‘Women would help to pass the time.’
‘They’d encumber us and there’s an end to it.’
‘We miss them, Matt. It’s one of the reasons we deserted.’
‘You’ll have your share of cunny before too long,’ promised Searle with a grin. ‘I’ve picked out the next farm already. I went over there last week to get the lie of the land. There’s a buxom wife, two daughters and two servants. That’s five lovely women between us. Pass the news around to the men. We’ll take our pleasure with them before we send them up to heaven in dancing flames.’
Lock was thrilled. ‘I like the sound of that,’ he said, panting. ‘British soldiers will have another victory to enjoy.’
‘Not this time, Edwin.’
‘No?’
‘This farm is in enemy territory so we’ll change sides. Look out those blue uniforms we collected,’ ordered Searle. ‘When we burn down the next farm and swive the women, we’ll be troopers in the French cavalry.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
Conversations with Vendome were usually unpleasant occasions but the duc de Burgundy found them almost unbearable when they took place early in the morning. While the devout Burgundy began each new day by offering up his prayers, Vendome preferred to occupy his chaise-percee, his camp lavatory, writing letters, issuing orders and receiving visitors while seated with his breeches around his ankles. When Burgundy called on him that morning and saw him in his customary position, he took care to stand a few yards away. It was a revolting sight for such a fastidious man.
‘I need to speak to you about Major Crevel,’ he began.
‘There’s no such person,’ replied Vendome, brusquely. ‘Crevel has been reduced to the ranks where he belongs.’
‘You are too hasty, my lord Duke. Crevel is a fine officer with a good record. More to the point, he comes from a family with a long history of military excellence.’
‘He besmirched that history and deserves his fate.’
‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ said Burgundy, noting the copious tobacco stains on Vendome’s shirt. ‘I would have acted rather differently in this matter.’
‘Are you saying that you’d promote that imbecile?’
‘Major Crevel is not an imbecile. He’s an intelligent man.’
‘Then why did he let himself get ensnared so easily by an enemy spy? Why did he get so drunk that he could be kidnapped, stripped of his uniform and left in a ditch? What glimmer of intelligence can you perceive in that? No,’ Vendome went on, ‘I stand by my action. When a man shows himself unworthy of his position — and when he lets himself be humiliated like that — he merits instant dismissal.’
‘That’s for me to decide.’
‘I disagree, my lord.’
‘The matter should have been referred to me.’
‘That was quite unnecessary. After all,’ said Vendome with ill-concealed sarcasm, ‘you have a vast army to lead. You have to draw up a plan of campaign that will end in a famous French victory. Why should you bother about such trivialities as the demotion of a useless officer?’
‘I don’t regard it as trivial,’ retorted Burgundy. ‘In responding the way that you did, you set a bad example.’
‘I think I set a very good example. The best way to preserve discipline is to crack the whip from time to time. And I’ve always believed that officers should be punished severely if their conduct warrants it. You, of course,’ he added with a patronising smile, ‘have much less experience of dealing with this sort of problem so you are bound to flounder.’
Burgundy blenched. ‘I am not floundering, my lord Duke!’
‘The matter is closed. Why not leave it at that?’
‘Because,’ said the other, ‘I do not choose to do so.’
‘Forget Crevel. I have.’
‘I can’t do that, I’m afraid. The major has appealed directly to me and shown true remorse. He admits his folly and has vowed to be more circumspect in future. Heavens!’ he exclaimed. ‘If every officer who gets involved in a drinking bout is to be punished, then we’ll have nobody left to lead the men.’
‘I’ve nothing against drink,’ said Vendome, expansively. ‘I love it myself. However, I despise men who can’t hold their wine and make themselves vulnerable as a result. In his stupor, Crevel gave away valuable information about us.’
‘He concedes that and is duly repentant.’
‘So?’
‘I believe you should reconsider your decision.’
Vendome gesticulated theatrically. ‘Why are we talking about the fate of one man,’ he asked, ‘when we have a hundred thousand to take into account? Why waste our breath on a miserable wretch like Crevel? I thought that he’d at least accept his punishment with some grace but it was too much to ask. Instead, he goes crawling on his hands and knees to you.’
‘There’s a reason for that,’ said Burgundy.
‘Yes…he’s a snivelling toad.’
‘No, my lord Duke, he happens to be a distant relative of mine.’
‘Ah!’ said Vendome, sitting back. ‘Now we come to it.’
‘I want him restored to his rank.’
‘Were he your own brother, I’d not do that.’
Burgundy recoiled slightly from this open challenge to his authority. Anger slowly built inside him, mingling with the revulsion he felt at having a discussion in such gross circumstances. There was a long, strained silence. It was eventually shattered by Vendome who broke wind with such trumpeting violence that he forced Burgundy to take a few steps backwards.
‘May I remind you,’ said Vendome, mustering what dignity he could from his undignified position, ‘that Crevel is under my direct command.’
‘And may I remind you,’ countered Burgundy with a sharp edge in his voice, ‘that I have overall command of the army. In short, my lord Duke, I am the final court of appeal here. My judgement is that Major Crevel should resume his rank.’
Vendome was horrified. ‘Is he to suffer no penalty at all?’
‘Being admonished by you was a penalty in itself, I suspect. When he left your quarters, he did so in the utmost disgrace and that, I believe, had a sobering effect on him. I fancy that he’ll be a credit to his uniform from now on.’
‘I insist that my decision is upheld.’
‘Protest is pointless,’ said Burgundy. ‘You’ve been overruled.’
‘I see,’ said Vendome, simmering. ‘In that case, my lord, perhaps you’d be good enough to point out any other distant relatives you have in this army before I inadvertently rob them of their commissions as well. As for Crevel, what he did was tantamount to betrayal. He readily offered information to a British spy.’
‘He was tricked into doing so. Instead of taking out your spite on the major, you should be chasing the man who hoodwinked him.’
‘I am already doing so.’
Burgundy was startled. ‘Really?’
‘I take this lapse very seriously, my lord,’ said Vendome. ‘I’ll not rest until we have full retribution. At this very moment, someone in the enemy camp is trying to identify the man who exposed Crevel as the inept, unguarded, drunken fool that he is. But then,’ he went on, acidly, ‘since the man is a relative of yours, you’d be familiar with the many flaws in his character.’
In spite of his many other commitments, Daniel Rawson made sure that he never neglected sword practice. The weapon was much more to him than the difference between life and death. It had great symbolic value. It had marked his premature coming of age when, as a boy of ten, he’d used the sword to kill its owner, a cavalry sergeant trying to rape Daniel’s mother. Presented to him by the man who was now captain general of the Confederate army, it had been kept at Daniel’s home in Amsterdam for years until he earned the commission that allowed him to wear a sword. Long before that time, however, he’d learnt how to use the weapon, mastering the finer points of swordplay and developing the strength of his right arm. The blade was always kept clean and razor sharp.