Lord Thomas.
Lord Henry.
Lord Ambrose.
Lord Robert.
Lord Walter.
You'd better not let me down,
Charles Grey.
- I've got 20 guineas riding on you.
- Only 20? I'd double that if I were you.
Come on, ladies.
Gentlemen, twice around the course,
on my count.
Three, two,
one!
- Come on, Mr. Grey!
- Come on, Thomas!
- Come on, Mr. Grey!
- Run, Lord Walter!
Come on, Mr. Grey!
Come on, Mr. Grey.
You're tired already.
- Come on, Mr. Grey!
- Faster!
I trust Your Grace still finds Georgiana
an attractive girl?
Of course, Lady Spencer.
She's an accomplished lady of quality
and devoted to her duties.
She's fluent in French, Italian, Latin
and fully versed in horsemanship
and dancing and...
Yes, I'm aware of all that.
She's a credit to you.
I can't think of anything
that would stand in the way
of a singularly happy marriage.
These are not the issues
that burden the Duke, Lady Spencer.
It is His Grace's duty to produce an heir.
On the other hand,
your daughter may expect
a handsome reward when that occurs.
- Thank you, Heaton.
- Your Grace.
Your Grace may rest assured.
The women in our family
have never forfeited on that account.
Well, with that assurance...
So be it, then.
Come on, Mr. Grey!
I do apologize, ladies,
but it appears that my horse has won.
Beat me again, Charles.
- Well done, Mr. Grey.
- Well done.
- So how much do we owe you?
- You owe me 40.
- Twenty, 40.
- My reward?
And what do you suggest?
Your mother wishes to see you,
Lady Georgiana.
Thank you.
I must apologize, Mama.
Were we making too much noise?
Not at all, my darling.
We have more important things
to talk of. Come here.
- I have heard a rumor.
- Yes?
That I will soon be addressing
my daughter
as Her Grace,
the Duchess of Devonshire.
- Is it true, Mama?
- It is.
The Duke of Devonshire?
I had hoped not to part with you
until 18 at the soonest,
but, with such a fine match,
it would be selfish of me
not to let you go.
- He loves me?
- Yes, of course.
I have only met him twice.
When one truly loves someone,
one doesn't have to know them well
to be sure, Georgiana.
One feels it right away.
- I do believe you will be happy with him.
- I shall, Mama. I know I shall.
- Come on!
- She's here!
Your Grace! Your Grace!
- There she is!
- Duchess!
What do they want?
To see me and my new wife, of course.
It can be a nuisance,
but you'll get used to it.
Welcome, Your Grace.
Come, boys. Come on.
Hugo, Hugo. Come.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
It's all right. Yes, yes. This way.
Hugo. Come, boy. Come.
Scissors. You may go.
For the life of me,
I could never understand
why women's clothes
must be so damn complicated.
It's just our way
of expressing ourselves, I suppose.
Whatever do you mean?
Well, you have so many ways
of expressing yourselves,
whereas we must make do
with our hats and our dresses.
Would you go to the bed?
One has to accept one's responsibility.
Certain obligations come with marriage,
no matter how burdensome
they may seem.
Yes, but when we are together...
But when we are together, intimately,
I mean...
I know. It can be a bother.
However, it is only
until you have given him a son.
Then the occasions will become fewer
and less determined.
I think it might feel different
if he would talk to me
every once in a while.
I mean, it's not that he's unkind,
but he never talks to me.
I thought that he would be like Papa,
that under his cool reserve
there'd be a wealth of depth
and sentiment,
but he isn't interested in anything,
apart from his dogs.
Try not to be too hard on His Grace, G.
He's merely intent on fulfilling his duty.
And as for talking to him,
well, whatever is there to talk about?
No, you're quite right.
How foolish of me to think
that I should be able to converse
with my husband.
Georgiana, equip yourself with patience,
fortitude and resignation.
A boy will come soon enough,
and then you'll see.
But we, the Whig Party, simply see this
as just, right and sensible.
Just to bring independence to America.
Right to abolish the slave trade.
And sensible to bring freedom
to the common man,
so the blessings of this blessed plot,
this England,
may be more equally enjoyed
by all of its inhabitants.
I would like to propose a toast
to our host and benefactor
His Grace the Duke
and his beautiful new Duchess.
Please be upstanding.
- The Duke and Duchess!
- The Duke and Duchess!
