‘They may not love him,’ murmured Falconbridge, as the party approached, ‘but they do trust him.’
‘Quite rightly,’ replied the Earl. ‘There isn’t a more able commander alive.’
Catching sight of them, the Duke reined in. ‘Ah, Colonel Falconbridge, good morning. Fine day for it, what?’
‘Indeed, Your Grace.’
The Duke’s piercing blue gaze came to rest on the Earl. ‘Good to see you, Major Brudenell. I understand that you and your wife have lately done me a great service. I’m much obliged to you both. When occasion permits, pray convey my deepest respects to Her Ladyship.’
‘I will, Your Grace, I thank you.’
‘I’d give a great deal for just a dozen more of my Peninsular veterans. Fine men the lot of ’em. I’m glad to have you with me.’
‘I wouldn’t have missed it, Your Grace.’
‘I thought Vittoria had done for you. Deuced glad I was wrong.’
‘So am I, Your Grace.’
The Duke gave a short bark of laughter. ‘Just see to it that you don’t get your head blown off, man. I need it on your shoulders.’
The Earl saluted. ‘I’ll do my best, Your Grace.’
Just then a Prussian galopin arrived with a dispatch arrived from Wavre. Wellington opened it, scanning the contents swiftly. Then he looked at Uxbridge. ‘It’s from Blucher.’ He read aloud, ‘...assure the Duke of Wellington from me, that, ill as I am, I shall place myself at the head of my troops, and attack the right of the French, in case they undertake anything against him.’
General Müffling, who was attached to Wellington’s party, heard the news with satisfaction. ‘If the Marshal says he and his force will be here, then you may take it as fact.’
‘Just as well,’ replied the Duke. ‘We’re going to need every man jack of them. I have an infamous army; very weak and ill-equipped, and an inexperienced Staff.’
‘They will do their duty, Your Grace,’ said Uxbridge.
Falconbridge looked at the Earl. ‘That we shall,’ he murmured.
* * *
For those left behind in Brussels the day seemed endless. Claudia and Sabrina went to Lady Harrington’s house to help with the injured. This time they could not hear the sound of the guns because the wind was in the wrong quarter. The women worked in silence for the most part, tight-lipped, each trying not to think of the carnage taking place just a few miles away, carnage whose results they could see before them in the ghastly wounds they cleaned and dressed.
Claudia knew that far worse was happening in the military hospital on the outskirts of town. Some of those brought alive off the battlefield would die in agony under the surgeon’s knife. Many who lived would be horribly maimed. She shivered inwardly, knowing that destitution awaited those whose missing limbs meant that they could no longer earn their living. England only valued her soldiers while they were fit enough to fight; after that they must make shift as best they could.
Her hands had become adept at changing bandages, her eye quick to distinguish between healthy and infected tissue. The smell of blood had become a given now, one that she scarcely noticed. Beneath it were other, more noisome, odours. Determinedly she ignored them, moving from one patient to the next with a smile here, a word there to try and keep her spirits up as much as theirs. She thought that, if she stopped working, the terror so firmly repressed might escape, and if it did she would go to pieces.
It was almost five o’clock before she and Sabrina took their leave. Although the scorching heat of the day had passed, the air was still very warm. Claudia could feel her gown sticking to her. Every part of her felt grubby. As soon as they got back to the house she would bathe and change.
When they got outside it was to find the streets thronged with people for many of the Bruxellois had opened their homes to the wounded. Others, with minor injuries, lay propped against the walls of the houses, and young boys and girls offered them water while their mothers hastened to fetch food and bandages. They paused briefly to ask for news from an old veteran whose arm reposed in a bloodied makeshift sling. Another blood-stained rag adorned his head. His torn and dirty uniform bore witness to the fact that he had been in the thick of the action.
‘This was the hottest battle I was ever in, and I’ve been in a few.’ He shook his head. ‘The dead were piled high around La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont.’
The two women paled and exchanged glances.
‘Are the Allies winning?’ asked Claudia.
‘That’s more than I know, ma’am.’
‘Do you know Major Brudenell or Colonel Falconbridge? Can you tell us anything of them?’
‘I do not know the former, but I know of Colonel Falconbridge,’ he replied. ‘He’s a fine officer by all accounts, but how he’s fared today I cannot say.’
They thanked him and bade him farewell, continuing on their way. Neither one spoke, being entirely lost in private thought, and the lack of news seemed only to add to the burden of weariness. In spite of her best efforts, Claudia could not shake off the image of the dead piled high. Was Anthony among them? Was Robert?
A few more minutes brought them back to Sabrina’s house. While she went to check on her child, Claudia retired to the guest room and stripped off her soiled garments. Having done that, she poured a basin full of water and washed herself down thoroughly before dressing again in the clean clothes that Lucy had brought for her. Then, feeling marginally better, she went downstairs.
She had barely reached the salon when she heard a chaise pull up outside. One glance through the window had her hurrying out to the hall. The butler opened the door to admit Matthew. The two exchanged a few hurried words. Then Matthew looked up and saw Claudia.
