“I have not read this yet, for I wanted you to see it first. It involves how they want to proceed.”
Her father discreetly took the note and walked on again, to a bench farther along where he would be out of sight of the house to read its contents. It seemed he knew his lieutenant’s habits quite well.
Catalina sat and waited while her father read the note.
“He is being given the rope with which to hang himself.” Returning, he sat down beside her with a little groan.
Catalina placed her arm on his. “Perhaps. Yet this way he will still have an opportunity to prove his innocence. It is better to know, Papa. If he is the traitor, we must know. He has duped all of us.”
He looked away. She knew he was upset. This was very personal for her father. “I had hoped to discover the betrayer myself and avoid the shame to our name, our country.”
She had known he would feel this way. “Every country has traitors. Thankfully it has been discovered before anything truly bad has happened.”
“I do not think we can know what the true damage is. And if the villain is not Dion, what then?”
“We will know soon enough. Major Knight is going to pretend to court me and deliver information directly to me that way.” She tried not to sound churlish as she explained the plan to him.
Her father noticed the timbre in her voice and looked at her in a knowing fashion anyway.
“Be careful, mi querida. He is not one with whom you can play your games.”
Catalina needed no warning that Major Knight was dangerous. Every instinct had told her that from the first moment she had been near him.
“We should return. I have no doubts Dion is champing at the bit to know what we have been discussing.”
Catalina snorted rudely as she rose from the bench. “I have never been a friend of his, but I do not wish him to be a traitor.”
Her father stood and took her arm to escort her back to the house. “There was a time when I hoped he might be a candidate for your hand, but it quickly became apparent you would not suit.”
Catalina bit back a retort.
Her father sighed. She was well aware he carried the weight of the country on his shoulders. “He will soon be gone. I will send him away on this commission to Burgos. He will either prove his allegiance or commit treason.”
Catalina reached up and kissed her father on the cheek. “He has never deserved your patronage, Papa.”
“No, he has not. And he certainly does not deserve you, guilty or no.”
Chapter Four
Wellington had arrived by the time Felix returned to Headquarters. He was anxious to push the French into the mountains, and wanted to move forward immediately. An invitation was sent for Mendoza and his daughter to join them for dinner, along with a couple of staff officers. Felix dressed with care, then went downstairs to brief the general on the plan he had made with Colonel Hill.
“Knight,” Wellington greeted him as he entered the room. It was a drawing room that had been transformed into what they referred to as the war room. Tables had been lined up for meetings and work, large enough to accommodate maps and plan although at the moment they bore reports. Several maps covered the walls. The walls were plaster and the floors were of old Spanish hickory. A soft breeze wafted through the open windows, and Everleigh, Owens and Hill sat in worn leather chairs, while the commander surveyed some reports.
“Hill told me of his plan to send a lieutenant of Mendoza’s to Burgos. I do not think I wish to let him out of our sight. It will set up his suspicions,” Wellington said thoughtfully.
“Pray it is not already too late,” Hill replied. “Knight delivered a letter to Mendoza this afternoon.”
“Then let us hope he has not put anything into motion yet, or Knight will find himself chasing the lieutenant.”
“Mendoza and his daughter will be here for dinner. We can ask him presently.”
“Ah, yes, the lovely Catalina,” Wellington remarked with an appreciative smile.
“Were you aware, sir, that she spies for him?” Felix asked.
“No, but I am not at all surprised. I have little doubt she could squeeze secrets out of a rock.” He furrowed his brow.
“Knight discovered her when he went to examine documents at the villa. I have directed him to pretend to court her.”
“As good a plan as any,” Wellington agreed. He chuckled. “If anyone can be convincing, it is Knight.”
“Please do not tell me I must take her to Burgos. Bear-leading is not my forte.”
“For Lady Catalina, I could be persuaded,” Owens teased in his flippant manner.
Wellington ignored that remark. “Tomorrow we press north. I have an excellent notion of how to surprise Jourdan and Joseph by surrounding them on four sides. I will tell Mendoza tonight I have already put the plan in motion.”
“With respect, sir,” Hill interposed, “is it wise to alert the Spanish? Might it not be better to wait until the last minute? Will such notice not give the surprise away to the frogs? ’Twas why we thought to send the lieutenant away.”
“Enemies are better kept close,” Wellington said to no one in particular, “but I take your point.” He shook his head. “That puts all of your eggs in the lieutenant basket and the snitch could be any number of people.”
“So, I am to court the lady and keep a close eye on the lieutenant?” Felix asked.
“Yes, and we will wait until the last moment to apprise Mendoza of our intentions, when it will be too late to alert the French.” Wellington walked over to a map on the wall. “This is where I intend to push them, and we will surround them here, here, here and here.” He stabbed the paper with his finger at four points surrounding the French encampment. “Of course, they do not always cooperate, and we will adjust as necessary. Owens and Everleigh, you will ride on towards Burgos, where Joseph is, no doubt, comfortable on his sofa with bonbons, admiring the Spanish jewels.”
