The ball was about to begin, and Gregory Bridgerton sat watching from near the side entrance. He wanted to dance, but he had no partner to dance with. No lady had truly caught his heart, and as he surveyed the room he saw many beautiful, eligible girls - but none he saw as speaking to his longing for companionship.

A knock came from the balcony above. The Doorman walked through, knocked on the bannister, bowed and said: "Before tonight's festivities we have an important message from Sir Edward Burbage, Chairman of the Honourable East India Company." The Doorman left and in walked Sir Edward, dressed in the uniform of a Royal Navy Commodore. He walked to the bannister, and spoke in a booming tone to the waiting hall:

"Ladies, peers, distinguished gentleman, I speak to you tonight about a matter of considerable gravity. You may be aware that the East India Company has made considerable success of its endeavours to expand trade with China. We have the ear of the Emperor, and he is prepared to agree a trade deal that shall give the company access to a vast market of over three hundred million people. The reduction in the price of tea and spices shall be considerable, the possible customers for our manufactured goods shall great increase, and British influence throughout Asia shall be secured. I am sure all of you will heartily pray for our agreement to be successfully concluded. France is at this time attempting a rival agreement and we are extremely anxious to secure a most favoured nation status with China before Napoleon can do so.

Yet the Emperor has asked for one gesture of friendship before he gives his final blessing to the agreement. He wishes to see his youngest daughter, Princess Wei, married to, in his words, 'the finest man from the soil of your nation'. The Princess - who has learned some English - is currently residing in the Palace accompanied by four Imperial Officers. If, within a month, Princess Wei is happily betrothed to a man of adequate - suitability - the Officers shall return to China and report to the Emperor a success. If however no match can be found - and it must be said that the Princess has been given the right to refuse any man she does not find favourable - the Officers shall report failure.

I need hardly add that this shall be highly embarrassing to the Company and we shall lose the deal. Therefore I must implore the young men here to remember your duty to your nation and, if you believe you possess sufficient appeal, to welcome Princess Wei with the finest hospitality England can offer. The Princess is due to make her debut here tomorrow night. May one of you find favour in her eyes."

Sir Edward bowed and left the room. The orchestra started playing from Handel's Messiah, apparently to drown out the murmurs of gossip. Gregory sat in silence, and sensing a wall of melancholy around him, no lady came near him to dance. He excused himself to Lady Bridgerton, complaining of a stomachache, and retired to his room. But he could not sleep. Princess Wei, who was she? He knew little about China, only that its Emperor was considered a god, that its people worshipped their ancestors as close to gods, and that they honoured the Buddha instead of Jesus Christ. But it was at the name of the Princess, the way Sir Edward spoke of her, that Gregory felt a wave of uncertain giddiness crash over him.

A knock on the door. "Come in," Gregory said. Colin opened, carrying a cup of warm milk and a green glass bottle.

"From the apothecary," Colin said. "They say it cures all ailments. Are you alright my brother?"

"I am thank you. Rather tired, but I shall be better in the morning."

"Sir Edward has had some rather memorable adventures hasn't he?"

"Certainly."

"Well, brother, take your medicine and may the finest man in England show himself tomorrow."

Colin smiled, winked at Gregory, and left the room. Gregory realized his brother meant competition. Colin had been pursuing Miss Penelope Featherington, but their courtship had cooled in the last few weeks. Mother wanted both sons married, ideally to a family with a fortune. And what better, what could make her prouder, than that her son would be the one to secure an alliance with the Emperor of China?

Gregory slept well - the medicine in the bottle tasted of brandy, and seemed equally potent. In the morning he arose early, bathed and dressed, then took a carriage to Camden; to the British Museum and its library. He found a pamphlet called Elementary Mandarin, from the Reverend Richard Sloane, a missionary in Peking. He spent the day there softly repeating the sounds of the language to himself, looking around to see if he knew anyone there. If he were spotted might they think him mad for talking to himself? And how was he truly to know if he was pronouncing Chinese correctly?

Four o'clock came and it was time to return to Mayfair. He ate a light meal of shepherd's pie with Caribbean rum, then dressed himself for the evening. By 7 o'clock the unmarried Bridgerton brothers were all standing together on the ballroom floor, while the married looked on from above. Gregory noticed Penelope stare at Colin with a mix of disappointment and anger. "He's rejecting me for this foreign Princess?" he interpreted her eyes as saying. Gregory smiled at her in an attempt to cheer her - he had spoken to Miss Penelope only for a few moments, and she had always been accompanied by her mother. Colin's eyes seemed to dart to every corner of the room, and Gregory wondered if Penelope had ever truly possessed his brother's heart like she had once seemed to.

A knock on the door. The Doorman entered, and boomed throughout the hall: "Please bow in honour of Her Excellency, the daughter of the Emperor of the East, Princess Wei."

The orchestra played a rendition of Greensleeves as the Princess entered, flanked by all four Imperial Officers. Dressed in a grey and light-pink gown, hair tied up in a six piece set, white gloves festooned with small jade studs, waving a fan over her face - she walked in a slow, graceful fashion through the ballroom as every gentleman bowed and every lady curtsied. As she passed Colin, Gregory watched. No eye smile from either of them, he thought. They're respectful, but the light that precedes love did not shine. That is what he told himself. Then it was his turn: Princess Wei passed over him. He bowed, his head briefly fell below his waist, before he raised it again. And their eyes - what perfect favour did she find in his eyes, and likewise what favour was he convinced she found in his!

She walked on, past a bowing gentleman in naval uniform, whom Gregory was not yet acquainted with. She walked to the end, taking her place past the daughter of Viscount Hereford. Gregory could see her eyes, the way her head was turned. It was pointing towards him, he was sure her vision was locked on him. Colin moved his left foot a step forward. No, Gregory thought, it doesn't matter, she cannot be attempting to catch my arrogant brother's eye.

On the balcony, Lady Danbury stood up. Speaking to the hall, she called out: "Now, Her Excellency will I am sure wish to dance with every gentleman present. For her first movement, to start the evening, I shall select as her partner... Mr Colin Bridgerton."