The Emperor Read Online Free PDF Page A

the guests had gone, and a certain flatness seemed to prevail in the house, he had suddenly reappeared in her bedchamber, and for a few nights had resumed physical relations with her. He left off again as suddenly as he had begun, but it had been enough: she proved to be with child. She had waited for an evening when he was present in the drawing room before announcing the news, and though she addressed herself to her mother-in-law, she had covertly watched her husband's face. His first reaction, she was sure, had been one of pleasure; but afterwards he had looked bewildered, and then unhappy, and had very soon made an excuse to leave the room.
    Since then she had seen as little of him as before, but herown life had settled into a sort of pattern which, as far as she could manage it, recreated her life in Hobsbawn House. Dakers came to wake her and dress her at eight, and she spent an hour in private prayer and reflection before going down to the chapel for mass, and then to breakfast. At eleven she took her exercise, always in the gardens, for Morland Place was designed for riders, and the estate had no walks suitable for ladies. For the rest of the day until dinner she read, worked, wrote letters, and practised her music, though there was no pianoforte, and she found the old harpsichord a severe trial, not suited to the sort of music she was accustomed to play. After dinner she conversed with such of the family as gathered in the drawing-room, and after tea and evening prayers retired early to her bed.
    That the Morlands found her as strange as she found them rarely occurred to her and never worried her. She did not doubt that her place amongst them was understood and secure, for her father had arranged it all, and what her father decided upon always came to pass. She missed him sometimes, missed his affection and praise, and was occasionally puzzled by her husband, but she was not unhappy. Her life assumed a placid and untroubled course, as she sewed baby-shirts and prepared for the birth of her child. Her son would inherit Morland Place and the whole of her father's estate, and the mother of that child could never be less than respected.

    *
    ’Every autumn, God sends one perfect day, when the colours of the trees are so beautiful they would break your heart,' said Jemima, as she and Mary rode past the beech hanger which sheltered Knapton village on the north-east. The beech leaves seemed to burn against the autumn-blue sky, gold and copper and orichalcum and flame, tiger- brindled with their black branches. The air was as mild as summer, but the horses' hooves struck out no smell of earth or bruised grass, sure sign that the world was cooling into winter.
    Jemima, though over sixty and white-haired now, rode easily and very erect with all the skill of a lifetime in the saddle. Her workaday habit of black worsted was cut for comfort rather than elegance, and her hat was an old- fashioned tricorne which had happened to come to hand as she prepared to go out. Mary's habit on the other hand, was of fine cloth cut tight at the waist and long-skirted, and her fashionably mannish tall hat was secured with a veil which covered her whole face in a way that was particularly becoming; but after what was for her a long ride, she was struggling to keep her back straight, and had long ceased to attempt to direct her horse, content to allow him to pick his own way home while she held onto the pommel for support.
    As they passed through Ten Thorn gap, a partridge rattled out from under the hedge right under their horses' hooves. Mary's mount, a steady old schoolmaster, acknow ledged the event only by a flicker of his ears: nothing would distract him from taking the quickest way home to his box and hayrack. Jemima's chestnut was a young horse she was schooling to carry sidesaddle, and he snorted with alarm, jumped sideways, and tried to get away up the lane. Jemima sat him unperturbed, soothing him with hand and voice, and in a moment he