The Emperor by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

be here, having been invited only at second hand. Lord Chelmsford – your cousin, I believe? – met me in Fladong's where he was dining with Admiral Harvey, and knowing of me from what you told him of your time aboard the Diamond, he took the liberty of inviting me to your ball, and I took the even greater liberty of accepting.'
    ‘ Oh, but I am so glad that you did!' Lucy exclaimed fervently. 'Oh those happy days on the good old Diamond! Why will such things pass away? I should like to talk with you about it for ever!'
    ‘ But not, I hope, on the dance-floor, or everyone will be in a stir,' Weston smiled. 'I have been watching you dance this half-hour, your ladyship, and I am glad to find you dance admirably, with all the grace and spirit of a senior warrant officer in His Majesty's navy! But I am curious about your last partner: surely that was not your husband?'
    ‘ Oh, no, that was only Mr Wiske, a friend. Here is my husband now – I must introduce you! Chetwyn, may I present Lieutenant Weston? Mr Weston, my husband, the Earl of Aylesbury.’
    The two men bowed, and eyed each other consideringly as they straightened up. 'Servant, sir,' said Chetwyn. 'I've heard a lot about you.'
    ‘ Then you have me at a disadvantage, my lord,' Weston replied. 'But you arrive most opportunely: I was just about to solicit the honour of leading Lady Aylesbury to the set.'
    ‘ Do, if she wishes. Do you want to dance, Luce?' Chetwyn said languidly.
    Lucy's smile was all the answer he needed. Weston led her to the set, and as they took their places, he asked, 'Why do you call him Chetwyn? Is that his given name?'
    ‘ Oh no, it's his family name. When he was at school with my brother, we all knew him as Chetwyn, and I got so used to calling him that, I have never left off,' Lucy replied. 'He doesn't mind me dancing with other people, you know,' she added carefully. 'He doesn't care to dance himself.’
    Weston looked across to where Chetwyn was standing at the edge of the dance floor, chatting to some other young men of fashion, and a thoughtful expression crossed his face for a moment. 'Yes, I understand,' he said.
    Lucy found Mr Weston a graceful dancer, and a most satisfactory partner, able to talk amusingly on a great many subjects, and she was sorry when their two dances were over, and he led her back to her husband. One subject in particular she longed to discuss with him, but it was the one he had already banned from the dance-floor. That it was on his mind, too, was evident from his saying, just before they reached the group where Chetwyn was standing, 'You can't imagine, Lady Aylesbury, how very dull the wardroom seemed after you had left it.'
    ‘ And you can't imagine how dull my life seemed, after I had left you – and the other officers. To be expected always to talk about sewing and such ladylike subjects! ‘
    He paused and took her hand again, and looked down at her with a quizzical expression. ‘Then, may I hope to be allowed to give you the opportunity to talk once more of professional matters? Dear Lady Aylesbury, may I do myself the honour of calling on you? Will you be at home tomorrow morning?'
    ‘ Oh yes,' said Lucy, comprehensively, her eyes shining with pleasure, and Weston, as he bowed formally over her hand, allowed his lips to brush it before releasing it, and yielding her up to her husband.

Chapter Five
     
      Héloïse stepped out of the house into Yeman's Row, and closed the door behind her, shutting herself into the dark ness of a frosty night lit only by stars and the dim gleams of light filtering through the shutters of the houses. She shivered as she adjusted to the cold. There seemed to have been so little summer that year. Late spring frosts had spoiled the young wheat, and now winter had come early, and there had been no relief from the high prices. The price of bread had more than doubled since last year – because of the war, they said. A quartern loaf cost a shilling now; meat, even the