“The usual, sir?” Everleigh asked. “Asking discreet questions, pretending to look for billeting?”
“Aye, that should be enough. If that does not set them on the road back to France, I do not know what will. Knight, you will do similar with the Spanish contingent. I will think on it and let you know how I wish to proceed. We will travel with them.”
A carriage pulled up in front of the house, and Wellington looked out of the window. “It looks as though our guests are arriving.” He took some papers from the table, rolled them up and tucked them into his coat.
Felix could hear Catalina and General Mendoza being shown into a smaller parlor across the hall. They had all risen and straightened their dress uniform jackets in order to greet the visitors. One of their batmen had already begun serving wine; they performed a dual function since it was impossible to travel with a full complement of servants. Lieutenant Colonel Roberts and Lord Rollings also joined them.
Lady Catalina looked as perfect as the flamenco dolls Spanish shops displayed in their windows. Tonight she wore a lace mantilla over her dark locks, and a bright red and white flowing gown trimmed in the same lace. Felix would prefer to see her dressed in a simple gown, with her hair about her shoulders. He knew she would be even more beautiful thus.
As they greeted each other, Major Silva and Captain Molina were announced. They were the trusted officers from the Portuguese contingent.
Having old acquaintance, Wellington kissed Lady Catalina’s hand. He was a great flirt and always enjoyed a beautiful face. However, Felix knew that he was looking at her in a new light and assessing her through the compliments he made. Wellington was very keen. He turned once more to speak with Mendoza and then led him off to one side, so Felix was able to claim Lady Catalina’s attention while Everleigh and Owens distracted the Portuguese officers. They had worked together for long enough that it was a seamless operation.
“Good evening,” he said, looking her in the eye as he kissed the air above her hand. She watched with some amusement.
“We play the
game already?” she asked. Her violet eyes twinkled.
“But of course. We will make such an excellent show of courting that even our friends will question if it is genuine.”
“In that case…” She batted her eyes at him, causing him to laugh. “It is good to know I have not lost my abilities. It is also good to know you can laugh.”
“I am a man of many talents. I am certain you will soon discover that fact for yourself.”
She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head just so, as Eugenia would phrase it. Lady Catalina was very good at playing this game of flirtation. Even Felix was not completely convinced it was just a game, but he would not let himself be drawn in to then make a fool of himself—at least inwardly. He was certain Lady Catalina, when she decided to marry, would catch a very big fish.
“Plans have changed since we spoke earlier. Has your father sent Dion away yet?” He leaned very close and almost whispered in her ear, as though he was saying something for her ears only. He was, but not what most people would suspect if they were watching them.
She smiled and flashed her eyes at him. “Papa has not said a word to him yet. He wanted to think it over and speak about it with Wellington, when he heard the commander was arrived.”
“Excellent,” Felix said and took his eyes off the lady to survey the room. “If looks could kill, Molina and Rollings would have flayed me alive. Were they serious suitors before?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “They will do you no harm.”
“I do not wish to be called out, nevertheless.”
“No promises have been made, Major.”
“Good. I would hate to have to admit to them that this is a farce. Although, they who know me well, will not be fooled if I become sunshine and roses with you.”
“It happens to the best of us sooner or later,” she warned.
“I expect, my lady, that we can, and shall, remain professional.” He felt the need to say that to himself and to her.
“Do not make it sound so charming,” she retorted.
“Tell me about the lieutenant,” Felix said. “What is he like in a casual setting?”
She narrowed her eyes to think. “My feminine instincts do not care for him. He toad-eats my father. I would not have thought him to have the shrewdness to be a traitor.”
“Often, men like him are the puppets and there is someone else pulling the strings.”
*
The next day they packed up and began the trek north. With any luck, Catalina reflected, King Joseph would flee back to France, and the army with him. On some days she enjoyed following the drum but on other days, like today, she longed to be back at Villa Blanca. Sometimes spying was exciting, though she had never done anything horribly dangerous. Mostly, however, her task was to ferret secrets from people who thought a young female too silly to guard their tongues in her company.
So far, she did not know what to make of Major Lord Felix Knight. It was somewhat ironic that he be the one to pretend to court her when it was the last thing he had on his mind, she was certain. He was roguishly handsome and she had noticed how other ladies looked at him. He was not fond of the attention; nor was she, for that matter. In this, she could relate to him. However, Catalina still wanted to claw the eyes out of every female that fawned and flirted over him for purely empathetic reasons, of course.
“That will do, Maria,” she said to her maid, who had finished putting up her hair to go under her hat. She intended to ride as much as possible today, for she always felt ill inside a carriage on the winding mountain roads.
After breaking her fast on some rolls and coffee, Catalina stood patiently while Maria pinned her hat atop her head. It was a blue riding habit with gold braided trimming in the style of the Spanish uniform. She thought it was rather clever, since she traveled with the army.
Outside, their luggage wagon and carriage were already piled high with trunks and supplies, and her grey Andalusian mare, Luna, was saddled and waiting for her, as were her father and Lieutenant Dion.
