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Lady Caroline Lamb had been proud of many things since her marriage. She had been fortunate enough to marry for love, and both she and her husband lived comfortably within their means. He was a political aspirant, aiming for a viscountcy within a few years. Initially, her family opposed the union.
The Lambs were considered extravagant by many in high society, and their matriarch, Lady Melbourne, was always remembered for both her imbued royal connections and her discreet, yet several, affairs.
It took a great deal of commotion from her suitor, William, for Caroline’s mother to finally give them permission to marry. Caro, as he affectionately called her, and William had the first years of their marriage as happy as any couple who loves each other deeply.
He had chosen her, from among all her taller and more beautiful cousins, for her inquisitive personality and sharp mind. She had chosen him for his sense of humour, the fascinating rhetoric of his conversation, and, of course, the deep affection he bestowed upon her.
However, as the first few years passed, the young couple faced several challenges in their relationship, the first difficulty being the lack of an heir for the Lambs. Caro and William, no matter how hard they tried, had never produced a child who survived more than 24 hours. This, coupled with the fact that Caro's mother-in-law never approved of her as a wife, further alienated her from the close-knit Lamb family circle.
It also didn't help that Caroline and Lady Melbourne had such distinct personalities. Caroline never accepted the constraints imposed on women by Regency society. She desired freedom of action and thought, things that were scandalous and forbidden at the time. Lady Melbourne wanted a daughter-in-law she could tame, who would be discreet, follow her advice, and respect her authority in the family. All this to favor her favorite son, William.
The newlyweds also had very different personalities, which proved to be another obstacle as the years passed. William was always pragmatic and rational, while Caro was more akin to romantic heroines, with their dramas and difficulties.
In 1807, Caro gave birth to little Augustus Lamb, a child who would bring them blessings but also worries. However, the arrival of the heir opened the Lamb family's doors to Caroline once again. Her mother-in-law took her to dinners and parties and introduced her to high-society acquaintances. A fateful day was that one of these acquaintances, Lord Byron, was introduced to her.
The year was 1812, and Caro and William already considered themselves estranged as husband and wife. He was always busy with his political duties, and she was left at home caring for Augustus.
George Byron was like a breath of new life to her. A talented poet who had quickly become the talk of the town, especially among the ladies. She felt invigorated by his attentions and inspired to develop her own poems.
Life with Byron was frenetic, filled with private parties at his residence, Newstead Abbey. It was a world that Caroline, due to her religious upbringing, entered with a curiosity common to all young women. He introduced her to new people, new drinks, new tastes, and experiences.
With each invitation she received to one of Byron's private parties, her heart filled with a variety of feelings. Apprehension and guilt for leaving her husband's home with her infant son still asleep, but also an overwhelming longing for the unknown, for the surprise of what and who she would see there, for these encounters with Byron, in one way or another, led her into situations that defied the decorum of all ordinary parties.
The gentlemen and ladies, buoyed by the abundant liquid courage, became quite intimate, so to speak, and entertained themselves in every way imaginable.
And there she was, Caroline Lamb, in a bumpy carriage, on her way to yet another private party for Lord Byron. The guests were first ushered into a grand room, with unlimited food and drinks, so they could mingle and converse.
There were familiar faces and others Caro had never seen before. "No doubt some young talent from elsewhere," she thought. For some reason, she felt more anxious today than at the other gatherings, perhaps because the main reason for her visit, Byron himself, had not yet made an appearance.
The hours passed, and she still couldn't distinguish Byron from the rest of the attendees. In her anxiety, she might have consumed a glass or two more than usual. Her vision was beginning to blur when she finally heard the voice of the party host, who was staggering toward her accompanied by a tall young man.
— And this, my apologies, dearest Caro, for my absence, is our ladysheep Caroline Lamb.
“Not a very creative pun, he's probably drunk already," she concluded.
Byron introduced her to the young man who said he was an army lieutenant. In fact, she had noticed that many of the attendees were young men in uniform, perhaps recently decorated for their service in the war against Napoleon.
As soon as he finished greeting her, he withdrew to another circle, leaving her alone with the young lieutenant. He, in his own way, was not entirely unpleasant. His appearance was well-groomed, and his manners were appropriate for someone of his rank. Caro barely noticed that she was being led by the hand to a more distant part of the room.
The young lieutenant kissed her hand, and she blushed. He smiled and took her face in his hands, moving in close to kiss her. Taken aback, Caro pushed him away, but he was soon on top of her again. She managed to scream "no" before he kissed her.
