by Anne Herries
‘What are you thinking now?’ Georgie asked, because there was an odd expression in her friend’s eyes.
‘Oh, nothing very much,’ Jenny said and looked away. ‘Just a thought that occurred to me, but I am not sure. I must think about this carefully.’
Edward came into the room at that moment and Jenny’s expression changed to a smile of welcome. Georgie withdrew to the window to allow them some privacy.
Richard had gone off in a temper because she had slapped him. Whatever must he think of her now?
Richard rode furiously for more than an hour. He had been outraged when Georgie hit him, but his anger had left him after some hard riding. He knew that he had deserved no less. She was perfectly right to be angry, because he should not have used her so ill. His need of her had broken through and he had done something he had vowed never to do, forcing a kiss on her. Instead of melting into his arms as she had in his dreams, Georgie had slapped him—and with some force.
If Georgie had once cared for him, he had killed her love. It hurt more than he had believed possible, and he cursed himself for a clumsy fool. Instead of acting as judge and jury, he should have confessed his love, begged Georgie for patience and asked her to marry him when the war was over.
It was too late now. She would never look at him in the way that made him ache with desire again. She would despise and hate him, and he could hardly blame her, because he had brought it on himself. His motives had been noble, but Georgie would scorn them because she was brave—much braver in truth than he…
Remembering the time they had spent travelling together when she was dressed in that ridiculous clothing, Richard found that he could smile. Perhaps if he survived the battles to come, Georgie might forgive him after all. At least she was not indifferent to him if the force of that blow was anything to the point…
For the next two days, Georgie lived in hope that Richard might return, but he did not, and she accepted that he must have decided to join his regiment, which was already being shipped to Brussels in anticipation of the war to come.
On the third morning Edward took his leave of them. Jenny waved him goodbye with a pale face, but when she returned to the parlour she was weeping. Georgie put her arms about her and they clung to one another, both crying as they tried to comfort each other.
‘I cannot bear the thought that I may never see him again,’ Jenny said and drew away from Georgie to wipe her eyes. ‘If he should be wounded…’
‘I know how you must feel,’ Georgie said. ‘If I were Richard’s wife, I should follow him no matter what he said…’ She faltered as she saw the look on Jenny’s face. ‘I do not mean that you should, dearest. You have your children to consider. Edward is right. You do need to be with them.’
‘I am torn in two,’ Jenny told her. ‘My head tells me that Edward is right, but my heart says that I should be with him. If he needs me and I am not there… As you said, the children have their nurses. If I could just think of a way to be certain they would be properly protected if…’ She shook her head. ‘I love my children, Georgie—but Edward is my life.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Georgie said and her heart bled for her friend. ‘I feel as if I am in chains. I know that Richard is in danger. He may be killed or wounded—and he does not know that I love him.’ She gave a little sobbing cry. ‘Why did I let him go thinking I hated him, Jenny? I love him so much. If he dies, I shall want to die too. If only he had cared enough to marry me.’
‘Poor Georgie,’ Jenny said and opened her arms. ‘At least I know that Edward loves me. He has forbidden me to follow only for the children’s sake.’ She sighed deeply. ‘I wish I knew what to do for the best—for all our sakes.’
‘It is all such a coil,’ Georgie said and hugged her friend. If she knew for certain that Richard loved her, nothing would keep her here when he was in danger, but she must say no more for Jenny was already in turmoil. It was going to be a hard time for them both, waiting and worrying.
Jenny came into the bedchamber the next morning; she was carrying a tray set with soft rolls, honey, a pot of chocolate and two fine porcelain cups. Georgie had been just about ready to get up and face the day, but when she saw Jenny she sat up against her pillows, knowing that this honour was because her friend understood how she was feeling.
‘I thought we would have breakfast, just the two of us,’ she said, smiling as she sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Afterwards, we might go visiting or we could ride out together if you prefer?’
‘I should like to go riding, if you would?’
‘Yes, I think I should enjoy it. Besides, we must not sit about moping. We must get on with our lives as best we can.’