Excellent speech, Mr. Fox.
I thank you. It is always easier
to address a congregation of friends,
particularly when those friends
are drunk.
And how did the Duchess find
Mr. Fox's speech?
I must confess, I am not yet at ease
with political speeches.
Their very form tends to obstruct
my view of their actual meaning,
if such there be.
In which particular section
of the speech
did the message elude Your Grace?
Well, I have great sympathy
with your sentiments in general,
but I fail to fully comprehend
how far we, the Whig Party, that is,
are fully committed
to the concept of freedom.
- We intend to extend the vote.
- To all men?
Heavens, no. But certainly to more men.
Freedom in moderation.
- "Freedom in moderation"?
- Precisely.
I'm sure you are
full of the best intentions, Mr. Fox,
but I dare say
I would not spend my vote,
if I had it, of course,
on so vague a statement.
One is either free or one is not.
The concept of freedom is an absolute.
After all,
one cannot be moderately dead
or moderately loved or moderately free.
It must always remain
a matter of either or.
I think it appropriate to say a few words.
When...
Could you check the chamber
- and see if you can find...
- Your Grace.
...different kinds of French lace?
- Is anything the matter?
- No.
- You just left.
- Yes. Well, I had done eating,
and those damn speeches
bore me to distraction.
I think we have to ban them
in the future.
But you are the Whigs' main supporter.
Yes. Well,
I've no problem with the politics.
It's just the rhetoric I can't stand.
- Shall I come with you?
- No. I mean, why ever should you?
The Duke is perfectly well.
He simply wanted to rest a while.
Do sit down, gentlemen.
Was it the length of the speech
that got the better of the Duke?
Certainly not.
He enjoyed it immensely
and expressed a hope
that next time it would be even longer.
- Your Grace.
- Mr. Fox.
- What's going on?
- Nothing to concern you.
- I don't understand.
- Come here.
You look very beautiful tonight.
Is this dress your design?
Yes, it is. Thank you.
Then I think you should allow
your husband to appreciate it
in a little more detail.
Come here.
- Yes, send them in.
- Are we having company?
Don't you think
this mutton has a funny taste?
- No. Not really, no.
- I think it does.
G, this is Charlotte,
and she will be staying with us.
Why?
Because her mother is dead,
and she has no other place to go.
Have you fathered that child?
It's... It's only a little girl, G.
It's hardly the end of the world.
- Are you expecting me to look after her?
- We have a house full of vacant rooms.
She needn't bother you.
In fact, she may even be of use to you.
You can practice your mothering skills,
until our son arrives.
No, this doesn't taste
like normal mutton.
I'm sure there is something the matter
with it. Could you take it away?
Does it taste like normal mutton?
Does it taste like normal mutton?
Come here.
Think it tastes like normal mutton,
fussy dog?
Who's a fussy mutton dog?
Does your doll have a name?
I bet you
she loves being in her new bedroom.
You'll have to think of a name
and let me know tomorrow.
Do you think
you'll be able to do that, Charlotte?
I...
- Would you leave us, please?
- Your Grace.
Hello, Charlotte.
My name is Georgiana.
- Good evening.
- Thank you.
Good evening, ladies.
An inch more and I do believe
Your Grace will explode.
Sheridan always knows
how to pay a compliment.
Still a few more weeks to wait.
A huge belly has never been
more becoming on anyone.
Well, Fox, here, offers an expert opinion
seeing, as he does, a giant belly
every time he passes a mirror.
If your belly were on a woman, well,
we'd all know what to think.
My dear Sheridan,
an hour ago my belly was on a woman.
Now what do you think?
That will teach you to insult Mr. Fox
before the gaming has begun.
It's very good.
No more bets, please.
Seven.
Her Grace wins again.
Another wager?
- Are you all right, Your Grace?
- Your Grace!
Are those labor pains?
My wife is in labor.
Come along.
I think this calls for a toast.
I may have an heir
before the night is out.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you the sixth Duke of Devonshire.
The sixth Duke of Devonshire!
- Your Grace.
- I am in no mood for a conversation.
But, pray tell me, is my daughter...
Is your daughter at all able
to give me a son?
Take heart, Your Grace.
As long as the mother is in good health,
consider this mishap a draft,
a promise of what is soon to come.
- In our family, we...
- Yes, I know, in your family,
in your family.
Your Grace.
Can you see the light? Can you see it?
- Darling, how are you?
