Abigail Hill?”
”Your Grace did everything for her but she has not repaid you well. I meant that my daughter would ...”
”Not repaid me well! What does that mean?”
”Your Grace knows that it is her most earnest endeavour to take your place with Her Majesty.”
”Take my place! Are you mad, Danvers? That ... insect!”
”She is sly, Madam.”
”Sly! She's ... insignificant.”
”The Queen does not find her so.”
”The Queen says she makes a good poultice. That is the limit of Madam Abigail's abilities.”
”No, Your Grace ...”
The d.u.c.h.ess was speechless. That this bedchamber woman should have the effrontery to contradict her! It was incredible!
”Danvers, allow me to know best.”
”Certainly, Your Grace.”
”You're wandering in your mind, Danvers.”
”I think ... my mind is clear, Your Grace, and my only intention was to tell you what I thought you ought to know.”
”Well, go on. Don't sit spluttering there.”
”She spends hours alone with the Queen ... in the green closet ... playing the harpsichord and singing.”
”Well, there's no harm in that.”
”She entertains the Queen with her mimicry. Your Grace would be surprised to see the insolence of that. I have heard her imitation of my Lord Treasurer, the Duke and ... Your Grace.”
”If I believed that I would box the s.l.u.t's ears.”
”I a.s.sure Your Grace that it is true. Would I, a dying woman, make such a charge if it were not?”
”You bedchamber women are all alike. You're all jealous of each other. It is not so long ago that I found it necessary to reprove you, Danvers, for helping yourself to the Queen's mantuas.”
”Your Grace, I took what was due to me.”
”I trust you have not again been helping yourself to what you considered your dues.”
”Since Your Grace's orders I have touched nothing ... although ...”
The d.u.c.h.ess looked haughty. There was some underhand business here. Danvers wanted to get her girl into the bedchamber, that was certain. So perhaps that was why she wanted to get Abigail Hill out. Abigail playing the harpsichord, making poultices, emptying the slops ... what did it matter. Sarah had no desire to do such things. But mimicry, that was a different matter. But not demure, deprecating Hill! She would never believe that of her. No, Danvers was jealous for some reason.
”I am glad to hear you have filched nothing,” said the d.u.c.h.ess. ”While I am here I will examine the wardrobe to a.s.sure myself that everything is in order.”
Mrs. Danvers said desperately: ”Your Grace, I overheard Mrs. Hill speaking of Mrs. Vain to the Queen.”
”What's that?”
”Mrs. Hill does not wish Mrs. Vain to be brought into the bedchamber.”
”Not wish ... But what concern is that of hers?”
”That is a question I should like to ask her, Your Grace, but I swear I heard her speaking to the Queen and telling Her Majesty why they did not need her.”
This made sense. Hill did not want Vain. Hill had spoken to the Queen on this matter and persuaded Anne to agree with her. And for this reason Anne had set herself against employing Vain in the bedchamber.
Impossible! Anne would never listen to Hill when Sarah expressed a wish. But it was strange. Anne had been so ... stubborn, and about such a minor matter. One could understand the Sunderland affair. But a bedchamber woman was somewhat different from a Secretary of State.