‘The bastards got what they deserved,’ said the sergeant with grim satisfaction. ‘It’s as well that they’re so fond of fires because there’ll be plenty of them where they’re going.’
‘I didn’t think you believed in heaven and hell,’ said Daniel.
‘I don’t believe in heaven, Dan, but I know all about hell.’
‘Do you?’
‘It’s called army life.’
Daniel laughed. ‘Only you can be grumbling at a time like this,’ he said. ‘You helped to give the French another hiding and you’ve had the pleasure of seeing Searle and his men strung up. Yet you still can’t find a good word to say. I suppose you’ll even criticise His Grace for the way he led us into battle.’
‘No,’ said Welbeck, ‘I salute him, Dan, and I take back what I said about him earlier. He’s neither blind nor stupid. The way that he routed the enemy showed that he’s still at the height of his powers. And while we’re on the subject,’ he continued, ‘I’ll admit that I was wrong about Lieutenant Ainley as well. He’s not the complete idiot I took him for. Once the smell of battle got into his nostrils, he fought like a demon. I saw him scything his way through the French.’
‘I must make a note of the date and time of day,’ teased Daniel. ‘I’ve never heard you praise two of your superiors at the same time. Such a rare event needs to be commemorated.’
Welbeck grinned. ‘It won’t happen again, I can tell you.’
‘And you were wrong about heaven — it does exist, Henry.’
‘I’ve never seen it.’
‘Then you must have kept your eyes closed at Oudenarde. That’s my idea of heaven — a wondrous victory that reminds me why I joined the army in the first place.’
‘You only joined in order to use that bleeding sword of yours.’
After sharing a laugh, they exchanged farewells. News of their triumph had already been sent to The Hague. Daniel had been given the task of delivering a full account of the event to Grand Pensionary Heinsius. It was an honour he readily accepted because it would take him back to Holland and he didn’t intend its capital to be the only place that he visited.
Glancing out of the window, Beatrix was the first to see him and her cry of delight roused the whole house. When Daniel was admitted to the voorhuis, the welcoming committee comprised Amalia, Beatrix, Emanuel Janssen, Kees Dopff, the other weavers taken on by Janssen and the rest of the servants. Daniel only had eyes for Amalia. He greeted everyone individually but was pleased when all but one of them melted away into the house or the workshop. Left alone with Amalia, he was able to embrace her and kiss away the time they’d been apart.
‘What are you doing in Amsterdam?’ she asked.
‘I was hoping that you’d be thrilled to see me, Amalia.’
‘I’m overjoyed.’
‘His Grace instructed me to deliver dispatches to The Hague,’ he explained. ‘I think he knew that I’d relish the opportunity of paying a brief visit to you.’
‘We were so happy to hear what happened at Oudenarde,’ she said, stepping back to look him up and down. ‘What makes me even happier is that you seem to have come through the battle unscathed.’
‘Good fortune attended me yet again.’
‘Did you have no injuries at all?’
‘None that prevented me from coming here,’ he said. ‘My horse was shot from under me and I collected a few painful bruises as I fell. Otherwise — thank God — I escaped unharmed.’
‘Tell me all about it, Daniel.’
‘I can’t do that.’
‘But I want to hear the details.’
‘Then you’ll have to find someone else who was there.’
She frowned. ‘Why are you being so unhelpful?’
‘Because I don’t want to waste the little time we have together, talking about a battle. It was fierce, hectic and very bloody, Amalia. My sword gave me good service. That’s all I’m prepared to say.’ He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around a couple of times. ‘Let me forget about the army for once in my life.’
‘But you’ve just helped to conquer the French.’
‘The only conquest I’m prepared to discuss is you.’
Face glowing, Amalia laughed with sheer joy.