Georgie looked at her. ‘What are you up to? I know there is something, because I can see it in your eyes.’
‘I can’t tell you just yet, but I do have a plan.’
‘What kind of a plan?’
‘I shall not involve you just yet,’ Jenny said with a mysterious look, ‘but I believe you will be pleased with me. And now we must eat our breakfast before the chocolate goes cold.’
Georgie gave her a hard look, but Jenny merely smiled and shook her head. It was obvious that she had come to some kind of a decision, but for the moment she clearly wished to keep it to herself.
Some days later, Georgie woke from a dream as someone entered the room, swishing back the curtains. She sat up with a name on her lips, but it was not Richard, only her sister-in law.
‘Is something the matter? It must still be early,’ she said, her heart racing. It had been more than a week since Edward followed Richard to Dover where they had been due to embark for Brussels. ‘It is not bad news?’
‘No, excellent news. I have heard from my husband’s cousin Martha and she is coming here later today. She has promised to stay while we are away and take care of the children. You must get up and summon your maid to pack a trunk, Georgie. As soon as Lady Randall is here we shall set out.’
‘But where are we going?’ Sensing Jenny’s air of suppressed excitement, she threw back the covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. ‘I knew you were up to some mischief!’
‘We are going to Brussels,’ Jenny told her, her eyes bright with the spirit of adventure. ‘Edward refused to take us, because he said he could not have the worry of looking after us. Well, we are going to show him that we can fend for ourselves. We shall find a ship, take passage, and when we get there we shall rent a house for ourselves.’
‘Jenny! Are you sure we ought to?’ Georgie said, feeling stunned. ‘Edward may be angry…’ She could not imagine what Richard would say, but her heart had begun to race, for it meant that she might see him—might be able to tell him how sorry she was for hitting him and beg his pardon. ‘Do we dare?’
‘I do not care if Edward is angry,’ Jenny responded, a militant sparkle in her eyes. ‘I know he is afraid that some harm might come to me if he is not there to watch over me, but I do not see why it should. I am well able to take care of myself. Besides, I shall have you for company—shall I not?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Georgie smiled at her as the excitement stirred inside her. ‘You know that I would never desert you, dearest. Besides, I understand how you feel. You need to be nearby in case Edward should be wounded and call for you. And I…should be there if Richard should need me.’ She drew her breath in sharply. It was a bold plan, but full of dangers. ‘Are you sure you want to do this, Jenny?’
‘I knew you would understand,’ Jenny said, laughing softly as she embraced her warmly. ‘It was you that first gave me the idea. When you said that if Richard truly loved you, you would dress as a boy and follow the drum.’
‘Oh, dear, was it that?’ Georgie said, feeling guilty. ‘I did not mean to give you ideas, Jenny. I know I said it, and indeed if I were sure Richard loved me—but you must be perfectly sure that this is what you want to do. Please do not be swayed by anything I said. Make your own decision.’
‘I have and I am perfectly sure,’ Jen
ny told her. ‘It was not easy, but Aunt Martha will stand guardian to our children if need be. My place is with Edward at this time, whether he knows it or not. As for the journey, we shall both take a maid and two of the grooms will accompany us—but I am certain we shall manage for ourselves. They are merely there to provide security if we are set upon by thieves or highwaymen.’
‘I do not think it likely,’ Georgie said. ‘We shall be perfectly safe if we have our maids and two grooms—who will be armed.’ She frowned. ‘I think I shall take a pistol, too, for I am sure I could fire it if need be.’
‘Do you think so?’ Jenny looked sceptical. ‘I am sure I could not, but I shall feel safe enough with two burly grooms. After all, I have travelled as far as York without Edward—so it cannot be so very different to travel a little further, can it?’
‘Brussels is quite a lot further,’ Georgie said. ‘But as long as we are careful and do not flash our money carelessly we should do well enough. I managed to travel to London alone without harm. It was only after I got there that I lost my money. With you, the maids and two grooms, I am sure we shall be perfectly safe.’