What happened next was very fast.
A shove from massive hands pushed the young lieutenant away from her with such tremendous force that he fell to the ground.
She looked at her rescuer and immediately recognized him. It was the war hero Duke of Wellington, a close friend of her William.
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, was a tall man with thinning brown hair, already showing some grey. His posture was assured and his expression impeccable, which immediately frightened the young lieutenant. However, his eyes held an assuring calm as he looked at her.
—Lady Caroline.
He greeted her with a bow.
—I apologize on behalf of my corps. I'm sure everyone should already be home with their wives, but the evening's celebrations have drawn them here.
Indeed, the English troops had just returned from yet another victory over Napoleon's army.
—And you, Sir, were also drawn here, or are you here to care for your men? Like a good shepherd?
The irony of her words wasn't lost on him, and Caro, now much calmer, was pleased with the small smile he gave her.
What she really wanted to know was whether his presence there had not been ordered by William, whom she knew was always concerned about her adventures, but who never showed it directly to her.
What Caro didn't know was that Wellington had been watching her since she arrived. He'd seen her drink more than was expected of a young lady and had also noticed her anxiety and how she searched for the party's host without finding him.
He had known her through William Lamb, his political colleague, and also through many stories he'd heard among his circle of friends.
"Unfortunately..." he had thought, "what Caroline Lamb has in beauty, she lacks in social graces."
But she was still a creature who intrigued all men. He thought William was both lucky and unlucky in this regard of marriage, unlike him, who only attracted the latter fortune.
—I'm sure you, respectable as you are Sir, shouldn't be present at this time and place, where everything happens and no one notices the next day.
—Indeed...
He returned with his serious expression. After a few minutes of silence, he continued.
—Indeed, this is an event that attracts diverse social classes and also where we can... strip ourselves... of our convictions and prejudices. A place where we can find a little of what we lack in our daily lives.
Caroline thought she saw some colour in his cheeks.
"Interesting," she concluded, wondering if they both shared the same marriage difficulties in their homes.
—Yes Sir, no one happily married would come to a place like this.
She tried.
For a moment, their eyes met in the moonlight, and a curious thought passed through them both.
He hesitated for another moment, then took her delicate little hand in his, and they walked like that to the door of a room further off the great hall.
He opened the door for her and bowed again, waiting for her reaction.
Caroline gave a small, embarrassed laugh and entered the moonlit room through an open window, hearing him close the door slowly behind her.
When she opened her eyes a few hours later, Wellington was sitting in an armchair next to the large bed where she lay.
He wasn't looking directly at her, lost in thought.
A strange feeling came over her, making her look around quickly for her clothes, scattered across the bedroom floor.
He finally noticed her movement.
—My Lady...
He began.
—Please don't say anything to William. He knows I'm coming here, but he doesn't know the details...
—Yes, I understand.
Wellington replied, surprising her. He also didn't want his own wife to know what he was doing in a place like that.
—Indeed, Lady Lamb, there's no reason for me to judge you, since I also don’t have a happy home to return to. I was merely considering how to proceed next.
He spoke with the formality of a true army man.
“How boring.”
She thought, suddenly.
—Next?
Caro was confused. Did he intend to meet her again? Did he intend to become her lover? She'd only shown interest in him tonight. Not that he wasn't a pleasant lover. They'd certainly had a pleasant evening, between carnal encounters and conversations about battle memories. But she didn't think they would be interesting to each other in the long run.
There were truly only two men to whom she would give her heart. And they both had a truly...superior…intellect and conversation...
The confusion in her eyes made him realize what he might have implied.
—No, my lady, I meant how I should remove you from this place. As you are a relative of my friend, I have a duty to protect you until you are safely returned to your residence. I am sure William...would do the same...in my place.
“Ah, the hypocrisy of male protection...”
Caroline was intrigued. She had even considered hiding this encounter from William, so as not to hurt his feelings. She then wondered if she was finally becoming the woman her mother-in-law had idealized, and this made her feel deeply disgusted.
Suddenly, she had one of her ideas.
—Has Your Grace ever heard the story of one Charles Hare?
It was common knowledge throughout English society that Lady Caroline Lamb had a habit of dressing in a peculiarly masculine manner, for reasons known only to her.
There wasn't much else she could do to surprise anyone. That's what everyone thought.
Until she was spotted returning to the Lambs' residence in attempted disguise under none other than the military coat of the war hero Duke of Wellington himself!
It was all over the newspapers the next day.
THE END