A Want of Kindness by Joanne Limburg

Author:Joanne Limburg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Published: 2015-05-27T16:36:29+00:00

The Man from The Hague

There is nothing bearable in Whitehall. The air is injurious to George’s health. The Cockpit’s empty nursery is an open wound. The King has issued a Declaration of Indulgence, removing all impediments to office for all the Catholics he has already appointed, and to those he means to appoint. As long as Anne remains at the Cockpit, there can be no escape, from triumphant Catholics raised up and angry Hydes brought low, from the watchful eyes of Sunderlands, from the Queen’s often-expressed fellow feelings, from looks that pity or gloat, and are in either case insupportable. Anne makes a brief tour, incognito, of certain London churches and their anti-Papist preachers, for her own comfort, and for the benefit of those who have eyes to see her do it, and then the Denmarks retreat to Richmond.

There the red-brick walls, the oak furniture, her old chamber greet and hold her like a child restored. It is spring in the Park again, there is a tree there that still looks like a man, the red hinds are heavy with their fawns, and Anne finds herself with child again. One prayer answered, at least. If it were not for the lack of sure hands to deliver her true thoughts to Mary, she could find no fault in the place.

Without such a pair of hands, she has to write to Mary by the regular post, and can only write to her of the company she has had, the honour the King and Queen do her in coming to dine, the progress of George’s portrait, the latest Court dances, and whether or not Lords’ daughters might sit with her in the Chapel Closet. Naturally there are other, more pressing subjects on which she would prefer to speak her mind; before long her impatience proves stronger than her caution, and she agrees to a meeting with Dyckvelt. She will have Lord Churchill with them, and his Lady. Churchill is such a fine, well-favoured gentleman, so softly-spoken, so gentle in his manner – Anne finds him to be a reassuring, trustworthy presence. It is one opinion she shares with her father.

They take a stroll together, Anne and Dyckvelt, the Churchills walking a short distance behind. It is a beautiful day, a perfect opportunity to show Mr Dyckvelt the Park, and to speak out of earshot. At first sight, Anne is pleasantly surprised in him: she would not have expected such pretty manners in a Dutchman, and his English has only a slight trace of that most absurd of accents.

‘The Prince of Orange has charged me with offering you his sincere condolences on the loss of your children, Your Highness.’

‘Thank him from me. I have received several kind letters from the Princess too.’

‘He trusts, as a good Protestant, that you will find much comfort in the Word. They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.’

Good English Scripture: how reassuring to hear it. She almost smiles.

‘I have had that very Psalm from both my chaplains, Sir, and from my Lord Compton – and at least two bedchamber women.

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