The Accidental Marriage by Sally James

lifted Fanny in his arms. Julia, almost unconsciously, noticed the muscles in his arms and legs as he straightened up. He forced a way through the crowd, uttering apologies, and carried Fanny down the stairs to where there was more space. Julia followed in his wake, clutching the reticule Fanny had dropped, in which she knew there were smelling salts.
    At the bottom of the stairs Sir Carey spoke to one of the footmen, and a lady just entering a coach, overhearing, turned towards him.
    ‘Lift your wife in here, sir, and we will convey her to your home. It could be hours before your own carriage can be brought up.’
    Fanny was passed, like a parcel, Julia thought rather hysterically, into the coach, and Sir Carey helped her in too, then sprang in himself after giving the coachman the direction. Julia had the smelling salts in her hand, and Fanny soon revived, rather tearful, and bewildered to find herself in a coach with strangers.
    They turned out to be a German count and countess from a small duchy north of Bavaria, who brushed aside Julia’s thanks.
    ‘What else would anyone do? It was a magnificent occasion, of course, but there were so many lights the ballroom and the entrance were far too hot. It is not surprising the lady swooned.’
    By the time they reached their building Fanny was able to walk, and after thanking her rescuers, she was helped by Julia and Sir Carey to climb the stairs to their apartment.
    ‘Sir Carey, you’ve been so kind.’
    ‘Nonsense. If you will be all right now I’ll go back and find Sir Frederick. he must be wondering what has happened to you.’
    I doubt that, Julia thought as she and Maggie helped Fanny into bed. Frederick cared only for his own enjoyment. He was more likely to blame Fanny for causing an incident which might have been embarrassing to him.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Fanny was unwell for several days, keeping to her room. She confided to Julia that she had overheard Mrs Webber at the Metternich ball speculating about Julia, saying she had heard rumours that Julia had been wise to leave England because of some scandal attached to her.
    ‘What on earth could she have meant?’
    Julia laughed. ‘You said she was an incorrigible gossip. She’s also a crony of Frau Gunter, and that old witch threatened I’d be sorry for opposing her. I wonder if there is any connection? How else could Mrs Webber even pretend to know anything about me? We’ve never met before.’
    Fanny seemed satisfied, though annoyed that Frau Gunter could be so vindictive, and Julia dismissed it from her thoughts. She was more concerned about Frederick’s behaviour and the misery this was causing her sister.
    Frederick had arrived home long past dawn after the Peace Ball, but to Julia’s surprise, made no mention of their own journey home. From Frederick’s coachman, Evans, she learnt that, on his finally reaching the point for picking up passengers, and finding no one there, he had been moved on by the footmen. Retreating, he had awaited another summons, assuming the first had been a mistake, but when none came, and there were barely a dozen carriages left, he had returned home.
    So Frederick had not wanted his carriage, Julia thought. Had he been off again with his Russian mistress? Julia was utterly convinced that the Countess Tania was indeed his mistress, since he spent very few nights at the apartment, and offered no explanations as to where he had been.
    She attempted to distract Fanny by talking about the Congress. Mr Pryce seemed to know many of the English delegation, and almost daily he brought Fanny and Julia news of what was happening in the negotiations.
    ‘The Tsar and Metternich had another confrontation,’ he said a few days after the Parade. ‘You heard how the Tsar insulted him at Metternich’s own ball, saying soldiers such as he had to be shot because of the decisions taken by the diplomats?’
    ‘We heard of it afterwards,’ Fanny said. ‘But what now?’
    ‘Alexander sent