Into Spain with the 30th! by Withecombe Brian

Author:Withecombe, Brian [Withecombe, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-23T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

After leading the Troop back to barracks and dropping off his kit at in his quarters, James’s first visit was to Wellington’s HQ to try to find out if any useful information had been obtained from the French prisoners, although he doubted any of them aside from the Captain and his sergeant might know anything.

He was very surprised when he found himself being ushered into the presence of Wellington himself. “Ah, Captain Trevelyan! I trust I find you well sir?”

“Yes, thank you my Lord.”

“Sorry again about that acting-rank. It is indeed a great pity that Major Toomey has been able to claim the position you were most ably occupying until shortly. I do wish that I could be asked sometimes about the officers who Horse Guards decide to foist on me in important positions. Have you any idea when your Colonel will be back?”

“None my Lord, and….”

“And you doubt Major Toomey would give you that information even if he knew himself, is that it?” James stayed silent. Wellington changed tack. “You will not have had the chance to see very much of Miss daSilva of course?”

“No sir, apart from that reception several days ago of course.”

“Yes, well it seems that Major Toomey has been seeing quite a bit of her. He has been seen in her company recently.”

“Perhaps she prefers a more senior officer my Lord.”

Wellington laughed. “I doubt that Captain. You will, however, continue with what was discussed with Colonel Kavanagh?”

“Of course sir.”

“Very well. Carry on then if you please Captain, and…ah…good to have you back.”

James returned to his quarters to find Ellen McCarthy tidying up. “I have your laundry sir and I’ll get it done as soon as I can. Makes a change though.”

“What does?”

“No blood on your clothes to get out!” Then she disappeared, having given him one of her cheeky smiles. He dropped on to his bed and in moments was fast asleep. Before he did so, however, he resolved to pay a visit to where the daSilvas were now living in the hope he might find something. Cassandra daSilva had indeed paid a visit to his quarters whilst he had been away, and had been very disappointed he was not there.

That evening, he had no duties to perform and Major Toomey was once again escorting Cassandra daSilva to some private function, so he decided to pay a visit to the house he now had the details of, although it was going to be, he hoped, a somewhat surreptitious one. It was a chilly night so he was glad of the cloak he wrapped around himself, and which hid his uniform as he strode through the streets following the directions he had been given. He passed a number of rowdy hostelries where many infantrymen were obviously getting well and truly drunk, and nodded politely to some of the Provost-marshal’s men who were clearly awaiting the chance to arrest some of them.

As he reached what he knew was the final corner before the street where the house

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