Moscow,

September, 1826

The rest of their time in the city passed similarly with walks through parks, shopping and visits to and from members of Russian society. They had attended balls and galas and many dinner parties, each more extravagant than the last.

On their second day they had, indeed, visited the shopping districts and the grand bazaar as planned. They had been accompanied again by the Viscount, who had purchased for each of them a delicately crafted set of matryoshka dolls from a market vendor. The tour offered by Lord Granville had been delightful and they had visited many of the local wonders enjoyed by the people of Moscow, poor and wealthy alike.

For Lady Susan and Lady Granville, the most memorable moment had come when they finally had the opportunity to speak privately about the events at Izmaylovo Park during their first week in the city.


Moscow

13th September

Lady Granville strode into the music room in search of new sheet music for the pianoforte in the parlour and was pleased to find Lady Susan perusing the music herself. Lady Granville paused on the threshold with a smile and lightly rapped her knuckles against the panels of the door. Lady Susan started in surprise, dropping the booklet in her hands to the floor as she turned to the door.

"Oh, Harriet, I had expected you to have joined Charlotte and Miss Disbrowe on their walk?" She said as she raised a hand to her chest.

"I had thought to but yesterday's weather has left the ground rather damp. With my boots drying after the soaking they received it did not seem advisable to go out when I have no other suitable footwear. Susan, I'm glad to finally catch a private moment with you. I think we need to address the attachment developing between my nephew and your young friend, Miss Heywood." Lady Granville declared as she moved further into the room.

"And I suppose you have something to say about it?" Lady Susan enquired.

"I do believe your friend Miss Heywood might just make a perfect match for my nephew. But you had already considered that, hadn't you Susan?" Lady Granville suggested with a scheming smile as she settled herself onto a chaise by a window overlooking the gardens.

"I must confess I did and I am pleased to hear my suspicions that you would agree with me confirmed. I invited her to accompany me for the express purpose of encouraging it." Lady Susan disclosed.

"But they had not been introduced before your arrival. How could you have possibly suspected they would suit?" The countess arched an eyebrow in disbelief.

Lady Susan smiled conspiringly. "They didn't need to have met to know that they could make a lovely pair. I've known you and Little G since we were all children, Harriet. And I know young George's character well enough to see the potential for him and Charlotte to be well-suited."

Lady Granville smiled in return and dipped her head in agreement. She supposed Lady Susan was right; indeed she had already resolved to encourage her nephew's attachment to Miss Heywood and decided to share this with Lady Susan. "I'm sure Georgiana would agree with us and Lord Howard would agree with anything his wife thinks. The challenge will be getting my father to believe it wouldn't be a terrible crime for a lady not born to our circles to marry into our family." Lady Granville considered.

Lady Susan pondered this. "Surely the Duke is aware that he truly has no influence on your nephew's choice of bride?" she posed.

"Well I should imagine he knows it though I would not believe him inclined to quietly accept it. He'd pour every effort into making them miserable!" She despaired.

"Then we must find ourselves called to divert his interest, dearest. Now shall we go down to luncheon?" Lady Susan reassured her friend and the pair departed the music room in favour of the parlour for the partaking of the midday meal.


Moscow

September, 1826

Their stay in Moscow was now drawing to a close and much of the party would begin the return to London in a matter of days. Only the ambassador, the duke and Viscount Morpeth would remain; and the Viscount then only because the Duke's health required him to be always with some companion or another. They would yet remain for another three weeks complete before journeying home.

Charlotte was in the process of packing her trunks with Alyona as she mused over the events of their visit to Russia and the new friendships she had formed. Her acquaintance with Lady Granville had grown and developed into a close bond such as she shared with Lady Susan and she had found an enduring and confiding friend in Patricia who had sworn to maintain a faithful correspondence. Even Lady Disbrowe had grown on Charlotte and had proven herself a woman of sense and frankness.

The gentlemen, she had to confess, were still largely an unknown element to her. The prince was as she expected him to be; a reserved man of strong morals and disinclined to entertain foolishness and she found the Duke to be much the same in manner though perhaps a little less inclined to project an otherwise agreeable temperament. The ambassador and Lord Granville seemed similar in character and, it seemed, could always be depended upon to offer their services. In each of these men, however, Charlotte had caught glimmers of the greater depths of their being but knew not what to make of such things.

