Read Online Royal Sisters: The Story of the Daughters of James II by Jean Plaidy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jean Plaidy
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implication that the present era was uneasy and perhaps temporary.
There was one who was in the minds of all, though few mentioned his name: James Duke of Monmouth, at present at The Hague, the guest of the Prince and Princess of Orange. What would he do now? His greatest enemy had been the Duke of York who was now King James II. Monmouth had ostentatiously called himself the Protestant Duke. And what was the Protestant Duke doing now?
Anne, heavily pregnant, was thinking constantly of the child she was to have. She indulged herself more than usual.
“I am determined this time,” she told Sarah, “that my child shall live.”
“He will be a step nearer to the throne when he is born than when he was conceived,” commented Sarah.
Anne wept then for Uncle Charles. “He was always so kind to me. I cannot believe that I shall never see him again. Of course, dear Mrs. Freeman, there were times when I had no notion of what he meant. He was so witty always, but kind with it, and you know that is a rare gift. Is that why he was so loved, do you think? Oh, how I miss him.”
Fat, pink fool! thought Sarah. You could be Queen of England before long and all you think of is crying for Uncle Charles!
Sarah had long talks with John. They were growing closer together; they were more than lovers; they were partners and their ambition burned more brightly than any passion; Sarah was once more pregnant and this time they hoped for a son.
“John, John,” she cried, “what does this mean? What can this mean?”
“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 I can rule this country?”
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.
The preparations for the new King’s coronation
There was one who was in the minds of all, though few mentioned his name: James Duke of Monmouth, at present at The Hague, the guest of the Prince and Princess of Orange. What would he do now? His greatest enemy had been the Duke of York who was now King James II. Monmouth had ostentatiously called himself the Protestant Duke. And what was the Protestant Duke doing now?
Anne, heavily pregnant, was thinking constantly of the child she was to have. She indulged herself more than usual.
“I am determined this time,” she told Sarah, “that my child shall live.”
“He will be a step nearer to the throne when he is born than when he was conceived,” commented Sarah.
Anne wept then for Uncle Charles. “He was always so kind to me. I cannot believe that I shall never see him again. Of course, dear Mrs. Freeman, there were times when I had no notion of what he meant. He was so witty always, but kind with it, and you know that is a rare gift. Is that why he was so loved, do you think? Oh, how I miss him.”
Fat, pink fool! thought Sarah. You could be Queen of England before long and all you think of is crying for Uncle Charles!
Sarah had long talks with John. They were growing closer together; they were more than lovers; they were partners and their ambition burned more brightly than any passion; Sarah was once more pregnant and this time they hoped for a son.
“John, John,” she cried, “what does this mean? What can this mean?”
“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 I can rule this country?”
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.
The preparations for the new King’s coronation
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