Queen Anne Page 5

  GODOLPHIN. It is my job to see they do. The war must be waged, Your Majesty.

  ANNE. No matter what it costs?

  GODOLPHIN. Yes. Louis crowns his grandson King of Spain. If Holland falls to their united powers, we are confronted with a vast, unbroken wall of Catholic strength…

  ANNE. I know.

  GODOLPHIN. How stop we the Pretender then? For he grows older every day and will see through our promises. How stop we any large invasion force?

  ANNE. I know the need for our campaign.

  GODOLPHIN. Has somebody alarmed you, ma’am?

  ANNE. From now on I will attend all meetings of the Treasury.

  GODOLPHIN. Good Lord. Forgive me, but that’s unprecedented. Why, even King William did not…

  ANNE. I do not care what William did or did not do.

  GODOLPHIN. Very well. By all means please attend.

  ANNE. I have to say, I start to feel I am not kept sufficiently informed.

  GODOLPHIN. Of what, ma’am?

  ANNE. I wish to be informed of everything, not simply of the business you’re content for me to hear.

  GODOLPHIN. Your Majesty… I hesitate to say I take offence, but…

  ANNE. Please don’t. It’s not intended personally. But…

  Enter LADY SOMERSET, with a letter.

  LADY SOMERSET. Forgive me, please, Your Majesty, but this has come. They say it’s more than urgent.

  A letter for my Lord Godolphin.

  GODOLPHIN takes the letter. Exit LADY SOMERSET. GODOLPHIN reads.

  GODOLPHIN. Oh, no.

  ANNE. What is it?

  GODOLPHIN. This is dreadful news.

  ANNE. Not Marlborough?

  GODOLPHIN. It’s Jack. Young Jack is struck with smallpox.

  ANNE. Oh! Is it from the Countess?

  GODOLPHIN. Yes. She’s left for Cambridge. And Marlborough’s on his way across the sea. (Reading.) ‘Very sick’ she calls him.

  ANNE. I wonder that she didn’t send to me.

  He’s such a strong and healthy boy. I’m sure he will recover.

  GODOLPHIN. It’s what she’s always feared the most. I remember when he came to me in Newmarket – she made me promise not to take the boy to any other house at all, for there had been an outbreak in the town.

  ANNE. I feel I want to go to her.

  GODOLPHIN. And I.

  ANNE. I’ll write at once and ask her if she wants me there. And in the meantime I will send my doctors. And medicine. And any other help I can supply.

  Scene Eight

  St Albans. SARAH and MARLBOROUGH, in mourning, process behind the coffin of their son, Jack. GODOLPHIN follows behind them. SARAH is being supported by MARLBOROUGH. She stops and almost drops to the ground, overcome by grief. MARLBOROUGH helps her to stand again, whispering in her ear. They follow the coffin.

  Scene Nine

  The drawing room, the Marlboroughs’ house, St Albans. SARAH is sitting at a desk, writing. Enter MARLBOROUGH. SARAH doesn’t look up from her work.

  MARLBOROUGH. I leave in half an hour.

  I’ll let you know when I arrive in Harwich, and which day I’m like to sail.

  SARAH. Thank you.

  Pause.

  MARLBOROUGH. Who is it you write to?

  SARAH. The Queen. She asks again if she can come to me.

  MARLBOROUGH. Perhaps you ought to let her.

  SARAH. No.

  MARLBOROUGH. She has at least a sense of what you feel.

  SARAH. She has no idea. She didn’t even cry when her boy died, but shut herself into the chapel with Prince George, praying. Praying. Thank you, Lord, for taking up my son. Thank you, Lord, for killing him. And walked about the court dry-eyed, all puffed up in her dignity.

  MARLBOROUGH. I’m sure she felt it deeply nonetheless.

  SARAH. Why do you defend her?

  MARLBOROUGH. I only mean… that grief transforms our souls in different ways.

  MARLBOROUGH sits abjectly, struggling with his emotions.

  SARAH. She sniffs a chance to pity me is all. There is some tiny part of her is glad to know that he has gone. She never could abide the fact my children lived when hers did not.

  MARLBOROUGH. I’m sure you’re wrong.

  SARAH. And far too many times of late, she’s set herself above me. Or she’s tried. Someone else has gained her ear, of that I am quite certain. Sidney knows – he feels it too. And now she thinks to push home her advantage. Well, she can stay away from me. I’ll see her next when I am more than strong.

