Chapter 104

Darcy doesn't like leaving Elizabeth in a neighbourhood like this. It reminds him of where he found Wickham and Lydia in London, a large ugly stone building riddled with small apartments. The smell of cabbage and the shabby children are absent, and he can see Elizabeth is merely interested, not abhorred to find her sister living in a place like this. Maybe Lydia warned her in one of her letters. His beloved does look very much out of place in her fur-collared coat, but she has Fanny along with her and she is as confident as ever. She will be fine.

Leaving her with her sister gladly, Lydia in her usual mood is hard enough to bear, to see her crying is almost embarrassing, Darcy soon finds himself approaching the camp where Wickham spends most of his days. It's incredibly large, of course a thousand men are stationed here, and though the officers are mostly housed outside the camp, the privates and their sergeants live in the large wooden barracks.

Bob is halted by a uniformed soldier, who gives him extensive directions and then sends them on their way. That's another talent a driver must possess, without hesitation the carriage makes turn after turn amidst barracks and drilling grounds and picket lines with horses, until it halts in front of yet another barracks. There is no way Darcy himself would have noticed the difference between this one and several others, but Bob has followed his instructions well for a soldier on duty approaches the carriage, and after exchanging a few words with Bob, opens the door and says, 'Colonel Drummond is expecting you, Mr Darcy, will you follow me, please?'

The inside of the wooden structure looks more like he expected, simple but expensive, wood panelling, hardwood flooring, carved doors. He is shown into what he guesses is the colonel's office, it's as large as Darcy's own study, with a sizeable desk, a sturdy cabinet, several flags, banners and maps hanging from the walls and very little else. A few barely comfortable chairs are lined up in front of the desk.

'Colonel, Mr Darcy to see you, sir.'

A handsome man in his late forties rises from what seems to be a much more comfortable chair behind the desk, he has a clean-cut, clean-shaven face, greying hair and an upright bearing, with broad shoulders and a still-narrow waist. If he can age like this himself, Darcy will be very pleased.

'Thank you, Ensign Carter,' the man addresses the accompanying soldier. Then, 'Mr Darcy of Pemberley, such a pleasure to meet you! Why don't you follow me to a somewhat more comfortable room.'

They shake hands, and then the colonel leads Darcy to a tiny sitting-room with a low table and two beautiful leather sofas, talking all the time.

'We've never met, though I know both your uncle Lord Compton and your very capable cousin Colonel Compton very well, but I feel as if I know you, too. My wife has been following your adventures in the newspaper, and when I told her you'd requested a meeting she let me promise her to invite you and your lovely wife to dinner without delay.'

As they sit down and an aide pours coffee for them, Darcy cannot help feeling a little put out. This whole society and paper business is turning out to be one big pain, it seems to follow them everywhere. It's very obvious that England is a lot bigger than just London, and that people everywhere read that one newspaper, even those cursed society pages. Elizabeth will not be pleased.

'Thank you, Colonel Drummond, I'm very pleased to meet you, too, and we will be delighted to join you for dinner of an evening. I just hope your wife's expectations will not all be based on the newspapers, they do tend to exaggerate, you know.'

'I told her the exact same thing, it's not as if Mrs Darcy will turn up in her best French dress, if you were coming over to blind the locals with your importance you would have elected to stay with us, not in some little inn on the very edge of this part of the world. You must be looking for some peace and quiet, and since you have been entertaining London society for the last few months, you have some right to escape prying eyes for a few weeks. I have warned my dear wife to expect you looking dressed for the country, not for the New Year's Eve Ball.'

Good, the colonel is not insulted over their choice to stay in an out-of-the-way inn instead of making use of their hospitality.

'You are a very discerning man, Colonel, and I am glad you do not seem to take our choosing to hire a room in an inn as a personal insult. We have been very active socially, and my wife's reason to visit is of a rather delicate nature, her sister having been struck by an unfortunate loss, and to be pleasing people from morning to evening would be too much of a strain on her. She has taken to city life above expectation, I'm merely coping, I'm a sportsman myself. I can't wait for the spring season, my hunters will be the most welcome sight to my eyes.'