- Quite well.
- Is she strong and healthy?
- She's perfect.
- Did William receive you?
- Yes.
Is he upset that she's not a son?
He just glanced at her and then left.
I've hardly seen him since.
It's been a difficult time for His Grace,
my dear.
Many eyes are upon him
and not all of them kind.
She is the loveliest.
- Nurse?
- No, I will feed her.
- Are you sure, darling?
- Yes.
I am her mother, after all,
even if she is only a girl.
There.
Hell and damnation!
It is always a pleasure
when one is on holiday
to request a few words of wisdom.
And so without further ado,
it is a great honor to hand over
to our most distinguished guest.
When she arrives,
all eyes are upon her.
When absent, she is the subject
of universal conversation.
And what we see her wearing tonight,
I look forward to seeing
the rest of you wearing tomorrow!
The empress of fashion herself,
the Duchess of Devonshire.
We come away to Bath
to get away from London,
and all of London
has come away to Bath.
Somebody did indeed ask me
what kind of feather it is
that I'm wearing.
Well, there are only two specimens
of this rare bird known to man.
One of them has clearly ended up
on top of my head.
And the other, rumor has it,
is running for office in the Tory Party.
Bess Foster.
Excuse me.
- I don't believe we've been introduced.
- No, we haven't. Lady Elizabeth Foster.
- I saw you talking with my husband.
- Yes. He wanted to dance.
That's not usually considered his forte.
And you declined?
I'm ill at ease with male company
for the moment.
Thank you.
So what brings you to Bath?
My husband, Mr. Foster,
is enjoying his mistress in Bournemouth
and I wanted some diversion. And you?
The Duke is taking the waters
for his gout.
- And I for my health.
- Really?
I heard you were here
because you could not conceive a son.
I beg your pardon,
that was an awful thing to say.
It was the truth, at least.
Trust me to say something silly.
I always do, you know.
Then perhaps you should
have accepted the Duke's offer.
You have much in common.
Home, I think, Georgiana.
- Where are you staying?
- I've rented some rooms in town.
- We must meet again.
- We must.
Harryo. Come here. Come here.
Did that hurt?
- Mama.
- My angel.
Are you sore? Was that sore?
Let me have a look. Was it this knee?
I think you shall live.
Right. First to the bridge on my count.
One, two, three. Go.
Come on, Harryo.
- No, I'm gonna catch her!
- I'm gonna catch you!
Up and down. Up and down.
Why can't we recover like that?
It's too far to fall now.
- Hello again.
- Hello. Your girls are lovely.
- Thank you. Do you have any children?
- I do. Three boys.
Three boys.
What the Duke wouldn't give
for one of them.
- She is least like you, your eldest.
- Yes. I'm sure you know the story.
My husband's daughter was born
before we married.
Her mother was a maid.
The maid died, and we took the child.
- I'm sorry. Have I spoken out of turn?
- No.
It's the worst-kept secret in London.
She's nine years old now.
And you love her?
Of course I do.
The same as all my children.
Come and meet them.
Girls. Come and meet my new friend,
Lady Elizabeth.
- Your Grace.
- Thank you. Thermal water.
It's the sulfur
that makes it smell so bad.
- And you really have to drink it?
- Twice a day for four weeks.
Do you have any reason to believe
you cannot birth a male?
No. Except miscarriages.
Two stillbirths, both sons.
But two healthy girls.
Everybody is staring at you.
What's that on your neck? Bess?
It's not illegal for a man
to beat his wife with a stick
unless the stick is thicker
than his thumb.
Mr. Foster? But he can't have done that!
Well, considering what else
he's done to me, that's not the worst.
What could possibly be worse?
He's taken my children.
He won't let me see them.
- And what do you propose to do?
- Really, I'm at my wits' end.
The law supports Mr. Foster.
In the meantime, where shall you stay?
Continue lodging,
till the money runs out.
Well, there, at least, I think I can help.
William? We leave tomorrow.
And Lady Elizabeth doesn't have
to meet her parents on the continent
for some time.
- She hardly ever visits London at all.
- It's a pity, that.
You see,
she doesn't have anywhere to stay.
Problem there.
Well, why doesn't she stay with us?
For a while, at least.
Thank you.
- This is incredible.
- There's the castle in Ireland.
Bolton Abbey, Chiswick, Burlington
and, why, in Chatsworth, of course.
- Of course.
