Part 31 (1/2)
”Your Majesty is so kind....”
”With Danvers spending so much time in her bed there is a great deal for you to do.”
She is relenting! thought Abigail. She is going to please the d.u.c.h.ess by taking Mrs. Vain after all. Let that happen and Sarah would have scored another victory. It must not be.
”Mrs. Danvers has a daughter who is seeking a place,” said Abigail. ”Poor Mrs. Danvers, I believe she worries a great deal now that she is ill. She would be very happy if you could take the girl into your household.”
”My poor Danvers! Tell her to come to me when she is a little recovered and I will speak to her.”
”And Your Majesty in the goodness of your heart will ease her mind by offering her girl a bedchamber post?”
”It was you who brought it to my notice yet I fancy Danvers has not always been kind to you.”
”I had so much to learn when I first entered Your Majesty's service.”
Anne's white fingers caressed the sandy locks for Abigail was seated on the stool at her feet where she liked her to be.
”You are such a good creature, Hill ... Masham I mean. Do you know I fancy I shall never grow accustomed to calling you Masham. I was saying so to the Prince last night in bed.”
It was impossible to keep secret the fact that Masham and Abigail Hill shared those apartments adjoining the royal ones. They slept in the same bed. This could mean only one thing, for the Queen and the Prince must be aware of this which, if the pair were unmarried, Anne would never have countenanced.
Mrs. Danvers, feeling better and still clinging to the belief that the d.u.c.h.ess was her true patron asked the d.u.c.h.ess to call upon her once more; and this time Sarah did not hesitate. Since the last interview she had decided to have a word with Abigail when they met, but to her amazement she found that she never met Abigail. It was not until she received this invitation from Mrs. Danvers that it occurred to her that Abigail might have deliberately avoided her.
”Well?” she demanded of Mrs. Danvers.
”There are rumours about Mrs. Hill, Your Grace ... Mrs. Hill and Masham.”
”What rumours?”
”That they are married.”
”Nonsense. Hill would not marry without informing me.”
”It is said that they share an apartment close to the Queen's, Your Grace ... to be handy should they be needed for the Prince in the night.”
”I never heard such nonsense. Hill and Masham would not share an apartment unless they were married, and if they were I should know. If Hill was so deceitful as to keep the matter from me, the Queen would tell me and if they have an apartment next to hers and are together on night duty Her Majesty would be in the secret. I never heard such stuff and nonsense.”
”I merely thought Your Grace would not wish me to keep such a persistent rumour from you.”
”I'm not blaming you for telling me, Danvers, but for believing such rubbish. I hear your girl is now in the bedchamber.”
”Yes, Your Grace, Mrs. Hill kindly spoke to the Queen for her.”
”Mrs. Hill spoke to the Queen!”
”Yes, Your Grace, and Her Majesty kindly gave her the place.”
As Sarah left Mrs. Danvers she remembered Alice Hill. There was another of the indigent ones who had been well treated by her. If there was any truth in this absurd story, which was beginning to give Sarah a qualm or two, Alice would be likely to know.
There was a flutter of excitement among the maids at the approach of the d.u.c.h.ess. Such a visit must mean trouble for someone, for wherever the d.u.c.h.ess went there was a train of complaints.
”I want to speak to Alice Hill,” she said. ”And without delay.”
Alice, flushed, alarmed, and fat, came hurrying to the d.u.c.h.ess.
s.l.u.t! thought Sarah. I have done too much for these Hills. What is this one doing to earn her very comfortable livelihood, I should like to know.
”You've grown fat,” she said.
”I'm sorry, Your Grace,” replied Alice, bobbing a curtsey.
”Too much rich food.” Sarah made a note that she would take a look at the accounts and see how much was being spent on servants' food. ”I want to talk to you about your sister.”
”Oh yes, Your Grace.” Alice flushed scarlet. Guilty! thought the d.u.c.h.ess. Yes, something is afoot.
”When did you last see her?”
”Oh ... er ... Your Grace, I'm not sure. It might have been yesterday. She is very thin, Your Grace. You would certainly not find her fat.”
”I want to ask you a plain question, Alice Hill. Do you know whether your sister is married to Samuel Masham?”
Alice gave a little cry and clapped her hand to her lips.
”Oh ... Your Grace ...”
”Is she?”
Sarah advanced and catching the girl by the shoulders shook her.
”Yes ... Your Grace.”
Sarah released the girl.
”Why was I not told?”
”I ... I believe my sister thought that such a matter would be of small moment to such a great lady, Your Grace.”
”I see,” said Sarah. ”But I should have been told.”
Abigail could not hope to avoid the d.u.c.h.ess for ever; and now being determined to see her, Sarah soon arranged a meeting. When Abigail came from the Queen's apartments she found the d.u.c.h.ess waiting for her in one of the ante-rooms.
”Your Grace!” cried Abigail, flus.h.i.+ng and lowering her eyes.
”I've been hearing news of you. So you are married.”
”Yes, Your Grace.”
”And to Samuel Masham.”
”Your Grace knows him?”