  MARLBOROUGH is silent. He covers his face with his hands. SARAH looks up and sees him.

  John?

  They are silent for some moments.

  MARLBOROUGH. Sarah, I’m afraid.

  SARAH. No.

  MARLBOROUGH. I fear myself – the first time in my life, I do believe. I fear that I’ll regain the line and find I have no stomach for the fight. And that I’ll question why I’m there. And what it’s for, and what it means.

  SARAH. That’s not how it will be. He lives his life within us now. He multiplies our might. And when you fight, his spirit’s vast within your heart. And every stretch of land you take, each victory, each new terrain, you plant a flag into the ground and say, ‘This is my son.’

  MARLBOROUGH nods.

  And though I won’t be next to you, don’t ever doubt I watch your back, and wage our war upon a different front.

  MARLBOROUGH nods.

  MARLBOROUGH. Jack.

  Pause.

  SARAH. Let’s go and see that they have packed you properly.

  He reaches for her hand.

  Sometimes he would pass me by and reach out for my hand. Just fleetingly, as though to say, I’m only checking you are there, for I am flying.

  Scene Ten

  Kensington Palace. Enter ABIGAIL and MASHAM, hand in hand. With them is GEORGE. They are smiling and delighted with one another. Enter ANNE with HARLEY.

  ANNE. How beautiful a wedding is. I’ve never seen one yet and been unmoved. The daringness. The nakedness of hearts. And all the hopes of life exposed, and handed, gentle, to each other’s care within the sight of God.

  HARLEY. How sweetly put, Your Majesty. It was a perfect afternoon. They are a most devoted pair.

  They watch ABIGAIL and MASHAM for a few moments.

  ANNE. Tell me, Mr Harley, can you understand this fashion for what they term ‘Occasional Conformity’?

  HARLEY. Ah, yes. No. It truly is a scandal, Ma’am.

  ANNE. Why do men deny themselves the solace of Communion? If I could, I’d take the Sacrament each day. And yet they take it once a year and think themselves quite clever for it. And think themselves quite fit to serve in offices of high responsibility. It is a loophole in the Test Act, is it not?

  HARLEY. It is, it is, Your Majesty. But there’s a move to have the practice banned.

  ANNE. So I understand.

  HARLEY. A Bill will shortly come before the Commons.

  ANNE. Will it pass?

  HARLEY. I think so, yes. Though I fear it will be savaged in the Lords – for there’s a strong majority of Whigs.

  ANNE. I want it to be known abroad that I support the Bill with all my heart.

  HARLEY (surprised). I see. Consider it accomplished, ma’am. And if I might be so presumptuous as to offer a suggestion, Your Majesty might contemplate attending the debate within the Lords? No one then would think to doubt the strength of your opinion.

  GEORGE approaches.

  GEORGE. Anne. My Anne?

  ANNE. Yes, Your Highness?

  GEORGE. Masham asks if he might take his wife into the north to meet his family. Is this possible?

  ANNE. I’m sure. When we’re content to spare them both. I’ll see that it’s arranged, if it would please you.

  GEORGE returns to MASHAM and ABIGAIL.

  HARLEY. A pity that the new-made Duchess isn’t here to share our joy.

  ANNE. I thought it better not to trouble her. She struggles still to bear the lo
ss of her beloved son. Since he passed she hasn’t been to Court. Though we maintain a constant correspondence.

  HARLEY. I imagine she must suffer some anxiety on behalf of her intrepid lord, the Duke. I hear he moves his army down the Danube and will confront Bavaria within her own domains.

  ANNE. We are on tenterhooks each day awaiting further news of him.

  HARLEY. Indeed. There are some Tories, I’m afraid – and I am not of this opinion – who say it is a reckless move, and that he gambles with a hundred thousand men. There are even rumours of impeachment should the risky tactic fail.

  ANNE. I have the greatest faith in Marlborough.

  HARLEY. Yes, of course. I merely felt Your Majesty would wish to be appraised of such disquiet.

  Pause.

  ANNE. Mr Harley, I would be obliged if you’d consider taking up a post in Cabinet. I find your counsel measured and unbiased.

  Pause.

  HARLEY. I hardly know what I should say. I fear I am unworthy.

  ANNE. Then you won’t?

  HARLEY. No. Yes. I will, Your Majesty. And, on my knees, I swear to die or justify your faith in me.

