The Emperor by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Page A

Papa, and hope that it will give you many hours of pleasure. I thought of it when I heard you playing on the harpsichord at Morland Place. Such superior performance as yours deserves a better instrument! You were used to have a pianoforte at home, and it was never my intention that you should be less comfortable as a married woman than you were as a maid. So play upon it to your heart's content, my love, and think sometimes of one who thinks of you constantly, and loves you best in the world.’
    Oxhey was hovering, looking unhappy, and Mary Ann folded the letter with a smile and said, 'It is from my father, a present for me.'
    ‘Yes, Madam. I understand,' he replied, looking gloomy. ‘What would you have me do with it?'
    ‘ Why, have it brought in, of course,' she said in surprise. ‘Yes, of course, Madam, but where would you have it put?’

    ‘ In the drawing-room, Oxhey,' Mary Ann said patiently. 'Where else does one keep a pianoforte? It can stand in the corner, in the place of the old harpsichord. It will look very well there,' she added in satisfaction. 'Now what is the matter?'
    ‘ But madam!' Oxhey actually waved his hands in his anxiety to convey to her the problems inherent in the command; but Mary Ann thought that he was concerned only with the physical problems of the removal, and grew impatient.
    ‘Really, Oxhey, it is perfectly simple! The carrier's men will know how best the thing is to be moved, and if you have two of our men help them, I am sure it can be done with no trouble at all.'
    ‘And the harpsichord, Madam?'
    ‘You will move that first, of course. I dare say the legs will remove, and it can be wrapped in the cloths that came with the pianoforte, and stored somewhere until we decide what to do with it.'
    ‘ It belongs to Miss Mary – Mrs Haworth, I mean – madam, and she is accustomed to play upon it,' Oxhey said, making one last effort, and Mary Ann frowned.
    ‘Mrs Haworth is a married woman, and this is no longer her home. That she lives at Morland Place while her husband is at sea is beside the point. While Lady Morland is away, I am mistress of the house, and you will obey my orders. Now let us hear no more argument, Oxhey.’
    By dinner time the pianoforte was installed in the corner of the drawing-room, where it glowed handsomely, rose wood casing, satinwood inlay, gilded candle-holders, all complete; while the harpsichord, carefully wrapped, had been put into one of the storerooms. The tuner had been sent for from York, and Mary Ann was sorting through the piles of music to choose such as were suited to the more modern instrument.
    If Oxhey had hoped for Edward's intervention on his behalf, he was disappointed. The master was so busy about the estate at this time, especially with Jemima away, that it was two days before he even entered the drawing-room; and when Mary Ann brought the new instrument to his notice, he only said vaguely, 'Oh yes, ma'am, very handsome. I congratulate you,' before excusing himself to return to his reports in the steward's room.
    The pianoforte did add to her comfort and pleasure, but an unusually fine burst of weather made her discontented with her solitary indoor pursuits, and one day she put down her sewing and wandered, on impulse, out into the court yard. It was a time of day when everyone was about their business elsewhere, and the yard was deserted, except for the dog chained in its kennel, three brindled cats sleeping in a strip of sunshine along the wall, and a large number of pigeons roosting on the roof-slopes. The doors to the stable building stood open, and the shadows within looked very black by contrast with the sunshine.
    She felt confined and for once longed to go outside the walls and view the grounds. There were, of course, plenty of horses at Morland Place, but she had never cared to ride, and though her father had given her a very pretty vis-a-vis for her wedding, it was not the sort of carriage in which to go driving about the rough