Moscow,

4th September 1826

Charlotte woke the next morning with aching feet and rather mussed hair. They had returned from the coronation celebration in the early hours of the morning and Charlotte had dismissed her maid as soon as she had been stripped of her gown and proceeded to stumble into bed where she slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky the next day. It was certainly long past time to break her fast but she could not claim she was sorry for it; she had, after all, partaken of a great many new dishes the previous evening and even now her stomach remained sated.

Charlotte turned her head to the light that had woken her from her slumber and squinted to make out the silhouette before her windows. As her senses sharpened and she roused to full wakefulness, Charlotte recognised her maid and dropped her back to her pillows, reluctant to move from under her sheets and read herself for the day.

Her maid, a girl a few years younger than Charlotte by the name of Alyona, merely smiled sweetly at her mistress' reluctance and went about preparing the bath she was sure to be grateful for. Charlotte murmured sleepily and rolled onto her back, sat up and gave a large yawn before picking up the hot tea that had been placed upon the table beside her bed.

Taking a sip of the lightly spiced tea, she considered what she would wear that day. She knew that she, Lady Susan, Lady Granville and Miss Patricia Disbrowe, the ambassador's daughter, had made plans to tour some of the city's park and public parades so Charlotte determined something warm that allowed a range of movement would surely be practical.

"You bath now. I helps you wash?" Alyona asked Charlotte who thanked the girl and moved into the dressing room to complete her morning ablutions. Alyona rinsed Charlotte's hair with a Rose and honey soap and helped massage scented oils into her skin when she stepped out of the tub before towelling her dry with a large linen cloth. Charlotte slipped into a light robe as she sat at the vanity in the dressing room and allowed Alyona to pin her hair up in a simple style.

"Miss look much pretty." Alyona complimented when she finished Charlotte's hair and moved to clean up the cloths and oils and soaps as Charlotte slipped into her chemise and stockings. Alyona then helped Charlotte into her morning dress, a white, empire waisted gown with a simple blue brocade trim at the neckline, sleeves and hem and tiny flower clusters embroidered into a sheer top-layer of the skirts. This would be covered by a comforting, fur-lined pelisse in teal with black edging for their outing that afternoon.

By the time Charlotte had dressed for the day, it was approaching the first hour past noon and the household was gathering in the morning room for a light afternoon repast before the ladies ventured outside and the gentlemen attended to business. Charlotte greeted her hosts and the other guests at the ambassador's residence as she sat at the table and began to butter a scone.

"You rose late today Miss Heywood, is all well?" Lady Granville enquired after Charlotte's health with a friendly smile,

"I am quite well, Ma'am, thank you. It is only that I am not accustomed to such late hours and was overtired after the excitement of yesterday." Charlotte returned the Countess' smile with one of her own and reassured the lady that she was in the best of health. Charlotte would have been quite disappointed to have to remain within the house on such a beautiful day when she could be out walking in good company.

Shortly the party had consumed their luncheon and the gentlemen had bid farewell to the ladies as they departed to meetings or the library to attend to their affairs. Only Lord Granville and Viscount Morpeth remained and they quickly made known their intention to accompany the ladies around the nearby parks and squares. Lord Granville also offered his services in touring them around the old city the next day.

The ladies were sorry to have decline this generous offer for plans had already been made to explore the shopping districts and bazaars the following afternoon but they would welcome a tour perhaps the day after the morrow. Lord Granville acquiesced to this and so their plans were set.

Viscount Morpeth, who truly had very little affairs of his own that needed addressing during their time her declared that he should be happy to escort the ladies and provide protection on any outing they wished.

"After all, I shall find myself at odds and ends in no time at all, I am certain, and should be much obliged to be granted something useful to do! What say you Miss Heywood, Miss Disbrowe? Will you allow me to act as your protector in this terrible place?" Charlotte and Miss Disbrowe laughed and agreed to allow him the honour the cheerfully.

"And do we not warrant your care, Nephew?" Queried Lady Granville archly with a conspiring look to Lady Susan. Her nephew smiled and teasingly replied.

"Ah but I wouldn't dare to dream of suggesting you needed anyone but yourself for protection aunt. And has not my uncle also offered assistance to our lovely ladies? I'm certain Lady Susan must surely prefer the company of her peers than a tiresome lordling such as myself!" All the ladies smiled at this defiance and Lady Granville dropped her austere charade to sigh exasperatedly at her nephew.

And so, the ladies found themselves venturing out of the ambassador's manor house and into the streets of Moscow. Lady Susan and Lady Granville on the arms of the latter's husband, Charlotte accompanied by the Viscount and Miss Disbrowe with her mother, who had decided at the final moment to join her daughter and guests.

The party decided to first explore the Izmaylovo Park where they could view the Pokhorovoskiy Cathedral, though it splendour was marred by the damage it sustained during Napoleon's invasion of the city more than a decade previously and had yet to be restored to its former magnificence. There they also spied the Ceremonial Gate and Bridge Tower through the grove of trees that surrounded the cathedral.

Charlotte was treated to numerous pieces of history about the Russian empire by the Viscount during their walks and came to learn more of the culture of Russia than she had ever anticipated knowing. The daylight was slowly starting to fade as they approached one of the many great lakes and ponds and the Viscount was regaling Charlotte and Miss Disbrowe with a story of Peter the Great learning to sail in the very lakes they had toured that day when an excellent though came to him.

"Miss Heywood, would you not think it a great diversion to secure one of these sail boats for a time and venture out into the great lake itself? The sunset would surely be a sight to rival any other from such a vantage?" he suggested and Charlotte was keen to agree to the excursion. Lady Disbrowe and her daughter declined to join them claiming their own dislike of the motion of a boat on water would diminish their enjoyment. Lady Susan and Lord Granville also chose to remain ashore when the idea was put to them but Lady Granville insisted she would like to see the sun as set below the trees and reflected upon the water. And besides, the pair could not be allowed to go out in the boat alone for such a thing was improper.

Some minutes later saw the three in a small row-boat drifting further out into the lake. The Viscount rowed them further out with strong, steady strokes of the paddles in the water. Shortly they drifted to a stop as he turned to boat around to face the setting sun. Charlotte could just make out the group that had remained behind and waved to them with an irrepressible smile before she too turned to observe as the sun began to dip below the treeline.

The sky was riot of colours; a deepening indigo above their heads fading to a lovely dark lavender the closer it came to the sun. Around the sun itself were fiery yellows, oranges and glowing reds that radiated out from the bright circle of light and reflected off the scattered clouds. It made for a truly remarkable sight and Charlotte would not forget it for as long as she lived.

It was not long before the sun had sunk below the trees and the park was cast in shadow. The Viscount swiftly rowed the group back to the shore and helped the ladies step off the boat. Lady Granville was sure-footed and was shortly back at her husband's side. Charlotte, however, was unfortunate to place her foot in a patch of water and slipped as she lifted her other foot to step onto the deck sending her crashing into Viscount Morpeth and almost knocking them both to the ground. Viscount Morpeth had quick reflexes and was able to catch the falling woman and set her safely down.

"How lucky I was to catch you Miss Haywood," The Viscount teased as he removed his arms from her waist. "had I not, we might both have become quite soaked just now. You should be more careful." He finished as he presented his arm to escort her back the rest of their party. Charlotte blushed and stuttered out an embarrassed apology for poor balance. He laughed at this and assured her he was not truly scolding her.

Lady Susan and Lady Granville, who had observed this exchange from the safety of walkway, smiled and shared a conspiring look that promised a private discussion between the two ladies.