Then there was a sharp cry of surprise from the floor of the ballroom. 'Arthur? My Arthur?'
Looking down,Arthur caught sight of his mother, still standing next to the army officer. She looked furious, but as she became aware of the people smiling around her, she nodded to her son and beamed, like any parent basking in the reflected glory of a child's public achievement. Arthur felt his heart surge with pride and waved back to her.Then he placed the violin on his chair and after a round of handshaking with the rest of the orchestra, and much slapping of his back, he quit the gallery and descended to the floor of the ballroom. Passing through the crowd he acknowledged the odd comment of praise or gratitude, until he joined Lady Mornington.
She smiled at him and, embracing him by the shoulders, whispered close to his ear, 'Oh, well done, Arthur! I imagine that everyone thinks we're the kind of family that has to sing for our supper. I've never been so ashamed in my life.'
She drew back from him with a frigid smile. He stared at her with a hurt and surprised expression that contrasted sharply with her look. Before Arthur could respond, the army officer stepped forward and grasped his hand.
'Well done, Wesley. That was brave of you. Not many boys of your age could have been cool-headed enough to carry that off.'
'Brave?'
'Yes.'The army officer was about to continue when he stopped himself with a self-deprecating smile. 'My profound apologies, I haven't introduced myself to you. Forgive me.' He raised his hand and grasped Arthur's hand firmly. 'Colonel William Ross. I'm an attache at the embassy. Delighted to make your acquaintance.'
'As am I, sir.' Arthur bowed his head.
'Fine piece of work, lad. No wonder your mother's so obviously proud of you.'
'Oh, fie!' Anne feigned embarrassment. 'Colonel, you're making me blush!'
'Lady Mornington has told me all about you.'
'Has she, indeed?'
'Yes, my boy. Seems that you have no thoughts about a career at present.'
'That is true, sir. I am trying to improve my French while we are in Brussels, but beyond that I have only my music.'
'You have a rare talent for the violin, Wesley. That's clear enough, but I think that you will find that is not enough for someone of your background.' He leaned forward a fraction to fix Arthur with his piercing blue eyes.'And, I suspect that, despite the pleasure you obviously derive from your musical skills, you crave something a little more exciting, eh?'
'Yes, sir,' Arthur replied politely, even though he was not sure that he did really want to do anything more exciting than devote himself to his violin playing. But, as he stood in front of Colonel Ross, he drank in the fine style of the man and again felt that he would like to exude the same self-confidence by the time he reached a similar age.
As if reading Arthur's mind, the colonel smiled at him and spoke lightly. 'Ever considered a career in the army?'
'The army? No, sir. Not yet, at least.'
'Perhaps you should. Lady Mornington has explained that you are a younger son. I know from personal experience the burden of not having first call on the inheritance. The younger sons of aristocrats have a choice of drinking themselves to death, becoming priests or joining the army, or all three if they are gluttons for punishment, although not in that precise order, of course.' He laughed lightly, and Arthur laughed with him, before Colonel Ross continued,'I can't see you as a drunk or a priest so the army looks like the safest option.Your mother is of the same opinion.'
'Yes. She is good at making decisions for others,' Arthur said evenly.
Anne ignored her son's ironic tone. 'It's worth considering, Arthur. Richard' – she turned to the colonel to explain – 'that is my eldest son, the Earl of Mornington.' She turned back to Arthur. 'He should have some useful connections who can help find a position for you in the army. I'll write to him soon and see what he can do.'
'And if the Earl is unable to assist, then I should be only too happy to help,' the colonel added graciously.
'You are very kind, sir,' Arthur replied. The conversation was slipping out of his control. If he did not attempt to curb the direction it was taking his mother would have him in uniform and posted to some God-awful part of the world before the month was up. 'A career in the army might well be the best thing for me, but one should always consider choices carefully.'
'Indeed,' the colonel acknowledged. 'Spoken like a true soldier! Perhaps the best solution might be to spend some time at a military school. Get the feel for the military way of life, without being committed in any way. How does that sound?'
'Military school?' Anne sounded wary. 'Is that expensive?'
'No more so than any other kind of school.'
'Oh, I see.'
The colonel immediately sensed the delicacy of the situation. 'Of course, most students only attend such schools for a short period of time, no more than a year, I should think, and the fees vary a great deal.There are some bargains to be had in France, for example. If you like, Lady Mornington, I'll talk to some of my army contacts at the other embassies and see if they know of any likely spots for your son.'
Arthur's mother smiled. 'I'd be most grateful. Thank you.'
'Now, my lady, I'm afraid that I must leave you.'
Anne placed a hand on his sleeve. 'Surely you're not ending such a fine evening at this early hour?'
'Indeed I am not, my lady. I have an engagement with some other officers at a club, and I regret to say I am already late to that appointment, thanks to your engaging conversation.'
She smiled. 'I can imagine that your excellent company will be missed, and I have been selfish. Perhaps, on another occasion…'
He nodded.'There is a ball at the Prussian Embassy later in the month. I'll have an invitation sent to your lodgings. Might I enquire where-'
'We have rooms at Monsieur Goubert's house on Rue de Poincon.'
'Rue de Poincon. Very well, I shall make arrangements.' He bowed.'Good night, my lady.And I'm sure I'll see you again soon, Arthur.'
'Yes, sir. I hope so.'
As soon as the colonel was out of earshot Anne turned on her son.While keeping her face devoid of expression, she lowered her voice and spoke in an angry undertone. 'Just what did you think you were doing?'
'Mother?' Arthur shrugged. 'I don't understand.'
'Don't play the fool with me. Other people might think you're a simpleton, but I know you better.What was the meaning of that shameful display up there in the gallery?'
'They were a man short. I could fill his place on the violin so I thought I'd help out.'
'You thought you'd help out…' she mimicked him spitefully. 'I see. So the next time someone's horse goes lame, you'll just pop yourself into its harness and just help out, I suppose?'
'Mother, you're not being fair.'
'No,' she snapped back at him, 'it's you who isn't being fair. I brought you to Brussels to improve your French. God knows, you've learned nothing else for the last few years. And I thought we were supposed to be spending some more time together. First chance you got this evening, and off you went. Abandoning your poor mother in the crowd.'
'You didn't seem that abandoned to me.'
'Don't be insolent.' She stared at him a moment and then continued in a hurt tone, 'I'd just like to have known where you had got to. That's all, Arthur. It would have been the considerate thing to do.'
Following his impromptu performance at the Chambre de Palais, Arthur and his mother were invited to many more social events. He adjusted to the attention he was paid very quickly and soon had a ready tongue for light conversation, and an easy, almost charming manner. Anne was surprised to discover that her son actually impressed other people, to the point where it was clear that a section of Brussels society preferred his company to hers. Even though, she consoled herself, he was hardly good-looking.
Colonel Ross made enquiries about the most reputable military schools in Europe, steering a fine line between