‘It’s Colonel Falconbridge, my lady. He’s been injured.’
The news was like being punched in the solar plexus. With an effort, she collected herself. ‘Bring him in at once.’
Leaving the two men to deal with that she hurried away to find Sabrina. Within minutes the Colonel had been carried up to bed. He was unconscious and deathly pale and presently wrapped in a cloak. His coat and shirt had been cut off and his upper torso was swathed in blood-stained bandages.
‘He took a ball in the left shoulder, ma’am,’ said Matthew. ‘The field surgeon dug it out, but the Colonel has lost a lot of blood. There was no more room in the hospital tents and I didn’t want him carted off to Lord knows where to wake among strangers, so I decided to bring him here.’
Sabrina was very pale too but she smiled at him gratefully. ‘Bless you, Matthew. Can you help me get his boots off?’
Between the three of them they got the wounded man undressed and into bed. When they’d made him as comfortable as possible, Claudia looked at Matthew.
‘Have you any news of my husband?’
‘Yes, my lady. He was well last time I heard.’
Claudia experienced a brief surge of relief. ‘When was that?’
‘Mid-afternoon, my lady.’ Matthew smiled faintly. ‘I had it from the men who brought Colonel Falconbridge back to the field hospital. It took them a while because the action had been particularly heavy in that part of the battlefield and there were numerous casualties. When the Colonel fell, Major Brudenell went back for him even though the troop was under threat from enemy cavalry. He got him into the protection of the square while the men provided covering fire. The troop took a battering but they repulsed the French in the end. I’d been lending a hand in the hospital, and I heard the name Falconbridge when they brought him in. I thought I’d keep an eye on him.’
‘Thank heaven,’ murmured Sabrina. ‘I am in your debt, Matthew, and in Major Brudenell’s.’
She sat down by the bedside and took hold of her husband’s hand. Claudia and Matthew withdrew to the corridor.
‘What news of the rest of the battle?
’ she asked.
‘A victory for the Allies, my lady. The French have been completely routed.’
‘What!’
‘It’s true. For a while it was a close-run thing by all accounts, but then General Blücher arrived with the Prussians, and those reinforcements turned the tide of the battle against Boney. He’s been forced to retreat.’
The sensation of relief intensified. ‘It’s over then?’
‘Not quite over, my lady. They have to find Boney first.’
‘I pray they do, and this time lock him up somewhere he’ll never escape.’
‘Trust them for that.’ Matthew smiled grimly. ‘Boney’s just lost his last throw of the dice. They won’t let him have another.’
‘You must be tired and hungry,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you go downstairs and ask the cook to give you something to eat?’
‘Thank you kindly, my lady, but I have to get back. I’ll not be easy until I’ve seen my lord alive and well.’
She managed a tremulous smile. ‘I pray you may.’
After Matthew had left, Claudia returned to her friend. ‘Do you want me to stay with you?’
‘No, I’ll sit with Robert awhile if you don’t mind.’
‘Of course. I won’t be far if you need me.’
* * *
As the evening wore on and the light started to fade, Claudia began to experience serious misgivings. What if Anthony had survived the main action only to have been caught up in one of the final skirmishes? The thought of him lying injured somewhere, and unable to call for help, preyed on her mind. Then she told herself there could be all manner of reasons why he had not come back yet; he had his men to consider, senior officers to report to, quite apart from the long ride itself. However, that didn’t stop her from rushing to the window every time she heard hoof beats on the cobbles outside. Several times she went to the door and looked out down the street.
It was just as she was about to go back indoors on the last occasion that she saw the two horsemen approaching. For a while they were too far off to make out details but as they drew closer her heart turned over. Then, regardless of all propriety, she was running down the road towards them. As they saw her coming, one of the riders dismounted and flung the reins to his companion. Then he opened his arms to the running figure and swept her off her feet in a passionate hug. Claudia’s voice caught on a sob.
‘Thank God. Thank God. I’ve been so worried.’
The Earl smiled down at her. ‘No cause, my love.’
She drew back a little, her gaze scanning him. ‘Are you all right? You’re not hurt?’
‘No, just filthy dirty and rather tired.’
‘I thought I’d lost you.’
‘No chance of that. I want the future we talked about.’
‘So do I, more than anything, but I know how much the army means to you. If you ever wanted to...’
‘The army doesn’t mean a damn thing now. I’ve just fought in my last battle.’ He drew her close. ‘I have my arms around all that I want.’
‘Are you quite certain?’
The answer was a long and passionate kiss that removed every last trace of doubt.
Epilogue
England: April 1816.
As the carriage turned in through the great wrought iron gates the Earl surveyed his wife steadily.
‘Are you sure you want to do this, Claudia? If you’ve changed your mind I’ll have Matthew turn the coach around right now.’
She shook her head. ‘I’m quite sure. It’s time to lay the ghosts of the past.’
‘All the same, I know how you feel about Ulverdale.’