The colonel likes to hear that, he must be a hunter himself.

'Then I beg you to give me an afternoon of your time tomorrow, Mr Darcy, I'm planning a hunt on the moors and I'm certain you would love to experience that. I can easily lend you a horse and a rifle. Please do, sir, I'd love to hear your opinion on my latest acquisition, a hunter stallion I'm planning to use for breeding, you have the reputation of being an excellent judge of horses.'

Elizabeth will not mind so much, she'll most likely want to help out her sister with a few necessary items for her house, if Darcy is a judge of their current situation. They can have the carriage, though Darcy has to admit to the vanity of being eager to show off his team.

'I see no problem in joining you for a hunt, I've never experienced the moors from up close, aren't they rather dangerous?'

'Not if you know what you're doing, Mr Darcy, and my huntsmaster is a very capable man. So you'll come?'

'I think I will, yes, gladly so. I'm aching for a good long ride on a spirited horse.'

'Great, I'm looking forward to it. I suppose you'll want to have your brother-in-law give you a tour of the camp?'

A whole morning with George Wickham? Darcy must have shown some of his dislike of the man, for the colonel observes, 'Or you can talk to him for a few minutes and I'll give you the tour myself. That's a much better idea. We'll talk to his lieutenant and captain to hear their recommendations, and then you can give him the good news. But I want you to tell me why you drive all the way from London and pay a hefty commission to have someone you dislike intensely promoted to an honourable if dangerous position. After we talk with his direct superiors, say during lunch?'

How to say this politely?

'I've made arrangements with my wife to pick her up from her sister's place before lunch, Colonel, and I cannot contact her. It's not that I mind telling you about my dealings with Mr Wickham, I don't want to let her down on our first day in Newcastle.'

'No problem, Mr Darcy, we'll send Mr Wickham back home to warn your wife and keep her company over lunch. Unless your dislike of him involves her?'

Well, Darcy certainly doesn't like to see Wickham close to Elizabeth, but if they're somewhere else he doesn't actually have to see them together. Maybe that's for the best, Elizabeth doesn't really dislike Wickham, she might want to spend an hour or so talking to him.

'Fortunately it doesn't, Colonel. I'm very fond of Mrs Darcy and I would never do anyone a favour who got into trouble with her.'

'A large favour, Mr Darcy, but I have heard nothing but good from Mr Wickham's superior officers since he was stationed here. They say he is very dedicated to his men and I cannot but commend that. Well then, if you'll give me but a moment I'll have everyone involved brought over, and we can talk business first, and have lunch after. Shall we drive to Newcastle to eat? Army fare is very basic, and I've heard you have a most remarkable team. I love horses.'

An epitome of efficiency, Colonel Drummond calls for his aide, then orders the young man to have Ensign Wickham brought to him as soon as possible, and to let Lieutenant Gore and Captain Russell in as soon as they arrive. Wickham arrives first and is rather shocked to be summoned to his colonel only to find him in the presence of Darcy, chatting away about horses and hunting, things Wickham has no experience of.

'Ensign Wickham, so good to see you, how is the drill going?'

Darcy likes to see Wickham trying to keep a calm front while wondering whether Darcy's presence is a good thing or a bad thing. He does manage to reply with equanimity. Well, he is a soldier, if he cannot cope with minor surprises he will be dead within minutes on a battlefield.

'Very well, sir. I've finally managed to convince them that keeping an eye on their surroundings is in their own interest, though it is officially my task. They realise now that they need to know what to do in case I fall, no-one is immortal, on the contrary, officers are often targeted ahead of privates.'

'And yet I hear you want to join the Rifle Core, Ensign. Well, this gentleman is here to give you a chance at making your promotion a reality, and to help him do that I need you to go home and tell Mrs Darcy her husband is having lunch with me. And you are to provide Mrs Darcy with lunch and suitable entertainment so she will not feel his absence too much. He'll be back for her at two. Off with you!'

