Tears pricking her eyes, she forced herself erect and made her way out into the sunlit street. The day, so bright, so pleasant, seemed painfully at odds with the events, and yet there were those residents of Binché who were rejoicing at the news. The conversation from the dinner party when they first arrived came back to her, and she recalled Mme Meynard saying, We have been passed back and forth between France and the Netherlands for almost as many years as there have been people living here.

And here Jane saw the proof of that, for half the town rejoiced that their Emperor had returned, and half the town despaired. It was only with the greatest difficulty that Jane did not run back to the Chastains’, where she knew at least they did not support Napoleon. She had no such faith about their neighbours.

Mme Chastain met Jane in the foyer of the home, her hand held to her breast. ‘Thank heavens. I have been so worried for you.’

‘You have heard, then.’ Jane tugged her gloves free.

‘Yes. Colonel de Bodard just came with the news.’

‘I heard only that Napoleon was returned to France, nothing more.’

‘Come into the parlour.’ Mme Chastain took Jane by the arm. ‘You are as pale as death.’

‘I am only a little frightened.’

They went to the parlour, where M. Chastain had gathered with his students and the household’s senior staff. Colonel de Bodard stood at the mantel with the room’s attention fixed upon him. Gone was the gentle chevalier who had comforted Jane at the dinner table. He stood now in the Belgian uniform, a dark blue jacket with red epaulettes at the shoulder. Jane scanned the room, growing cold as she realized that Vincent was not there. He had gone to Brussels, and would be on the road even now. He might not know that the Ogre was out of the box.

Jane put a hand on her middle, as if it would reassure their child.

Anne-Marie pressed a glass of Madeira on her, and offered Jane her seat. M. Chastain paced the room with one finger hooked over his nose and the other hand tucked behind his back. ‘Those of you who wish to go may, but I think the danger is not great.’

‘But I heard Napoleon was gone to Paris,’ M. Archambault said.

‘Yes, but King Louis XVIII has sent General Ney to stop him. He will do so, and then we may all rest easy. Remember, Napoleon can have no great number of men, and those that he has are all deserters, not the steadiest sort in a fight.’ Colonel de Bodard left his place by the fire and came to Jane’s side. ‘Mme Vincent, how are you taking it?’