Soldier of Fortune

'I can't answer that.'

'In other words, you won't tell me.'

'The truth of it is, I don't know.'

'You must have some suspicion.'

'Oh, I do,' he said, 'but suspicion is nothing without proof.'

'Tell me what you suspect.'

'This is not your concern, Abigail.'

'Any danger you face is my concern,' she countered, 'and since I was there at the time, I think I deserve to be told why someone fired a shot at you?'

'All that I can do is to hazard a guess.' 'Go on.'

'It's pure speculation, Abigail.'

'I'd still like to hear it.'

He collected his thoughts. 'I was in Paris a few months ago to gather intelligence,' he explained. 'That meant winning the confidence of people who would have been very angry when they learnt that I was, in fact, a spy. It's possible — only possible — that someone felt the urge to kill me because I'd betrayed them.'

'Is this the first time there's been an attempt like this?'

'No,' he admitted. 'There was an incident some while ago.'

'What happened?'

'I escaped the attacker,' he said evasively. 'And I did the same again when we took that walk. If there's a third attempt, I'll catch the man behind it. I'm on guard now.'

'This is dreadful!' she said. 'Someone is lying in wait for you.'

'There's nowhere safer to be than in the middle of thousands of armed soldiers,' he claimed, hiding from her the fact that the would-be assassin had actually contrived to get inside the camp on the first occasion. 'I have no fears for myself. My concern was for you, Abigail. What I heard was a pistol shot. It's difficult to be accurate over that distance with such a weapon. The bullet intended for me might easily have hit you instead.'

'I was so scared when I realised that.'

'There was no need for you ever to know.'

'But there was,' she retorted. 'I hate being treated like a child who's too young and frail to be told the truth. Knowing the facts may hurt me but I'd much rather that than be kept ignorant of them.' 'Everything is now in the open,' he said.

'And you swear that you'll take extra care from now on?'

'I'll take every precaution.'

'Thank you, Daniel.'

Abigail was disappointed. Having fretted so long over the possibility that he had been killed or wounded in battle, she had hoped that any reunion between them would have more urgency and passion. Daniel had been profoundly altered by combat. It was not merely his physical appearance that had changed but his manner. He was still storming the Schellenberg and fighting his way over the walls of Donauworth. He was still mourning the dead. Since his arrival, Daniel had been never less than affable but never more than courteous. Even though he stood only a foot away from him, Abigail could not reach him in the way she desired. It all served to reinforce the decision that she had made.

'I've finally accepted the truth,' she said with a wan smile.

'What truth?'

'This is no place for me, Daniel. We can't be together here.'

'I could have told you that before you set out from England.'

'I had to come and I don't regret that I did so. It's taught me a great deal about you and about army life. Most important of all, I think, it's taught me a lot about myself.'

'You should be proud of what you did,' he said encouragingly. 'It took immense willpower — and a touch of folly.'

'All I can see at the moment is the folly.'

'You have nothing to be ashamed of, Abigail. I admire the spirit you've shown and I'm grateful that you had such a reliable helpmeet in Emily. I do hope that Sir Nicholas can find it in his heart to forgive her for joining you on your wild adventure.'

'He made a point of saying so in his letter,' she said. 'I've read it several times now and it always brings me to tears. Father is so kind and understanding. He knows that Emily did not lead me astray. In a sense, she's the victim of my recklessness. When we get back home, her position will be safe.'

'I'm pleased to hear it.'

'And you'll be pleased to see me go as well, won't you?'

'Pleased and displeased,' he said frankly. 'I'm happy that you are leaving a theatre of war where even fiercer fighting may soon take place but I'm sorry to see you go, Abigail. I'll miss you.'

'I'd stay if you asked me to, Daniel,' she offered gamely.

'No, no, I certainly won't do that. You've made a wise decision and I applaud it. His Grace will do likewise and supply you with an escort all the way back to Holland.'

'After the setbacks on the way here, that will be a blessing.'

'When will you go?'

'Tomorrow or the day after,' she said, 'all being well.'

'We're in enemy territory but we've scattered their army far and wide so you should encounter no real obstacles.'

'That's reassuring to hear.'

'I'll make His Grace aware of your intentions.'

'I'll hope to see him before I go,' she said. 'I know that he's very busy at the moment but I'd like the opportunity to apologise to him for popping up the way that I did. In retrospect, I can see that it was highly inconvenient for him. Also, of course, I wish to bid him a proper farewell.' Uncertainty crept into her voice. 'Will there be any chance my doing the same for you?'

Daniel was torn between desire and relief, wanting to embrace her yet glad that she was returning home. Their friendship could only ever develop in England where Abigail was in her own environment and where he had the leisure for a dalliance. On a military campaign, she was an incongruity and her presence in the camp was bound to hamper Daniel. As long as she was there, his guilt would continue to trouble him and he would feel responsible for her. Abigail was gazing up at him with large, adoring, questioning eyes.

Daniel wanted to leave her on a note of promise. Instead of taking her in his arms, he settled for leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

'Yes, Abigail,' he said. 'When the time comes, we'll exchange proper farewells. I'll insist upon it.' She laughed gratefully. 'Until then, get plenty of rest while you can, happy in the knowledge that you have thousands of soldiers to guard you.'

Edward Marston

Soldier of Fortune

Darkness was falling as he dismounted from his horse and handed the reins to Frederic Seurel who remained in the saddle of his own mount. The two men were in a copse that shielded them from the pickets on the fringe of the camp. Charles Catto took his bearings before turning back to his companion to issue an order.

'Meet me here at the same time tomorrow.'

Seurel was worried. 'What if you don't come back?

'Oh, I'll come back,' said Catto with supreme confidence. 'Have no qualms on that score, Frederic. I'll come back and I won't be alone.'

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Duke of Marlborough was not a man to rest on his laurels. Victory had been achieved but there was no time for celebration. While the burial teams were still busy tipping corpses into mass graves, and while the army surgeons were struggling to save the lives of badly wounded soldiers, Marlborough was thinking about his next move. He had been joined in his quarters by his brother, Charles Churchill, and by his secretary, Adam Cardonnel. Evening shadows enveloped the camp. Over a glass of brandy, they conversed by candlelight.

'What news of Prince Eugene?' asked Churchill.

'There's none to speak of,' replied Marlborough. 'He's gone ominously quiet. We can only assume that he continues to bark at the heels of Marshal Tallard and his army.'

'Where is Tallard?'

'The latest despatch we have puts him at least three weeks' march away, probably more. That gives us time to establish ourselves firmly in the Bavarian heartland.'

'The Elector will be mightily upset at that,' noted Cardonnel.

'I intend to upset and harass him as much as I can, Adam,' said Marlborough. 'If we press him hard enough before Tallard arrives to support him, the Elector might realise that he would be far better off if he joined us and fought the French. I hinted as much in the letter I sent him about an exchange of prisoners.'