Wickham salutes and leaves, relieved but looking hungry rather than smug. He must still doubt his chances to actually make it into the rifles, but it's clear he wants it very much. The other officers arrive in due time, and after they have given their colonel a full report on Wickham's strengths and failings, the colonel nods and concludes, 'I gather you are both positive about his advancement into this new unit?'

Both men affirm they find Wickham exactly the right man to form a close bond to his men and operate largely independently in the field, taking opportunities to distract the enemy whenever they crop up.

'Well, then, that's settled. Mr Darcy will visit again tomorrow and give him the good news. I wish you both luck finding his replacement. Dismissed, gentlemen!'

After a half-hour's drive through the coutryside just outside London, spent in pleasant conversation with Miss Anne, Nick and his charges arrive in Colonel Fitzwilliam Compton's army camp. The tour of the army camp is actually very interesting. Colonel Compton leads, and Mr Blackwood seems to have decided their host is the only person at liberty to walk along with, since Mr Manners has chosen to stay in the back with Nick, and the ladies are supposedly partnered with an officer.

But to Nick's absolute delight the ladies themselves do not agree with that surmise at all. Miss Sophie proves to be serious in her interest in the colonel by attaching herself to her father and the leader of the entire camp. If this doesn't get the colonel's notice her quest must be hopeless, but by stationing herself between the two men she actually succeeds in catching Colonel Compton's eye.

Nick knows Miss Anne is very fond of her cousin, and he does look rather mild for a man holding such a high rank. Before long, Miss Sophie is talking to the colonel, and her father is merely watching the two, nodding and occasionally adding a word or two.

The other lady who doesn't stay with her assigned officer is Miss de Bourgh. At her officer's answering a question posed by Miss Angelina, Miss Anne bravely walks back a few yards to join Mr Manners and himself. Her face is glad, and Nick has to swallow a few times. Memories do intrude themselves at the most inconvenient times. She addresses both of them.

'Did you see that? Sophie went straight for him, she just left her officer and went to walk with Fitzwilliam. And he actually saw her for the first time! I so wish he'll start to realise that blinding intelligence and astounding wit aren't everything.'

How can anyone not love her? How can Mr Manners not love her? Though he looks at her fondly, it's obvious he does not feel the burning passion for Miss Anne that Nick does.

'Young Fowler here told me he advised her not to try to be smart, which is in fact very smart. But I've also advised him, and will now advise you, that whoever speaks to her first must tell her not to play or sing any folk-songs. Elizabeth always played those for him, Anne, it'll remind him of her instantly.'

Elizabeth, that is most likely Mrs Darcy! Oh poor, poor Miss Sophie! There is no way she can compete with the memory of the new first lady of London society, no way.

'He wouldn't even have been happy with her, Frederick, I really cannot imagine that. Darcy told me he thrives on her impertinence, I think Fitzwilliam would smart under it.'

They're calling each other by their first names. Then it's as good as settled, Miss Anne will marry Mr Manners, and yes, they will be happy together. Look at them, they're as close as peas in a pod. She's a potent cure for philanderers, Miss Anne is. Nick hasn't been with anyone since she left, and he had plenty of chances. But he rebuffed them with a lame excuse about his broken ribs, he just doesn't care anymore.

Still, the conversation is mighty interesting and they know he is there, they simply don't mind him hearing it. Well, Miss Sophie is his charge after all, it's better he knows the odds. He knows whom she will turn to to comfort her if she breaks her heart over the colonel. The latter shows them the barracks, the mess hall, the practice grounds, the picketing lines and even the latrines, those last from a respectable distance. The camp is huge, they only view a small part of it but still they are all impressed. The officers demonstrate their muskets, and the young ladies are offered a chance to shoot one. Miss Angelina, accompanied by two officers because of her sister's defection, does, but none of the others dare or feel the need to. Nick would like to try, but no-one asks a servant. Mr Manners probably has plenty of hunting rifles, and Mr Blackwood is a typical city man, no shooting for him, thank you.

