Red, Red Rose

by Marjorie Farrell

  Of course the irony was that Jack merely appeared melancholy. He had a changeable temperament, that was true, but enjoyed life far more than his face suggested.

  Then there was Val. Jack’s looks drew women like moths to a flame, but his brother too often looked forbidding. Perhaps forbidding was too strong a word, but he was expert at keeping his face expressionless and his eyes shuttered. Very few people knew the real Val, as he did. His brother had a great capacity for love, though he had a hard time showing it.

  He had seen Miss Gordon and Val dance their two sets and then disappear into the garden. Elspeth Gordon had not let Jack Belden maneuver her anywhere in private! He didn’t know how long they had been outside, but certainly long enough for a kiss?

  Charlie hoped so. The more he thought of it, the more he liked the idea. Elspeth Gordon would be perfect for his brother. She was too strong-minded to be daunted by Val’s ridiculous pride. And she was independent enough not to mind about the circumstances of his birth. She was the granddaughter of an earl, Charlie mused, but Mr. and Mrs. Gordon had married despite some disparity in their stations. He didn’t think that Val’s background would weigh much with them. Perhaps he could do a little matchmaking to help things along. It certainly would relieve the boredom of sitting around waiting for Massena to make his move!

  * * * *

  As Charlie emerged from his tent, he saw James a few steps ahead of him and called out, “Is there any mail today, James?”

  “I am on my way to find out.”

  “I’ll go with you. I haven’t heard from my father in an age. Did you enjoy the ball, James?” he asked as they made their way down the row.

  “It was an excellent diversion for us all. And you, Charlie?”

  “Danced with every lady except one.”

  “And who was that unlucky woman?” replied James with a grin.

  “Miss Gordon’s time was quite taken up by Jack Belden and my brother.”

  “Indeed, I had noticed that myself,” said James with a knowing smile. “I think that your brother was the one who brought her in from the garden most becomingly flushed despite the cold?”

  “So you saw them come in too? Well, I have become convinced they are made for each other.”

  “Really?” said James with a raised eyebrow.

  “Oh, don’t be so stiff, James! Don’t you think that Miss Gordon would be perfect for Val?”

  “I am only teasing you, Charlie. I admit the same thought struck me when I saw them last night. You know, neither of them is likely to make a conventional match, what with Elspeth’s upbringing and Val’s birth.

  “You know, my father told me that it was Val’s mother who refused to marry him. She knew that there had been a long-standing agreement between my parents and she felt that a marriage between social equals had more of a chance at success.”

  “She must have loved him very much to give your father up,” James commented softly.

  “Yes, and she had a strong sense of honor. I suppose that is where Val gets his!” Charlie was quiet for a moment. “I think he would have been very different had she lived.”

  “Does he know the story?”

  “It is my father’s to tell and Val has always refused to listen,” Charlie replied sadly.

  “Typical!”

  “Oh, yes!” They both laughed.

  “So will you help me, James?”

  “You know, I think I might enjoy a taste of matchmaking very much, Charlie.”

  * * * *

  There was mail for both of them.

  “Two letters from my father! The mails are so slow.”

  James had two letters also. “From my sister Maddie,” he announced with a smile. “It will take me hours to decipher it, for she crosses and recrosses in her eagerness to tell me all the gossip from London. Unfortunately, the other will be easy to read,” James said with a heavy sigh. “A letter from the family solicitor, who no doubt has discovered another debt for me to settle.”

  Charlie was quickly scanning his father’s letters.

  “What does your father have to say, Charlie?”

  Charlie frowned. “It seems the king had a relapse at the end of the month. My father was writing this the first week of December. It is very bad, James. Evidently he was quite out of control and they had to put him in restraints for a time.”

  “Then a Regency will be necessary….”

  “And we know what that will mean, James. Prinny will bring in the Whigs and we’ll all be ordered home. No one in the Opposition believes Wellington can hold Portugal, much less succeed in Spain.” Charlie snorted with disgust as he read further. “They are laying bets for and against him, it seems. Some believe that Massena will be driven to retreat by February, but others think he is in a better position than we are and that the Whigs will call for an evacuation.”