‘Felt,’ she corrected gently. ‘So much has changed since then, and all for the better.’
His hand squeezed hers. ‘I have never been as happy in my life as I am now, but I don’t ever want you to be unhappy for my sake. This place...’
‘The place is not to blame,’ she replied. ‘You told me that once, and you were right. It is people who cause unhappiness, and those who were responsible for so much of it are gone. It’s up to us now, Anthony. We have a chance to create something better.’
‘I want that too.’
‘Besides, Ulverdale is your ancestral home. Your roots are here.’
‘Yes, I suppose they are,’ he said, ‘although I tried to deny it for long enough.’
‘You cannot deny who you are; none of us can, or not for very long.’
‘You’re right, of course, although it took eight years of warfare and madness to make me realise it.’
‘We have been so very lucky. There are thousands and thousands who will never have this chance.’
‘I know, and I can never be complacent about that.’
‘No-one could who lived through Waterloo,’ she replied. ‘I know that Sabrina and Robert feel the same.’
‘Their last letter said he was fit again. We must invite them to come and visit.’
‘I’d like that very much. I have missed them both.’
‘So have I.’ He hesitated. ‘I used to envy them their happy marriage. Now there is no need; we’ve found what they have.’
She smiled wryly. ‘It took us long enough, didn’t it?’
‘Too long. I don’t want to waste another second of our married lives.’
* * *
A few minutes later the carriage, followed by a chaise, drew to a halt at the foot of the steps that led to the great front doors. As the Earl helped her to alight, Claudia glanced at the imposing, grey stone frontage of the mansion and the light reflecting from a thousand leaded panes in the mullioned windows. She had not known quite how she would feel on seeing it again, but, oddly, the old resentment was conspicuous by its absence. It was just a house. All the negative associations it had once held had faded to a distant echo.
The Earl looked at her in quiet concern. ‘Ready?’
She smiled at him. ‘Ready.’
Together they went in to the hall, followed by the occupants of the chaise. The Dowager Countess was standing at the foot of the stairs, a slender, regal figure whose expression registered both hope and fear. For a moment none of them spoke. Claudia surveyed the other woman steadily but now with understanding and compassion. Married to a selfish brute and estranged from her son, she had known her share of bitterness too. It was time to change that.
Then Anthony stepped forward. ‘Mamma.’
She saluted him warmly and then looked over his shoulder to where Claudia was standing. The older woman smiled tremulously.
‘Claudia, I am so very pleased to see you.’
‘And I to see you, ma’am.’ She came forward and took the outstretched hands in her own, squeezing them gently. ‘It has been a long time, has it not?’
‘Too long.’ The Dowager Countess’ eyes met hers. ‘Welcome home, my dear.’
‘We thought you might like to meet your grandson,’ said Anthony. He took the child from the nurse who had accompanied them, and brought him closer. ‘This is Henry.’
The older woman took him carefully and smiled through tears. ‘He’s beautiful, and he looks just like you.’
Anthony grinned. ‘Yes, but I’m hoping he’ll take after his mother in everything else.’
* * *
When her visitors had taken some refreshment and talked awhile, the Dowager Countess left them to themselves until dinnertime.
‘We will have plenty of time to talk later,’ she said. ‘At the moment you must be tired after your journey. Perhaps you might like to rest, or to get some fresh air after being shut up so long in a carriage.’
The latter suggestion was readily accepted.
* * *
For a while they strolled in companionable silence, enjoying each other’s company and the warm s
pring sunshine. Newly-opened daffodils filled the air with their scent. Claudia breathed it contentedly, her gaze taking in the colourful beds and green lawns stretching away towards the lake and the wood.
‘I had forgotten how beautiful it is,’ she said.
‘And I.’ He sighed. ‘But, you were right; it is a part of me.’
‘Ulverdale doesn’t release its hold easily, does it?’
‘No. Perhaps it wants a future too.’
‘Well, now it has its wish. I want our son to grow up knowing his ancestral home. Besides, this place needs children.’
For a moment he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly. ‘Children?’
‘I’d rather our son wasn’t alone, you see.’ She paused. ‘I was hoping you might help me there.’
‘You may take it as read but...well, are you sure, Claudia? I mean, after Henry’s birth you might not want...’
‘I’m not going to pretend I wasn’t afraid, but he is worth every bit of the effort it took to bring him into the world.’
‘You weren’t the only one who was afraid,’ he replied. ‘It was the longest night of my life.’
‘But we came through it.’
‘What you did was the bravest thing I’ve ever known anyone do.’
‘I won’t be afraid next time.’
He took her gently by the shoulders. ‘You’re absolutely sure it’s what you want?’
‘I was never more certain of anything.’
‘You may be certain of my love for you.’ He drew her closer. ‘It’s only fair to warn you that you’re about to be kissed, and that it’s likely to go on for some time.’
Claudia’s eyes sparkled. ‘Do I have any say in the
matter?’
‘No,’ he replied. ‘None at all.’
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt of Some Like It Wicked by Carole Mortimer!
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