She dressed slowly and rested, for the Queen had given her leave of absence from her duties and as she lay on her bed she rehearsed what she would say if and when the Duchess arrived.
Sarah came to the Castle from the Lodge. She intended to see the Queen over the matter of a certain Mrs. Vain for whom she wanted a place in the bedchamber.
The Queen had been piqued since the affair of Sunderland, but Sarah had made up her mind that she would not allow such nonsense to persist. There was no need for Anne to sulk because Sarah and her ministers had made her see that her duty to the country came before personal prejudice.
It was for this reason doubtless that she had refused the appointment to Mrs. Vain. Godolphin had asked for it and Marl was in favour of it. The woman would be a friend to them and Godolphin and Marlborough believed they needed more friends in the bedchamber.
“I have installed Hill there,” she had told them. “Hill will never forget what I have done for her.”
“Hill is too dull and too servile. She scarcely sees anything,” was Godolphin’s answer.
“No, but she is often with the Queen and I fancy no one would dare speak against me in Hill’s hearing knowing her to be my woman and that I should certainly be told.”
“All the same it would be good to have Mrs. Vain there.”
“I will speak to her this very day,” Sarah promised.
She scarcely waited to greet the Queen before she brought up the matter of Mrs. Vain.
“Such an excellent woman, Mrs. Morley. I can vouch for her. I know that she would give you good service.”
“I am sure anyone recommended by Mrs. Freeman would be excellent.”
“Then I shall send her to you without delay.”
“But,” said Anne, “I do not want a bedchamber woman.”
“Mrs. Vain is a most agreeable creature.”
“I am sure she is all that Mrs. Freeman says she is.”
“Danvers has not been looking well lately.”
“Poor Danvers, I fear she is getting old.”
“She should be sent away for a holiday. With Mrs. Vain in attendance she would not be missed.”
“We could manage very well without Danvers for a while.”
“There would be no need to manage. With Mrs. Vain …”
“But I do not want a bedchamber woman,” said Anne. “And when I have one, she will not be a married woman.”
“My dear Mrs. Morley must take greater care of her health.”
“I am very well served and Mrs. Freeman need have no fears on that account.”
“But with Danvers’ health failing …”
“Hill and the others manage very well.”
“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 Duchess.
“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 Duchess, “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 Duchess’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 Duchess 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 slut’s ears.”
“I assure 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 Duchess 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 Duchess. “While I am here I will examine the wardrobe to assure 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.
Mrs. Danvers saw that she had succeeded in making the Duchess uneasy, so at least the visit had not been wasted. She would do what she could for Mrs. Danvers’ daughter and at the same time she was uneasy about Hill.