  “It is surprising that Massena has made no move.”

  “But if he can sit tight, and if the king does not recover….” Charlie’s face brightened. “But he’ll never make it through the lines, James. That’s what those fools in London can’t see. Now, what does your sister have to say for herself?”

  “She is full of excitement over the holidays, even though the family celebrations will of necessity be spare this year. And of course she is beside herself about the coming Season. She had to put her come-out off for a year because of my father’s death. And then another year because of the lack of funds. But between my great-aunt, who offered some help, and some funds I was able to set aside, she will have a chance to find a husband after all. My sister, of course, is hoping for a full retreat so that I can attend her come-out ball. I must admit, I would like to be there for her as head of the family.”

  “Surely you are due a leave, James?”

  “Wellington doesn’t like his officers flitting back and forth on flimsy excuses, Charlie.”

  “But this isn’t flimsy, James. You do need to be there for Lady Madeline. You should at least try him.”

  “I will, Charlie, I will.”

  * * * *

  The day after Christmas, Val rode back to the border with Colonel Sanchez and Jack Belden to see if there was any news about Napoleon’s intentions. But none of the captured dispatches revealed any plan to reinforce Massena’s army.

  “If he doesn’t send more troops, then he will lose Portugal,” said Val.

  “And eventually Spain,” said Sanchez with a satisfied grin.

  * * * *

  Halfway back to camp, Val ran into a mountain snowstorm and it wasn’t until a week after Christmas that he stumbled into his tent and collapsed. He was awakened mid-afternoon the next day by Mrs. Casey, who was bundling up his laundry.

  “It looks like I should be washing the sheets you’re lying on, Lieutenant,” she said, frowning down at his dirty boots, which he had been too tired to remove. “Not to mention mending them!” she added. “You could at least have unbuckled your spurs.”

  “You are a hard woman, Mrs. Casey.”

  “Oh, aye, some would say so, Lieutenant,” she responded with a grin.

  “And an engaged woman now, I hear.”

  Mrs. Casey patted the marksmanship medal, which rested on her bosom. “Hung on me by Lord Wellington himself,” she said proudly.

  “So Will Tallman is now your fiancé.”

  “He is, and a lucky man too, though he doesn’t seem to know it.”

  “I will just have to have a talk with him,” said Val, disengaging his spurs from the bed linen and swinging his legs over the side of his cot.

  “You do that, Lieutenant, and I’ll do this bit of mending for nothing.”

  * * * *

  A few hours later, after a bath and something to eat, Val went in search of Will. He found him huddled over a small camp stove with a few men of the Eleventh Foot, playing at hazard.

  “Good afternoon, Will,” said Val. “I haven’t seen you since the match. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant,” said Will glumly.
“I hear they spared your little piggy after all,” he said with a grin.

  “So they did, Will. But why are you looking so cast down when you won both the contest and a betrothed?” asked Val, keeping his face straight with difficulty.

  “And that was none of my doing,” grumbled Will. “What the bleeding hell was I supposed to say when His bleeding Lordship himself declares us engaged!”

  Val couldn’t look sympathetic for the life of him and a broad grin split his face.

  “Oh, so you think it is funny, do you, sir?” said Will. “And just how would you feel to find yourself with a fiancée just because you hit the bull’s-eye? I tell you, if I’d known, I’d have shot different that day.”

  “But doesn’t being affianced satisfy Mrs. Casey, Will?”

  “Not that auld besom,” pipped up one of the men. “She be after him to set the date now!”

  “She was happy for a few days. Strutting about and lording it over the other women. Although it’s true that not many get betrothed by Lord Wellington himself,” admitted Will. “Then I told her not to be getting any ideas about the wedding and that tore it,” he said disgustedly.

  “Oh, Will, you could have gone on for years as her fiancé,” groaned Val. “Why ever did you open your mouth?”

