Florence Nightingale Page #2

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One frequent guest was Sidney Herbert,

a rising star in Parliament.

He sympathised with my hopes and dreams.

ln years to come,

l would often turn to him for help.

Back then, though, my thoughts

were all taken up with matters of the heart.

Yes, l read that speech of yours, Sidney.

Exciting stuff.

Might there not be a case for compromise?

- After all, the Ottoman Empire...

- What's your point, sir?

My point is that the ''sick man of Europe''

may be past curing.

lsn't the real point that the Czar is a brutal tyrant,

and we have to stand up to tyranny

wherever we find it?

Even at home!

(Scoffs)

Quite so.

Nicely put.

l do believe we're in a drift to war.

l was talking to Palmerston

the other day at our club about it.

He's full bore at facing down the Russkis.

- A bit behind time but...

- What's that?

Young Monckton-Milnes.

He's become quite a regular visitor.

Useful, actually.

You can set your watch by him.

He's not that young.

He's practically middle-aged.

Do you know what happened

on this day five years ago?

No. Should l?

We'd all been invited to the Bonham Carters.

Your sister recited a poem.

You played the piano.

Something new by Mr Chopin.

- Badly, l'm sure.

- Yes, rather badly, l'm afraid.

And because of my poor performance,

that day must go down in history?

Oh, dear.

No.

On that day we talked for the first time -

really talked, l mean.

And you said something l've never forgotten -

that if only people knew what a young girl

is thinking while she is playing the piano,

or busy embroidering. Do you remember?

lf only people knew she was actually imagining

extraordinary adventures.

With someone by her side

whom she had chosen

as her loving and loved companion in life.

Yes. lt's true.

l did say that.

Florence...

..you must know by now

that everything you believe in,

everything you hold dear,

l do too.

- Richard, l...

- Look at me.

Please.

Do you think today...the two of them, perhaps?

Well? Florence?

Nothing.

What do you mean, nothing?

He proposed.

l said no.

Florence!

No. Wait!

Do you realise what you've done?

Yes.

Saved myself from a life of slavery!

Oh, my goodness, Florence, how could you?

l just couldn't. ls that so hard to believe?

You have kept that man dangling for five years!

He understood, he understood perfectly.

Better than you.

You did the same thing with the Nicholson boy

and now our families rarely speak

to one another!

- Would you kindly excuse me, please.

- Look at this!

Look at it!

Can any reasonable person want all this?

The linen! The china! The 56 pots of jam!

Well, if one is to entertain properly...

And to be treated like a piece of furniture,

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