'Lieutenant Talbot!' Mr Manners gestures to Miss Anne's former officer, who is entertaining Miss Maria and Miss Leonora with his two fellows.

'Manners, are you sure you want to shoot a musket? I think you'll find it vastly inferior to your own rifles.'

He knows Mr Manners by name, and talks to him as an equal. Well, he is an officer and thus most likely a landed gentleman or a second son himself.

'Thank you, Talbot, indeed I'm not. I was asking for the young man here, I think Fowler would like to shoot it. Will you show him how?'

'It will be my pleasure, Manners. If you'll follow me, Mr Fowler?'

On the range, the lieutenant shows Nick the target and explains how to shoot the unwieldy weapon. Nick has never in his life held a musket and it's quite a frightening experience, this object can kill a man from a significant distance. It is also heavy, a strain on his still-healing body, but he's committed now. To back out would be cowardly. He does exactly as the lieutenant instructs, lifts the weapon to his shoulder, aims, then draws the trigger. The sound of the explosion crashes in his ear, and the weapon kicks back against his shoulder and chest. It hurts like hell, had he known it would do that he would have refused. Miss Angelina had her officer to take the brunt of the blow, he should have realised that. Well, too late now, he will have to suffer it. At least it's less painful than Mr Manners' clobber.

He thanks the lieutenant, who is just returning from the target after checking his shot.

'This your first time shooting?'

'Yes, sir,' Nick replies respectfully, then hands back the musket.

'Then you did better than my last batch of recruits, you hit the target. Did she kick you?'

'I've a few broken ribs, lieutenant, I didn't know guns did that or I'd have forgone.'

The lieutenant makes a face. 'Very painful, broken ribs. You all right? We have a surgeon.'

'I'm fine, sir, I'm not even breathing that hard. It just hurt, that's all.'

'You're a good one, Mr Fowler, you look like you can defend yourself. Is there a weapon you are comfortable with?'

The slapjack he uses is not exactly totally legal, not something one would tell an army officer. The man laughs at his hesitation and says, 'Never mind, I can see you are an expert with some weapon. Those young ladies and their father are safe with you, that's obvious. Probably where you broke those ribs. It's been a pleasure talking to you, Mr Fowler, see you around.'

And he is off to the ladies, carrying the musket with easy familiarity.

Nick is left standing, dare he go back to Mr Manners and Miss Anne, now watching the ladies and quite probably, the colonel? No need, they are coming towards him already, Mr Manners laying an arm on his shoulder, gently.

'And again I did you a bad turn. I know a musket kicks but usually it's nothing bad. It must have hurt you rather markedly, though. I seem destined to bring you pain today, Fowler, I'm truly sorry.

How did you do? I can see you didn't hit any of our group, they're all still standing.'

'Actually I hit the target, the lieutenant praised me, said his recruits this year did worse.'

'Good for you, Fowler, I know Talbot, he is not an easy man to please.'

And Anne gets to know Lieutenant Talbot better during dinner, since fate, or rather Fitzwilliam, has again thrown them together. Fortunately Frederick has taken Nick firmly under his wing, making him feel a lot less uncomfortable at a formal dinner-table than he might have otherwise felt. But now the lieutenant has a right to her attention.

'I don't remember you from my time in society, Miss de Bourgh, though I suppose we're much the same age. Before I got my commission I used to spend all winter dancing, I'm sure I would have remembered you, you're so beautiful.'

He is very kind, and perfectly handsome, though a little older than most of the other officers present. Anne is starting to suspect Fitzwilliam of selecting this man especially for her, he seems a superior character, unassuming and showing an interest in his partner that cannot but please.

'You remember well, Lieutenant Talbot. This is my first time in town, I never left my mother's estate. Though you wouldn't have recognised me either, I looked very different a few years ago, I was very sickly and frighteningly pale and thin. Not beautiful at all I'm afraid.'

'I'm glad you recovered, Miss de Bourgh. It's an honour to sit with you.'