- Which is much bigger.
But this is more like home.
I'm so glad you're here.
I've arranged a wonderful start
to the season.
May all the plagues of marriage
be doubled on me
if ever I try to be friends
with you anymore!
So much the better.
No, no, madam.
'Tis evident you care not a pin for me!
And I, I was a madman to marry you.
And I'm sure I was a fool to marry you,
an old dangling bachelor
who was single at 50
only because he never could meet
with anyone who could have him!
Bess, may I introduce Mr. Fox,
leader of the Opposition?
- Mr. Fox, Lady Elizabeth Foster.
- Mr. Fox.
- My protg, Charles Grey.
- Mr. Grey.
- Mr. Grey.
- Your Grace.
He's our newest bright young man.
Scarcely out of Cambridge
and already a member of Parliament.
- I always felt you'd do well.
- Thank you.
- Mr. Fox.
- Yes, Lady Elizabeth.
- Did you enjoy the play?
- I must confess, I did not entirely.
I hope that you've not lost
your sense of humor
- since entering politics.
- Not that I'm aware.
Then I'm sure you realize
that School for Scandal
- was written as a comedy.
- Yes.
Although, from where I sat,
it read as a tragedy.
Your Grace! How we have missed you.
In your absence,
London has been reduced
to the dreariest province.
And this, of course,
is the playwright Mr. Sheridan.
May I present
the Lady Elizabeth Foster?
I do not mean to be rude,
but I've an entire cast
dying to meet the Duchess.
I shall return you in a moment. Promise.
- Mr. Fox?
- Yes.
A word.
Well, wherever do I glean
such domestic gossip?
- Were we fair on the Duke?
- It could have been worse.
My original title was The Bad Marriage.
Is it always like this?
Well, as they say,
the Duke of Devonshire
must be the only man in England
not in love with his wife.
- Her Grace, the Duchess of Devonshire.
- Very pleased to meet you.
Were you at all able to forget things
and enjoy yourself?
It was a wonderful distraction,
thank you.
Good.
- I talked to Mr. Grey all evening.
- Yes?
He's in love with you.
My dear Bess, no, he is not.
Quite the reverse, I fear.
Well, can't you tell
by the way he looks at you?
- Honestly, can't you tell?
- Stop it.
Georgiana,
intercourse is not just about offspring.
- In fact, it can be rather pleasurable.
- Yes, I know.
Close your eyes
and try to envisage Grey
opening your dress, kissing your back.
- They never do such things.
- Yes, they do.
Close your eyes.
Grey is behind you
slowly opening your dress.
- No, Bess, stop!
- Close your eyes.
Kissing your back.
There.
See?
- Would you excuse me for a minute?
- You must excuse me, gentlemen.
- Your Grace.
- Mr. Grey.
The national election
is in six weeks, yes?
How is the campaign going?
Terribly.
Our only hope
is to save Westminster for Fox.
I have many faults, as you well know.
Not least among them
is my ability to draw attention.
Perhaps we could use that
to our advantage.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you the man
who will inform us
of the work we must do
and of the party we so believe in.
Mr. Charles Grey.
Good people of Westminster!
The world is on the brink of disaster
or salvation!
From France to America,
men and women are struggling
to free themselves,
to find meaning in their existence!
Change is upon us!
We shall not go back to the old ways.
We shall take England
into this brave new world
and shake the thunder from the skies!
- How did I do?
- I think it was not an embarrassment.
It was a marvel.
I was nervous. Your presence
trebled the numbers at least.
I'm nervous even now.
If we win this election,
if we get the power,
think what we will do.
Do you think of me
when we're not together?
You ought to know I do.
- You hesitated before you replied.
- No.
I'm unused to being asked so directly.
And by you, of all people.
I think of you all the time. I always have.
- Your carriage awaits, Your Grace.
- Thank you.
...this we vow!
What are you doing outside
Lady Elizabeth's room?
Who's in there with her?
Of all the women in England
you had to throw yourself on her.
I have never once objected
to any of your affairs.
I have accepted whatever arrangement
you have proposed.
I have raised Charlotte
as my own daughter.
But this...
I have one single thing of my own.
Why couldn't you let me keep Elizabeth
for myself?
What kind of man are you?
She is my sole comfort in our marriage.
You have robbed me of my only friend!
What is wrong with me?
I...
I've never claimed
to be a man of fine sensibility, G.
