Abigail's Cousin

by Ron Pearse

  Yet this arrangement was of great satisfaction to the Duchess of Marlborough who after four children was still lissom enough to manage the grand staircase of Kensington Palace with scarcely a pause for breath unlike the much younger men who accompanied her one Friday morning of January 20th, 1710. His grace the duke had just dropped them off from his barouche having other business to attend to, and having ushered her companions into the palace for the purpose of their meeting, she took great delight in ascending the enormous stairs challenging her companions, Charles Spencer, earl of Sunderland and Arthur Maynwaring, MP for Preston. She called cheerfully:

  "Now then Charles, the exercise should improve your circulation after that dreary journey from Whitehall."

  "It's exercise I can do without, dear mother-in-law. Show me a blazing fire so I can rub my hands. That's an exercise I shall appreciate, eh Arthur!"

  Spencer was replying to the duchess though his reference to Maynwaring brought no reaction from the MP because the three people were confronted by a footman on gaining the top whom the duchess addressed:

  "Have you seen her majesty today, Goodman?"

  "No, your ladyship," he replied adding: "Her majesty never appears on a Friday, but I could check with the senior footman, ma'am."

  "Do not bother about it, Goodman." She had known that Anne would not be in the palace as it was for that reason she had pressed her two companions to meet with her today. Both men gave up their hats and coats to the footman whereas the duchess kept her hat and carriage coat on. She played the hostess directing Maynwaring and Spencer to comfortable chairs whereas she demurred to join them complaining the high backed chairs around the square table did not suit her. They were the latest style having been named Queen Anne with the latter's blessing, as was the table, and perhaps, the duchess was overcome with feminine envy. Maynwaring said:

  "My thanks, milady. I can write up my report more easily at table than on the day-bed, but do not let my convenience spoil your comfort my lord."

  The duchess became brisk:

  "It be a pity the duke be not here, yet since his latest mortification one can understand his reluctance to visit the palace in case he should meet her majesty by chance."

  "It's that jade again, milady, I know it. What has she been up to now?"

  Spencer was puzzled at Maynwaring's outburst and turning to her asked: "So what is the latest calamity, mother-in-law?"

  "Only that the position of Constable of the Tower is within his grace's gift and he virtually promised it to the Duke of Northumberland."

  Her ladyship paced the carpet becoming more indignant with each step and Spencer hoping to appease her and to confirm her opinion, ventured:

  "Indeed! I was with the two when his grace all but promised him the position."

  "All but, Charles! What mean you? Northumberland even went so far as to have a new uniform specially made up." She rounded on Spencer menacingly: "What do you mean, all but?"

  Spencer had put his foot in it which had been farthest from his mind, yet truth to tell, not a very profound mind. He started to explain:

  "I understood, mother-in-law, that her majesty would have the final say-so, but nonetheless a formality." Spencer had tried to ameliorate his situation but she just stared at him and he added lamely:

  "So what has happened? Who has been given the position?"

  She glared at him, unmollified and barked: "Earl Rivers, that's who, and only because he had been thwarted in his turn from being appointed colonel of the earl of Essex' regiment."

  Spencer looked at Maynwaring for eye support but the MP was keeping his head down. As the duchess' secretary, he knew from experience when to offer support and when not. In the meantime, the duchess was also silent. He knew she was sulking. He tried to retrieve some favourable response from her, by saying, thoughtfully:

  "Aha, I think I understand. So who is to be the new colonel? But, don't tell me. I can guess. Would it be that good-for-nothing brother of Abigail Masham?"

  The duchess eyes her son-in-law fiercely resenting his calling any member of her family names even were it true. She said:

  "I know who is behind all this."

  Spencer resisted asking who for a while as something else bothered him. He watched Maynwaring busily writing not making out a single word from the wiggles and scrawls the secretary was writing, and then it hit him. It was shorthand, spoken of often, but now witnessed. He said dumbly:

  "I trust you can read what you've written, Maynwaring. I mean when you come to write your report."