  Scene Eleven

  The Queen’s apartments, St James’s. Two weeks later. ANNE is sitting in a chair while ABIGAIL finishes dressing her – fastening jewels around her neck and a net of pearls into her hair.

  ABIGAIL. There’s the bells in the cathedral ringing out.

  ANNE. Yes.

  ABIGAIL. And even now the crowds are cheering in the streets. They all await you, ma’am.

  ANNE. How good, how kind the people are. I used to fear them terribly. Now I feel such care for them. Perhaps it is the suffering I’ve known, but I feel I would protect them from the harshest trials of life.

  ABIGAIL. They love you very much, Your Majesty.

  ANNE. Oh, there’s such an aching in my bones.

  ABIGAIL. Shall I send for Dr Radcliffe? It might not be too late.

  ANNE. No, no. But were this not such a joyous day, I’d gladly spend it in my bed.

  ABIGAIL. The bandages are quite secure – I’ve tied them extra tight.

  ANNE. Thank you, dear. We wouldn’t want them falling down. Now that would be a sight to see.

  They smile. Enter SARAH. She stares at them.

  Sarah. Sarah. Dearest.

  SARAH. Good morning, ma’am.

  ANNE. Here – let me embrace you.

  Still beautiful. A little thinner, certainly, but…

  SARAH (of ANNE’s necklace). Why do you wear that? I sent express instructions for what you are to wear today. I said the rubies.

  ANNE. Oh. They didn’t look so well as we had hoped. But if you wish to see them…

  SARAH. Yes, I do.

  ANNE (to ABIGAIL). Please fetch them, dear.

  Exit ABIGAIL. SARAH watches her go.

  Thank you for coming back to me. And on this day of days. How right it is that you should take my arm, and we should kneel together and give praise for Marlborough’s splendid victory.

  SARAH. I would not have missed it for the world. Though I hear we also offer thanks for some incidental skirmish won at sea. It rather makes a mockery, I fear, of Marlborough’s feat at Blenheim.

  ANNE. Not at all. We simply thought it would be right to offer thanks for all the efforts of our fine, courageous men. What the Duke of Marlborough has achieved is unsurpassed.

  SARAH. History will judge it so.

  ANNE. Please sit with me.

  I want to give him an estate. In Oxfordshire, I thought. I know you love the country there. And we will build a home for you – a mansion fit for heroes.

  SARAH. Thank you. But we do not have the wherewithal to honour such a life. It’s hard enough that he is made a Duke.

  ANNE. Then… let us put that right, and soon. I’ll see he’s paid a pension every year – a fitting sum. And I will raise your salary.

  Enter ABIGAIL with the rubies.

  Now then. Let’s have another look at these.

  ABIGAIL begins to change the necklaces, one for the other.

  SARAH. I need to speak to you about the Bill against Occasional Conformity.

  ANNE. Oh, yes? But surely not at once?

  SARAH. You helped it through the Commons, I believe. I hope you will not help it through the Lords.

  ANNE. But I intend to. Even George will vote for it and he a Lutheran.

  SARAH. You realise that it’s a Tory ploy to undermine our Government? A distraction from the business of the war?

  ANNE. Really? It seems to me an urgent thing to have resolved. Men shouldn’t be allowed to flout the right observance of our faith. And surely it is central to the meaning of the war? It is the Church we fight to save.

  SARAH. There are very many Whigs who are Dissenters, as you know. This puts them out of heart. I say it is a matter better left to conscience.

  ANNE. And mine dictates I must support the Bill.

  We shouldn’t talk about this now.

  SARAH. When then? For I am not allowed in Cabinet.

  ANNE. Another time. We don’t have long.

  SARAH. Another time?

  I have been pondering of late, why it is you are so drawn towards those violent Tory lords. I realised that you imbibed their claptrap with your mother’s milk…

  ANNE. Sarah…

  SARAH. I dare say you believe all Whigs are Roundheads, and weep at night for poor King Charles, who, incidentally, brought his fall upon himself, by thinking he was higher than the people he was meant to serve. And there’s some irony, of course, for if your precious Tories had their way, you wouldn’t be the Queen at all. The Pretender would be King.

  Pause.

  ANNE. I have a strong hereditary right. And I believe I reign with God’s support.

  Pause.

  SARAH. Dear, dear. How serious we’ve grown.