But I've always known
what I expect from this marriage
and what I'm prepared to give.
As a husband,
I have fulfilled my obligations.
But, as a wife,
you have not.
She has to go. Now.
She is never to set foot
in this house again!
Do mind your temper, G.
You're forgetting yourself.
I want her out.
I never want to lay eyes on her again.
Go down and tell her to leave at once.
I couldn't ask her that.
I won't do it, G.
- I never liked her from the first.
- You made that quite clear, Mama.
She's gone from Devonshire House,
I hope.
They're living there together?
Georgiana!
What have you permitted to happen?
I don't know. I don't know.
Help me. Help me, please, Mama.
Tell me what to do.
You must write to your husband
and insist he send her back
to whatever horrid little place
she came from.
He will not.
"It is out of the question," he says.
Then you must return
and resume your duties.
Make him realize whom he loves.
You will give up your politics
and your gambling.
For once,
you will devote yourself as a loving wife
and settle down to the task in hand,
providing him with an heir.
Then he will soon tire of her.
You have no other option.
Hello, G.
William.
I may not have the authority
to remove you from my house,
but I can, at least,
order you out of my room.
Won't you please let me explain?
There is nothing to explain.
This is my only chance
of ever seeing my children again.
The Duke is the most powerful peer
in England.
He is my only chance.
There are limits to the sacrifices
one makes for one's children.
No, there aren't. No limits whatsoever.
Get out.
We have nothing more
to say to one another.
Mama, Mama!
It's so nice to see you, Mama.
Right, this is a shotgun.
Your mother said
you'd be interested, yes?
Yes.
This is a flint. Do you see?
When the flint hits there,
it causes a spark to happen.
Now, the spark, it lights the gunpowder
and sends the bullet out of the gun.
- Do you know how to hold it?
- No, sir.
Well, it's like that.
Tuck it in there, into your right shoulder.
Hold it firmly, then you can move
that hand a little further along.
Can you feel how heavy it is?
You have to lean into it a bit.
And keep both eyes open.
Look right along the barrel.
Right along there just like that.
Bang! Here, let me show you.
There.
It's quite heavy, isn't it?
Are you thirsty?
Would you like something to drink?
Are you gentlemen thirsty?
Would you like something to drink?
Thank you.
Did you tell the Duke
who you were meeting?
No.
- Did he even ask?
- No.
He has other things on his mind.
As do you.
Would it help to unburden yourself?
It's nothing I can discuss with you.
Besides, it would only bore.
You don't have to please others
all the time.
It's what I've been brought up to do.
Difficult lesson to unlearn.
Would you permit me an observation?
I believe you do it
so that people will love you.
- What makes you say that?
- From what I've seen.
With your husband, your friends,
especially Lady Bess,
even the public.
I never thought of it that way before.
You make me sound so pitiable.
Georgiana.
I've gone beyond my brief. I apologize.
Please believe
it was only for your sake that I spoke.
Please, tell me what is wrong.
I fear I've done
some things in life too late
and others too early.
No, you haven't.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
All right.
"All right"?
Do you love each other?
- Georgiana...
- Do you love Bess, Your Grace?
- Where is all this leading?
- I make no demands on him.
- And, Bess, do you love my husband?
- As I do you.
And so you intend to stay?
William has asked that I do.
You couldn't find it in your heart
to refuse him?
No.
Then let us make a deal.
- A deal?
- Yes.
I give you my blessing
if you will accept my feelings
for Charles Grey.
I didn't realize it at first.
I thought that perhaps
it was only a dalliance.
It can make me happy.
A deal? A deal.
I don't make deals.
Why would I?
I'm in charge of it all.
You know, I would call him out.
I would challenge him.
- I'd put a bullet in his head.
- William.
Be quiet. Are you determined
to make me a total laughingstock?
A man who cannot sire a son,
and then a cuckold?
William. Georgiana only asks
what we ourselves...
Be quiet, woman!
- Are you his whore?
- No.
But I can't see why you'd mind.
- You have Bess and three boys!
- Three boys?
Do you think
I can make those bastards my heirs?
Well? Do you?
William!
You don't know me in the least, do you?
Yes, I do. We're a bad match.
I asked but two things when we wed,
loyalty and a male heir.
The same as your dogs!
No, don't touch me! Don't touch me!
Get off!
Get off me!
Is this how you treat her?
Is this how you treat your whore?
No! No!
