Chapter 24: Sunderland
January, 1691
“I trust you are well enough?” The Princess asked. Her expression was one Robert had seen often enough on her father to suspect that she was not just asking after his physical health.
“As well as can be, Your Highness, thank you.” Robert replied.
The Princess nodded and then turned the conversation to another topic. “The war between the Emperor and France continues. However, recent reports as you are aware suggest that the French might be about to break through on the Rhine. It seems that the Duke of Lorraine’s death has greatly hampered the imperial war effort. This is greatly concerning.”
The Princess finished and Robert took up the conversation from there. “I agree that it is concerning, Your Highness. However, I do not think it warrants our armed involvement. At the moment, the French might be breaking through on the Rhine, but with the aid of the Portuguese the Spanish have driven them out of Catalonia for now. As for Italy, the French and Savoyard armies are being defeated with regularity and have not yet broached Milan.”
The Princess nodded. “This is true; however, the French are not likely to let go of anything just yet. They will return to Catalonia in due course, and this time the Portuguese won’t be there to aid Spain. Which leads me back to my initial query, what should we do?”
Robert thought on this. He could see where the Princess was coming from. In all his years serving her father and her uncle, he had dealt with the French often enough to know that King Louis was stubborn, convinced in his own rightness, and unlikely to ever accept a peace that would not benefit him. But he also knew that it was not to their benefit to engage in this war now. “The Spanish Netherlands are not under threat as of now, Your Highness. Whether that remains true in the long term, it remains true now. Therefore, we must consider that. I would recommend placing Lord Churchill on alert, and tell him to move his regiments southwards toward the border between the Republic and the Empire. that way they can engage in direct conflict if the need arises.”
“A wise choice.” The Princess said nodding along. “And of course it would make the Prince of Orange feel easier as well.”
Robert said nothing to that, he did not know where things stood between the Princess and her brother by marriage. Eventually, when it became clear that the Princess was expecting him to respond, he said. “Of course, Your Highness.”
The Princess nodded again, and then asked. “And your family? How are they?”
The change in topic would have thrown a lesser man, but Robert had been dealing with the Stuarts for years. He knew their minds sometimes wandered. “Robert is doing well enough, though I fear that whatever it was that caught him in Paris still affects him. Elizabeth and her husband have finally consummated their marriage, and Charles remains relatively quiet, though I think he will soon need to venture to Oxford.”
“A clever one, is he?” Anne asked referring to the son named after the King.
“Yes, quite clever. I think he would do better as Earl than Robert.” Robert said referring to his oldest son and namesake.
“And why do you believe that?” the Princess asked.
“Robert has the mould of a soldier; he thinks like one as well. Everything is about seeing someone as either an ally or an enemy. Charles sees the world for how it is, in shades of grey mixed together in one fascinating colour combination. Robert would do well in the army, whilst Charles would do well at court. But their birth order dictates it go the other way.” Robert said.
“Not necessarily.” The Princess said.
“Your Highness?” Robert asked intrigued.
“If you believe Robert is a soldier, then send him to one of the regiments stationed near your estates, allow him to get some training and see how he does. If you think Charles would do well at court, I will invite him to court to serve under my husband the Duke of Cumberland.” The Princes said.
Robert considered that, it would make sense and he did wonder why he’d not thought on that before. “I will do so, thank you, Your Highness.”
“Think nothing of it, Robert.” The Princess replied. “We must make the best use of the people we have.”
Robert nodded, he knew the Princess was trying to improve the quality of England, and so he would comply with this suggestion? But then there was another issue he wished to discuss before he retired back to his manor for the night. “Your Highness, if I may, might I give my thoughts on the campaign being waged in Scotland?”
The Princess looked at him, took a sip of her wine and then replied. “Go forward.”
Encouraged by this, Robert said. “Whilst I understand why the campaign has come about, I do think it is risky to give that much power to Lord Campbell. The man and his family have always been ambitious. He might say all the right things now, but there will come a time when he will try to do something that takes the momentum and the imagery away from the crown and toward himself.”
“You think he is being insincere?” The Princess asked.
“I do not think he is being insincere, just yet, Your Highness. However, I do think that he is doing all of this to ensure he gets some power. His father and grandfather both played dangerous games and lost. Campbell is also playing a dangerous game, but he has couched it in the terms of appealing to bringing peace to Western Scotland.” Robert answered.
“SO, what would you suggest I do?” The Princess asked.
“I would suggest you wait and see how this campaign of this goes. If by the summer session of Parliament, the west has quietened down, then you restore his titles to him. If it has not, you do not.” Robert said.
The Princess did not immediately respond, instead she simply took a sip of wine, and then it seemed when she had had enough she nodded. “You may go.” Robert rose, kissed the Princess’s outstretched hand, bowed, straightened and then turned and walked out.
As he nodded to the guards outside the room, he continued his walk. The hallways had people milling about, various attendants, lords and ladies, and some members of the Commons also, had gathered in Whitehall, in the attempt to outdo Versailles in its grandeur. If he were being frank, Robert found the whole thing slightly confusing. They were not French, but nor were they Puritans, and it seemed the longer Whitehall existed, the more French they were becoming.
He walked out of the main palace section, and out into the courtyard beyond. He nodded to the guards who opened the gate for him, allowing him to walk out. When he had been a younger man, he had stayed at court, engaging in all sorts of things. But now he was older, and he would like to think wiser. The time had come for him to retire soon. Robert, his eldest son and Charles would take the reins of power soon enough. He felt someone bump into him as he got onto Parliament street. “Apologies.” He said, the figure did not respond, instead they kept on walking.
How very odd. Robert thought to himself, though he did not dwell on it. His manor was only a few more paces away, and then he could settle down and engage in some reading. A figure dressed in deep brown came to him then. “Excuse me, Sir, might I stop you for a moment?”
Robert would usually ignore such people, but tonight he stopped. “Certainly. What seems to be the matter?” He asked.
The figure did not respond immediately, but instead, seemed to be searching for something. Just as Robert’s patience began to wear thin, the figure produced something and leaned forward. Robert felt a prick and then looked down and saw blood trickling out onto his clothes. He looked at the figure who simply replied. “Sorry, Sir, but it had to be done.” The figure shoved the thing into him further before walking away.
Robert felt it, he tried to call out, but nothing came. Instead he slumped to the floor and lay there, mere feet from his manor. He couldn’t move even if he wanted to.