It's pleasant to talk to the lieutenant, Fitzwilliam chose well, Anne could come to like this man very much. And he is not penniless, Anne finds he has a reasonable fortune of his own, inherited from a favourite uncle, though he does not own or stand to inherit an estate, since he is in fact a second son.

'By the time uncle Bernhard died and I found out he had left me everything, I had taken service, and I since like being active and useful, I'm planning to stay in. The comradeship, too, though if I were to get married I'd consider quitting the army and finding my wife and myself a nice little estate to run.'

Such an eligible match, and Anne doesn't have much trouble keeping her attention on him, he is an excellent conversationalist. But her eye keeps wanting to check out Nick, to see whether he is still comfortable. When it finally has its way she can see him still talking to Frederick with animation. In fact it's Frederick who seems unhappy to see Anne so involved with another man, which strikes Anne as rather funny.

Lieutenant Talbot knows all about his fellow officers, including their fortunes, and Anne is impressed, Fitzwilliam has really found those not hopelessly poor and ready to settle.

'I'm the only one who can afford to leave the army, the others do need their position if they are ever going to win enough to have a chance of independence. They don't mind the prospect of a war at all, Miss de Bourgh, it's their best option to attain wealth.'

While Anne is a bit disappointed to miss out on an opportunity to be close to Nick once more, especially with Frederick present to carry the conversation and prevent awkward moments of reminiscence, she is happy enough with her lieutenant. Dinner is a pleasant affair with plentiful if simple food, and because the officers are not used to entertaining ladies they all move to the soldier's equivalent of a drawing-room after dinner and have their brandy in the presence of their visitors. A fine opportunity for the Blackwood twins and their friends to taste brandy, they seem to like it very much. Anne tries, too, but it burns her tongue and throat. She steals a look at Nick, who also has a glass and sips it like an expert. Of course he can buy himself a glass of brandy in any establishment he likes, he must have had it before and he obviously likes it. After the brandy, coffee is served, but Anne has spotted a piano in the room and she can see Sophie still together with her father and Fitzwilliam. Any time now she can offer to play for them, if she dares. Across the room Nick is obviously worried, trying to work up the courage to talk to Miss Sophie when she is standing between her father and the leader of this camp. It's better if Anne solves this, so she excuses herself to her companion and moves towards Sophie.

'Would you mind showing me where the restroom is, Sophie? I know we were there before dinner, to freshen up, but I seem to have gotten myself lost.'

Sophie is pleased to go with her, of course, and as soon as they are out of the room Anne urges, 'You are making wonderful progress with my cousin, my dear. Will you let me give you one important piece of advice?'

Her little friend is very eager to listen. 'Please Anne, you know him best. He has finally noticed me but he is still treating me like an elder brother, not a suitor.'

'Play and sing for him, Sophie, but not folk-songs. Not even if he asks. Play Italian songs, they'll open up his heart so you can make him see you as a woman, not a girl. Good luck, Sophie, I love my cousin very much and I think you will be very good to him.'

Dear Sophie is affected by Anne's encouragement.

'You have no idea how much that means to me, Anne. Papa approves of him but finds him a bit old, and of course he has little fortune. But he is so kind, I want him to love me.'

'Fitzwilliam will be the best husband a girl ever had, Sophie.'

And Anne is convinced of that, though she prefers a man with a little more spice herself.

When they return to the room Sophie makes straight for Fitzwilliam. Anne is in doubt. She really wants to talk to Nick, but she knows it will only cause her pain. She should spend time on the lieutenant, he is kind, smart and very eligible. But first she will tell Frederick and Nick that Sophie knows about the folk-songs, easy enough since they are approaching her already, as it turns out to ask her that very same thing.

'Did you tell her, Anne?' Frederick asks.

'I did. I thought it would be easiest if I did it, girl to girl, you know.'

Nick's eyes smoulder again, or is it her wishful thinking?

'Thank you, Miss Anne. They've hit it off so well, it would be a shame to spoil it now.'

'There is still no guarantee he'll like her, Nick. I'm sorry, but one just cannot forget an unrequited love as easily as that.'

'I know, Miss, I do know.'