  "Never fear Charles. My secretary be the finest short-hander in town. Were you as good a diplomat as he be a secretary!" Her ladyship did not finish and Spencer felt suitably chastened. To change the subject he said:

  "And who then is behind all these changed arrangements, mother-in-law?"

  The duchess looked towards her secretary and Spencer realised that Maynwaring and the Duchess were more of a mind than he had ever attained. Maynwaring told him:

  "Why, my lord, as if you did not know. It's our old friend, Robert Harley, remember him?"

  Spencer perked up and offered his latest item of gossip: "When I was last in the Kit-Cat, they told me he was back in town. Seems he still has not got over his dismissal, following that famous meeting. Did it not take place here in this building, on the lower floor?"

  "Chit-chat from the Kit-Cat!" Her ladyship was dismissive turning to Maynwaring. What about you, Arthur. You have the latest news, surely."

  Maynwaring delighted in helping the duchess slight this snobbish peer, her son-in-law, and said:

  "He was in the House yesterday, and I'm told." He had placed a slight stress on the definite article to indicate where the action was, but also he had another choice piece of gossip. He looked at Spencer's discomfort enjoying the moment, and said:

  "He has been seen leaving St James by the back stairs."

  "Indeed!" exploded the duchess, adding: "Even as we speak Harley could be sitting with that strumpet - or with the queen, herself."

  She had stopped pacing and now stood by the table where both Spencer and Maynwaring having exchanged looks listened to what she would say next and her next remark had them on the edge of their seat:

  "Gentlemen! We must be rid of Abigail. Do you know Charles that her majesty has even issued an official summons to his grace."

  Spencer was nonplussed. What could he say to mollify her and fell back to repeating her previous charge:

  "To give Essex regiment to Mrs Masham's brother, as you said earlier, mother-in-law. It is an insult. Nobody could fail to understand your anger."

  The duchess seemed mollified and Spencer heaved an inward sigh of relief. He said: "Jack Hill to be colonel, eh. That will put colonel Masham's nose out of joint. Someone at the Kit-Cat likened their rivalry to two ferrets in a sack."

  The duchess suddenly gave a peal of laughter. Maynwaring followed suit and soon all three were chortling uproariously at the simile. Maynwaring looked at Spencer appreciatively. A son of the soil, he knew all about ferrets and wondered how much his lordship knew of the subject. Still it had lightened the temper of the meeting.

  Spencer emboldened by one bravura remark, looked quickly at Sarah Churchill, his mother-in-law, then back at Maynwaring and said soberly:

  "Depend on it you can expect our Sam to be put forward as brigadier."

  Sarah sat down on the edge of the day-bed cum lounger staring at her son-in-law in disbelief. She looked at Maynwaring who was scribbling then back at Spencer who felt a sudden premonition that he had said the wrong thing. She rasped:

  "Sam be it, and when did a Spencer start becoming familiar with the lower classes."

  For a moment Spencer was struck dumb. He stared at Sarah thinking of her lowly origins, the daughter of an importer, but thought better of it. Instead he said: "He is lionized at the Kit-Cat, mother-in-law. You might call him a fixture." He stared at Maynwaring who refused to raise his head as Spencer added: "You should hear his tales from the b
attlefield."

  The duchess however ignored his explanation, saying: "Heaven help the nobility when that jade's offspring demand also preferments. Check your title to Sunderland, Charles!" She looked at him scornfully: "The jade might ask for it - and get it."

  Spencer was annoyed and now threw caution to the winds, saying defiantly:

  "I notice the woman never asks for anything for herself."

  Incomprehensibly to Sunderland, Sarah got up from the day-bed and came over to stare at Spencer, saying:

  "Perhaps Charles, you would prefer that woman as your mother-in-law that you take her side. Lord me! Beset by ill-wishers, and mine own son-in-law."

  "Not so, mother-in-law," Spencer protested then suddenly getting an idea spoke to Maynwaring:

  "Tell her ladyship, Arthur about your idea for an early day motion in the House."

