She envied Anne her children—there were five of them—and her happy married life; but of course she would not have exchanged her own lot for that of her sister, for although her position was precarious the adventure and ambition involved delighted her.
Anne had been ill for the past year; she had suffered great pain and one evening this so increased that all those about her knew she was near her end.
She asked for Mary who went to her at once and when Mary saw her friend’s condition she was horrified.
She sank on her knees by the bed and took Anne’s hand.
“My dearest friend,” she cried, “let me pray with you.”
Anne said: “If I could but see my husband …”
“Our husbands are together, Anne. I would I could bring yours to you, but he left Holland in the service of the Prince.”
“They are in England now. Oh … do you remember …?”
“I remember so much of England.”
“I am going, Your Highness …”
“Let us pray together, Anne.”
“Later. There is much I have to say. My children …”
“Do not fear for them. I will see that they are cared for.”
“I thank you. I shall go in peace since you promise me that. Commend me to my husband and the Prince …”
Mary looked up and through her tears saw Elizabeth Villiers standing some distance from the bed.
She went to her and said: “Your sister is dying. Should you not make your peace with her before she goes?”
“I do not know if that is her wish.”
Mary went back to the bed. “Elizabeth is here. She wishes to be friends. You must not die unreconciled.”
“Elizabeth …” murmured Anne.
Mary beckoned Elizabeth to come to the bed, and she stood on one side, Mary on the other.
“Elizabeth,” said Anne, “do you remember the days at Richmond?”
“I remember.”
“Come closer, so that I may see you.”
Elizabeth knelt by the bed.
“There is so much to remember … Richmond … Holland … I found great happiness in Holland. Elizabeth, you too, but you will not if …”
She was finding her breathing difficult and Mary whispered: “Rest, dear Anne. Do not disturb yourself. All is well between us all.”
The eyes of Elizabeth and Mary met across the deathbed of Anne Bentinck. Mary’s were appealing; Elizabeth’s as enigmatic as ever.
But later, when they were still there and they knew that the end was very near, Mary saw the tears silently falling down Elizabeth’s cheeks.
It was February—three months since she had said good-bye to William.
There was no excuse for a longer delay. Admiral Herbert had arrived with a yacht to take her to England. And this was good-bye to Holland; this was the end of one phase of her life. She was going to England to be a Queen and she was uneasy.
She had to take a Crown which, in truth, was her father’s; it was only because it had been forcibly taken from him that it was hers.
What would she find in England? How would the people receive an ungrateful daughter?
I shall be with William again, she told herself. What greater joy could there be for me than that?
No sooner had she stepped aboard than a storm arose and it was necessary to stay in the Maas for the rest of the day; but at last they set sail and she stood on deck watching for the first glimpse of her native land.
With what emotion she saw those cliffs; she tried to tell herself that this was the utmost joy.
Then she was aware of Elizabeth Villiers; her eyes were fixed on the approaching land with a smile as though she too were asking herself what the new life would bring, and she was confident of her future.
Mary dressed with care, for the first meeting with William. She wore a purple gown with a low bodice about which muslin was draped; her petticoat was orange velvet; there were pearls at her throat and her dark hair was piled high above her head and its darkness accentuated by the orange ribbons she wore.
She was pleased with her appearance. She looked like a Queen returning to her Kingdom. There was no hint of sadness. There must not be, for that was something which would displease William.
They were sailing up the once familiar river and there was the great city spread out before them. At Whitehall stairs William would be waiting to greet her.
There was music coming from the banks, but she kept hearing the words of a lampoon which had reached her even in Holland and she asked herself how many of those people who had clustered on the banks to watch her arrival were singing it now.
Yet worse than cruel scornful Goneril, thou;
She took but what her monarch did allow
But thou, most impious, robbest thy father’s brow.
“Father,” she murmured, “it had to be. It was for William. You are to blame … you only. It need never have been. But now it is and I fear that even if William loves me as he seemed to promise—for have I not brought him what he most desired—I shall never forget what we have done to you.”
Away melancholy thoughts!
How gay was the scene—the air bright with frost and gay with music. Cheers for the Queen who had come from Holland to rule them!
The new King was a mean-looking fellow—stooping, hooked-nosed, and small; he gave no sign of pleasure in his people; he did not care for shows and pomp; he had ridden into London for the first time in a closed carriage because it was raining. Not the man the English would have chosen for their King.
But here was the Queen—buxom and beautiful, smiling and seeming gay, orange ribbons shining in her coiled dark hair.
William had stepped forward to greet her. For the second time she saw the tears in his eyes. He embraced her, and the people looked on.
She thought: For William’s sake, everything is worthwhile.
So amid the cheers and the music they left Whitehall stairs—Mary and William, and somewhere in the company, Elizabeth Villiers.
They had seen each other, Elizabeth and William; they had exchanged a glance, and Elizabeth was satisfied.
Mary was not thinking of Elizabeth as she went ashore. She was reunited with William. They were together until death parted them.
A great task confronted them which would draw them closer together.
She would cease to listen to refrains about ungrateful daughters; she would not concern herself with the presence of Elizabeth Villiers.
The bells were ringing out. The people were shouting: “Long live William and Mary.”
A new reign had begun.
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