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LADY CAROLINE LAMB having contemplated that marriage meant leaving her parents and her girlhood's home.

The first year of married life was spent chiefly in London, where the young couple had a suite of apartments in Lady Melbourne's house in Whitehall; there were visits to Brocket Hall (where the honeymoon had been passed) and to Panshanger, William Lamb's sister Emily having married Lord Cowper in July 1805.

In January 1806 Lamb entered Parliament as Whig member for Leominster. Lady Caroline led a gay, irresponsible life. She lacked concentration, and her versatile talents caused her to occupy herself with too many things. A little painting, a little music, a little reading, some writing of verses, playgoing, acting in private theatricals, with a large amount of riding and dancing, filled the days and nights. Her friends still found her "the same wild, delicate, odd, delightful person, unlike everything," as she had been before her marriage.

Life at Melbourne House was certainly gay. Waltzes and quadrilles, then new dances, were daily practised there, among the learners being Lady Jersey, Lady Cowper, the Duke of Devonshire, Miss Milbanke, who was later to become 7