Grantham Square was in one of the many fashionable residential parts of London. The house was tall, the architecture Georgian and elegant. There were steps to a portico with two urns on either side supported by flimsily clad nymphs and in the urns was a display of tulips. Cobb deposited us at the house and took the carriage round to the mews at the back.

There was a butler, a footman and several servants—slightly more than those we had at The Silk House. Sir Francis was not at home so we were taken to our rooms by the housekeeper who asked us to let her know if there was anything we needed. She was an authoritative looking lady and rather formidable in her black bombazine which rustled when she walked. Her name was Mrs. Camden.

Grand’mere and I were to share a room. It was at the top of the house and large and airy. There were two beds and a small alcove in which was a basin and ewer.

Grand’mere said: “I think we shall be comfortable here. At least we are together.”

I smiled at her. I knew she was determined not to leave me alone in a house to which Charles might come back.

They were interesting days. Sir Francis arrived later that night. He was very courteous to Grand’mere. He said he had been delayed and hoped that we had been well looked after. The Countess of Ballader was arriving the next day and she would then get to work with Julia.

He wanted to take Grand’mere to the Spitalnelds works to show her the new looms and the modern way of weaving, which was causing some distress to the workers, who always thought that when something new came in it threatened their jobs.

“There are always troubles,” he said.

Grand’mere explained to him what a help I was to her and how I had a natural flair for matching styles with materials.

“She will be another such as yourself,” said Sir Francis, eyeing me with approval.

“I think that may well be so,” replied Grand’mere fondly.

I was so tired that night that I was asleep as soon as I got into bed and I awoke next morning to a feeling of excitement.

The Countess of Ballader arrived next day and took charge of Julia. She was to stay in the house while we were there. There was so much Julia had to learn. On those occasions when I saw her—and these were not often for she was almost always being put through her paces by the indefatigable Countess—I heard that on the great day she must have her hair dressed in such a manner as to support the three plumes, and a veil must be worn; her curtsy never seemed to please the Countess, though she could not see what was wrong with it. What was a curtsy anyway? One just bobbed down. Why should it be so difficult to learn? And her waist was not small enough; she had to be fitted for new corsets and she knew they were going to squeeze her so painfully that they made her red in the face; and that would be wrong too.

Poor Julia! Being launched into society seemed to be more a strenuous ordeal than a pleasant experience. But her excitement remained, though she did admit that she might be a failure at her first ball and she was terrified that no one would ask her to dance.

I had a happier time. Grand’mere and I explored London together. We looked in shop windows; we walked through the departments. Grand’mere noted the latest fashions … not only in the shops but on the ladies in the streets. There was a lack of chic, she said. She did not need to learn anything from them.

She bought a few materials and discussed with me how they should be made up.

Sir Francis took Grand’mere to Spitalfields. She came back preoccupied, I thought.

It was fun sharing a room with her, for we used to lie in bed and talk before we slept.

She said: “All this fuss … for one young girl. It seems an extraordinary custom, does it not? A girl cannot go into society and meet others of her class until she has been approved by the Court. And what is that encounter? A bob of the knees and … pass on. And yet there she is … in court gown, plumes and veil… after months of preparation. What do you think? Does it not make you laugh?”

“I think there is something rather obscene about it.”

“Obscene? What is this?”

“Well, I mean parading her… showing off what she has in the hope that some man will think her worthy to be his wife.”

“Ah. That is so. You think it is … how shall I say? … demeaning to our sex.”

“Is it not?”

Grand’mere was thoughtful and at length she said: “It would seem to me, ma petite, that we have to fight hard for our place in the world. To be equal with a man one must be so much better, so much more clever. It is something I have always known. Here am I. I have a talent for materials … for style … and because of it I am a guest… or almost a guest… in the house of Sir Francis Sallonger. He treats me with respect always. He is, after all, a gentleman. But we have seen how precarious our position can be through the odious Monsieur Charles. We have to guard against that. Yes, this is in some way demeaning … this setting up Mademoiselle Julia on auction as it were, but, ma cherie, I find myself wishing that all this was being done for you because if you were launched into society you would have a chance of meeting people whom you could not otherwise. It is a great anxiety to me. I think of it often. Now … you are safe. I am here to guard you. But I am not young … and there will come a day …”

“No!” I cried involuntarily. The thought of life without Grand’mere was something I could not bear to consider.

“Oh, but I am well. I am strong … there are many years left to me yet. But before they are over my dearest dream is to see you settled. I want for you a husband not necessarily rich … but good. He must be good. I want to see you with little ones. For, believe me, they are the greatest comfort a woman can find. I had this comfort with my Marie Louise. Your grandfather was a good man. He died young and I was left with my daughter. When she died I thought I had died, too, for the world seemed to have nothing left for me until they put you into my arms… and since then, it has been us two against the world.”

“Oh, Grand’mere,” I said, “never talk about leaving me.”

“There is only one thing in the world which could make me do that. Before anything in the world I want to see you happily settled … taken care of. I want to see that before I go.”

