Royal Sisters: The Story of the Daughters of James II by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online

crimes.
    Change! thought Sarah. And all because the King had replaced the Protector.
    She passed close to a group of people. A man was waving his arms and shouting: “No popery. Do you know what it means, my friends? You’ll smell the fires of Smithfield if we have the papists back.”
    Sarah paused and listened, watching those grim determined faces.
    “No popery!” It was a cry that one heard every day in the streets. The King was ailing. That was why the people so constantly shouted: “No popery!” They meant “No James!” No Catholic Duke of York should be their King.
    If only one could peer into the future. It was not possible; one could only guess. But one could guess cleverly and shrewdly.
    Already the Duke and his Duchess had been exiled. She thought of her beautiful dark-eyed royal mistress, Mary Beatrice of Modena with her foreign accent. She was clearly an Italian and Italians were papists.
    As Sarah turned to the Palace she had made up her mind.

    “Sarah,” said Anne , “you are not happy. Do not tell me you are for I know you too well.”
    “I see it is no use hiding my fears from you, Madam.”
    “John has been unfaithful.”
    “No,” said Sarah. “Never.”
    “He would not dare,” suggested Anne mischievously.
    “He is too clever not to know what folly that would be.”
    “Yes, he is very clever, your John; but you are not unhappy about that.”
    “Oh, it is a matter which will not have occurred to you. But I have seen less of you lately.”
    Anne’s face puckered into dismay. “My dearest Sarah, there has been so much to do. Being Princess of Denmark has meant so many more receptions, so many tiresome people to be received.”
    “I understand that, and I know it is no fault of yours. But you noticed that I was unhappy and wanted the reason so I give it to you. I have my duties too. I must wait on the Duchess for I am after all attached to her household. How different it would be if I were attached to yours! Then … how happy I should be!”
    “Sarah. But …”
    Sarah took Anne’s hand and kissed it. “If I were serving you instead of the Duchess, I should always be in attendance … never far away. And now that you are reforming your household …”
    “You must leave the Duchess, Sarah. You must come to me. I will confess that I had thought of it but I did not dare suggest it. For a place with the Duchess, I thought, would mean more to you than one with me.”
    Sarah was almost angry in her reproaches. “You could think that, Madam! I confess I am surprised. I should have thought you would have known that there is no one I would want to serve save yourself.”
    “Oh, Sarah, then it must be. I will speak to my father and stepmother. They know of the love between us two; I have no doubt that they will grant me what I ask.”
    Sarah was certain now that she had acted with her usual wisdom. Every time Anne appeared in the streets the people cheered her. The Protestant marriage had endeared her to them. They were silent for the Duchess of York. Italian papist! Sarah was on the right side.
    A few hours later Sarah received a letter from Anne.
    “The Duke of York came in just as you were gone, and made no difficulties, but has promised me that I shall have you, which I assure you is a great joy to me. I should say a great deal for your kindness in offering it, but I am not good at compliments. I will only say that I do take it extremely kindly and shall be ready at any time to do you all the service that is in my power …”
    Sarah folded the letter and put it away. She liked the terms in which it was written; they showed a proper modesty and appreciation.

    Sarah swept through the apartments at the Cockpit like a cold wind. All those about the Princess Anne understood that if they wished to prosper they must placate Sarah Churchill because it was clear that, as had been the case for some time, she had more influence with the Princess than any other person. As for the Prince,