Belgravia

'It was certainly a city right at the centre of things,

'brim-full of tourists, bustling with activity.

'And no-one would have guessed that the Emperor Napoleon 'was on the march

'and might encamp by the edge of the town at any moment.

'But then, the past, as we have been told so many times,

'is a strange country.'

- Do come on. - I'm going as fast as I can, Miss.

Don't be so feeble. Hurry!

Can I help you ladies?

I am here to see my father, Mr Trenchard.

You stay here.

Who the devil has come to interrupt me...

Captain Cooper, you must excuse me.

That's all very well, Trenchard...

- Trenchard? - Mr Trenchard.

But we must have the flour by tonight.

And I promise I will do my level best, Captain.

Now, if you'll just wait outside for a moment.

Have you got them?

Three. One for you, one for Mama and one for me.

I suppose Lord Bellasis will be dining there, before the ball?

- She is his aunt. - Of course.

Edmund says there's to be a supper sometime after midnight.

Don't call him Edmund to anyone but me.

Now go to your mother. She'll need every minute to prepare.

It's too late to have anything made.

But not too late to have things brought up to scratch.

- She won't want to go. - She will, because she must.

Well... when shall we tell her the rest of it?

Not yet. It must all be properly managed.

We must take our lead from him. Now go.

And send that blithering idiot back in.

- We won't know a soul there. - Papa knows these people.

He'll know officers who come to his place of work to give him orders.

And they will be very surprised to find they're sharing a ballroom

with a man who supplies their men with bread and ale.

I hope you won't take this tone with Lord Bellasis.

Beware of castles in the air, my darling.

Of course, you won't believe him capable of honourable intentions.

He is the eldest son of an earl, my child.

He cannot choose his wife to suit his heart.

You have enjoyed a flirtation that has harmed neither of you, so far,

but it must end, before there is damaging talk, Sophia,

or you will be the one to suffer.

And it doesn't tell you anything?

That he has secured us invitations to his aunt's ball?

It tells me that you're a lovely girl and he wishes to please you.

He couldn't have managed it in London,

but in Brussels everything is coloured by war.

And so, the normal rules do not apply.

You mean that by the normal rules

we are not acceptable as company for the Duchess's friends?

That is exactly what I mean and you know it to be true.

Papa would not agree.

Your father has travelled a long way and so he does not see the natural barriers

that will prevent him from going much further.

Be content with who we are.

Your father has done well. Don't look down on us.

You're the one who looks down.

The schoolmaster's daughter who was too good for her market trader husband.

I don't look down on anyone! Least of all your father.

I do not care to place myself in situations I don't feel comfortable.

You see, that to me, is another kind of snobbery!

- Am I too early, Ma'am? - No, no, Ellis. Come in.

- We're finished here, aren't we? - If you say so, Mama.

We've been asked to the Duchess of Richmond's ball.

Never!

That is, we should make a decision about your gown, Ma'am.

I'll need some time, if it's to be just so.

Miss Sophia seems, um...

excited.

I expect Lord Bellasis arranged the tickets for the ball?

It may have been the Duke of Wellington.

Mr. Trenchard is a great favourite of his

and the ball is being given in the Duke's honour.

Yes. That must be it, ma'am.

She told you, then? He's done it.

Thank you, Ellis. If you could come back later.

What a chance it is. The Duke himself will be there.

Two dukes, for that matter.

My commander and our hostess' husband.

Reigning princes, too.

James Trenchard, who started at a stall in Covent Garden,

must get himself ready to dance with a princess.

You will do no such thing. You would embarrass us both.

- We'll see. - I mean it.

It's bad enough that you encourage Sophia.

Anne, I believe the boy is sincere. I'm sure of it, in fact.

You are nothing of the sort.

Lord Bellasis, himself, might even think he's sincere.

He is not his own master and nothing proper can come of it.

How strange that we should be discussing a ball

when we're on the brink of war. How ridiculous.

I don't agree. With that, or about Lord Bellasis.

Just know this, if Sophia comes to any harm through this nonsense

I will hold you personally responsible.

Very well.