No! No! No!
No!
Come with me.
Charlotte, come with me.
No! No!
Give me a son.
Until then, stay here and do as I say.
I give you the winner.
Mr. Fox, the man of the people!
And I give you the weapon,
the Duchess of Devonshire.
Thank you.
Thank you, all of you,
for this reception today.
Today we have won the vote.
Tomorrow we define the future!
- Your Grace.
- Your Grace.
- Your Grace.
- Your Grace.
Your Grace.
- Your Grace.
- Your Grace.
Will Your Grace give me
the favor of a dance?
Steady, G.
- Fire!
- Georgiana!
Your Grace!
Her Grace's hair!
Do something!
Please put out Her Grace's hair.
Her Grace needs to rest.
As long as she follows
strict instructions
there should be no impediment
to the birth.
What are you talking about?
The Duchess is pregnant.
And there.
Thank you, Heaton.
Come.
Your Grace.
As per the terms of
His Grace's inheritance, this is for you
to spend as you wish.
Success at last.
Georgiana.
I, too, abhor this whole thing.
Twist or stick?
- Stick.
- Stick?
I'll stick, too, then.
Let's see.
You won. Well done.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Mama, you forgot to deal.
- Your Grace.
- Mr. Grey.
- You are recalled from France?
- For a while.
No revolution yet?
No, not yet,
but it's only a matter of time.
- How is it you are here?
- I received an invitation.
I assumed it was on behalf of the Party.
I could not say no.
Of course.
I bore a son.
Yes.
His name is
William George Spencer Cavendish,
Marquis of Hartington.
We call him Hart.
You and the Duke must be very pleased.
We are.
The Duke has gone to London
to celebrate.
You have been missed.
Much missed.
- Ten on the Queen.
- Four on five.
And no more bets, please.
The losing card, four.
The winning card, Queen.
Jolly good. Eight on the three.
Put five on the five.
All of the fives have gone, G.
I think I'm too tired to play.
- Gentlemen.
- Your Grace.
Georgiana.
No one must know.
- You summoned Grey.
- Good night.
I was thinking about going to Bath.
Bess, you can stay here and look after
our husband whilst I take the cure.
Yes, William. Why not?
If G goes now, we can catch up with her
when you're free.
Well, if you must.
"The Duchess of Devonshire appeared
last week in Bath in a mobcap.
"Her Grace, ever since initiation
into the business of electioneering,
"has been much attached to the mobs. "
Very good.
So which one is your favorite?
- This one.
- Yeah.
In this one it seems
you've hit a winning streak, for once.
Very good.
And in this one you see...
Is that dress really an appropriate way
to attract voters?
You politicians know absolutely nothing
about fashion.
But if you were to really ask me
which my favorite was,
I'd say it was this one.
- Morning, Charles.
- Morning.
Good day to you, sir.
It's perfect. Thank you.
Thought we would surprise you, G.
I think you once said there wasn't
enough spontaneity in our marriage
or words to that effect.
Mama, what are you doing here?
So, have you seen
many of our circle in Bath?
Some.
The Cokes and Haverford
and Lord Wicklow.
Bunch of politicos, too, aren't there?
Meetings and such.
I believe.
Is Grey here?
By which I mean Mr. Charles Grey.
Rumor has it that he is.
- I won't give him up.
- Georgiana.
Everyone has a lover.
Bess is the lover of my husband.
If you had shown some discretion,
- it might have been different.
- Different?
The only good fortune is
it hasn't yet made it to the papers.
My dear, Grey is unmarried.
He has no wealth, no rank.
He risks nothing with this affair.
The hazard is all yours.
- Grey loves me.
- So does William.
Yes. I love you.
How?
In the way I understand love.
Georgiana, this has gone much too far.
It is beneath our dignity.
- All London is talking.
- Let them talk.
If Grey makes me a fallen woman,
well and good.
Now William may divorce me and
Bess becomes Duchess of Devonshire.
That will never happen.
I think I will leave you to it.
What follows now?
Are you going to tear my clothes off
and force yourself upon me again?
Why on earth would I do that?
I know that you've never thought much
of my manners or my intellect, G.
But, in fact, I never do anything
that serves no purpose.
I know precisely
what you two have together.
- We love each other.
- I do not doubt it.
He is a dreamer like yourself,
and you both dream of another world
that does not exist and it never will.
As for reality, allow me to enlighten you.