  She looked at Spencer then at Maynwaring, clearly mystified and the latter told her:

  “Members of the House of Commons ma'am are entitled to ask for a debate at the close of normal business. It is a means of bringing to the attention of the House a matter of outstanding importance."

  She still looked sceptical saying: And what good will that do?"

  In answer Maynwaring took a sheet of paper from his valise handing it to her saying: "I've jotted something down you might care to read, your ladyship."

  "It might be an idea to read it out, mother-in-law."

  The duchess looked briefly at Spencer then declaimed:

  "..that this House demands that Mrs Abigail Masham being a pernicious influence upon her majesty the queen to the detriment of her loyal servants, be dismissed forthwith from the queen's household."

  She looked at her secretary still puzzled: "Send you this to ...whom, not to the queen."

  Maynwaring told her no but that her ladyship might empower him to enter it as a candidate for a debate in the House and she put her reaction into words: "Lord! Then everybody will know what we are about."

  "Precisely ma'am. We shall discover thereby our supporters in the House. What is more, rumours of it will find their way to the palace. Her majesty and her servant will soon discover how much opposition they have."

  Sarah was enamoured by the whole idea and said: "Excellent!"

  Spencer said: "Would his grace care to write to her majesty demanding her removal as the price for his continuation in office?"

  She replied that he had already put a blunt proposal to lord Godolphin for him to suggest that her majesty retires her captain-general or her servant on the occasion when she countermanded his proposal for the Constable. Spencer told her that he doubted whether Godolphin or Lord Cowper would put such a blunt proposal whereas the early day motion had more chance of success.

  Maynwaring agreed with Spencer as the proposal must not sound like an ultimatum. His ally in this matter was the duchess and his next remarks were aimed for her ears. Spencer sat back bemused as Maynwaring developed the argument:

  "It should suffice ma'am if the gentleman press the matter with confidence. After everything is said, it doth seem perfidious that men in leading positions in government are not able to remove such a slut as this from her post."

  Maynwaring noticed Spencer's anguished features but the duchess was clearly delighted. She clapped her hands like a schoolgirl crying:

  "I like this idea. What did you call it, ah, an early day motion."

  Spencer said: "It would be unprecedented, is that not so, Maynwaring? For Parliament to demand to remove a dresser from the queen's household!"

  "Not so, my lord," retorted Maynwaring, "in the fourteenth century Parliament demanded of Edward the second that his lover Piers Gaveston be exiled back to his native France."

  "Bravo, Arthur!" cried Sarah anxious to win back Anne's favour supplanted lately by her cousin. She continued: "Lord, me! You have hit the nail on the head since the matter seems the same. Abigail has entire dominion over her majesty. Such a thing can proceed from nothing but an unnatural and extravagant passion."

  The two men looked at each other as Sarah waxed lyrical over her hatred for the woman she saw as supplanting her in the queen's affections. She went on in like vein: "I shall be revenged upon someone who has robbed me of the queen's affection."

  She pondered a moment in silence then said: "That jade has lured away other friends of mine."

  Spencer glanced at Maynwaring but his head was down busy writing as he asked: "Other friends, mother-in-law?"

  "Indeed, my lord," she replied, "the duke of Shrewsbury no longer visits me. He was a regular caller at St Albans and, later, when I moved to Woodstock. Now I do not see him, at all. It is that jade who has poisoned him against me."

  It was Maynwaring who now sought Spencer's eyes. They both understood the reason, but how to frame it. It was up to Spencer, who said:

  "He is neither a Tory nor yet a Whig ma'am, and I am informed his advice is sought by the queen because he is neither the one nor the other."

  Maynwaring confirmed it: "He is neutral. A rare bird these days."

  Her ladyship was silent as Spencer made eye contact with the MP and, choosing his words, said to her: "If I can make a suggestion mother-in-law, one that might bring him into our fold."

  He paused, and her ladyship, saying nothing, seemed eager to know what the suggestion was. He went on: "If you could be kind to the signorina, his grace's wife. He dotes on her and you will assuredly find his favour and friendship if you would but speak to her one kind word."

