Exit Lady Masham by Louis Auchincloss Page B
Authors: Louis Auchincloss
Tags: General Fiction
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to be dismissed from court and give birth to my baby in the street. Even Harley would not have given me shelter had I spurned his advice. And as for the DuchessâI knew only too well how
she
would treat me. She had cut her husband's own sister for the same offense, and Arabella Churchill had had a king to sire her bastard!
"I suggest that you mend your fences with Masham," Harley continued in a more practical tone. "You have him much upset. A word, a smile, and all will be well. In the meanwhile I'll speak to the Queen. The less time that we lose, the better."
It was agreed that I should be in the adjoining chamber when Harley spoke privately to my mistress, and that the door would be left ajar. At the appropriate moment he would call my name, and I would hurry in to fling myself on my knees before her. My heart, when the terrible time came, was beating so rapidly that I could hardly distinguish the first words of the interview. It did not make matters easier for me that when Her Majesty's voice became at last intelligible, I recognized the note of stiffness that signalized her stubborn moods.
"You wish to speak to me about a favor for Mrs. Hill, Mr. Harley? Is it not a household matter? Should you not address yourself to Mrs. Danvers? Or even the Duchess?"
"Perhaps, ma'am, I have allowed my concern for my kinswoman to carry me beyond the bounds of a strict etiquette. But I venture to observe that even in the court of a sovereign as greatly beloved as yourself, the ardor of Mrs. Hill's devotion to Your Majesty stands out."
"The girl is fond of me, I do believe."
"Ah, ma'am, she lives for you!"
The Queen's voice at this seemed to relent. "What is it that you seek for Hill, Mr. Harley?"
"Something that will put her future on a more stable basis, ma'am."
"More stable? Can she be more secure than with my favor?" The edge had returned to my mistress's tone. "Or do you, Mr. Harley, like those ravens in the court of the Elector of Hanover, look forward to an early demise of the crown?"
"Heaven forbid, ma'am! May they perish while you still hold your scepter high! I was merely referring to the establishment that every maiden may wish for herself, even one so happily situated as Mrs. Hill. I mean marriage, ma'am."
"Is Mrs. Hill aware that you are speaking for her in this connection?"
"She is, ma'am."
"Then I suppose it is Mr. Masham you have in mind."
"Nothing escapes Your Majesty's eye!"
"So
this
is what you call Hill's living for me!" But the Queen's tone was not unfriendly. "Well, I have no objection to Mr. Masham. So long as he will not take Hill away from court. She is quite indispensable to me. But as Mr. Masham is a member of the Prince's household, I presume there will be no question of any such removal. Very well, Mr. Harley. You may tell Mr. Masham that he has my permission to offer himself to Hill."
The silence that ensued conveyed to me some sense of Harley's embarrassment.
"Mr. Masham has ventured to suggest that under the circumstances Your Majesty might deign to consider a promotion for him."
"Under
what
circumstances?"
"My cousin, ma'am, is a dowerless maiden. Nor can she point to any great distinction in family."
"She can point to
you,
Mr. Harley. Not to mention the Duchess."
"That is true, ma'am. But her father was in trade. Mr. Masham, as the heir of a baronet, might look higher."
"What must he have to take her?"
I knew that the pause that followed meant that Harley had dropped all idea of a peerage. "Would you consider making him a brigadier, ma'am?"
"To wed a woman of my bedchamber? Mr. Harley, are you serious?"
"Could you make him a colonel, then?"
"A colonel! And I thought you were talking about a gift of a hundred pounds or the rangership of a royal park. No, Mr. Harley, your candidate holds himself far too dear. I think poor Hill must forgo any dreams of wedded bliss."
I saw what was coming and wanted to forestall it. Anything would have been better at that moment than the truth!
she
would treat me. She had cut her husband's own sister for the same offense, and Arabella Churchill had had a king to sire her bastard!
"I suggest that you mend your fences with Masham," Harley continued in a more practical tone. "You have him much upset. A word, a smile, and all will be well. In the meanwhile I'll speak to the Queen. The less time that we lose, the better."
It was agreed that I should be in the adjoining chamber when Harley spoke privately to my mistress, and that the door would be left ajar. At the appropriate moment he would call my name, and I would hurry in to fling myself on my knees before her. My heart, when the terrible time came, was beating so rapidly that I could hardly distinguish the first words of the interview. It did not make matters easier for me that when Her Majesty's voice became at last intelligible, I recognized the note of stiffness that signalized her stubborn moods.
"You wish to speak to me about a favor for Mrs. Hill, Mr. Harley? Is it not a household matter? Should you not address yourself to Mrs. Danvers? Or even the Duchess?"
"Perhaps, ma'am, I have allowed my concern for my kinswoman to carry me beyond the bounds of a strict etiquette. But I venture to observe that even in the court of a sovereign as greatly beloved as yourself, the ardor of Mrs. Hill's devotion to Your Majesty stands out."
"The girl is fond of me, I do believe."
"Ah, ma'am, she lives for you!"
The Queen's voice at this seemed to relent. "What is it that you seek for Hill, Mr. Harley?"
"Something that will put her future on a more stable basis, ma'am."
"More stable? Can she be more secure than with my favor?" The edge had returned to my mistress's tone. "Or do you, Mr. Harley, like those ravens in the court of the Elector of Hanover, look forward to an early demise of the crown?"
"Heaven forbid, ma'am! May they perish while you still hold your scepter high! I was merely referring to the establishment that every maiden may wish for herself, even one so happily situated as Mrs. Hill. I mean marriage, ma'am."
"Is Mrs. Hill aware that you are speaking for her in this connection?"
"She is, ma'am."
"Then I suppose it is Mr. Masham you have in mind."
"Nothing escapes Your Majesty's eye!"
"So
this
is what you call Hill's living for me!" But the Queen's tone was not unfriendly. "Well, I have no objection to Mr. Masham. So long as he will not take Hill away from court. She is quite indispensable to me. But as Mr. Masham is a member of the Prince's household, I presume there will be no question of any such removal. Very well, Mr. Harley. You may tell Mr. Masham that he has my permission to offer himself to Hill."
The silence that ensued conveyed to me some sense of Harley's embarrassment.
"Mr. Masham has ventured to suggest that under the circumstances Your Majesty might deign to consider a promotion for him."
"Under
what
circumstances?"
"My cousin, ma'am, is a dowerless maiden. Nor can she point to any great distinction in family."
"She can point to
you,
Mr. Harley. Not to mention the Duchess."
"That is true, ma'am. But her father was in trade. Mr. Masham, as the heir of a baronet, might look higher."
"What must he have to take her?"
I knew that the pause that followed meant that Harley had dropped all idea of a peerage. "Would you consider making him a brigadier, ma'am?"
"To wed a woman of my bedchamber? Mr. Harley, are you serious?"
"Could you make him a colonel, then?"
"A colonel! And I thought you were talking about a gift of a hundred pounds or the rangership of a royal park. No, Mr. Harley, your candidate holds himself far too dear. I think poor Hill must forgo any dreams of wedded bliss."
I saw what was coming and wanted to forestall it. Anything would have been better at that moment than the truth!
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