The following weeks passed in a welter of details and meetings until early July, when all was ready. Kitty and the two infants had joined Arthur in London and on the eve of his departure he held a final private dinner for his brothers Richard,William and Henry. It was the first time for a number of years that they had gathered together, and as they chattered light-heartedly over the meal, catching up on each other’s news, Arthur could not help thinking back to the days of their childhood when they had played in the gardens of Dangan Castle in Ireland. It seemed an idyllic interlude now. Carefree games on the lawn while faint notes of violin music issued from their father’s recital room. Their mother would sit and sew in the shade of an oak tree and the outside world promised so much.Then came the French revolution and the war, and looking round the table Arthur was proud to note that each of them had risen to the challenge and served their country with distinction. At that moment he felt a surge of affection for his brothers and, slightly the worse for wear, leaned forward and picked up his glass.

‘A toast, my brothers!’

Henry looked at him with an amused smile. ‘A toast? Have you not yet drunk enough, Arthur?’

‘A toast,’ Arthur insisted. ‘I give you family, honour and duty. Long may we hold true to those values.’

Richard nodded. ‘Family, honour and duty.’

The others joined in as they all raised their glasses and then drained every drop.

Shortly afterwards William made his apologies and rose to leave, bracing himself against the table as the room spun round.

‘Oh dear,’ he muttered. ‘I don’t think I am very well.’

‘Come, William!’ Henry laughed as he stood up and moved round the table to support his older brother. ‘Let me take you home. I must bid the rest of you farewell.Thank you for a fine meal, Kitty. God speed and good luck to you, Arthur. Teach those damned Frenchies a lesson!’

‘I will,’ Arthur replied. ‘I promise. God save you, Henry, and you, William.’

When they had left Arthur turned to Kitty, who had been quiet all night. ‘Are you all right, my dear?’

‘I am fine. Quite fine,’ she replied.

‘Really?’ Arthur looked at her closely. ‘You are not sickening for anything?’

‘No. I said I am fine, thank you.’

‘Then why the long face?’