Finally he received orders to start training; after a slow start, they were all rushing. He had been told he must leave the day after tomorrow. He couldn’t tell her where he was going. She didn’t really mind that he couldn’t. It didn’t feel like any of her business, and she didn’t know how to make it so; war was for men. The servants thought she was brave and stoic, the very model of an officer’s wife. His mother glared at her, perhaps reading her cool, calm heart. Vivian thought her mother-in-law would prefer it if she was more overwrought and girlish. It would either show that she loved her son deeply or it would prove the point that Vivian was, after all, rather hysterical. Irrationally, Vivian behaving well seemed to annoy Lady Owens, although Aubrey approved. He was most comfortable when she spoke little and acted with proper care, when she made herself as small as possible. Still, she felt guilty that she didn’t feel more distress about his imminent departure.

Her husband had no war experience, of course; his superior rank came from the fact that he could afford to keep a horse. How else could they arrange the war? No one could expect that all sorts of men muddle in together. She was glad he was to take his horse. She’d always been a bit afraid of the animal, so powerful and sleek, but Aubrey suited him; he looked most complete when he was riding. That was certainly when he was at his most likeable. When she’d watched him as he galloped through Hyde Park, she’d thought he was almost attractive; at least from a distance.

Men were already dying, and although it was unlikely that Aubrey would actually see any action – by the time he finished his training the war would probably be over – she still saw her way to indicating that marital relations were not out of the question, even though it was a Wednesday not a Saturday. She did this by putting on a silk trousseau nightdress, rather than a cotton weekday one. If he noticed, he did not act on the invitation.

‘Busy day for all tomorrow,’ he commented as they lay side by side but separate in bed.

‘For you especially.’

‘I can only pack the regulation. You have much more to do.’ She looked at him quizzically. ‘Of course I’m not suggesting you’ll need to get it all done tomorrow. No one can expect you to pack up completely in a day. You might need a week.’

‘Pack up? What are you talking about?’

‘My parents are giving up the house.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Our London house. It’s all my idea. I told them I shouldn’t wonder if the War Office couldn’t use it.’ He continued to puff on his pipe. She did wish he wouldn’t bring that damned thing to bed. ‘I thought Mother might have mentioned it to you.’ It dawned on her exactly what he was suggesting. She had to suppress her panic, remembering that Aubrey didn’t like a scene.