Part 41 (2/2)
But there were other matters which could not be ignored.
”How I long to be rid of this Marlborough junta. But how? Only an election can dislodge them.”
”The people are eager to be rid of them too, Madam.”
”Yes, but the Ministry cannot be dismissed as easily as that. There is one drawback to Hampton, Masham. Mr. Harley cannot visit me so secretly. If he came to Hampton he might be seen. And then there would be talk. From St. James's it was easy for you to take a message; but if you left Hampton your absence would be noticed. You are being watched now, my dear.”
”Oh yes,” said Abigail. ”I am not simply the chambermaid now. But perhaps an idea will occur to us.”
”We will watch for it,” said the Queen.
It came when the Lieutenant of the Tower, the Earl of Ess.e.x, died. The Marlborough faction immediately chose one of their men to fill the vacant post, which was, naturally, in accordance with their policy.
”Your Majesty cannot allow them another victory,” warned Abigail. ”You should decide on the man for the post and insist.”
”You are right of course. How I wish it were possible for you to bring Mr. Harley up to me by way of the back stairs so that I could discuss this matter with him.”
Abigail agreed on the wisdom of this. But how bring Mr. Harley to Hampton without attracting attention?
”If we send someone with a message to him-someone who is so humble that his departure would not be noticed ...” began Abigail.
”But it must be someone whom we could trust,” replied the Queen.
”Your Majesty is surrounded by servants who long to serve you.”
”We must select carefully, my dear,” replied Anne.
They chose one of the gardeners. He was astounded when Abigail approached him as he worked in the gardens and gave him a letter which she said the Queen wished him to take with all speed to Mr. Harley in Albemarle Street. The man expressed his willingness to serve the Queen; and even the lowest servant knew that Mrs. Masham came direct from the Queen-in fact they were saying in the household and in the streets that Mrs. Masham was closer to the Queen than the mighty d.u.c.h.ess of Marlborough had ever been.
Knowing that he would come promptly in answer to the Queen's command, Abigail was watching for the arrival of Harley.
For a few moments, before he was conducted to the Queen, they were alone together.
”I thought this was the time to send for you,” Abigail told him.
He surveyed her from under his curiously hodded eyes, and as she smelt the strong smell of spirits, she was, for a moment, dismayed. She prayed he would not allow his love for drink to impair his talents; but need she have worried? He had always been a heavy drinker; he had once told her that he needed the stimulus of wine and was at his most brilliant when he was as near intoxication as such a hardened drinker could get.
”Wise Abigail,” he murmured, taking her hand and kissing it. His eyes were tender, but she knew that his caresses meant nothing; and she was too wise a woman to go on sighing for the impossible.
”The death of Ess.e.x is important,” she went on. ”Your man must have the Tower ... not Marlborough's.”
He nodded.
”And Marlborough has already decided on the Duke of Northumberland.”
”Marlborough must be disappointed. We want the Tower for Rivers.”
”So I thought. The outcome of this will be the pointer we need. If we win ... then ...”
”The ultimate victory cannot be far off. My dear Abigail, you are my most able general.”
”An election now and G.o.dolphin and Marlborough will be out. And you in ... The Queen's first minister.”
Once more he kissed her hand. ”I shall not forget ... Abigail.”
”Ess.e.x leaves a Colonelcy vacant as well as his office at the Tower. I would like that for my brother.”
”I am sure Her Majesty will be only too delighted to grant your request.”
He left her and went to the Queen's apartment.
Sarah was furious.
”Jack Hill ... a colonel in your Army. Good G.o.d, Marl, now they have gone too far.”
”They're going to defeat us over this matter of the Tower, but I'll be d.a.m.ned if I'll give Abigail Hill's brother a regiment.”
”You should resign rather.”
John looked sadly at Sarah. She would never understand the importance of tact. He was determined that Jack Hill should not have the regiment, but the matter would have to be settled with diplomacy.
When G.o.dolphin presented himself to Anne and she expressed her wishes that John Hill should become a colonel he a.s.sured her of the impossibility of this.
”My lord Marlborough will explain to Your Majesty why this cannot be.”
”I see nothing but frustration,” cried Anne. ”It seems that you, sir, work continually against me.”
G.o.dolphin with tears in his eyes protested, but the fact that she could not grant Abigail one of the few requests she had made, hurt Anne. A colonelcy in the army! It seemed such a small thing to ask-and it was so natural that Abigail should want it for her brother. Yet she, the Queen, was not allowed to make it.
G.o.dolphin left in despair.
Marlborough called on the Queen, who regarded him coolly.
”Your Majesty,” he said, ”my enemies have distorted my action and I fear I have been greatly misrepresented in your eyes.”
Anne bowed her head and stared at her fan.
”I want to have a chance to clear myself of the calumnies of my enemies.”
”Pray proceed,” said the Queen.
”There is a charge against me that I made an attempt to become a military dictator of this country. That is false.”
The Queen did not answer. Had he not come to her himself and asked for the Captain-Generalcy for life? What else did that mean? Oh, she was weary of these Marlboroughs!
She put her fan to her mouth. It was a gesture implying that she wished to hear no more on that subject. In her opinion he had attempted what he denied and by great good fortune-and the services of good men like Mr. Harley-he had been prevented.
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