him again, Judith.”
“Thank you, father. but I do not know why you should be concerned.” Judith couldn’t look her father in the face as she spoke, and she was grateful that he had nodded and left the room before her tears broke.
Chapter4
“See that it is done, Colonel. If you please.” The East Mercian Volunteers were punctilious in their respect for the military courtesies in a way no fighting battalion ever would be. Still Thomas had no trouble in recalling the correct style from his days as a young lieutenant, and if that were the extent of their peculiarities it would have been a light price. Unfortunately it was not.
The ‘Loyals’ as it pleased Sir Theodore and his officers to call the regiment were lazy, untrained and slow. Worse, their commanding officer did not know it or chose not to acknowledge it, Thomas could not make up his mind which. Sir Theodore was affable, friendly and seemed incapable of absorbing the need for change. He had been quite open in acknowledging his intent to take his fencible regiment to war in contravention of the terms under which the men had enlisted. In Sir Theodore’s world such difficulties could be dealt with by bribery. ‘Government pays a bounty to men transferring to the regulars, Alsbury, and I can top that up if needs be. Persuading the cattle should not be a problem.’
The minor problem that his force would be torn to shreds by the first French troops it encountered hadn’t occurred to him. In Theodore Horsley’s mind that came a long way behind the problem of keeping the men’s coats clean for the second review he planned to hold to overcome the shortcomings revealed before Sir Edmund Hewston. So Thomas’ demands for musket drill and forced marches were as unwelcome as they were insistent. Finally Thomas had no alternative but to explain to Sir Theodore what the orders to both of them from Sir Edmund actually meant. In the most courteous and proper language of course.
Thomas shook his head as he walked away from a furious Sir Theodore. Detachment was the key to this problem. Just as it was with Judith. He’d done his duty, offered her marriage as he was bound to. He no longer had any reason to reproach himself. Given her attitude to him, he ought to be relieved that she’d turned him down.
But there were months before he could embark for Spain and they were bound to meet. So it was forgivable enough to wonder if the Stainford charm couldn’t be put to use. Even if there were little trace left of the sweet girl Judith had been, she was a fine woman. Her fiery passion was still there in the disdain and anger she showed so readily. Meantime there was a battalion to train.
“The man’s a gabster with his do this, do that, John. Far too above himself. It’s my regiment after all. Raised and paid for.” Theodore Horsley paused to draw breath. “I know some people in Horseguards too.”
“You should speak to them then, Theo. The noble Viscount has his eye on the regiment, nothing surer. Far preferable if you can put the boot quite on the other leg.” John Hampton paused too, but he never got his opportunity to resume for Theodore Horsley obviously felt his need to speak was the greater.
“I’ll not let him make a cake of me, Hampton. Damned if I will.” Horsley caught himself and instead of venting his temper further turned to John Hampton with a question. “You knew him before this didn’t you, Hampton?”
“A long time ago, Theo.” Whether or not the question was meant as an accusation John Hampton clearly heard it as such. “We went to the same school.”
“Then you can help me, Hampton. With what you know of the young pup. Well inlaid is he?”
“The family is, Theo. Landed beyond limit. I expect Stainford is in funds from his father. You know he’s staying at his godmother’s place, Trefoyle. Lady Amara Guilmor knows everyone and admits precious few. Judith is thick with her though. If you’d like an invitation to the
“Thank you, father. but I do not know why you should be concerned.” Judith couldn’t look her father in the face as she spoke, and she was grateful that he had nodded and left the room before her tears broke.
Chapter4
“See that it is done, Colonel. If you please.” The East Mercian Volunteers were punctilious in their respect for the military courtesies in a way no fighting battalion ever would be. Still Thomas had no trouble in recalling the correct style from his days as a young lieutenant, and if that were the extent of their peculiarities it would have been a light price. Unfortunately it was not.
The ‘Loyals’ as it pleased Sir Theodore and his officers to call the regiment were lazy, untrained and slow. Worse, their commanding officer did not know it or chose not to acknowledge it, Thomas could not make up his mind which. Sir Theodore was affable, friendly and seemed incapable of absorbing the need for change. He had been quite open in acknowledging his intent to take his fencible regiment to war in contravention of the terms under which the men had enlisted. In Sir Theodore’s world such difficulties could be dealt with by bribery. ‘Government pays a bounty to men transferring to the regulars, Alsbury, and I can top that up if needs be. Persuading the cattle should not be a problem.’
The minor problem that his force would be torn to shreds by the first French troops it encountered hadn’t occurred to him. In Theodore Horsley’s mind that came a long way behind the problem of keeping the men’s coats clean for the second review he planned to hold to overcome the shortcomings revealed before Sir Edmund Hewston. So Thomas’ demands for musket drill and forced marches were as unwelcome as they were insistent. Finally Thomas had no alternative but to explain to Sir Theodore what the orders to both of them from Sir Edmund actually meant. In the most courteous and proper language of course.
Thomas shook his head as he walked away from a furious Sir Theodore. Detachment was the key to this problem. Just as it was with Judith. He’d done his duty, offered her marriage as he was bound to. He no longer had any reason to reproach himself. Given her attitude to him, he ought to be relieved that she’d turned him down.
But there were months before he could embark for Spain and they were bound to meet. So it was forgivable enough to wonder if the Stainford charm couldn’t be put to use. Even if there were little trace left of the sweet girl Judith had been, she was a fine woman. Her fiery passion was still there in the disdain and anger she showed so readily. Meantime there was a battalion to train.
“The man’s a gabster with his do this, do that, John. Far too above himself. It’s my regiment after all. Raised and paid for.” Theodore Horsley paused to draw breath. “I know some people in Horseguards too.”
“You should speak to them then, Theo. The noble Viscount has his eye on the regiment, nothing surer. Far preferable if you can put the boot quite on the other leg.” John Hampton paused too, but he never got his opportunity to resume for Theodore Horsley obviously felt his need to speak was the greater.
“I’ll not let him make a cake of me, Hampton. Damned if I will.” Horsley caught himself and instead of venting his temper further turned to John Hampton with a question. “You knew him before this didn’t you, Hampton?”
“A long time ago, Theo.” Whether or not the question was meant as an accusation John Hampton clearly heard it as such. “We went to the same school.”
“Then you can help me, Hampton. With what you know of the young pup. Well inlaid is he?”
“The family is, Theo. Landed beyond limit. I expect Stainford is in funds from his father. You know he’s staying at his godmother’s place, Trefoyle. Lady Amara Guilmor knows everyone and admits precious few. Judith is thick with her though. If you’d like an invitation to the
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