‘She’s to be found ... if they look. The truth is that bantam cock and that fat elephant don’t want him married. No, they want to keep him down. The last thing in the world they want is to see him married. It would give him too much power. They want it all. Madam Caroline and Master Walpole ... they are the ones who are holding that young man back from his natural rights.’

She would have gone on had not Lady Diana been announced.

She forgot her indignation at the sight of this beloved grandchild.

‘Come here, my dear,’ she said. ‘Lady Mary Wortley Montague has been enlivening me with the latest Court scandals. You can join us.’


* * *

The Duchess of Marlborough had an idea. She kept it to herself as yet. She knew very well that if she mentioned it to anyone ... just anyone ... they would think she was mad. Well, she was accustomed to being thought mad. And she herself did not think she was mad in the least. She merely thought that everyone else was stupid, timid, and deserved nothing.

She smiled to think what Marl would have said of this idea. He would have remonstrated with her and told her she was too bold. How many times had he told her that? They had quarrelled ... oh, no, not quarrelled. No one could call it that. They had argued, discussed, disagreed on so many things.

If he had followed me, she told herself fiercely, he would have had his just deserts. He would have ruled England, which was what he should have done.

Others said that she had ruined his career and that but for her he would never have had to face disaster and disgrace.

‘It isn’t true! It isn’t true!’ she cried; and put her hands to her face, for there were tears on her cheeks.

They had lost favour with Anne through that sly and wicked Abigail Hill. How was she to have known that she was nursing a viper in her bosom? How was she to guess that the slut she had raised up would in time succeed in driving her from Court. That was the cruelty of life. Everyone had blamed her ... except Marl. Dearest Marl, he had never blamed her. He did not share the general view. He had seen her to the end as Sarah Jennings, the girl whom he had married although she was without fortune.

But that was past and life would be tolerable for a while if she could bring off this plan. It was a great plan. She smiled to think of it. Only she, Sarah Churchill, could think of such a plan and dare to put it into practice.

Secrecy was everything ... just everything. Let this seep out and they would do everything in their considerable power to stop her. He could imagine the wrath of Madam Ansbach. As for dear Sir Robert, the man would lose his calmness for which he so prided himself, and go ... mad!

It was such a wild and glorious plan that no one would believe it was possible. She would show them. And when it succeeded they would have to admit that Sarah Churchill was as redoubtable in her old age as she had been in the days of the great Duke’s glory.

So much depended on the success of small details. She had waited in an agony of impatience for an answer to the message she had sent to the Prince of Wales. It was possible that he would refuse her invitation. After all, what respect had these young people for the great ones of the past.

All she had said was that she had a matter which she believed His Royal Highness would find of the utmost importance if he would do her the honour of giving her an interview at Marlborough House. She regretted that she could not come to him but he, whom she knew had the kindest heart in the world, would understand that as a very old woman she was so often confined to her house. If he would do her the great honour of calling on her, she was sure the Great Duke would look down on Heaven and bless him. The matter was one of secrecy, and if the Prince would humour her he would bring great happiness to an old woman who had once served her country with great zeal, and hoped to do so again.

The Prince was mystified; he was also chivalrous. Sarah Churchill was an old menace he knew; she spent her time inventing grievances and quarrelling with people, going to law whenever possible. But it was hardly likely that she would quarrel with the Prince of Wales. In any case, if she attempted to he only had to take his leave.

So, the Prince of Wales called on the Duchess at Marlborough House.

She was filled with emotion to see him.

‘It is so good of you to come. How can I thank you. And how handsome you are You must forgive an old woman who always speaks her mind. But I had not thought your parents capable of producing such a son.’

The Prince was amused. Any slight to his parents nowadays gave him the greatest pleasure and Sarah had wasted no time in telling him that she felt the same as he did about them.

‘My limbs are stiff these days, Your Highness. I’m an old woman now, and since the dear Duke went I have felt little inclination to leave my home. Would you be seated, and I will tell you why I have taken this liberty ... if liberty you think it.’

