Anne, cheated of Richmond Palace, as she said, had moved to the Cockpit. I was still very sad about the decline in our friendship and I often thought of the old days when she had always wanted to do what I did, when I was the elder sister, to be admired and imitated.

Little William was growing up into a bright, amusing and intelligent child, though his health still gave concern; but Mrs. Pack remained with him and his devotion to her increased. Anne resisted Sarah’s urgings that the woman should be sent away. Anne was devoted to her son and his welfare, his happiness, could bring out all the stubborness in her nature and she would fight even Sarah for his sake.

Mrs. Pack and Sarah had naturally become the most bitter of enemies. I was amused to see them together and delighted that Sarah could not get her way this time.

I often took presents to the child. He was very interested in me. I realized it was because he had heard I was the Queen.

He would call me imperiously to his side if he wanted to show me some picture or a castle of bricks.

“Queen,” he would cry, “Here, Queen. Look.”

Anne talked of his cleverness — quite volubly for her. Sarah might grow impatient but it was no use. Anne would go on talking.

The boy had a small carriage made for him. There were miniature horses — the smallest that could be found — and they were attached to his little carriage and led by George’s coachman.

People used to come to the park to watch the little boy in his carriage. They would cheer him as he passed along. He would regard them solemnly and then raise his hand and wave. When he did this they laughed and cheered the more, which clearly excited him for he bounced up and down in his seat with glee.

The little Duke was always popular, and so was Anne. She had somehow conveyed her devotion to him and that touched the hearts of the people. Whenever she appeared, the people made it obvious that she was a favorite. They were kind to me, too. It was only William who was received in silence.

Marlborough had gone to Ireland where there was trouble in the south. He did very well there and when he came home, I heard that Sarah thought he should receive an honor.

Anne spoke to me about it. “Sarah thinks that Marlborough’s services should be recognized. He should have the Garter or a dukedom.”

“He has already been made an earl.”

“Think what he has done since that.”

“He has done his duty as a soldier, yes.”

“Sarah thinks good service should be rewarded.”

I said tersely: “Sarah does not make the laws in this country, though doubtless she would like to.”

Anne dropped into one of her silent sullen moods, so I began to speak of young William — a subject she could never resist.

I mentioned to William what she had said. “Marlborough thinks he should be rewarded,” I said. “He thinks, as the Garter will soon be available, he should have it.”

“The Garter! Marlborough!” cried William. “That is quite out of the question.”

“I thought you would say that. It is his wife’s idea, I daresay.”

“That woman interferes too much.”

That was something with which I could wholeheartedly agree.

He told me then that he would soon be leaving for Holland and it would be for me to take over the government again.

This did not alarm me as it had in the past. I was realizing that I could be stimulated by the prospect of stepping into first place and taking decisions. I was learning that, in spite of the accompanying anxieties, it is exciting to be in command.

“I must attend the Congress of the Powers,” he said. “The French are more to be feared than James, and now he is in France we can be watchful of him. He is weak, but the French are strong, and those nations who are against the French must stand together. We shall make plans to do this during the Congress.”

It was only a few days before he was due to leave when the plot was discovered. It was reckless in the extreme. The plotters were making a proposition to my father. If he would make a solemn promise to rule England as a Protestant country, they would bring him back. He was to gather together a French force which would bring him to England where a secret landing place would be arranged. The French force would then be dismissed and sent back to France. His friends would then rally round him and set him on the throne.

They were rather naive if they thought my father would keep such a promise, even if he made it in the first place.

Three of the conspirators, Lord Preston, Major Elliot and a Mr. Ashton, were selected to take the proposals to France. Suspicions had already been aroused and before their small boat was able to leave the Thames, it was boarded and the papers which were intended for my father were seized.

As a result the three men were now in the Tower.

William said he was pleased that this matter had been settled before he left England.

Now there was another problem. Prince George wanted to go to sea.

“Could he not do so?” I asked William.

My husband looked at me scornfully. “We cannot afford to encumber the service with those who will be no good in it.”

“Surely some position could be found for him?”

“It would have to be a position of some importance because of his rank. That is the trouble. Think of Torrington.”

“Torrington was a good man. He was just short of ships.”

“A good man accepts difficulties and overcomes them.”

“He has to have good luck to do that. Torrington did not.”

William clearly did not want to discuss Torrington. He was concerned with George. He despised George, who was all that he was not; and he was determined that George should not go to sea. How could he prevent him? It must be done.

“For,” he added, “he shall not join the fleet. On that I am determined. But it would be better if he were persuaded not to, instead of forbidden.”

“Forbidden?” I cried.

William’s face hardened. “If necessary, yes. He shall not join the fleet which must be manned by only the best. We cannot afford more incompetence.”

“Who will persuade him?”

“Anne, I suppose.”

“She never would.”

“Well, you must persuade her to it. Get the Churchill woman on your side. I am told that you know how to deal with people.”

“This would not be easy.”

“Dealing with foolish people never is.”

He dismissed the matter and the next day he left for Holland.

I was anxious about him for the weather was not good, but he would not delay his departure. It was necessary for him to be in a country where people behaved reasonably, where they understood him and he them.

Poor William! I wondered, as I had before, whether he would have been happier if he had never realized his dream and inherited the crown.

It was a relief to hear that he had arrived safely and emerged with nothing more than a cold. The Dutch had welcomed him warmly — in that undemonstrative way, I supposed, which was so much to his taste.

Before me lay the difficult task of “persuading” George that the sea was not for him.

I made several attempts with Anne but that stubborn look came into her face when I mentioned what George proposed to do and questioned the wisdom of it.

“So,” she cried, “he is to be given no post! He is expected to spend his days sleeping, drinking and sitting around. The King treats him like an usher ... of no importance at all.”

I could make no headway with Anne. The only way would be, as William had suggested, to get Sarah to try to persuade Anne.

With some misgivings I sought out Sarah.

I said: “Lady Marlborough, I know you have great influence with my sister, and it is for this reason that I wish to talk to you.”

“The Princess honors me with a rather special friendship, I believe, Your Majesty,” she replied complacently.

“Well, I know that she always listens with attention to what you have to say. This is rather a delicate matter. Prince George has conceived an idea that he should take command of the fleet.”

“I believe that to be in his mind, Your Majesty.”

“It is really not possible, and I want you to persuade the Princess that it would not be good for him.”

“Oh?” said Sarah, her eyes widening in innocence.

I tried flattery, to which I suspected Sarah was not entirely immune.

“If anyone can make the Princess see the wisdom of this, it is you. And when the Princess realizes it, she can persuade the Prince. That is all I ask of you, Lady Marlborough.”

She hesitated for a moment and I saw speculation come into her eyes.

“Madame, Your Majesty, I ask your forgiveness for my forwardness, but I am in the employ of the Princess Anne and therefore owe my allegiance to her, and I hold it as a matter of honor. I will tell her that it is your opinion that it would be unwise of the Prince to join the fleet and you have asked me to persuade her to this. I would tell her that this is your command, for I should be obliged to tell her whence it came. I trust Your Majesty understands my meaning.”

“I understand you well, Lady Marlborough,” I said rising. She immediately stood, as she could not remain seated when I was not. “I pray you, say nothing of this matter to the Princess, for I see little good could come of it.”

With that I left the insolent woman. I could see that more harm than good had been done. Now it would be necessary to give an outright refusal to Prince George. It would have been better to have refused him in the first place.