13. Preparations continue and an interesting situation emerges ...

The next few days at Rogeringham Hall were full of activity. My sisters set about their tasks with enthusiasm. The ball was set for a Friday in two weeks. Charlotte and Hermione spent two days writing out invitations, marking each one off a list that they had all compiled. Henry set off on horseback to hand-deliver the notes to local dignitaries, while Hopley drove Charlotte and Hermione all about Buckinghamshire in the brougham, delivering certain hand-picked ones.

Margaret and Louise had, as instructed, dragooned members of the estate staff into their service and turned part of the stables into a workshop. At one point I saw a pair of lads carrying saplings in. But when I went to look, I found my way barred by the twins.

All of my amused raging about being the Duke of Norton, and 'lord of Rogeringham Hall' went unheard as Margaret and Louise steadfastly held their ground and prevented me from spoiling their surprise.

In contrast, Caroline actually did ask for my assistance.

Her approach to the menu was typical of her thoughtful manner. She consulted, she spoke with Mrs Ellis, the cook and Mr Dives, to discover the options she had available, rather than picking items out of the air. She reasoned that with the Christmas season and the time available this was a more sensible way forward. But then having heard the available options, Caroline pushed and shaped some of them to put her own mark on the affair.

Caroline asked for my advice on the wines to use, so I called for Mr Dives and Mr Roberts, and the four of us went on a small expedition. After my conversation with Barclay the other evening, it was also useful for me to have a look at the cellars and the apparent substitutions.

My father had built his collection upon an already excellent wine cellar that he inherited from the 4th duke, his father, and it took up several parts of the extensive cellars at Rogeringham Hall. We were looking for a presentable selection, in sufficient quantity for the numbers expected. There were some interesting casks of French red, and some of white that I thought might be good, and we shared some of the wine between us and talked through what was good about it. The decision however, was up to Caroline, who after a few moments thought, made her selection and asked the cellarman to bottle sufficient of each one, enough for the guest list.

We looked at some of our champagnes as well, and having decided which of those we would use, we eventually arrived at the cases of port.

Roberts, the cellarman, was still unable to say when the change had been made. One of the bottles was opened and sampled, and while it wasn't the worst bottle of port I have ever tasted, in fact, in thirty- or forty-years' time, it would probably be a decent bottle, but Roberts swore it was not even part way as good a vintage as the ones that it had been substituted for.

I examined the cases themselves and saw a small wine merchant's label. Roberts wrote the details on a scrap of paper for me. It did not match any of the merchants we usually deal with.

We left the cellars to talk about Caroline's plans. I have a study at Rogeringham Hall, just as I do in the Mayfair house, and we moved there with Roberts, to agree his actions. Caroline gave me a list of some other beverages that she thought we would require, and I gave it to Roberts to organise.

Once Roberts had gone to set about his work - decanting and bottling alone would be several days' effort, Caroline and I sat and chatted.

She is, as perhaps I have already said, the tallest of my sisters, dark haired and pretty, she has her mother's grey eyes and is the most like her in the face. As we were bringing our conversation about the ball to an end, Caroline surprised me by asking whether I was serious about letting her and my other sisters determine their own partners when the time came.

"I am," I told her, "Do you have someone in mind?"

"I do," she said thoughtfully, "But it is not someone that I think, even with your progressive attitude William, I would be allowed to marry." Her tone was wistful, slightly sad.

"Will you tell me who it is?" I think the fact that I asked, and didn't demand, surprised her, because she started at the question. Caroline looked at me carefully weighing what she was going to say.

"Would you be angry if I didn't?" The question was tentative, uncertain. "I have my reasons not to, but the chief amongst them is that the person does not know of my affection, and I want no consequences on them in their innocence."

"If this person does not know of your affection," I wondered, "How will they know when to ask for your hand when the time comes?"

At that point thoughtful and considerate Caroline realised the flaw in her plan.

"Will they be free to make the offer?" I asked.

She looked embarrassed. In a movement very reminiscent of her mother, she began to worry at some tiny speck on her lap. "I am afraid I had not got that far in my plans," she said when she looked up.

"Ask me about mathematics, William, or how to compose a watercolour of lilies," she laughed, with a tinge of embarrassment. "I can answer with confidence, but in the affairs of the heart I am severely lacking in knowledge."

She looked up at me, "Is it true what Charlotte says about your experience in this area?"

"I am not sure," I replied, "What has she said?"

"How you have had many adventures in love as well as war." Then she almost whispered, "That you and she - er, in the inn?"

I put on my sternest tone - Caroline being the most serious of my sisters, was always the easiest to tease - and asked, "We 'er' what in the inn?

"I have had many adventures since I went from this house, and some before I left." I told her, still maintaining my serious tone, even though I was smiling inside. "But I am afraid that you will need to be more specific about the 'er' in the inn?"

I have never seen Caroline look so uncertain, normally her confidence comes from her gathering of the facts, now she looked lost. She examined the speck on her lap again. Her voice was quiet as she said, "She said that you - er that you made her a woman, William."

"I did." I said, "At her request." Caroline looked up at that, and she saw that my sternness was just a mask, and that I was smiling broadly.

"William!" She said exasperated by my teasing. I walked round the desk and sat next to her, taking her hand in mine.

"I promised your mother, our mother, that I would do everything I could to prepare you all for the next stage in your lives, leaving here and becoming wives - if that is what you wish. There is so much to learn, but I think the most important thing is that you have confidence in yourselves - the confidence of the sister of a duke, a Rogeringham."

"That is why you set us to make the ball come about?"

I nodded.

"So why did you sleep with Charlotte? How is that preparation?"

"She and I have talked much since I returned and regained some of the closeness we had when we were children. When we were over-nighted at that inn, we slept together because she felt that that was something lacking in her. Something that she wanted me to fulfil."

"And if I was to ask the same favour?"

"If you asked, Caroline, I would do my very best to honour your request." I said sincerely.

Abruptly, she stood up, which to be honest was not the reaction I expected, or frankly, hoped for. "I have much to do if I am to fulfil my share of the ball preparations," she said, brusquely, as she moved towards the door. With her hand upon the door handle, she paused, and said more softly, "Concerning the other thing, may I think upon it? It is not a decision I want to rush into."

"I would not have it any other way," I said as I blew her a kiss.

As she turned, I saw her smile to herself.

Turning back to my desk, I looked again at the cellar book that Roberts had left with me. The wines which had been replaced had not been noted as 'removed' in the book as they would normally be, instead Roberts had diligently entered the new cases as a separate entry, not initially being aware of the removals. This may sound peculiar to some, but given the number of entries in the book, that some items got over-looked is easily understood. Roberts assured me that he had subsequently searched the cellars and the items were assuredly missing and not mislaid.

It might be asked why it matters? After all it was only five dozen bottles of port? With the other missing items, the amount missing amounted to probably twenty dozen bottles in all. To some it might not seem to be a big issue, but to put it simply, it was the principle of the matter.

Looking at the details of the wine merchant I noted that they were based in Buckingham itself. I resolved that as things were progressing nicely with the ball, I would travel the fifteen miles or so to the town and visit the merchant. I picked up a pen and made some notes from the cellar book.

After some more consideration I rang for a footman and told him to ask Mr Dives to attend me.