they hoped for a son.
“John, John,” she cried, “what does this mean? What
“We can only wait and see.”
Sarah stamped impatiently. “We must not wait too long.”
“But, my dearest, for a while we must wait. I am wondering what is happening now on the Continent.”
“Monmouth?”
“And William. Do not forget William, my love.”
“Depend upon it Caliban is hatching some plot.”
“And forcing his wife to help him, I’ll swear.”
“She has about as much sense as my dear Mrs. Morley. They are told ‘Do this’ ‘Do that.’ And like idiots they do it.”
John touched her cheek lightly. “Which is very good for my dear Mrs. Freeman.”
“I’m thinking of the other one—Mary. Don’t forget she comes first.”
“We must not plan too far ahead, my dear. Remember James is still the King.”
“But is he going to remain King?”
“He has stepped into his brother’s place naturally and easily. I confess I expected trouble. There has been none. It seems he understands his danger for he has been behaving with more good sense than he usually shows.”
Sarah clenched her hands. “And Monmouth? What of Monmouth?”
“They’ll never accept the bastard.”
“The Protestant Duke!” said Sarah with a sneer. “And William? Those two are said to be friends. Rivals, as Charles once said, for the same mistress. And that mistress is the crown which James now wears.”
“We’ll keep our eyes on The Hague. That’s where the next move will come from.”
“William and Mary! Do you think they’ll make an attempt?”
John shook his head. “Not yet. William’s too clever. James will have to commit himself more deeply before it would be wise for anyone to try to oust him from the throne. The English don’t want a papist King but you know what they are for fair play. They wouldn’t like Mary to take over before her time … unless it was for a very good reason.”
“Mary! They say she does not enjoy good health and William would have no chance without her. And then it would be Queen Morley’s turn. John, do you understand that the day my plump Morley mounts the throne
John smiled at her. “I believe you capable of anything, my love. But we must be patient. We must wait … alert. We must first see which way the wind is blowing. It would not do for us to get caught in the coming storm.”
He was wise, she knew. Sarah had no doubt that when the time came they would be on the winning side.
James had found time to visit her at the Cockpit in spite of all his new duties. He embraced her with great tenderness and told her that she should rejoice to have a King for a father.
“Rest assured,” he said, “that I shall see benefits flow to my beloved daughter.”
That was comforting.
“Dear Father, but look at the size of your daughter! Delighted as I am by my state I am irked that I shall not be able to see you crowned.”
James smiled secretly and later Anne learned that he had ordered that a special closed box be erected in the Abbey from which she should watch the ceremony in the company of her husband.
“You do not imagine,” he said, “that I could allow my dear daughter to be absent on this great day!”
So Anne was in the box with George while the ceremony took place and afterward Mary Beatrice, the new Queen, made a point of visiting her stepdaughter there.
“What do you think of my dress?” asked Mary Beatrice, her lovely dark eyes shining; she was always happy on such occasions because she liked to see honor bestowed on her husband.
“Worthy of a Queen,” declared Anne. “Tell me, how do you feel … now that you are a queen?”
Mary Beatrice looked a little sad. “I should feel happier if I were in
“You will be … ere long,” said Anne.
Ten days later Anne’s daughter was born. She seemed healthy and although Anne and her husband had longed for a boy they now declared themselves to be completely delighted.
“Soon she shall have a brother,” George promised Anne; and she was sure he would be proved right.
“I shall call her Mary after my dearest sister,” said Anne. “Poor Mary. I feel so guilty to be happy here in England while she must remain in Holland with Caliban.”
