the plain where he had been forced to discard them. He hoped that they would soon be retrieved by British soldiers.
They had paused on rising ground that enabled Charles Catto to have a good view of the terrain over which they had just travelled. He used his telescope to scan the landscape.
'Well?' said Seurel.
'There's nobody there, Frederic.'
'Good.'
'They have more sense than to track us,' said Catto. 'They know that, at the first hint of pursuit, we'd kill their precious captain.'
Seurel chortled. 'Then leave him without his head.'
'Was that your doing?' asked Daniel, surprising Seurel with his command of French. 'Was it you who beheaded Lieutenant Hopwood?'
'It's a special talent I have,' boasted the other.
'Killing the wrong man does not require talent.'
'I've already pointed that out to him,' said Catto brusquely.
Seurel was petulant. 'What does it matter?' he claimed, waving a hand. 'We have the right man now.'
'No thanks to you, Frederic. It's only by the grace of God that Captain Rawson was not killed by that shot you fired near the camp.'
'So that was his doing as well,' noted Daniel.
'He's inclined to be hot-headed at times,' said Catto. 'It's something you should remember if ever you're tempted to make an escape bid. Frederic will be prompted to kill you.'
'I think I understand all about Frederic just by looking at him. You clearly provide the intelligence that he signally lacks.' Seurel voiced his protest. 'I believe that you joined us as Private Will Curtis.'
'That's correct.'
'May I know your real name?'
'Charles Catto. I'm employed by General Armand Salignac.'
'In other words, you're a traitor.'
'Not at all,' said Catto smoothly. 'France is my spiritual. home. I have stayed true to my principles. As for betrayal, you are hardly the right person to accuse another of a crime you've committed yourself.'
'I've never betrayed my country,' affirmed Daniel.
'No, but you did betray Madame Salignac.'
'That was a private matter.'
'It's become a political matter as well, Captain Rawson. The general may be a cuckold but he's not blind. He knows that you didn't seduce his wife out of pure and unbiased love. You took the lady to bed in order to squeeze her dry of every last detail she knew about the French army.'
'Madame Salignac and I were simply friends.'
'You are a spy.' 'I'm a soldier who's proud to serve his country.'
'Well, you'll not be serving it again, Captain Rawson.'
'Tell us about Madame Salignac,' asked Seurel with an oily grin. 'What was she like as a lover? What did she let you do to her?'
'Shut up, Frederic!' said Catto.
'But I want to know the truth.'
'Then you'll have to seduce her yourself. And in case you're wondering,' he went on, turning to Daniel, 'it wasn't the lady herself who confessed your name. It was her maid, Celestine. The general soon broke her. He knows everything now.'
'Is that why he sent you after me?' said Daniel.
'The general has a vengeful streak. 'How ever long it takes, how ever much it costs, I want Captain Rawson killed.' Those were his very words. But, instead of simply taking your head as a trophy, we can deliver your whole miserable carcass.'
'How much is he paying you?'
'That's between us and General Salignac.'
'Whatever the amount,' said Daniel, trying to negotiate with him, 'His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough would readily double it to buy my freedom.'
Catto laughed derisively. 'Let him treble it, if he wishes,' he said, 'then double that same figure. Frederic and I would still treat it with scorn. There's no way out of this, Captain Rawson.'
'None at all,' added Seurel forcefully. 'We are loyal to France.'
'And so is General Salignac. Before he kills you, I'm sure he'll want to hear everything you have to tell him about the Confederate army. He has a gift for making even the most reticent men talk. By the time the general has finished with you,' he said, kicking his horse into action and towing Daniel along behind him, 'you'll wish you never persuaded that lovely wife of his to spread her legs for you.'
Edward Marston
Soldier of Fortune
The first thing that Abigail Piper did when she reached the camp was to change out of her dress and wash herself thoroughly. As she did so, she unburdened herself to Emily Greene. The maid was sympathetic.
'It must have been a torment, Miss Abigail.'
'I felt certain that they intended to kill me.'
'But they didn't — thank God!' said Emily. 'We've got you back at last. You must try to forget all the horrible things that happened.'
'How can I do that when Captain Rawson is in such jeopardy?' cried Abigail. 'He surrendered to those villainous men in order to set me free but it's not a freedom I can ever enjoy.'
'I can see that.'
'He saved my life, Emily, and I made him lose his!'
Overwhelmed by fear and remorse, Abigail burst into tears and collapsed into Emily's capacious arms. Soothing her as best she could, her maid let her cry her fill then found a clean handkerchief with which to stem her tears. Only when she had recovered something of her composure did Abigail feel able to report to Marlborough, taking Emily with her in case she lost her control once again.
Marlborough was alone in his quarters, leafing through some despatches. After giving Abigail an effusive welcome, he offered her his chair and perched solicitously beside her as she told her tale. Emily hovered in the background, interested to hear how many of the details she had been told were kept from Marlborough because her mistress was too embarrassed to divulge them. Though her voice trembled, Abigail maintained her poise.
When it was all over, Marlborough told her his decision.
'You'll begin your journey home tomorrow,' he told her.
'Tomorrow?' she said in alarm. 'But I need to stay here in case Captain Rawson is released.'
'There's no question of your remaining with us, Abigail. I've already delayed your escort long enough. Reports have come in that Marshal Tallard and his army are on their way here. If you do not leave soon,' he pointed out, 'you may find the road north blocked by French soldiers. The decision has been taken.'
'What if Captain Rawson comes back and I'm not here?'
'He'll be relieved that you're safely out of harm's way.'
'But I have to see him — I have to apologise to him.'
'There'll be no time to listen to any apologies,' he said. 'If he does manage to return — and we all pray for that outcome — then he will immediately join us as we besiege Rain. He is here, like the rest of us, to fight a war. That will take all our energies.'
There was an authority in his voice that deterred her from further argument. Marlborough did not criticise her in any way but she knew that she was viewed as a distraction. The fact that she was leaving only served to exacerbate her feelings of guilt. While she would be riding off to safety, Daniel Rawson was in peril of his life. It was as if she were deserting him and the thought sickened her.
'I'll see you before you go,' said Marlborough, rising to his feet to indicate that it was time for her to leave. 'I'm sorry that your stay with us has been so troublesome. An army on the march has little to offer in the way of comfort to a young lady such as yourself.'