  “I’m sure I don’t know. ‘Twas just that I got tired of her never being able to be quiet about it. And I felt honor-bound to let her know that, despite a betrothal, I am still not a marrying man,” Will said righteously.

  “Of course, you have always been an honorable man, Will,” Val agreed solemnly, but with a betraying gleam in his eye.

  “By God, Lieutenant, I was right terrified,” confessed Will with a shudder. “But now she’s saying I’ll be sleeping alone until I set a date! I’m praying Massena makes his move soon. I’m ready to put myself on the front line, sir. Then she’ll see that she is better off as a fiancée than as a widow again!”

  “Don’t even joke about it, Will,” Val said seriously. “We’ll see action soon enough, and you are too good a friend to lose.”

  “Do you think we will, sir?” asked Private Murphy. “Here we sit behind the lines with the Portuguese manning the barricades and one in ten of us dropping from fever every day. At least you get a chance to go off on your exploring, sir.”

  Val realized that Murphy was right. He was able to feel active and to experience pride that occasionally his missions bore fruit. It must be difficult for the men to be sitting around doing nothing but freezing their bums off and facing no greater excitement than whether Mrs. Casey would get Will to the altar or not.

  “Of course, we get to do double drills,” Murphy complained bitterly. “The lieutenant makes sure of that! If I have to march one more bloody time from line to square to line, I swear I’ll desert.”

  Val could sympathize, for he remembered how bored he had been in Kent when life had seemed one long drill parade. “I know what it is like, Private, but you’ll be grateful to the lieutenant someday. It may all seem pointless now, but in the middle of a battle, it may very well save your life.”

  “We’ll not see another battle, sir. Massena should have pulled back weeks ago. Boney must have promise him reinforcements. We’ll be giving Portugal over to him by spring.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Val answered sternly. “I haven’t served under him for very long, but from what I’ve seen, Lord Wellington is the man to drive the French out of Portugal…and Spain,” he added as he stood up. “I’ll talk to you later, Will. Maybe I can help you to a ceasefire with Mrs. Casey.”

  * * * *

  Mags Casey had certainly set her heart on marriage, Val knew, but it wasn’t until she got “a-fianced” that her arrangement with Will wasn’t enough for her. And Wellington certainly hadn’t helped any, thought Val with a smile. Will would just have to give in or give her up, it seemed. Maybe he could convince his friend that a wedding date, far enough in advance, did not necessarily mean he would end up a married man. A lot could happen in a year. Mags Casey might change her mind. Her affection might fade. Or Will Tallman could be killed, as he himself had reminded Val.

  “You are looking very preoccupied, Val.”

  “I didn’t even see you, James,” Val said apologetically.

  “Your last reconnaissance quite distracting you, eh?”

  “No, not that at all, James. I am just trying to come up with a strategy to save Will Tallman from Mrs. Casey.”

  James laughed. “I think that is hopeless, my friend. All Mrs. Casey has to do is sit on Sergeant Tallman while the parson closes the mousetrap!”

  “I can’t tell whether Wellington did Will a favor or not,” admitted Val. “They are an odd couple, but do very well together when they are not at odds over this one thing.”

  “My money is on Mags Casey, Val. Once a woman has the ring—”

  “Or medal,” Val reminded him with a grin.

  “Or medal. Once a woman has the status of betrothed, why, ‘tis the devil to get rid of her. Especially a woman of Mrs. Casey’s stature and determination!”

  “I like Mags Casey,” Val declared warmly. “But Will Tallman is one of my oldest friends and he does not believe a professional soldier should take a wife.”

  “But do you think they would be happy together?”

  “I am sure of it, once Will got used to it.”

  “Then maybe it is a friend’s place to help things along.”

  “I’ll have to think about it, James. Speaking of marriage, how is your sister doing? Have you heard from her recently?”

  “In the last mail. She is beside herself with excitement.”

  “As she should be. Are you planning to be there for any part of the Season?”