“Good morning, mi querida,” her father said.
“Good morning, Papa, Dion.” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed her father’s cheek as she pulled on one riding glove. “How far do we travel today?”
“I could not say. We travel with Wellington and his staff.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Does this not please you? I thought you would want to be near your latest flirt.”
“Papa, please.” She swatted him with her remaining glove and felt her cheeks heat a little. “It matters not to me. I can keep up with any Englishman.”
Her father laughed. “Of course you can, querida.”
She pulled on her other glove and accepted her father’s lift into the saddle. She settled her skirts around her while she tried to settle her insides. What was the matter with her?
They set off to ride the few streets to where Wellington was already waiting on Copenhagen with Major Knight and Colonel Hill.
Wellington tipped his tricorn hat to them and they fell into the line, two by two, Wellington beside Hill, Dion next to her papa, and Major Knight next to her.
“You look… patriotic this morning,” he said, looking at her, clearly very amused.
She lifted her chin into the air and glared at him as their horses tried to greet each other.
“Is this how the English say good morning?” she asked tartly.
“I beg your pardon. You look ravishing. Is that better?” He did not look the slightest bit repentant.
She twisted her lips. “No, I think I prefer your honesty, even if it is brutal.”
“Now, that is something my sister frequently accuses me of.”
“Oh, I am to be treated like a sister. That is most reassuring,” she said dryly, although it piqued her pride to know he thought of her as a little girl.
They negotiated traffic through the city, and once they were free of the narrow streets, she watched him in the saddle with approval and some envy. She would dearly love to ride astride for these long journeys, but Papa would not hear of her looking anything but the most proper lady. It was no small matter of pride for him to think he had raised her properly after her mother’s death.
“Why the long face?” Major Knight asked. She had not known he was watching her as well.
“I was thinking of my mother,” she admitted as they cantered through the countryside, a wide, pleasant valley dotted with trees and farms leading them north-east away from the cathedral city of Salamanca. The road was wide, smooth and well suited to travel by carriage, and they made good progress. Lines of cork oaks provided shade from the scorching sun, and there were far-reaching views to be enjoyed across rich pasture and fields of corn toward the distant mountains in the west.
“What was she like, your mother?” he asked, probably only to make conversation to help the miles pass more quickly.
Catalina laughed. “She was beautiful and spirited and witty. I miss her every day.”
“My parents died when I was but three. I wish I had more memories of them.”
Catalina nodded. “I was twelve, a very hard time for a girl to lose her mother. I was not a girl, but not yet a woman.”
“I imagine that would be difficult. I remember my sister Eugenia trying to navigate those waters with four overbearing brothers to guide her. My eldest brother lost his own youth and became a parent to us all.”
“You are lucky to have siblings. I think I would have managed better with a brother or sister. It was often lonely.”
“I am one of five,” Major Knight offered. “I am very blessed…” His voice trailed off as though he was lost in memories.
“Why do I sense hesitation?”
“I have recently come from England. I spent a couple of months with them.” He shook his head. “I love them dearly, but I am not like them.”
She nodded in comprehension. “Being a soldier is a very different life. I do not envy you when it ends and you must return to what people
consider normal. They have no idea what you experience.”
Their eyes met in understanding, but he looked away. Catalina wondered what this man had suffered. Papa had said that, until recently, Major Knight had been imprisoned.
“I am pleased we are going north,” she said, changing the subject. “If I am lucky, we will go near my home.”
“And where is that?” Major Knight asked.
“The Basque country. It sits in the valley below the Pyrenees. It is the most beautiful place on earth. Vineyards cover the hills, and on a clear day you can see the sea.” She smiled. “I am biased, but perhaps you may see for yourself.”
“I would like that. The rolling landscape reminds me of England,” Felix remarked, with a bit of longing in his voice.
She smiled at him, and sensed that he had decided to treat her like his little sister. Perhaps it was safer, but she did not wish to be thought of in that way. She wanted to be taken seriously.
That night the company bivouacked in a wood and she was able to show the major that a night under canvas held no fears for her, although if truth be known, she was glad of a respite from the saddle. They set off again at first light and marched on all morning, the terrain gradually ascending as they crossed the central basin of the Peninsula.
They stopped for a few minutes, alongside the River Douro, to water the horses and have a light meal in the shade. A large group of soldiers encircled them as they ate. Catalina had known there were people in front of and behind them, protecting the commander’s entourage, but she had not seen them until now.
The day was growing hot, with the sun high in the sky and no clouds. It was preferable to being sodden to the bone and bogged down with muddy roads, but it would not be a comfortable afternoon. However, she would not complain. No, nothing caused fellow soldiers to lose their respect more than complaining. She may not set her face against the enemy directly on the battlefield, but she considered herself a soldier, nevertheless.
“You are deep in thought, Señorita,” Major Knight said from beside her. She had thought he had fallen asleep, since he was resting his eyes.
The Dark of Knight Page 4