She excuses herself to go back to Lieutenant Talbot's side, and receives a very warm welcome there, as well as a cup of excellent coffee.

'It seems your little friend is going to play for us. She appears to have chosen your cousin as companion for the evening, Miss de Bourgh, and rightfully so. He deserves some love in his life, he is such an excellent commander.'

And Miss Sophie does play and sing for Fitzwilliam, she's quite a good player but an even better singer. Her voice is clear and sweet, as she is herself, and the Italian songs are heart-rending ballads of love and woe. Sentimental and not very subtle, but very feeling, and strong enough to fill a rather bare room. Fitzwilliam finally seems to really see her, she is not a child, but a young woman trying to gain the attention of a man she admires. He can hardly believe it, and he may resist being attracted to another woman, but it's very clear her singing affects him.

After a few songs Angelina joins her sister and they switch to jaunty music. Of course that makes everyone feel like dancing, and soon Maria and Leonora are standing up with one of their officers.

Fitzwilliam now talks to one of the men, who places himself behind the instrument, allowing Sophie to dance with Fitzwilliam himself, and Angelina with the officer who has attended to her all day. Anne graciously allows the lieutenant to take her hand, though she looks back to where her heart truly lies. From the corner of her eye she can see Frederick and Nick looking on, Nick resigned, Frederick a bit disconcerted. It's as if he wants to push her into Nick's arms, but why? What does he care?

Dancing with Lieutenant Talbot is very pleasant, he is agile and a strong lead, and he manages to keep up the conversation despite the activity. She really likes him, and dances three pleasant sets with him. Sophie is still dancing with Fitzwilliam, and the other girls seem to stick to their assigned officer with pleasure. Then they all change partners, and Anne finds herself dancing with the least handsome of the lot, a willow-thin officer whose name she cannot remember. But from up close he turns out to be merely very young, it's no wonder he is still so slim. He is also a good dancer, but he doesn't have much to say, he seems a bit shy towards an older woman.

Then Frederick breaks in and she is very happy to find herself in his familiar arms. He has been so kind to her, and so attentive, and he has taught her so much. Her feelings towards him are deepening, and very complicated. She does not see him as a brother, it's more than that. But she has some time left to sort them out. After two dances with him she needs a breather and Frederick pointedly moves back to Nick, who is standing by himself looking a little forlorn. Anne is glad to be back by his side, she wishes to dance with him, but he seems unlikely to dance as the only servant in a company made up of gentle folk, where the women are in the minority and one or two gentlemen are waiting for a turn to dance. One of whom is his master.

Mr Blackwood fetches Anne from where she is standing, and she finds him a rather insecure dancer, fortunately she is pretty good at it by now and her feet survive. Then she dances with another officer, and Frederick again, who looks pointedly towards a corner of the room, where Mr Blackwood is now playing cards with Leonora and two officers. Frederick takes Anne to where Nick is still standing and hands her to him. Startled, Nick cannot but obey Mr Manners, and he leads her back to heaven for ten minutes, or rather three dances. Again, it brings back memories, but Anne stows them away for further contemplation, tonight. And several days after. Then she relishes his touch, his scent, his happy smile, his proficient dancing. Not wanting to spoil the feeling by dancing with anyone else, Anne professes fatigue and sits down to watch the remaining dancers, most notably Fitzwilliam. Frederick joins her, but Nick remains standing until Frederick bluntly pulls him into a chair.

'No-one will even notice. You're with us tonight.'

They talk a lot more, but Anne still feels Nick's hands on hers, and she really wants nothing more than to just go home and remember all their precious moments together. But before that, they have to take leave of the officers, and Lieutenant Talbot is one of them.

'Will we meet again, Miss de Bourgh?' he asks a little wistfully, and though Anne likes him well enough, she cannot think of anyone else but Nick right now, so she answers the lieutenant politely, but a bit more vaguely than he likes. Still he can do nothing but kiss her hand and hope for the best.