  “I’ve requested a short leave. It remains to be seen whether Wellington will grant it.”

  “Perhaps you will meet someone yourself, James. As Marquess of Wimborne, you will need to be thinking of marriage and producing an heir soon. Is there some young lady you have a preference for?”

  “No young ladies have captured my heart, Val,” replied James. “And despite the title, the finances are in such a state that I doubt a parent would welcome my suit,” he added with a smile. “But enough of my affairs. Are you in camp for a few days?”

  “As far as I know.”

  “Then what about an early morning ride together? Charles and I were planning to meet tomorrow. Will you join us?”

  “I would be happy to, James.”

  “Till tomorrow, then,” said James as he bade Val goodbye. “And we’ll see if this friend can help things along with you,” he added sotto voce as he watched Val walk away.

  Chapter 18

  The next morning a heavy mist hung over the countryside and Val and his horse were covered with fog droplets after only a minute. He had decided to give Caesar a rest and had chosen a rangy bay from the stables, one he’d never ridden before. The animal was high-strung and the slightest thing spooked him, like a tree appearing suddenly out of the mist, and Val had to concentrate on keeping his seat. When he reached the edge of the camp, he was almost on top of James before he saw him.

  “What a morning,” Val exclaimed.

  “But the sun is already breaking through,” said James, pointing to the ridge that bordered the camp on the east. “In fifteen minutes we will be exclaiming over the beauty of the day.”

  “I hope so. Where is Charlie?”

  ‘Tm sure he’ll be here any moment. There, I can see them…er, him.”

  Val did not catch James’s slip of the tongue and when two riders emerged out of the mist, he looked over at his friend in surprise. “He’s brought someone with him?”

  “Why, so he has,” said James cheerfully.

  “Good morning, Val,” Charlie called out. “Miss Gordon often rides out in the morning, so I asked her to join us. You don’t mind, James?”

  “Not at all. In fact, I am delighted. Aren’t you, Val?”

  “Of course.” Well, what else could he have said?
That he was dreading his next encounter with Elspeth Gordon?

  She looked as embarrassed and uncomfortable as he felt. When he glanced over at Charlie and James, he saw his brother and his friend exchanging self-satisfied grins. So this wasn’t really a delightful surprise to them, eh? Only to Miss Gordon and himself!

  They rode slowly, James and Val in front and Charlie and Elspeth behind for a few minutes, and then, as if a giant hand had pulled aside a gray veil, the sun broke through the fog.

  “There, didn’t I tell you, Val?” said James. He turned in his saddle. “Why don’t we try a nice long canter, Charlie? Elspeth?”

  They spurred their horses and galloped across the valley. It was a glorious morning, Val had to admit as his horse finally settled down. Now that the animal was warmed up and the mist was gone, he realized the horse had a very comfortable gait and he relaxed into it, almost forgetting that Miss Gordon was a member of their party and he would have to converse with her sooner or later.

  It became clear that it would be sooner rather than later, for as they pulled their horses to a trot and then a walk, Charlie ended up next to James and Val was side by side with Elspeth. “It has turned into a lovely day, hasn’t it, Miss Gordon?” Val said politely.

  “Yes, it has, Lieutenant. The sun is most welcome after the gray days we have had this week,” Elspeth responded with equal formality.

  Val turned in his saddle to face her. The sun was shining directly behind her and all the fog droplets that clung to her jacket had turned to diamonds. Her hair burned with reddish-gold lights and her face was flushed from their ride. She was dazzling and Val could think of nothing to say.

  Finally Elspeth broke the uncomfortable silence. “I did not know that you were of the party, Lieutenant.”

  He supposed that after the other night, she hadn’t wanted to see him again.

  “I hope I have not spoiled your morning,” Elspeth continued apologetically.

  “And I hope I did not spoil yours…or your evening at the dance,” he added, finally finding his voice.

  Elspeth blushed. “I…enjoyed our walk in the garden, Lieutenant,” she said.