‘Well, I am glad you think so,’ Jenny said. ‘I am determined to go. I would have gone alone if need be, but I shall feel more comfortable if you are with me.’
Georgie smiled and nodded. She would not dream of letting her dear friend set off without her. Jenny was far too pretty and trusting to set off on such an adventure alone. Besides, it was she who had given Jenny the idea and it was her duty as well as her pleasure to accompany her friend. It was quite an undertaking for two ladies, but like Jenny she felt that it would be much easier to endure the hardships of a long journey than to sit tamely at home.
Despite some misgivings at the start, Georgie discovered that the journey to the coast was uneventful. When they reached the port, they discovered that they were not the only wives who had had the same idea. A lady by the name of Mrs Feathers was staying with her daughter Sally at the inn they chose. Sally was a pretty blonde-haired girl of eighteen years, and engaged to a gentleman who was on Wellington’s staff.
‘How fortunate that we should all meet,’ Mrs Feathers exclaimed when she learned that they were travelling to Brussels to be near their husbands. ‘My husband is too old to be in the army, but he is engaged in the business of helping to oversee the logistics of supplies—and of course Sally is engaged to Captain Malvern and she simply could not wait at home. Do you think it would be a good idea if we were all to travel together? I know that there are still some places on the ship we have bought passage on. I could send word to the captain and book for two ladies, their maids and two menservants.’
‘Oh, we shall not need the grooms now we have found friends,’ Jenny said. ‘They may as well return home with the carriage—for I dare say we may hire one over there.’
‘That is what we plan to do,’ Mrs Feathers told her with a smile. ‘My husband will meet us at the port and we may all travel on to Brussels together—if that will suit you?’
Jenny agreed that it would. Georgie felt it would have been better to retain at least one of the grooms even if coachman and the other groom returned to Yorkshire. However, she made no objection for the matronly Mrs Feathers seemed very capable. She had been with her husband in the Spanish campaign a few years earlier, and had experience in acquiring both accommodation and means of travelling.
Mrs Feathers entertained them at dinner that evening by telling them how she had once travelled by donkey when the army had been routed, and how she had hidden in a cellar for days when the village they were staying in had been overrun by the French.
‘It is often hard following one’s husband on campaign,’ she told them. ‘Sometimes you have to be prepared to sleep under the stars, and food isn’t always plentiful. A friend of mine who was caught up in a siege once had to eat rats and mouldy bread, but she survived to tell the tale and I dare say we shall too, my dears.’
Georgie saw the look on Jenny’s face and wondered if she were having second thoughts, but when she asked her later she shook her head.
‘I should not like to eat rats. Indeed, I think I might prefer to go hungry, but it has not made me change my mind. If I stayed at home in safety and Edward was left to die on some forgotten field, I should break my heart, Georgie. At least if we are there we shall be able to help if they are wounded.’
‘I have been hungry enough to risk stealing,’ Georgie told her. ‘In fact, that is how I met Richard—but I think I would need to be starving before I ate a rat.’ She shuddered. ‘However, I do not think it will happen. Why should it? Wellington and the Allies will never allow the enemy to get near Brussels.’
Georgie stood in the prow of the ship looking towards the shore as its outline became visible through the early morning mist. She had not suffered from sea-sickness at all, though she knew that Jenny and both the maids had suffered varying degrees of it during the night when the waters had been choppy. She turned as Jenny came up to her, looking a little pale, though decidedly better than she had first thing.
‘How are you feeling now, dearest?’
‘Much better than I did,’ Jenny said. ‘I am not a good sailor at the best of times and it was rough last night.’
‘Yes, it was,’ Georgie agreed. ‘We shall be docking in a short time. Do you wish to continue in company with Mrs Feathers or shall we find our own carriage?’
‘I know she does talk a lot and rather loudly,’ Jenny said. ‘But she has been very friendly, and we may need help when we get to Brussels, Georgie. She said that her husband wrote to her a week before she set out from home, and said that it was almost impossible to find accommodation. He had secured something for her and Sally, but apparently it was not what he had hoped to find.’
