Daniel grinned. ‘There’s not much chance of doing that.’
‘You can’t fool me, Dan Rawson. I’ve got your true measure. You simply can’t resist a pretty face and a nice pair of bubbies.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Henry. My roving days are over. I’ve finally met the woman I want above all others.’
Welbeck was sardonic. ‘That’s what you tell each and every one of them,’ he said. ‘But when you’ve had a gallop on your latest filly, you probably can’t even remember her name.’
‘I have a name that I’ll never forget,’ said Daniel as an image of Amalia Janssen popped into his mind. ‘And it’s very precious to me. But,’ he added, ‘I didn’t come here to discuss my private life. I’m here because I missed seeing your ugly old face.’
‘Flattery will get you nowhere, you damnable liar.’
They shared a laugh and embraced.
Spring had brought the army out of winter quarters and Daniel had returned to his regiment. He’d watched Welbeck drilling his men with a stentorian voice that cowed them into obedience. Those who fell below the sergeant’s high standards earned themselves some harsh criticism. They soon learnt to march in step and in line. Daniel had waited until his friend had dismissed the troops before he stepped forward to surprise him. Welbeck’s mockery didn’t offend him in the least because it was grounded in affection.
‘So,’ said the sergeant, ‘where have you been?’
‘Here, there and everywhere, Henry.’
‘And where might that be?’
‘Well, I spent some time in England at the start of the year.’
‘I doubt if I’ll ever do that again,’ moaned Welbeck. ‘This bleeding war will drag on for ever.’
‘Don’t be so pessimistic,’ said Daniel.
‘We take one step forward and two back. After we battered the Frenchies at Ramillies, I was rash enough to believe that the end might finally be in sight. But what happened?’ he asked, jabbing a belligerent finger in the air. ‘Last year we managed to lose almost everything we’d gained the year before. Marshal Villars stormed the Lines of Stollhofen before surging on into Germany and any hope we had of making headway in Spain vanished at the battle of Almanza. As for the naval attack on Toulon, it came to nothing — just like every other bloody thing we tried to do. I sometimes wonder if our so-called commanders have a clue how to win this war.’
‘Now that’s unfair, Henry.’
‘Is it? I don’t think so. We’re supposed to be part of the Grand Alliance but, if you ask me, it’s neither grand nor allied.’
Daniel grimaced. ‘I’d have to agree with that.’
‘Time and time again, we’ve been let down by the Dutch or by some other foreign frigging idiots who are meant to be on our side.’
‘Be careful,’ warned Daniel, indulgently. ‘Bear in mind that my dear mother was Dutch. I’m one of those foreign frigging idiots you’re talking about.’
‘I knew there was something peculiar about you.’ He slapped his friend familiarly on the shoulder. ‘Nevertheless, it’s good to have you back in camp again, Dan.’
‘Thank you.’
‘And while you’ve been gallivanting here, there and everywhere, I’ve not been idle. I’ve been thinking about those British soldiers who burnt that farm down.’
‘Yes, they’re still very much on my mind as well.’
‘According to Lieutenant Ainley, they’ve added some other victims to their list.’
‘Oh?’
‘Reports came in of another farm razed to the ground. The people who lived there were burnt to a cinder and all the livestock was driven off. Whoever these buggers are,’ he went on, rancorously, ‘they obviously eat well. While they have fresh pork and as much beef as they want, we’re stuck on army rations.’
‘How do you know it was the same men?’
‘A witness saw them riding away from the blaze and claims they wore red uniforms. There can’t be two raiding parties of British soldiers who like killing people and starting bonfires.’
‘I agree,’ said Daniel. ‘It’s too big a coincidence. They must be from one of our cavalry regiments. What puzzles me is why they’re trying to spread terror throughout the countryside. That will only turn people against us.’
‘Corporal John is always telling us to be kind to local farmers. After all, we’re not fighting against them. We’re supposed to treat them well, not burn them to death in their homes.’
‘I mentioned the first incident to His Grace.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He was as shaken as we were, Henry. He’s determined to find out who brought such disgrace on a British uniform.’
‘And what else did he say?’ wondered Welbeck. ‘Did he have any idea at all how to achieve peace or are we going to keep floundering on for another year?’
‘We won’t flounder,’ said Daniel. ‘There’s a definite plan.’
Welbeck raised a sceptical eyebrow. ‘Really…what is it?’
‘I’m not at liberty to tell you the full details but I’ve just come from The Hague where His Grace met with Grand Pensionary Heinsius and with Prince Eugene of Savoy.’
‘What did the three of them do — play cards together?’
‘Don’t be so cynical, Henry.’
‘I’d just like to know where the hell we’re going.’
‘Nowhere.’
‘Oh, I see. We just stay here and twiddle our thumbs, do we?’
‘Of course not,’ said Daniel. ‘We remain in Flanders. This is where the decisive action will take place. It’s one of the things I found out while I was sniffing around in Paris.’
‘Which general’s wife did you seduce this time?’
‘That opportunity didn’t arise and, even if it had, I’d never have taken it.’
Welbeck rolled his eyes. ‘You expect me to believe that?’
While gathering intelligence, Daniel had a reputation for resorting to any means necessary. On a previous stay in Paris, he’d befriended and wooed Berenice, neglected wife of General Salignac. It never occurred to her that some of the things she confided about her husband’s commitments by way of pillow talk were duly passed on to the Duke of Marlborough. She’d been a useful, if unwitting, source of military information. In trying to combine espionage with pleasure, however, Daniel had taken an enormous risk, a fact later borne in upon him when the cuckolded general sent two men to kill him.
‘What else did you find out between nights of madness in someone’s boudoir?’ asked Welbeck.
‘I discovered that King Louis had personally chosen the ground on which this year’s battles will be fought. It’s right here in Flanders,’ said Daniel with a sweeping gesture. ‘We’ll be up against a strong French army of 100,000 men under the command of the duc de Vendome.’
‘Vendome!’ The name was spat out in disgust. ‘He’s no match for us. The Duke has outwitted far better soldiers than Vendome. We beat Marshal Tallard at Blenheim and Marshall Villeroi at Ramillies.’
‘Both of them experienced commanders.’
‘Poxy old Vendome is useless.’
‘Give him his due, Henry,’ urged Daniel. ‘He had a lot of success in Italy then kept us completely pinned down here last year. He’s a worthy adversary and we should respect him.’
‘I respect nobody in a French uniform.’
‘Not even royalty?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s another little titbit that fell into my lap. Louis is sending his own grandson, the Duke of Burgundy, to put us to the sword. That shows you how seriously he’s taking this year’s campaign. Keep your men well drilled and ready for combat,’ said Daniel. ‘They may have the chance to spill some royal blood.’
Louis de France, duc de Burgundy, was a well-bred yet mettlesome young man in his mid twenties, deeply religious, inclined to arrogance and confident that he had the ability to lead a huge army to victory against the Confederate forces. Notwithstanding a lack of experience, he felt able to make critical military decisions in the field. With so many troops gathered at the French camp in Valenciennes, he didn’t even contemplate defeat. Burgundy was a royal prince in every particular. Impeccably attired and courtly in manner, he was therefore highly offended when the scruffily dressed duc de Vendome barged his way into the tent without warning. Burgundy turned away instinctively from the unpleasant smell that always accompanied the older man. Vendome was over twice his age and had notoriously dirty habits. His shirt was badly soiled and hadn’t been changed for several days. There was tobacco on his cravat, wine stains on his coat and his periwig was beginning to unravel. He was brusque, irreverent and angry. Vendome made little effort to show any respect.