He stopped and gave a little gasp, for someone had stepped into the alcove.
A rather shrill voice said: “Ah, Madam, I have searched and searched for you.”
Mulgrave was horrified. Here he was, caught with the Princess Anne in his arms; but Anne merely laughed.
“It’s only Sarah,” she said. “My dearest Sarah how you frightened me!”
“Apologies, Madam. But I thought I should warn you. You are being somewhat indiscreet.”
“We thought no one would see us here.”
“I saw you.”
“Oh, but Sarah, you are the one who sees all.” Anne was smiling at her lover. “John,” she went on, gently, “all is well. It is only my dearest friend who would never bring me anything but good. Sarah, you, who are happily married yourself, will understand.”
“I understand, Madam, but at the same time I tremble.”
“Tremble! You, Sarah! When did you ever tremble?”
“For myself, never. For you, Madam … often.”
“You see, John, what a good friend she is to me? I am fortunate indeed to have two such … friends. John has been telling me, Sarah, that we have to be very careful not to betray ourselves. What say you?”
“I should say he is right,” said Sarah. “And the best way, Madam, if you will excuse my saying so, is not to embrace in the courtyards.”
“We were well hidden from sight.”
“H’m,” said Sarah sharply. She peered up at Mulgrave. “You are silent, my lord.”
“My dear lady, you seem well equipped to keep the conversation alive.”
Anne smiled fondly from one to the other. “You must know that I want you two to be friends.”
“Anyone who is Madam’s friend is my friend,” said Sarah.
Mulgrave put in: “That is a great relief.”
“And now,” went on Sarah, “I think, Madam, that I should conduct you to your apartments. I will keep watch while you say your farewells.”
With that she turned her back on them and for a moment they clung to each other.
“John,” whispered Anne, “what shall we do?”
“Nothing … as yet,” he told her. “We must think of a way.”
“Yes, John. You think of a way … but think quickly.”
“I have only one desire in my life.”
“And I.”
Sarah said without turning her head: “I think I hear footsteps approaching. It would be well to go now.”
The lovers looked longingly at each other for a few more seconds; then John dropped Anne’s hand and she went to Sarah.
Mulgrave watched the two young women walk into the palace.
In the Princess’s apartments Anne was telling Sarah about her love for Mulgrave. Sarah was displeased; she had learned of this through her own indefatigable efforts as she would always discover any intrigue; but it was disturbing that Anne had not confided in her, for it was unlike the Princess to exclude her from her secrets.
Although Sarah was lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of York, she was constantly in the company of the Princess Anne; and before Mulgrave had enchanted the Princess, Sarah had been more important to her than anyone. Sarah was piqued, but she did not show it. Arrogant and overbearing as she invariably was to others, she was careful in her approach to Anne.
Little fool! thought Sarah. Her sister Mary has a husband, and I have a husband; therefore she must have one. She always had to imitate, not having a mind of her own.
So she had chosen to fall in love with the Earl of Mulgrave—an ambitious young man, if ever Sarah saw one; and she was not going to tolerate ambitious people about the Princess, particularly those who would have more influence than Sarah Churchill.
She did not tell her this now; instead she pretended to be pleased.
Anne was explaining how she had loved him from the first moment she had seen him. “And the fact that his name was John … like your dear husband’s … endeared him to me, Sarah.”
“Ah, Madam, you always wish to do as I do.”
“Mary used to say I imitated her. Alas, I can no longer imitate my dear sister.”
“Nor should you wish to, Madam, seeing that the Princess of Orange spends a great deal of her time in tears.”
“Poor, poor Mary, married to that hateful creature.”
“Caliban!” said Sarah venomously.
“I pity Mary,” said Anne, her lips trembling.
“Pity can do her no good, Madam. Let us hope that you never have to make a marriage of state.”
“It will not be necessary,” said Anne complacently. “Mary has done that. I believe I can persuade my father to let me marry for love.”
“It will not rest with your father,” Sarah reminded her grimly. “Remember