Viscount Morpeth was another matter entirely. Though she felt she had come to know the gentleman's character tolerably well these past weeks, he would always make some comment or action that threw all she thought she knew into question and left her floundering to make heads or tails of his meaning and purpose. He was light-hearted and witty and generous with not only his resources but also of himself; of his time and energy and attention. And yet he was also serious, and intelligent and able to debate in some detail on a great many topics, many of which she held only a basic understanding in herself.

And of course, she would be a fool to claim she was ignorant of his good looks. His dirty hair that, seemingly despite his best efforts, defied all ideals of fashion and fell in tussled locks about his ears and neck lent him a dangerous sort of air when considered with the depths of dark eyes. And yet the aristocratic and defined lines of face and the way his cheeks dimpled when he smiled and his eyes glowed most often with mischief softened all this and spoke more to his character.

He was tall and lithe and his movements ever purposeful with a power that had surprised her initially for his form was more slender than broad. Always dressed with impeccable taste though perhaps not always in the first fashion, he never seemed to have the slightest hesitation in getting involved in the most gruelling and dirty of deeds. This was evidenced by his supporting of the groomsmen when their carriage had once found itself caught in a gap between the cobbles of the road and needed to be pushed out.

Yes, Charlotte thought, he was a fine man indeed and she was glad and proud to claim him amongst her acquaintance. Perhaps, even, something more significant than that, for though she was not certain what to make of it, she had certainly noticed his increasing attentions to her. It would remain to be seen what may come of his regard for she would be returning to St Petersburg and sailing for London the very next morning while the Viscount remained behind.

Charlotte was torn from her musings as Alyona returned to the bedchamber at that moment with several of Charlotte's gowns draped over her arms to be folded and packed with care into her trunks. Alyona would also be returning with Charlotte to continue serving as her personal maid upon their return to England; she had been employed by the Ambassador's household for the express purpose of serving one of the ladies visiting for the coronation and would otherwise have found herself dismissed from further service with their departure. Charlotte had grown fond of the older woman these past weeks and had determined she should very much like Alyona to continue as her maid; and her new financial independence allowed her to see this wish come to fruition.

Charlotte was presently focused on selecting a wardrobe to be placed into a trunk that would be unloaded and reloaded each night on their journey back to St Petersburg which was to hold all her most intimate and necessary garments. She had already determined a small selection of day dresses to be stored withing this trunk for three days they would spend in the great city as the ship they would travel on restocked on supplies and prepared once more for departure. Her difficulty now was choosing which traveling gown to wear on the morrow for the first day of their journey; she wished to leave as memorable impression on the viscount at their parting as she had seemingly on their first introduction for she had grown ever more fond of his company and should hate to embarrass herself once more.

Eventually, with a little guidance from Alyona, who had observed her mistress' indecision, Charlotte settled on simple cream day dress with a single wide ribbon around the waistline and a lace border at the neckline, hem and sleeves. This would later be covered by a dark grey spencer and a warm travelling cloak of deep green velvet.

It was not long after this that the sun began to fade from the sky and the candles were lit throughout the house. Charlotte had dressed for dinner in an evening gown of dark golden yellow silk with a white lace overlay and she ventured downstairs with a muslin shawl draped over her shoulders. She was met at the bottom of the staircase by Lord and Lady Granville and Viscount Morpeth whom she greeted with a smile and small curtsy before accepting the Viscount's arm as he offered to lead her in to dinner.

The meal they shared that night was a lively one, filled with the sharing of stories of their time here, speculation of what may await them when they returned home and promises to maintain correspondence with each other. Charlotte gave Miss Disbrowe her direction for her family home in Willingden and Walcot Hall, but also for her brother's residence in town where she would be visiting until they departed to Willingden for Christmas. Though she would miss her present company when they departed in the morning, Charlotte was eager to see her family again for by the time they would be reunited three months would have passed.

And she was not so eager to remain distant from them that she could be convinced accept the invitation from the Ambassador and Lady Disbrowe to remain a little longer and travel back with the Duke and Viscount, despite great effort to persuade her from both her friend and Lord Morpeth. Charlotte was certain this invitation was at their daughter's behest for Miss Disbrowe had confided in her that she was very much wanting for the company of other girls of her own age. Which was not to say that there was not an abundance of other young ladies within the echelons of the Russian Court; only there was such a divide in the values and attitudes of her new society that the making of friends had proven unusually difficult.

And so it was that the next morning when Charlotte awoke her mind was much occupied by joyous thoughts of finally returning home to all that was familiar and good; yet, even in her happiness, these were tempered by more sorrowful wonderings on the future of the friendships she had forged in this distant place.