  Spencer had gone on too long. He knew it but he had noticed the gleam in the duchess' eyes which now was converted to scorn as she thundered: "The Duchess of Shrewsbury is not one of us. She is an upstart, a foreign upstart. The one kind thing she can do, for me, for us, for the duke, for the country is to return to Italy. He may be the king of hearts but she be no queen. I do not understand you Charles for such an outrageous notion."

  Maynwaring and Spencer exchanged glances but said not one word more on the matter. Each had become aware of a very pleasant aroma reminding them of happier hours at the Smyrna and it became much stronger when the door opened to admit the footman who addressed the duchess:

  "Your ladyship, the senior footman sends his compliments ma'am and wonders whether the company would care to make their way to the refectory."

  Maynwring spoke to the duchess: "What is happening at the refectory your ladyship?"

  She turned to the footman: "Explain it man to his lordship and my secretary."

  "The BOWER Club maam; it is every Friday. The colonel and his lady will be pleased to entertain your ladyship and your friends. I am sure of it. It has the blessing of her majesty, ma'am."

  Spencer was intrigued: "What is the BOWER Club, sir? Would you explain it to me.?"

  "It is the British Officers War and Emergency Relief Club, your lordship. They meet every Friday." explained the footman.

  Maynwaring had an idea and mischievously said: "It would seem the colonel likes his coffee, sir. That is the most delicious aroma."

  "Ah, yes, sir. That is the colonel lady's speciality, sir. Masham, by name. You should make their acquaintance for the lady makes the most delicious coffee in London, so I'm told."

  "Does she indeed." The duchess spat the words out, "lady she calls herself. What ever next!"

  Spencer was amused explaining: "That is the usual form of address to the wife of a British officer, mother-in-law." Then getting up, added: "I shall bid you adieu ma'am, and you Maynwaring. I am off to sample the colonel lady's coffee. Besides it will give me the opportunity to meet her and see whom everybody is talking about."

  While Maynwaring kept his head down trying to suppress a smile and with the duchess almost fit to explode with indignation, Spencer walked over to the footman: "Show me where to go, sir footman, if you please!"

  "Just follow the coffee aroma, my lord. That is your best guide."

  Chapter 17

  Anne sat in one of her favourite rooms in the whole of Kensington Palace newly refurbished
, partly to complete the work started by her sister Mary, who had died before her creation was complete though enough had been done to make it worthwhile for her surviving spouse, William, to complete it as a memorial to his dearly beloved, but late wife and queen. Anne now queen herself after his death was taking advantage of her sister's foresight and choice of architects, Wren, Hawksmoor, Vanbrugh each having made their imprint upon the palace. As the queen looked through a tall sash window with its wide glazing bars, she could just see the corner of Vanbrugh's new Orangery completed just five years before, its tall Doric pillars in white reflecting all available light.

  After writing continuously for hours, she felt the need for refreshment and as she pulled the ceiling cord, she also looked forward to the companionship of shared refreshment. Enough of state business, she had deserved this break and having made hardly a sound the object of her thoughts stood in the doorway and before she had a chance to announce her presence, Anne forestalled her with a loud sigh and spoke:

  "So many papers Masham, so many I scarce have ye time to rest let alone retire to say my prayers, especially today. Yet I must find ye time today of all days."

  Masham replied perceptively: "It is not difficult to guess that his late majesty has been on your mind, ma'am. I do beseech you to forbear a while especially for the sake of your poor eyes. Remember what Monsieur Guede recommmended."

  "I had quite forgotten them, both my eyes and monsieur's advice," replied Anne and Masham came towards her and looking at the queen said:

  "That is a good thing. Forgetting means your eyes are not troubling you ma'am, but we do not want to strain them overmuch, do we!"

  Anne smiled with warmth and leaned back in her chair and spoke of her gratitude: "Thanks to him and to you, Masham. I shall not forget your ministrations to my sore eyes for they are cured, I am sure of it. Do ask Sir Benjamin to draw a Bank of England note for one hundred guineas in ye name of monsieur Guede."