She began to wish that she had been a more dutiful daughter, that she had not allowed her fondness for gossip to embroil her in this affair which, from its beginnings as an exciting topic of conversation, had grown into a revolution.
Sarah following Anne’s thoughts put a stop to them immediately.
“All will be well as long as you stand up for your rights. They must not browbeat you, which is what they will do if they can.”
“Mary has changed so. She talks so much and I have nothing … simply nothing … to say to her.”
“I have thought of something you can say to her. This place is unfit for an heiress to the crown—and whatever they say you are that.”
“Unless they should have a child.”
Sarah gave a coarse laugh. “My dear Mrs. Morley expects the impossible. William would if he could but he can’t. That is why he pretends to spend so much time with his mistress. I tell you this, Bentinck is more to his taste than even Squint-eyed Betty, and between her and Bentinck he has no strength left for the Queen.”
Anne laughed. Sarah could always amuse.
“But Mrs. Morley, let us get back to important affairs. Is it right that the heiress to the throne should be housed in … squalor!”
Anne looked surprised. The Cockpit was a delightful place and she had always loved it; but for Sarah she would have gone on living contentedly there, never wanting to change.
“No, there are some wonderful apartments in Whitehall; those which your Uncle Charles had rebuilt for the Duchess of Portsmouth. They are the most magnificent in the palace, and if Charles thought only them good enough for Portsmouth, then I say that only they are good enough for the heiress to the Crown.”
“I know the apartments you mean, Mrs. Freeman. They are beautiful.”
“Then you must ask your sister for them without delay. This will show them that you are aware of your position, of all you have sacrificed for them, and that it is time they began to treat you with due respect. This will make them see that they cannot begin fiddle-faddling with the accounts.”
“I believe you are right, Sarah dear.”
“I
Anne ate too many sweets. Mary admitted that she herself was inclined to corpulence; it was a trait they had both inherited from their mother. Mary dearly loved a cup of chocolate and although she knew she was putting on weight every day, she could not resist that and other delicacies. But Anne was even fatter and even more devoted to her food.
Anne was a disappointment. That absurd infatuation with Sarah Churchill meant that Sarah Churchill was making important decisions which she should never have had the power to do. If they were not careful, these Churchills would be running the country. William had said that it was a matter they must watch and William was naturally right.
Even a foolish creature like Anne could have a great effect on the country’s affairs; it was a sobering thought.
We have grown far away from each other, thought Mary; although I always thought her foolish and greedy. She imitated me in everything; I wish she would now devote more of her time to George—though I have to admit he is a fool and not in the least like William—instead of giving way all the time to that Churchill woman.
“I wish to leave the Cockpit,” said Anne.
“Leave the Cockpit! But I thought you were so comfortable there.”
“Perhaps not leave it entirely but I believe that in view of my position I should have apartments in Whitehall.”
“If you wish … but being so close …”
“I think that the heiress to the throne is entitled to very fine apartments in Whitehall and I have made my choice.”
Sometimes, thought Mary, when Anne asserted herself it was as though Sarah Churchill were speaking.
“Oh, and which are these.”
“Those which were once the Duchess of Portsmouth’s.”
“It is strange that you should ask for these,” said Mary, “for the Earl of Devonshire had asked me for them and I have promised that he shall have them.”
“So then I must stand aside for Devonshire?”
“You know that is not so. But having promised him I must speak to him on this matter.”
Anne bowed her head. “I pray Your Majesty to give me leave to retire.”
Back to Sarah went Anne.
“So you must wait on Devonshire?”
“She had promised him.”
“And when the heiress to the throne asks for apartments she is denied them because Master Devonshire has
