Courting Her Highness: The Story of Queen Anne by Jean Plaidy

Author:Jean Plaidy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Royal - Fiction, Favorites, 1702-1714 - Fiction, Biographical, Marlborough, Royal, Biographical Fiction, General, Historical, Fiction.Historical, Great Britain, Sarah Jennings Churchill - Fiction, Biography & Autobiography, Great Britain - History - Anne, fiction
ISBN: 9780307888433
Publisher: Broadway
Published: 1966-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Anne was relieved when Sarah went. Sunderland! she thought. That man. Never.

She pulled the bell rope.

“Hill,” she said. “Send Hill.”

Abigail came, green eyes anxious.

“Your Majesty is unwell?”

“So tired, Hill. So very tired.”

“Is it a headache, Madam? Shall I bathe your forehead? There is that new lotion I found the other day.”

“Yes, Hill. Please.”

How quietly Hill moved about the apartment.

“Hill, my feet are so painful.”

“Perhaps a warm poultice, Madam.”

“It might be good. But bathe them first.”

“After I have soothed your head, Madam?”

“Yes, Hill, after.”

Such a comfort to feel those gentle hands; such a comfort to watch the dear creature. She was so different … so soothing.

I believe, thought the Queen, that I am glad Mrs. Freeman has gone.

That was impossible of course. She loved Mrs. Freeman beyond anyone … even dear George, her own husband. Mrs. Freeman was so vital, so beautiful. It was a joy to watch her eyes flash and the sun on that magnificent hair of hers. But that man! After having dared vote against George’s allowance! He was a crank in any case. At one time he had talked about giving up his title and remaining plain Charles Spencer. No sign of that when his father had died. He was the Earl of Sunderland now.

“I do not like the man’s temper and should never have a friendly relationship with him,” she said aloud.

“You spoke, Madam?”

“I was thinking aloud, Hill.”

“Something has happened to disturb Your Majesty?”

“The Duchess suggests I make Sunderland Secretary of State. Sunderland! I never did like the man.”

“No, Your Majesty, and that is understandable.”

“He has never been a friend to the Prince and as you know, Hill, no one who was not a friend of the Prince could be a friend of mine.”

“Your Majesty and the Prince are an example to all married couples in this realm.”

“I have been fortunate, Hill, in marrying one of the kindest men alive.”

“It is only necessary to see the Prince’s care for Your Majesty to realize that.”

“Such a good man, Hill! And Sunderland voted against his allowance and now would like to be my Secretary of State in place of dear Sir Charles Hedges—such a charming man whom I have always liked.”

“How fortunate that it is for Your Majesty to choose her ministers.”

“Of course, Hill.”

Anne felt better already. Dear Hill, always so soothing!

“I hate to disappoint the Duchess, Hill.”

“But, Madam, the Duchess must hate to disappoint you.”

The Queen was silent as a memory of Sarah’s flushed and angry face floated before her.

“The Duchess left in a hurry,” said Hill, speaking more boldly than she usually did, for it was rarely that she offered an opinion or an observation. “She seemed angry. She must be so … with herself … for having offended Your Majesty.”

Anne pressed the small freckled hand of her attendant. Dear Hill! So tactful! So different.

“I do not like the man’s temper, Hill,” she said firmly, “and I should never have a friendly relationship with him.”

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