Send Me Safely Back Again by Adrian Goldsworthy Page B

that she absconded and left the child in the care of the other two. Williams had no idea what had become of Jenny.
    ‘If it proves to be a boy, then the child will be the grandfather’s heir,’ said Baynes. ‘In the case of a girl, then I believe the legal situation is less straightforward. But I did not speak of the babe, for all the joy of new life. In addition the lady’s confinement is not expected for several months.’
    Williams was relieved. He was also a little puzzled, since the lady looked very large for someone still in the earlier stages of pregnancy. Yet the relief was by far the stronger emotion, for the suggestion of another delivery terrified him, especially without Miss MacAndrews’ reassuringly capable presence. The thought of the girl brought the usual pang. Wickham had confirmed that the rest of the regiment had reached Portsmouth without incident and that Major MacAndrews and his family were safe. He was reluctant to ask more closely, since he strongly suspected that the married Wickham had displayed an unhealthy interest in Jane.
    ‘The Doña Margarita carries something of far greater value for the course of the war,’ said Colonel D’Urban. Wickham’s arms pressed against the frame of the stool as he listened intently. Baynes and D’Urban exchanged glances.
    ‘She carries news,’ said the merchant after a long pause. ‘And that can be beyond price.’ Wickham’s grip slackened and he sagged slightly, sitting again more comfortably.
    ‘The Iberian peninsula is extensive, and much of it mountainous,’ D’Urban explained. ‘Bonaparte has sent more than two hundred thousand men to occupy it and they operate in half a dozen armies. Much of the time we have little idea of where these are. We may watch those closest to us, although even then mistakes are made. It was believed that Marshal Victor had fewer troops than proved the case.’
    Williams doubted that numbers had been the cause of theprevious day’s disaster. In the end, raw youngsters were sent against hardened veterans and that was all there was to it. Numbers would not have made enough difference unless truly overwhelming. The French were simply better led and better trained.
    ‘We do not know where King Joseph’s reserve is stationed and whether he moves to support Victor. Ney is in Galicia – we think – and Mortier perhaps in Leon. Marshal Soult is somewhere in the north, but whether in Spain or Portugal no one knows.’
    ‘Except the poor devils fighting him,’ added D’Urban after a moment.
    Baynes ignored him, once again feeling his military colleague was wandering from the main point. ‘Nor do we know much more about our own side. Many of the local juntas and generals are unable to communicate quickly with the Central Junta at Seville. Some choose not to. As far as we are concerned Aragon and Catalonia might as well be on the moon for all we know of events there.
    ‘How much were you told, my dear Wickham, of the situation in Spain before you left London?’
    The elegant officer looked surprised, and took a moment before giving his reply. ‘Well, I had been on General Paget’s staff and so saw a good deal of the last campaign.’
    Yes, but from as safe a distance as you could manage, thought Williams to himself.
    ‘Yet I would say that more recent information was vague,’ continued Wickham, speaking the truth, but also aware that the colonel expected him to reply in this way, and he had never been one knowingly to disappoint a superior. ‘Indeed, I was told very little. The plans of the Ministry seemed unformed, with a definite desire to assist in the liberation of Spain, but uncertainty over how to achieve this, or whether indeed it was practical at all. Our army will take time to recover from the rigours of the winter. The cavalry in particular.’ He added this last comment knowing that the colonel was a light cavalryman himself. ‘Veryfew horses were embarked. However, there are confident hopes that