The Prince replied courteously that it could only be a pleasure to call on the Duchess of Marlborough. He had always loved to hear of the great Duke’s victories and one of his greatest regrets was that he had been too young to serve with him.

‘You missed a great experience, Your Highness. There was never a general like him. But you know that well. I must remember not to waste your time for which I am sure you have many more uses than waiting on an old woman. I have always been noted for speaking my mind. I say out boldly what I mean. I was never one to hum and hah and take thousands of words to get to a point.’

‘An excellent quality! ‘ murmured the Prince.

‘My plan is this: I have heard that you are in need of money ... large sums of money. I have also heard that you wish to marry. I’ll say this—that I understand both. You have been treated with miserly contempt by those who sit on our throne. And you have not had that which as Prince of Wales should be yours. Now are you going to stand aside and let them do what they will with you?’

‘I do not as yet understand Your Grace’s proposition.’

‘This is it: I’ve a granddaughter, Lady Diana Spencer. She is beautiful, intelligent, fit to be a Queen of England in fact a great deal more fit than any I’ve ever seen wear this crown. It is my wish that she be Queen of England. You could marry her.’

The Prince looked astounded and Sarah hurried on slyly: ‘I am a very rich woman, Your Highness. I would give my granddaughter a dowry of one hundred thousand pounds when she became your wife.’

The Prince was too astonished for speech. He looked at the old woman who was watching him expectantly. Marriage to her granddaughter! Secret marriage!

Then he thought of all his debts, and the words which kept going on in his brain were: One hundred thousand pounds.

‘Well, well,’ said Sarah impatiently, ‘what does Your Highness think?’

She herself was thinking that he was a foolish young man, after all; once he was her son-in-law she would have to make him wake up. She relished the task. She saw herself once more a figure of power. The future Queen’s grandmother. She would have to go on living to see that. It would be an incentive. She would. Not even God could drag her away before she wanted to go.

This was what she needed to give life a spice. Only if she could be in the centre of power again could she endure this earth without dear Marl. She pictured him now up in Heaven looking down on her, smiling, applauding, thinking: If I had always listened to your bold schemes for me, Sarah my love, it would have been different.

Well now there was no one to stop her and she was offering her lovely Lady Di to this inane young fool who had the stamp of Hanover all over his silly face. All the better. All the easier to be led!

‘I ... I had not realized that you would put such a proposition to me,’ said the Prince. ‘I ... I must have time ... time to think.’

This was not refusal then. Time to think? What did that mean? Time to talk it over with ninnies as stupid as himself! Time for Walpole and Madam Ansbach to get wind of the great scheme!

‘There are many enemies of Your Highness who would seek to stop such a solution to your problems.’

‘I know that well.’

‘I can tell you how angry it has made me to hear the talk. Led by the nose ... that’s His Majesty ... led by Master Walpole. And he does not know it. I hope Your Highness will not allow these people to treat you as scurvily.’

‘I shall not,’ cried the Prince, very bold now that he was not facing them, Sarah noticed. Oh, he would be as easy to lead as a pig with a ring through his nose.

‘Oh, yes, they will do everything to prevent this. They do not want to see you married ... although they know full well it is time you were. They are afraid that married status will give you greater power, that they will have to


increase your allowance. I know them. I can tell you this that in the Duke’s day I had to deal with ... vipers.’

‘I know of your great experience and ...’

‘It is for you to decide. I assure Your Highness that the Lady Diana has many suitors. I could make an admirable match for her tomorrow, so I shall want a speedy answer. I’ll tell you this: Shortly she will be here. You will have an opportunity of observing her, talking to her, realizing her worth. I would not want you to take a pig in a poke. Then you can give me your answer tomorrow. Remember it must be our secret. You can depend upon it everything would be done to prevent your seizing this advantage. Meet my granddaughter. Think of what I have said. I will send for her now.’