And as for blackmailing him into begging his aunt for invitations,

- I feel so humiliated. - Anne, you won't spoil this.

- I won't allow you to. - I don't need to.

It will spoil itself.

I hope this isn't a mistake.

Too late for that sort of talk.

What's so funny?

Only that we came to Brussels to escape Society

and now we appear to be giving the ball of the season.

The Duke insisted.

He said we needed to show that nothing Boney could do,

could rattle the British.

Edmund! You're the very first. How nice.

I thought I'd come early to lend you support.

I must say, Aunt, you've made these dreary rooms feel very splendid.

No-one would know people were choosing which coach to buy in here,

only a few months ago.

Mr and Mrs James Trenchard.

Miss Sophia Trenchard.

- You've not invited the Magician? - What do you mean?

He's Wellington's main supplier. What's he doing here?

The Duke of Wellington's victualler?

I've invited a merchant supplier to my ball?

My dear aunt, you've invited one of the Duke's most loyal helpers

- in his fight for victory. - You have tricked me, Edmund.

And I do not like to be made a fool of.

I hope your mother isn't going to be cross with me.

This is good of you, Duchess.

Not at all, Mrs Trenchard.

I gather you've been so kind to my nephew.

It's always a pleasure to see Lord Bellasis.

All those young men, so far from home, poor things.

Well, if it isn't our Magician.

Good evening, um, your, um, Great, Great, um...

- ..Duke. - May I present my daughter, Sophia?

Miss Trenchard, may I escort you into the ballroom?

I thought you'd never get here.

Don't be silly. We're very early.

An hour away from you is like a lifetime.

You read that in a book.

Can Edmund really be serious?

The mother isn't too ridiculous, the father is simply grotesque.

I'll talk to Edmund later on.

Wait until the ball is over and the girl is gone.

And pray Caroline never finds out I invited her here.

His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange.

Why don't you call him Your Grace?

Your Grace is for servants and officials.

Not for a private party.

But I've always called the Duke of Wellington Your Grace.

Because you are his victualler.

Then I shouldn't do it tonight?

If you hadn't procured our invitations,

you wouldn't be in this invidious position now.

What brings the Magician here tonight?

- Er, the Duchess invited us. - Did she, indeed?

And has the evening been enjoyable so far?

Oh, yes, Your Grace.

But there has been a good deal of talk about the advance of Bonaparte.

Well, that's why we're so late.

It looks as if we'll be off tomorrow.

Am I to understand, the charming lady is Mrs Trenchard?

- Your calm is very reassuring, Duke. - Ponsonby.

Are you acquainted with the Magician?

I spend a good deal of time outside Mr Trenchard's office,

waiting to plead the cause of my men.

Mrs Trenchard, may I present Sir William Ponsonby?

Ponsonby, this is the Magician's wife.

I hope he's kinder to you than he is to me.

A splendid touch, Duchess.

My father did raise the Gordon Highlanders after all,

so how could their Commanding Officer refuse?

How indeed?

Have some, if you'd like to.

My mother is coming to break us apart.

Why is she so against me?

She's convinced nothing good can come of it.

Well, then we shall prove her wrong.

You mustn't let Sophia monopolise you, Lord Bellasis.

You must have many friends here

who would be glad of the chance to hear your news.

Never fear, Mrs Trenchard. I am where I want to be.

That is all very well, my lord.

But Sophia has a reputation to protect

and the courtesy of your attention may be putting it at risk.

I wish you would give me credit for a little sense, Mama.

I wish I could.

My lords, ladies and gentleman,

supper is served.

You, Magician. Come with us.

Your Royal Highnesses, your Graces, my Lords, ladies and gentlemen,

much as I regret to interrupt the Duchess' wonderful entertainments,

I must ask those of you in uniform to prepare to leave.

The moment is almost upon us.

May we have the room for a moment?

Ponsonby, you have the map?

I do indeed.

Orange has had a message from Baron Rebecque.

Bonaparte has pushed up the road from Charleroi to Brussels

and he's getting nearer.

I've given orders for the army to concentrate at Quatre Bras,

but we shall not stop him there.

You may. You have some hours before daylight.