On 29 January 1884 Henry James noted a story which he had heard from Gertrude Tennant. It struck him 'as a dramatic and pretty subject'. Young Lord Stafford, it seemed, was in love with Lady Grosvenor, whom he had known before her marriage, but had now no expectation of being able to marry as her husband was alive and robust. 'Yielding to family pressure,' as James put it, 'he offered his hand to a young, charming, innocent girl, the daughter of Lord Rosslyn.' The girl, however, came to feel that Lady Grosvenor, although not able to marry young Lord Stafford, 'must be queen of his thoughts and will finally end by becoming his mistress'. In one possibility for his story, James considered that she would agree to the marriage, 'but I don't ask for your affection . . . I leave you free in conduct. Let me be your wife, bear your name, your coronet, enjoy your wealth and splendour; but devote yourself to Lady G. as much as you like - make her your mistress, if you will.'

LRB 6 June 2002 | PDF Download