The Making of a Lady

Mrs Park. Oh.

Oh, Miss Fox Seton, I didn't see you

there.

I just wanted to say it's my day with

Lady Maria. I'll get the money from her.

She owes me for four weeks.

We'll want flowers in the hall, a

pre-dinner quartet...

Actually, no. No, we don't need

them. It's an unnecessary expense.

On the subject of expenses, I was...

My nephew is an unattached marquis.

People will come, music or not.

Emily...

Oh. Let me organise tea.

My dear, how kind you are!

You met her the last time you were

back from India. Oh, I remember.

She turns her hand to everything.

I'm thinking of taking her on as my

secretary, a permanent position.

Well, what would she do exactly?

She could write my letters, organise

my diary...

Ah, Miss Fox Seton. How nice to see

you again!

How long are you on leave from the

army this time, Lord Walderhurst?

For good, I hope. I'm getting too old

for these sorties abroad.

Where's the list for the dinner

party, Emily?

The most interesting girl's at the

top. Annabelle Rivers.

American. Money.

Yes. Um...

What about Agatha Slade?

I didn't even know you'd met her. I saw a

portrait of her at the National Portrait Gallery.

Pfft! Well...

I saw that too.

She's very fine.

Isn't she?

Well, they are a good family.

I suppose we ought to get an invitation

to them straightaway. I'll go now.

They live in Chelsea.

It's rather a long way.

Oh, Emily doesn't mind.

Do you, dear?

I'd be delighted.

Well? Has she paid you?

No. I don't know what I'm going to

say to Mrs Park.

You've got to ask the old lady

outright.

People take advantage of you.

She's thinking of taking me on.

A proper position, as her secretary.

I'd get a steady wage.

Oh, miss!

You wouldn't have to worry then.

That's wonderful.

Jane?

What is it?

Would you live in her house, then?

Maybe. Why?

Mrs Park's selling up.

I was hoping we could look for

somewhere together. Selling up?

With the money I make, I won't find

somewhere respectable like this.

Oh, Jane... When does she want us

out?

Soon. That's the thing.

You've got your Lady Maria.

You're all right.

I need two more quail from Lasker's

and Pond's cream from the pharmacy

oh, and as you're there, there's a

prescription to be picked up on my account.

I need it to be delivered to this

address.

It's all right. It's all right.

I'm looking for Captain Osborn.

Thank you.

We have a house in Manhattan, but it

bakes in the summer,

so we go to Newport, Rhode Island.

I'm very sorry.

Dinner is ready, Lady Maria.

Emily, this is Agatha Slade. Agatha's

mother is indisposed,

so you'll take her place at dinner.

Me?

Good evening.

My nephew, Lord Walderhurst.

The placement cards are in the

bureau, Emily.

Write yourself one.

And...

Smarten you up.

Miss Rivers, tell me about Rhode

Island at this time of year.

Oh, it's quite beautiful.

Is it? Is it? The weather...

Miss Fox Seton...

Oh, Lord Walderhurst!

I er...

I can't bear the American girl.

Please, er... help me change the

names.

Quickly.

Thank you.

Oh.

Ah. Let me help you.

Are you enjoying the season?

The dresses are fun, and I like some

of the dances,

but the people are so boring and old.

Sir, I didn't mean you.

Oh, don't worry, Miss Slade. I know

exactly what you meant.

The Slade child's insipid!

She's just... very young.

Unlike the Rivers girl. If you'd sat next to

her at dinner, you might have seen her charm.

I don't like the girl, and I'm not

going to marry her.

Well, one of the others, then. Who

cares who it is?

It's your duty to marry again and get

an heir.

Thank you for this evening, Aunt.

Good night.

Walderhurst!

What possessed you to change the placement? You

should have come to discuss it with me first.

I'm so sorry.

I'm going to employ a permanent

secretary.

Full-time.

So I won't need you any more.

Your wage.

Oh, and Emily...

My shawl.

Miss Fox Seton, I'm sorry about

dropping you into the middle of that.

How are you getting home?

Walking.

Let me accompany you.

How long have you lived here?

Since I came to London.

The woman I lodge with is a kind,

respectable person,

as are many of her neighbours.

My aunt says that you have well-placed

relations in Yorkshire, an aunt and uncle.

Yes. So...

My aunt and uncle have a great deal

of children.

They helped me with my education, but

they were unable to do more.

And your parents?

My father was an engineer.

Not grand or rich, but... my mother

fell in love with him.

Her family cut her off.

He was killed in an accident in a

factory. She died two years later.

I'm sorry.

I was very young when it happened.

I rather envy you.

No family or ties, responsible to

nobody, properly independent.

What's so amusing?

Believe me, independence can be

wearing.

You do not have to accompany me any

further.

I'm sorry. I have offended you.

No. I'm...

I'm just fatigued.

There's someone to see you!

Your situation is difficult, and so

is mine.

As you know, I have to marry for the

sake of the family.

Now, I need a sensible woman, intelligent enough

to understand what marriage to me would require.

Someone who gains mutual benefit from

the arrangement.

You'll find a wife, Lord

Walderhurst,

someone who you properly esteem.

Will you marry me?

Don't tease me. Please.

No, I... I've been thinking about

this all night.

You know what I need from this marriage,

not like with these other girls.

You're pragmatic, you would require

little from me.

I'm not a difficult man.

A little stuck in my ways, maybe, but

not demanding or cruel

or even unpleasant, I don't believe.

I'd leave you alone. You'd have wealth

and you'd have true independence.

No.

Here.

I'm...

If I may say...

what are your options?

It wouldn't be right.

Why not?

I always imagined that I'd marry for

love.

Love is all very good.

What about security?

Oh!

The roads are bad around here.

How far is the house from the nearest

village?

Ten miles. We're rather isolated.

You don't mind, do you?

Oh, no.

This is Polstrey.

When I've been away and I come back

like this,

it feels like time has stood still.

This is my butler, Mr Litton,

and my housekeeper, Mrs Litton.

Miss Fox Seton is to be your new

mistress.

I'm sure you'll make her very

welcome.

Ma'am.

Your Ladyship.

With this ring, I thee wed.

With my body, I thee worship,

and with all my worldly goods, I thee

endow.

Thank you very much.

Who are they? My cousin, Captain

Osborn, and his new wife.

Your aunt asked me to deliver

medicine to him.

So this is Polstrey's new mistress.

Congratulations.

Hello, Alec. Mrs Osborn.

Please call me Hester. I hear you've

been an exceptional nurse.

You've been ill, Captain Osborn?

Malaria.

It's passed.

Well, congratulations again, sir.

You didn't tell me you'd invited

them.

You didn't tell me you'd paid for

his medicine. I did too.

Alec could bleed a stone dry.

Was Captain Osborn in the regiment?

All the men in the family join the

regiment.

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