The Queen's Devotion: The Story of Queen Mary II by Jean Plaidy Page B

of Buckingham’s apartments, for they had this plan. They were going to make him very drunk and see what he would do.”
    â€œSurely he would not allow that,” I suggested. “I thought he only drank that mild stuff they have in Holland and very little of that.”
    â€œAh, but he was not in Holland, was he, Lady Mary?” went on Sarah. “They filled up his glass with something very strong—he did not realize how strong—and even when they refilled his glass he did not realize what they were doing to him until it was too late.”
    â€œAnd perhaps he enjoyed it when he tried it,” said Elizabeth Villiers. “You have not said that they talked about the charms of the Queen’s maids of honor and how they liked and expected attention from the courtiers and were very free with their favors. The Prince listened. He could never have heard anything like it before and it must have seemed to him that customs were very different in England from those in Holland.”
    â€œSo they made him drunk!” I said. “I do not think that was a very kind or clever thing to do.”
    â€œYou haven’t heard what happened,” said Sarah. “When he went back to Whitehall, he was so inflamed with the drink and the stories he had heard of willing maids of honor that he tried to get into their apartments. He was so angry when he found them locked against him and was told by the older ladies to go away that he broke a window and tried to climb in. So, there was your virtuous young man. Virtue had been defeated by strong drink and the hope of the pleasure he would get from the ladies.”
    â€œI think it was a very unkind trick to play on a visitor,” I said.
    â€œSo did he,” said Elizabeth. “Next morning he was very ashamed and contrite, but at least it shows that underneath this cloak of virtue he is just like most other men.”
    â€œThat is not quite true,” protested Anne Trelawny, “because he was sorry for what happened, and it was not his fault really.”
    â€œBut,” insisted Elizabeth, “he had always been so disapproving of other people’s weaknesses and it was revealed that when intoxicated he was just like the rest.”
    â€œBut he did not ask for the drink in the first place,” said Anne.
    Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “You are determined to defend him. The King was very much amused and liked him better for ‘his normality’ as they called it.”
    â€œThat was a long time ago,” said Anne Trelawny. “He will be on his guard, I dare say.”
    â€œOh yes,” agreed Sarah. “He will be watchful of what he drinks. I look forward to seeing him.”
    â€œI doubt not you will ere long,” said Elizabeth.

    I WAS SURPRISED when my father told me that I was to be presented to the Prince of Orange. I had supposed that I would meet him sometime but it appeared from my father’s manner that there was something special about this meeting. He seemed a little apprehensive.
    He said: “It is the King’s wish that you and your cousin should meet and be friends.”
    â€œI hear he is very serious.”
    â€œHe is greatly respected throughout Europe,” replied my father.
    He himself came to escort me to the Prince. The King was with him and, when my father led me to them, my uncle came forward and, taking both my hands, kissed my cheek.
    â€œThis is my dear niece,” he said to the Prince. “Mary, here is my nephew William, the Prince of Orange, a very welcome visitor to our court.”
    William of Orange bowed rather stiffly, and I curtsied.
    â€œNow,” said the King, “you have met. I do not think you had the pleasure of meeting my niece when you were last at Whitehall, nephew.” He looked faintly mischievous and I knew he was thinking of the solemn young man trying to break into the quarters of the maids of honor. William’s face was