Sarah Churchill and whenever they could be together they took advantage of it.
John was now at Whitehall and able to see his wife frequently, and on this occasion he had something very serious to say to her. They went down to their home near St. Albans, there to spend a few days with their children. There were five of them now: Henrietta, Anne, Elizabeth, John, and Mary. Sarah counted herself lucky when she considered Princess Anne who had lost all hers.
John was thoughtful as they left London and, knowing him well, she sensed there was something on his mind.
“You had better tell me what it is,” said Sarah grimly.
He gave her a fond smile. There was little she missed.
“I have much to tell you,” he said.
“Good news?”
He nodded.
“Then tell me quickly. I like not to be kept in the dark.”
“We took the right road.”
“Of course we did.”
“Bentinck has talked with me … made me promises.”
“What, John, what? What a maddening creature you are! Don’t you know I am the most impatient woman in the world when there is news of my family?”
“How would you like to be a Countess?”
“John! Stop this teasing. I will not have it, I tell you.”
“You may well be ere long.”
“An Earldom. Is it true then?”
“Not yet, there is a condition. Bentinck has implied that titles and honors can be ours. Oh, my dear Sarah, what a clever woman you are! Already they realize that you can do what you will with Anne.”
“And the condition is?”
“That she agrees to their conditions. Joint Sovereigns. This shall not be the reign of Mary and her Consort but of William and Mary. Not much to ask for an earldom.”
“But what if they should have a child?”
“William is impotent.”
“And cross-eyed Betty Villiers?”
“It is a blind. He would have the world think him a man when he is only half one.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes.
“An earldom,” she murmured.
“And that would not be all.”
Her smile was triumphant. “Why, John,” she said, “Do you think what I think?”
“The Churchills shape the future of England.”
She laughed and put her hand in his.
“I shall see that fat Morley agrees to stand aside for Caliban.”
She loved her children; the days spent with them in the country were something to look forward to; but all the time she was longing to be back at the Cockpit, for she could scarcely wait to take those steps which would lead her to that earldom.
Playing with the children, riding with John, they talked of nothing else.
“The Earl of …” Sarah said again and again, putting her head on one side and looking at him with pride.
“What say you of Marlborough?”
“Marlborough.” Sarah tried it on her tongue. “It is a grand sounding name.”
“It was a name which was once in my family. The Leys were Earls of Marlborough.”
“Marlborough!” cried Sarah. “Oh, I like it.” She threw her arms about him. “Oh, my Lord Marlborough, what a happy day this is!”
John cautiously reminded her that the title was not yet theirs. There was work to do first.
So during those days which should have been completely contented, Sarah yearned to be back at the Cockpit.