Then there is the trip back, and undoubtedly the girls' chattering about the men they met. But just before Nick hands her into the carriage, the worst thing happens: Mr Blackwood asks Sophie and herself to ride with Mr Manners and him in the other carriage. She cannot refuse, and instead of drinking in the sight of Nick for half an hour, maybe even sitting next to him and catching the occasional whiff of his scent, she'll have to find a suitable answer to a thousand questions Sophie and her father have about her cousin, Colonel Compton, some of them undoubtedly too personal for Anne to answer. Frederick hands her in himself, and as she passes him he whispers, 'Just ask Miss Sophie and your cousin to dinner, Anne. She'll have to bring him with her.'

That's just great, Frederick sticking his nose in. What does he know? He's found his beloved and will be faithful to him, doesn't he understand that some men just don't want that? At least the situation in the carriage is heartening, Sophie is clearly smitten, and her father is beaming. His approval need not be doubted. Now she'll just have to see what kind of impression this unsophisticated girl has made on her cousin. They do indeed ask a thousand questions, but fortunately none are personal, so she can answer them in clear conscience. When they arrive at the Blackwood mansion, Mr Blackwood takes his girl with him, and Anne expects Frederick to drive off.

'Shouldn't you say goodbye to your friends, Anne? They haven't been able to talk about their conquests at all, you should at least kiss them and wish them a good night.'

He is not her father, but he is right. She lets him hand her out of the carriage, then proceeds to kiss all her friends and take leave. When they are gone, all is silent.

'Miss Anne?'

It's him. At least they'll get to say goodbye.

'Nick?'

'Thank you for noticing me, Miss. It was good seeing you again.'

'It was, Nick. I do miss you, you know. I still think of you a lot, of our days together.'

'I'm sorry I couldn't do it right, the ribs, you know.'

Nonsense. She wants to kiss him and tell him he was fabulous. That she loves him and wants to be with him always. But he cannot be claimed, and she will not be made a fool of twice in a row. The girls are all gone back inside, and Nick needs to go, too.

'You did great, Nick. Well, good night.'

'Good night, Miss.'

She need not wait for her bed to let herself go, Frederick is ready for her. Before his arms have closed on her, she is crying, she loves Nick so much, how could she have let this happen?

'I hate to see you torturing yourself so, Anne. I can't help you yet, unless you want to just meet him in secret and make love, but somehow I don't think you'd stand that for long. Oh you poor thing, a first love is always so painful. Just cry, I'll be here for you.'

When they return the worst of Anne's grief is over, she had a good time, Lieutenant Talbot certainly was pretty nice, there are more men on this world than Nick, and some of them are very eligible to marry outright. But if she marries one of them, she'll be stuck with him, no chance of freedom besides what he allows her, and somehow the very idea is offensive to her. Why should she obey a man, just because he is a man? She has an independent fortune, there is no need to rely on anyone. Maybe Frederick's proposal isn't so bad.

Eric and Georgiana are in a state, they have had a visit from Mr Clementi, a famous piano-builder, composer and teacher.

'He is in his late forties, but he is still rather good-looking, though small and dark of course. I can't imagine he is the very person who builds those fabulous pianos, they sound so light, so melodious. And he is so incredibly virtuous, even on Eric's Zumpe.'

Georgiana hasn't met him before and is very much impressed.

Eric's previous impression of Mr Clementi has been confirmed, he is a sympathetic man.

'He loved the Zumpe, said he was rather disappointed at first that Mr Zumpe insisted on being competitors, but he had gotten used to it. I played my concerto for him, and he said it's the new thing, he thinks I'm going to be a very good composer. He is certain he can help me reach the next level, and then he is willing to write a recommendation for me to study in Vienna, with one of the famous composers there, he knows all of them, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. One of his students, Johann Hummel, is returning to London soon, to play for the king. Mr Clementi wants us to meet him, he lives in Vienna now. So how was your day?'

They talk a little more, until Anne is so tired she expects to fall asleep right away when she crawls into her bed. But she is wrong. She relives every moment she ever spent with Nick, and manages to relish them without thinking of the future.