  ANNE. Mrs Freeman?

  SARAH. Yes, ma’am?

  ANNE. What think you of the jewels?

  SARAH. I think they’re better.

  Pause.

  ANNE. Thank you, Masham.

  SARAH. Masham? That is Hill. I hope you do not lose your mind.

  ANNE. Oh. She is Mrs Masham now. She married Colonel Masham of the Guards. We thought it better not to trouble you. And Mr Harley saw to the arrangements, so…

  SARAH. Mr Harley? Why?

  ANNE. He is a cousin on her father’s side. (To ABIGAIL.) Is that not so?

  ABIGAIL. Yes, ma’am.

  Pause.

  SARAH. Why was I not told of this? Harley who you’ve just appointed Secretary of State?

  ANNE. Yes. I thought…

  SARAH. I see. I wondered what had led you to that bacon-faced dissembler.

  ANNE (to ABIGAIL). Leave us for a moment, please.

  Exit ABIGAIL to chamber.

  You needn’t be upset by this.

  SARAH. She is a servant – or supposed to be, and under my control. She clearly has designs on higher things.

  ANNE. I don’t believe that’s true at all.

  SARAH. How often have you seen your Mr Harley?

  ANNE. I see the man from time to time.

  SARAH. So now we know who’s feeding you with policy of late.

  ANNE. I beg your pardon?

  SARAH. Do you have the least idea of ‘Mr Harley’s’ politics?

  ANNE. I’m capable of thinking on my own. And I resent this constant implication that I’m devoid of understanding…

  SARAH. He’s a Tory. For all his yes and nos. He is a Tory through and through. But that, I’m sure, will suit you very well.

  Pause.

  ANNE. Sarah. Mrs Freeman. I know you’re grieving still…

  SARAH. Don’t.

  Enter LADY SOMERSET.

  LADY SOMERSET. The carriage is arriving, ma’am.

  ANNE. Thank you. My cloak.

  LADY SOMERSET puts ANNE’s cloak on for her.

  (To SARAH.) Are you content to ride with me?

  SARAH. Of course. Would I advertise ou
r distance to the world?

  ANNE. I…

  ANNE thinks better of saying any more. Exit ANNE with LADY SOMERSET.

  SARAH. Mrs Masham!

  Enter ABIGAIL from chamber.

  It seems I brought a cuckoo to the nest.

  ABIGAIL. We didn’t mean to cause offence, my lady…

  SARAH. Your grace.

  ABIGAIL. Your grace. We didn’t want to trouble you, is all.

  SARAH. What, you and Mr Harley?

  You’re very cosy with the Queen.

  ABIGAIL. I… I wait upon her person.

  SARAH. Has she tried to kiss you yet?

  ABIGAIL. I don’t know what you mean.

  SARAH. But then again – perhaps she won’t.

  I have more history with her than you can dream. So don’t you try to push me out. You lack the strength. You lack the wit.

  SARAH starts to leave.

  You have made an enemy.

  Exit SARAH.

  ABIGAIL. Very well, then. So be it.

  ACT THREE

  Scene One

  The Inns of Court. Warning bells are ringing in the streets outside. Inside, a crowd, including RADCLIFFE and MAYNWARING, has gathered in panic and alarm. People press around HARLEY. SWIFT is looking on.

  HARLEY. Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Let me speak, and I will try to answer all your questions.

  Gentlemen!

  SWIFT (booming). Quiet!

  The crowd quietens somewhat.

  HARLEY. I fear the news is true. A French invasion force is sailing from Dunkirk towards our shores and led by the Pretender.

  Outcry amongst the crowd.

  MAYNWARING. Where does he head?

  RADCLIFFE. To Scotland I’ll be bound!

  HARLEY. He heads for Scotland. Yes. And at the invitation, so he claims, of many of our Scottish lords. He issued yesterday a proclamation calling ‘fraud’ upon the Queen.

  GENTLEMEN. Scottish traitors! Hang them all!

  HARLEY. But be assured… be assured, a fleet is sent to intercept. And Marlborough orders soldiers to the north.

  RADCLIFFE. Too late!

  GENTLEMEN. The Scottish troops will turn on us!

  MAYNWARING. What about the bank? What about the bank?

  HARLEY. The bank is safe. I swear to you. The Queen herself is sending a deposit as I speak, and Marlborough and Godolphin too deposit weighty sums. There is no cause for any great alarm.