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

he will care very much. He is careless about such matters. But you have to remember that the people are not very pleased.”
    She held her head high, but I could see that she was apprehensive. I begged her to tell me quickly what the King said when he came. I felt she had gone too far, even for his good humor.
    She kept her word and I hastened to her. I found her a little baffled.
    She said: “I told the King what I had done but it was not as I expected. He did not show anger at all. He just smiled in a rather absent way and talked of other things. I was overjoyed. My baby is a Catholic, even though she was born in this heretic land.”
    â€œDo not be too sure of that,” I said. “There are people around us who could create mischief.”
    The next day I was told that the baby was to be baptized in the Chapel Royal, according to the rites of the Church of England, of course, and one of the bishops would perform the ceremony.
    I was astounded. Mary Beatrice had said the King had not seemed to hear what she had said.
    â€œHe did hear,” I assured her. “He is sweeping it aside, as he does anything that is unpleasant. He understands what you did. Most people would have been furious . . . banished you to the Tower. But the King does not act like that, so he brushes it aside as though it has not happened. But he will have his way all the same and Catherine Laura will be baptized in the Church of England.”
    â€œBut she is a Catholic!” Mary Beatrice was almost in tears. She was bewildered. She did not understand the ways of our court. The King, so charming . . . smiling, showing no signs of anger, had just swept aside her childish action. As far as he was concerned, it had never happened.
    Soon after I heard that my sister Anne and I were to stand as sponsors and the Duke of Monmouth was to join us.
    When it was over my father came to see me.
    â€œThe Duchess told you that there was a previous baptism,” he said.
    â€œYes,” I replied. “She did.”
    He was frowning and staring before him. “The King has spoken to me very seriously,” he went on.
    â€œThe King behaved to the Duchess as though it were of no importance.”
    â€œHe understood her motive. ‘She is young,’ he said, ‘and quite ignorant of the significance of her action. She is not to be blamed, but watched that she commits no more such follies.’ If this were known, Gallis would be hanged and quartered. As for myself and the Duchess, he warned me that at least we should be sent away from court. No one must know that this ceremony took place. Please, never speak of it.”
    I did understand. I was growing up fast. I saw that my father could be in danger.
    I threw myself into his arms and clung to him.
    â€œI promise, I promise,” I cried.

THE ORANGE MARRIAGE
    Life had changed since we had been launched on the court. We were often in the company of the King. Both Anne and I looked forward to those occasions, for he treated us with great affection and lack of ceremony, as always the kindly uncle. How differently I see such relationships when I look back now!
    In those days I thought all the affectionate words and actions meant he really cared for us. He did, of course, in his lighthearted way, but I know now what his main aim was. We were in his care. We were good little Protestants. We were in line to the throne and my uncle wanted the people to know that, although he himself could not provide them with a Protestant heir, he would make sure that, in spite of his brother’s love affair with the Catholic Church, those who followed him to the throne should be of the approved religion.
    Although I know now how this matter was always there in our lives, I did not understand then how very important it was and how it would shape my life.
    So we were now at court, and I must say we were finding the experience delightful. We were treated with the utmost respect wherever we