Chapter 154: A Queen’s Misery
December, 1712
Anne rarely felt pleasant anymore. The gout was preventing her from walking, it prevented her from sleeping unless Abigail was with her. It was making her life a living hell, and she just wanted it to end. Of course, there was an issue with her son, her firstborn and the pride of her life. James was not happy about something and she wasn’t sure what. His wife and their children visited her regularly, but he did not. Indeed, it seemed he spent more time at Hampton Court Palace now than anywhere else, and that confused her. It also worried her. Still, he had come to visit her now and she wanted to speak with him frankly.
Anne looked at her son, noted the bags under his eyes and said. “We see that you are not sleeping properly. Why?”
Her son looked at her and sighed. “Your Majesty, it is because I am having to work overtime to correct the mistakes that Lord Harley is making.”
“Mistakes?” Anne asked, looking behind her to Abigail. “What mistakes?”
“He is pushing too hard to allow for a proper and open alliance with France, to the detriment of all else.” James replied.
Anne was confused by this. “Surely that is a good thing? We are to be tied with France through marriage, so surely it should be wise that we seek to have an alliance with them.”
Her son shook his head. “Marriage does necessitate open alliance, Mother. If we are to be allied with France, when next they venture into open warfare we will then have to make a decision. It is not good form to break an alliance.”
“And why are you so sure that France will break into warfare again, Your Royal Highness?” Abigail asked. There was something in her voice that Anne did not like.
Her son’s face twisted slightly into a look of barely concealed disgust. “Because it is France, Madam. Louis the Sun King might be dead, but his grandson the Dauphin is just as ambitious as him. He will not just settle in one way or another, the Duchy of the Netherlands will be in his sights. We cannot allow that.”
“So, you would risk another war, for something that has not even happened yet?” Abigail asked.
Her son was getting visibly more irate. “I would be smart about it, Madam. We can trade with France whilst still building up our arsenal for the next war.”
Abigail came to kneel before her. “Your Majesty, please listen to me, if you allow Lord Harley to do as he is doing now, you can be sure that there will be no war for us to fight. The money saved can then be used on the things you wish.”
Anne looked at Abigail, felt her hand slipping onto her leg, and she then looked at her son. “Abigail is right, darling. Sir Robert is being smart about this.”
“Madam, you cannot be serious!” James retorted. “Sir Robert is leading us down the path of irrelevancy, we will be abandoning our oldest allies to appease French warmongering and the class of politicians in this country who never fight.”
“You were the one advocating in favour of the French marriage, might we remind you, Sir.” Anne said.
Her son sighed. “Yes, Your Majesty, I was. Because I believed the dowry that was promised would aid in the ultimate goal.”
“And what is that ultimate goal, if not peace?” Anne asked.
“To eclipse the French as the power on the continent, Madam.” James replied. “If you were to allow me to fulfil my proposals, our dominance of the waters would be completely unquestioned, we would also have an army that could be deployed at a moment’s notice. We could then take the colonies in America that the Spanish hold and ensure our dominance is complete.”
Anne’s eyes widened. “Such a thing would cost a fortune. We are not an Empire building nation, Sir, we are a trading nation.”
“Her Majesty is right, Your Royal Highness. Such proposals as you put them would cost the people an arm and a leg.” Abigail said.
“You are not a member of the council, my lady, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.” James said to Abigail.
“Apologise, at once!” Anne commanded of her son.
Her son looked at her and said. “I cannot, Your Majesty. Not to that whore.”
She leaned across and slapped her son across the cheek, something she had never done before. “Then leave.” Anne said.
James bowed and then straightened. “As you wish, Your Majesty.” With that her son turned and stalked out of the room.