‘Well, we must hope that we can find something, even if it is only a room somewhere,’ Georgie said. ‘I suppose that may be one of the reasons why Edward thought it best if we stayed at home.’
‘Yes, well, he may have done,’ Jenny said, looking mutinous. ‘But I am willing to put up with anything if I can be there if he needs me.’
‘Yes, I know.’ Georgie put an arm about her waist. ‘Do not worry, dearest. I am sure we shall find something…’
Georgie looked out of the carriage window as they entered the town. It was teeming with people, many of them soldiers wearing British uniforms. She saw a group of ladies walking along the pavement, laughing and talking in the sunshine, their parasols shading them from the heat. She caught a few words of English as the carriage passed by, and realised that she and Jenny were not the only ladies to have followed their husbands and lovers. Ahead of them a wagon loaded with bales of hay was blocking the road, and just to the right a noisy fight had broken out as some men came tumbling out of an inn.
‘They are drunk, I dare say,’ Mrs Feathers remarked. ‘If their commanding officers hear of it, they will be reprimanded, but it is always so in a garrison town. Most of them will be on the move before long, but the worst of times is always before the battles begin. The men become bored when they are idle.’
‘It looks as if the city is full to bursting point,’ Jenny said with a frown. ‘It is good of you to offer us a bed for the night, ma’am, but we must begin the search for our own house tomorrow.’
‘Perhaps your husband has suitable accommodation,’ Mrs Feathers said. ‘Does he expect you today?’
‘Oh, he expects us at any time,’ Jenny said airily. ‘Either he or my brother will have something for us, I imagine.’
Georgie looked at her, but kept her silence. In truth, they had no idea where to find Edward and Richard, though they had already been shown what was known as Headquarters as they drove through the town and an inquiry there should give them some idea of either Edward’s or Richard’s direction.
The house that Mr Feathers had found for his family was small and in a back street away from the better area of the town. It did have three bedrooms, however, which meant that Jenny and Georgie were able
to share a room for one night. Their maids were given makeshift beds in the kitchen, which caused some long faces, but was the best that could be achieved in the cramped house.
When they passed through the hall, which was dark and smelled of boiled cabbage, Jenny wrinkled her nose in distaste. She was used to better and found it difficult to hide her dismay, though Mrs Feathers had declared herself well pleased.
‘It is not home,’ she remarked, ‘but it is large enough and will do for the moment—will it not, Sally?’
‘Yes, Mama, if you say so,’ her daughter replied. ‘I do not care, for Captain Malvern will call on us later and I dare say I shall spend much of my time out with him.’
Her mother shook her head. ‘It will not be all balls and fun, Sally,’ she told her. ‘It is true that there is a ball being held quite soon in honour of Wellington and his officers, but you must remember that there is a war about to happen. The gentlemen may have to leave at any time.’
Sally pouted, but said nothing. Georgie smiled at her, because she liked the girl even though she did seem a little empty headed.
‘Perhaps when Captain Malvern calls you could ask him if he knows the whereabouts of Captain Hernshaw or Lord Maddison?’
‘Yes, of course I shall,’ Sally said, because she was a sweet, friendly girl when her mother was not scolding her. ‘I am sure Reggie will be only too pleased to help you. I dare say he knows everyone.’
Georgie was beginning to feel a little apprehensive. Jenny had every right to follow her husband if she wished, for she was Edward’s wife. However, Richard might be furious that Georgie had encouraged her on this escapade. He might not have forgiven her for that slap and might refuse to speak to her.
She decided that she would not fly into a temper whatever he said to her. She would be calm and reasonable, and she would beg his pardon. She loved him so very much, and she wanted to be with him for whatever time was left to them. Perhaps when Richard realised how short time was, he would understand that it was important to share their love and not deny it. After thinking about it, she had begun to believe that perhaps the reason that Richard had kissed her so fiercely was that he could not help himself.
