Sophie Prunier was delighted to meet the Duke of Marlborough and be received with the courtesy for which he was renowned. While she freely volunteered information about her stay in the French camp, she took care to pass on nothing of real value to the Allied commander. Since he was fluent in French, it was Adam Cardonnel who actually questioned her while Marlborough looked on.
‘What else can you tell us, mademoiselle?’ he probed.
‘Only that I never wish to return to that camp again,’ she said, fearfully. ‘You are the enemy yet you’ve treated me with more respect than my own countrymen. I thank you for that.’
‘You’ll come to no harm here.’
‘That’s what Lieutenant Bouteron promised me. I’d never have dared to accept his invitation otherwise. I’d hate you to think that I’m the sort of woman who would encourage what the lieutenant had in mind. When he revealed his true colours,’ she went on, ‘I was shocked beyond belief.’
‘It’s obviously been a great trial for you.’
‘I can’t bear even to think about it.’
‘The sooner we can reunite you with your family, the better.’
‘My parents are away at the moment, monsieur,’ she told him. ‘Would it be possible for me to stay here for a few days?’
‘Naturally,’ said Marlborough. ‘Stay as long as you wish.’
‘We’ll provide accommodation for you,’ added Cardonnel.
‘What about dear Amalia?’ she asked. ‘Will she be going home to Amsterdam now?’
‘No, Mademoiselle Janssen will also remain here.’
‘Then I hope to see her because I owe her so much. Amalia was such a wonderful support to me. And without her, I’d still be held in custody at that dreadful camp.’
‘You were fortunate to be there when Captain Rawson arrived.’
Sophie beamed. ‘He’s the person I must really thank,’ she said with apparent conviction. ‘When may I see him?’
‘Not for a while, I’m afraid,’ said Cardonnel. ‘He has urgent business elsewhere.’
‘Yes,’ explained Marlborough in his halting French. ‘He’s gone back to the place from which he rescued you.’
‘Whatever for?’ she gasped.
‘It’s a matter of honour, mademoiselle.’
‘Oh?’
‘Captain Rawson has to retrieve his sword.’
‘I don’t understand,’ she said, interest aroused. ‘Why did he leave this sword there in the first place? And how will he get it back?’
Daniel spent the night sleeping under the stars with Henry Welbeck. The patrol set off at dawn, taking the deserters back to the Allied camp. Matthew Searle and his men were a sorry sight, blackened by the fire, wearing almost nothing, seated astride their horses with their hands tied behind their backs. When the column moved off, Welbeck couldn’t resist waving farewell to Edwin Lock.
‘They’ll never wear redcoats again,’ said the sergeant with gruff satisfaction. ‘Their uniforms were destroyed by fire. I just hope that we get back in time to see them executed.’
‘Their fate is irrelevant now, Henry,’ said Daniel. ‘We need to think only of what lies ahead.’
‘Yes…a pointless search for something you’ll never find.’
‘You told me I’d never find those deserters.’
‘That was different, Dan. You had clues to help you.’
‘I have even more clues as to the whereabouts of my sword,’ said Daniel. ‘It’s hidden beneath the seat in the wagon I borrowed from Ralph Higgins. All I have to do is to track it down.’
‘And will the whole French army put their hands over their eyes while you’re doing that?’
‘They won’t even know that I’m there.’
Welbeck shook his head. ‘It’s far too risky — even for you.’
‘I’ve been in and out of that camp before.’
‘You’re tempting Providence by trying to do it again, Dan.’
‘I want that sword.’
‘Does it really mean that much to you?’
‘Yes,’ replied Daniel. ‘The day I picked up that weapon, I came of age. It was the moment I knew I’d be a soldier.’
‘I had a moment like that,’ said Welbeck, sorrowfully, ‘and I’ve regretted it for the rest of my life.’
Daniel laughed. ‘That’s arrant nonsense and you know it. We’re two of a kind, Henry — born soldiers with the urge to fight.’
‘The only urge I have is to stay alive and I’m not likely to do that if I go barging into the French camp with you.’
‘That’s exactly why you’ll stay outside and wait for me.’
‘And how long am I to wait?’ asked Welbeck.
‘Until you’re certain that I’m not coming out again.’
‘Then what do I do?’
‘Come in search of me, of course.’
Welbeck shuddered. ‘And how am I supposed to do that?’
‘Oh, you’ll think of something,’ said Daniel, happily. ‘That’s why I brought you with me.’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Amalia Janssen had been so exhausted by the events of recent days that she slept without interruption for almost fourteen hours. She awoke with the delicious feeling that she was free, unharmed and completely safe. A letter from Marlborough had been dispatched to Amsterdam to assure her father that she was alive and it had been accompanied by a scribbled note from Amalia. Knowing how guilt-stricken Beatrix would be, she’d made a point of absolving her from any blame for the abduction. In making sure that her father and her servant would no longer fret over her disappearance, she’d removed a crushing weight from her mind. Unfortunately, it had been replaced by a lighter but not inconsiderable one.
‘When did Captain Rawson leave?’ asked Sophie Prunier.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Amalia.
‘Didn’t he bid you farewell?’
‘No, Sophie, he left Lieutenant Ainley to do that on his behalf. Daniel — Captain Rawson, I mean — knew that I’d try to persuade him to stay here.’
‘Would he have listened to you?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Yet he was not under orders to go, was he?’
‘No, it was his decision.’
‘The Duke of Marlborough called it a matter of honour.’
‘We might not think so,’ said Amalia, ‘but that’s how Captain Rawson would see it.’
The two women were pleased to be reunited and were sharing a late breakfast in the tent assigned to Amalia. Both of them had been able to wash off the filth collected during their escape and clean clothing had been found for them, albeit of a utilitarian kind. As they ate their meal, Amalia explained why Daniel’s sword had such a symbolic importance in his life. Sophie began to understand why he was driven to retrieve it.
‘Do you feel afraid for him?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I do — very afraid.’
‘It’s a reckless thing to do. I’m surprised that the Duke of Marlborough let him take the risk.’
‘His Grace knows what that sword means. After all, it was he who presented it to him. Captain Rawson was only ten when he used that sword to prevent his mother from being-’
‘Yes, yes,’ said Sophie, interrupting. ‘There’s no need to talk about that. It seems that British soldiers can be just as brutish as the French. It’s disgusting.’
Amalia was tentative. ‘Did you tell His Grace what happened?’
‘How could I? It was too embarrassing.’
‘Lieutenant Bouteron should be called to account.’
‘I’d sooner forget his foul name.’
‘He should be punished.’
‘It would be a case of his word against mine,’ said Sophie. ‘If I made a complaint, it would be heard by the duc de Vendome and he’ll always support his officers. That’s the tragedy of it all, Amalia. I have no recourse to justice. I have to bear my disgrace.’
‘It’s not a disgrace — it was forced upon you.’
‘I’d much rather pretend it never happened.’
‘Somebody should pay,’ insisted Amalia.
Sophie looked dejected. ‘I wish that they would.’
They ate on in silence for a while then Sophie brightened a little.