If you do not give him up at once,
I will see to it
that every home and every checkbook
in this country is closed to him.
He will be welcomed
neither in the halls of government
nor in its backrooms of power.
His dream of becoming prime minister
and your mutual fantasy
of a changed world will be dead as ash.
And you will never
see your children again.
Georgiana.
I must ask you to return to London.
- Without you?
- Yes.
These are from our girls.
Little Hart neglected to write,
but then, of course, he's not yet one.
- This will be the mistake of your life.
- No.
I made that many years ago.
I trust you can see yourself out.
- Damn you, man, open the door!
- Your Grace.
Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama!
Mama, Mama, Mama.
- Come on, girls.
- Mama. I love you.
Girls, run along.
Your mother will join you in a minute.
Come on.
Run along.
G.
You must know
how greatly pleased I am
that we have come to an arrangement.
It's not good for little ones
to be without their mother for so long.
- My life for theirs.
- That's one way of putting it.
Your mother called it "common decency
before personal gratification,"
or some such thing.
The exact words escape me.
How about
"imprisoned in my own house"?
No. That's not how she put it.
I would have remembered that.
Georgiana!
Unhand me!
Georgiana!
Georgiana! Will you please unhand me?
Excuse me.
Georgiana! Please.
Georgiana!
- Thank you, Burleigh.
- Let him go.
I have written a dozen times a day.
Still, there is nothing from you.
What has happened?
Do you love me no longer?
- My personal feelings remain unaltered.
- Then we must be together again.
I want to marry you.
I want you to bear my children.
And I don't care if they're boys or girls!
- I wish it could be that way.
- It can. It will.
Sorrows will come
however we try to avoid them.
We must stay the course
and never give in.
- No, Charles.
- You must leave and be with me.
A free woman. Now! Let us leave now!
I cannot abandon my children.
Listen to what you are asking me to do.
What's the matter?
Don't like the pigeon?
I find it quite decent.
I'm carrying Charles Grey's child.
Please be so kind as to inform
the Duchess of my decision.
This is how it will be.
You will be taken to the country
where you will give birth to the child,
and the child will be trusted
to the care of Charles Grey's family.
Are you listening?
I think she's heard you. Let's leave her.
- Georgiana, please.
- I said let's leave.
This is not a discussion.
She's been informed of my decision.
- Have pity on her, William.
- Pity be damned.
She's brought this upon herself,
as well you know.
- Now come.
- No. I will go with her.
But you're not going anywhere.
I will go with G, if G will have me,
and there's nothing you can do or say
to stop either of us.
- Thank you for coming.
- I couldn't not be with you.
It's time.
- Would it help...
- No, I must take her.
Your Grace, I'm General Grey.
Where's Charles?
Your husband thought it best
if I took care of this.
General Grey.
Her name is Eliza.
Come on.
Come on, G. I've got you. I've got you.
I'm not particularly adept
at expressing myself
when it comes to matters
of a more personal nature.
But I shall try.
Over the years, I have acted in ways
that you have judged to be harsh.
Well, I do not wish for you
to undergo any further suffering.
In fact, I would like our lives
to find a calm normality.
Lady Melbourne has arranged
a small gathering
in honor of your recent return
from holiday.
And given some of the vague reports
that have been circulating this past year
I think it would be wise for us to go.
A show of unity, so to speak.
Who will be there?
Everybody.
As you wish.
How wonderful to be that free.
Come here.
Come here. Little G, come here.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire
and Lady Elizabeth Foster.
- Your Grace.
- It's lovely to see you.
Welcome back, Your Grace.
Excuse me.
- Welcome back.
- Welcome home, Your Grace.
- Welcome back.
- Welcome back, G.
Your presence has been sorely missed.
Would you excuse me?
- Mr. Grey.
- Your Grace.
I trust your tour was enjoyable.
Yes.
We spent the summer in Switzerland
and the winter in Nice.
Well, I speak on behalf of everybody
when I say how glad I am
that you have arrived home safely.
And what news with you?
I'm to be engaged.
To Lady Ponsonby.
The announcement will follow shortly.
Congratulations.
And I have a niece, Eliza,
who is very much loved.
One day you should come
and meet her,
in a little while.
If you would like.
I would like that very much.
Who's going to catch me first?
- Me!
- Quick, girls.
Quick, I'm going to get away!
Come on, girls, keep running.
And I love you, and I love you.