The Queen's Devotion: The Story of Queen Mary II Read Online Free Page B

don’t understand you, Sarah,” she said.
    â€œOh, didn’t I make myself clear? I am sorry. You were speaking of your illustrious family name and I was saying what a pity it was that one member of it should make it . . . notorious.”
    â€œWhat . . . do you mean?” stammered Anne Villiers.
    â€œI refer to Barbara Villiers, of course. Your cousin, is she not? My Lady Castlemaine, no less. I believe they sing lampoons about her in the streets.”
    â€œShe mixes in the highest circles,” said Anne Villiers.
    â€œIndeed, yes.” Sarah obviously could not resist going on. “That is why she has become so well known not only at court, not only in London, but throughout the country.”
    â€œThere are many who would be greatly honored by the King’s friendship.”
    â€œHonor?” went on Sarah. “There are times when it is difficult to differentiate. What is honor? What is dishonor? It is for all to make up their minds.” Sarah was smiling triumphantly, because she knew Elizabeth Villiers had been trounced.
    I was rather bewildered by this conversation and took the first opportunity of consulting Anne Trelawny.
    â€œIt seemed to me that they were talking in riddles,” I said.
    â€œNot they. Elizabeth Villiers does not like Sarah Jennings, so she wants to remind her all the time of her obscure origins, and that it is only by sheer good luck that she has a place here. But Sarah is not going to take that lightly. She retaliates that people in great families can act scandalously, and, of course, Barbara Villiers is the notorious Lady Castlemaine, and is the cousin of these Villiers girls.”
    â€œAnne,” I said, “people seem to want to keep things from me. Don’t you, please. I am not a child any more.”
    â€œI dare say you will be going to court one day and you will know about these matters. You would soon discover that Lady Castlemaine is the King’s mistress, for they make no secret of this. He spends much time with her. She is most indiscreet. And everyone knows what happens between them.”
    â€œBut the King is married!”
    That made Anne smile. “It makes no difference. It happens with people in high places.”
    â€œIt does not happen with my father,” I said fiercely.
    Anne was silent. Then she said: “The King is so often with Lady Castlemaine.”
    â€œBut what of the Queen? Does she know this?”
    â€œThe Queen most assuredly knows.”
    â€œThe poor lady.”
    â€œYes, that is what many say. But life is like that.”
    â€œI like my uncle so much. He is so merry . . . and kind.”
    â€œHe is much liked.”
    â€œI cannot believe he would act so.”
    â€œPeople have many sides to their natures. This is one of the King’s. Lady Castlemaine is not the first by any means. You know of your cousin, the Duke of Monmouth. You know he is not heir to the throne, but he is the King’s son.”
    â€œI do not understand.”
    â€œHe was born when the King was in exile. He is without doubt the King’s son. The King accepts him as such. But he is not the King’s legitimate son and therefore cannot inherit the throne. As you grow up you learn to accept that such things happen.”
    â€œI am glad my father is not like that.”
    She looked at me a little sadly but with great affection.
    â€œI think the Queen must be very unhappy,” I said. “I am sorry. She is such a kindly lady. I shall never like the King so much again.”

    THE BISHOP HAD ARRIVED . He was a man in his early forties, I imagined, which seemed ancient to us. He was not unkind, nor very severe, but he was determined that he was going to teach us to become good Protestants.
    I understood later that he was not very learned academically and that side of our education was neglected to some extent. What he was determined to do was set our feet on the right path and, in view of our