At the same time, because he was not in the least conceited, he hoped it was true.Now as he walked from the Hall into the downstairs Sitting-Room and from there into the book-filled Library, he thought few men could have been as fortunate in life as he had been.He had survived five gruelling years in Portugal and Spain, then in France and finally at Waterloo, without receiving a scratch, when so many of his friends and contemporaries had been killed beside him.Then, because of his outstanding ability not only as a soldier but as a diplomat, he had become essential to the Iron Duke during the Years of Occupation.Looking back on them, they had undoubtedly been troubled times of frustration and political drama that concerned not only Britain but the whole of Europe.Yet now, though it seemed incredible, it was over, and by the end of the year—it was now three years after Waterloo—the Army of Occupation would have come home.After all the dramatic discussions, the tension of rising tempers, the decisions made and unmade, combined with the endless tug-of-war between the Allies, the Duke could hardly believe that he was at this moment, a free man.There was still the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle which was to take place in October, but the Army was to be out of France by November 30.As far as the Duke of Harlington was concerned, he had now his own personal problems to settle, for Wellington had reluctantly allowed him to leave the Army at the beginning of the summer so that he could put his own affairs in order.It was a pleasant surprise to arrive in London to find that Harlington House at any rate seemed in fairly good shape.He had sent one of his Aides-de-Camp, an extremely trustworthy man, ahead of him, with instructions to see that the staff was notified of his arrival.He intended to stay under his own roof while he called on the Prince Regent, and if the King was well enough, to call on His Majesty at Buckingham Palace.It was strange to be back in England after so many years abroad, but stranger still to know that his position in life was now very different from what it had been when he was last here.Then as Ivar Harling, one of the youngest Colonels in the British Army, he had found a great deal to amuse him, most of which was unfortunately well beyond his purse.Now as the Duke of Harlington he was not only a distinguished aristocrat with many hereditary duties which had to be taken up, but also an extremely wealthy man.Letters which had been waiting for him at Paris from the late Duke’s Bankers enclosed not only a list of the possessions which were now his but also a statement of the money which was standing in his name.The amount of it seemed incredible, but as there was still so much to do for Wellington, the new Duke had set his own needs on one side and put his country first.When he reached the Library, he stood looking at the leather-bound books which made the walls a patchwork of colour and appreciated the very fine painting of horses by Stubbs over the mantelpiece.