”I can take care of myself.”

“Yes … you will. That is what I tell myself. I took care of myself when I was left. I worked for the St. Allengeres. I was important to them … my knowledge of silks, my talent for styles. I was of great use to them.”

“And they let you go.”

“Yes, because of you. I could not have stayed there in that close community where everyone knew the business of everyone else. They knew I had to get away … so they asked Sir Francis to take me.”

“And he did.”

“He was getting a bargain. He knew of my skills. And he did this because Monsieur St. Allengere asked him to. Although there is much rivalry between the branches of the family and religious differences … blood ties are strong and they go back through the centuries.”

“How strange it is that there should be these two branches of that family … both engaged in business … meeting occasionally although they are rivals.”

“It is … how you say? … symbolic. It is like the Church. There is a schism. One goes one way, one the other. With the Reformation came the split in the family. The Catholic side and the Huguenot side. They are opposed in religion and in business—although they are in different countries—they vie with each other. In England there is not the deep feeling for religion as there is in Villers-Mure, I believe. Oh… there is contention between them … but they visit now and then, each wanting to know what the other is doing. They are the friendly enemies.”

“And what of you, Grand’mere, for you are of Villers-Mure?”

“My religion is to care for those I love. I am one of those who love someone more than a doctrine. Perhaps I am wrong but I could never care whether I worshipped in one way or an-other. I feel that God will understand.”

“I know He will,” I said. “And I will say that you are a better Christian than many who are outwardly devout.”

“What a serious conversation! How did it start? Oh, I know. The parade of Julia. I hope she will do well and find the husband who satisfies all… most of all herself.”

There was silence for a while, then she went on: ”I had an interesting time with Sir Francis. They have some wonderful looms nowadays. He is very proud of them but…”

I waited and there was silence again.

“You were going to say something, Grand’mere,” I prompted.

“Oh yes … that Sir Francis is a little … how shall I say? … anxious.”

“What should he be anxious about?”

“There is one thing. I believe the business is not as prosper-ous as it was.”

“But he is very rich. He has The Silk House … this house … and all those servants.”

“So much to keep up. As you say … the house, the ser-vants, the sons, the daughters and Lady Sallonger. He has many| commitments, has he not?”

“He must be very rich, Grand’mere.”

“Those who have much can lose so much more.”

“Do you really think he is worried about money?”

“I daresay if he lost the business tomorrow he would still be comparatively rich. He has property and many assets, I am sure. But he is anxious about the business. He did hint that a great deal of silks are coming into the country. There are still echoes of the Fontainebleau agreement. You see, the French have al-ways had a reputation and the very fact that a material is French gives it an advantage over that which is produced here.”

“Did he tell you he was worried?”

“No, but he said that he needs desperately something which is new … something which is going to take the public by storm … something not too expensive so that it can appeal to a great number of people besides the elite … something that we can bring out in various forms … very special and very expensive For some … and in a cheaper version for everybody to wear.”

“And will he do this?”

“My dear Lenore, the first thing to do is find this miracle material. He believes people are working on it in France. His people are too. Perhaps it is like a race. Who shall find it first and make it his own.”

“Is this what he is uneasy about?”

“I am sure the business needs a boost. He must get back lost business. That is what I understand. I thought he looked a little lired. He was quite flushed and very breathless … and he talked to me with more vehemence than usual. Mon Dieu! Did you hear that? The clock is striking midnight. These night time chats are good, are they not, but we must not carry them on until the next day. Good night, my precious one.”

I was soon fast asleep.

It was two days later when it happened.

It seemed almost as though Grand’mere had known it was coming. Sir Francis was taken ill. He had had a mild stroke from which it appeared he would recover; the unfortunate fact was that he was not in Grantham Square when it had happened.

He was in the house of a Mrs. Darcy in St. John’s Wood. Mrs. Darcy had been terrified and had called a doctor at once. He had thought it advisable not to move Sir Francis immediately so he had remained in Mrs. Darcy’s house for several days. His own doctor went there. Charles and Philip were sent for. If it had happened in Grantham Square it would have been so much easier, but the significant point was that he had been taken ill at two o’clock in the morning.

Charles took over quite efficiently. He thought it was imperative that his father be brought back to Grantham Square without delay.

This was eventually arranged and everyone breathed more freely, particularly when they knew that Sir Francis would recover.

The Countess was rather voluble to Grand’mere on the subject. A friendship had grown up between them and this seemed to include me. They were together a great deal discussing Julia’s requirements and as the Countess agreed that Grand’mere could produce gowns which were more striking, and at the same time elegant, than any dressmaker she knew, there was an immediate rapport between them.

She said she would like to ”bring me out.” She thought I had more “originality” than Julia. Julia was too eager. “Trying too hard,” she called it, “and showing it.” “It’s a social sin to show one’s eagerness,” she explained. “One must not miss an opportunity, of course, one must be alert, but assume indifference. It is not easy to achieve the right attitude but it is the way to success.” And she thought I would do this better than Julia.