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What would a soldier who had fought in the battle be doing still there in Belgium? Shouldn’t he have gone on to France with the rest of the troops? Unless he had been wounded and required medical care, though William had not mentioned anything like that. Maybe they had left troops behind to protect the injured in the hospitals? But then why could he simply leave with William and come back to England?
Would he be as pompous as Appleby? Perhaps strutting around in a gaudy Hussar uniform with a rakish grin? She visualised a fellow tossing back glass after glass of brandy while he bragged of his exploits. Already, she despised him,
But was that fair? Did it even make sense when all her information came from William's few words?
Enough of such nonsense. She could almost feel her checks wrinkling up.
The sky above was brilliant blue, strewn with thin streaks of white. Gulls wheeled and swooped; far above she thought she could see hawks circling. Now this was ideal for her blooming complexion.
******
Ronnie stayed well behind those waiting as the curricle carrying William Turner and his friend approached the hotel at nearing five p.m.
Moments before, about to confront her betrothed, Cici had looked terrified. Her initial enthusiasm had spun into shy silence, as though she feared that he would not remember her at all. She stood beside their mother, waiting until the curricle rolled to a stop.
William hopped down and tossed the reins to a hotel footman.
"Miss Felicia, my dear! I am so glad to be with you again." He took her hands, and Ronnie knew that Cici was thrilled. He turned to her mother and bowed low. "And Lady Montgomery, I can see that Weymouth agrees with you, for you have never appeared more enchanting!"
Ronnie bit back a groan. As in London, he was only too free with his outlandishly silly proclamations.
William motioned to his companion, and pulled him toward the ladies.
"Lady M., Miss Felicia, may I introduce to you my compatriot, Lieutenant Jasper Endicott."
Ronnie winced and looked away as the four of them all spoke at once and laughed together amidst bows, curtseys, and enthusiastic embraces. Surprisingly, she found Endicott had an appealing appearance, not at all the strutting dandy in the gold-laced Hussar uniform she'd pictured in her mind.
He wore a narrow-brimmed tan hat and a blue jacket under his driving coat, not an outfit designed for swagger, as she had expected. Lieutenant Jasper Endicott was well-built, on the tall side, and would be considered good-looking by any female, Ronnie thought, with his wide smile and wind-reddened cheeks. When William led Endicott to her, Ronnie discarded the sharp remarks she'd invented for the introduction, replacing them with a simple acknowledgement and a quick curtsey. He doffed his hat and made a leg in the old-fashioned manner.
"Miss Montgomery, I have heard much about you from William, but none of his most generous accounts were worthy. I am overwhelmed."
William continued talking about taking them all to his father's.
"We must hurry on to the Manor. I suspect Mama would not approve of us stopping here first, but I could not neglect my little sweetheart." He looked down at Cici and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We will return tonight, Lady Montgomery, I assure you."
Out of nowhere a second curricle appeared. Lt. Endicott waved toward it.
"William will drive Miss Felicia, and I will do the same for you, Miss Montgomery, if you have no objection."
"If Mama has none," Ronnie said, but already saw Lady Montgomery waving Cici into William's vehicle.
Once out of Weymouth, they moved at a fast pace on dry roads, too rutted to allow for much conversation. Upon arrival at Stapleford Manor, Lady Stapleford rushed William off to greet his bedridden father. A housekeeper settled Ronnie and Cici in the drawing room with the Lieutenant. After a few awkward moments as Cici fidgeted, William called for her from his father's room.
"I hope that she meets his approval," Ronnie said. "This is the first time they have met."
"William told me that his father has been an invalid for several years. He would have bought an army commission if Lord Stapleford had been in reasonable health."
Ronnie nodded, though she wondered why he and his mother had spent months in London attending all the activities of the ton.
"I do not know the nature of Lord Stapleford's ailments."
"Pretty vague, as far as I have heard," Endicott said with what seemed to be a wink.
Ronnie pretended not to notice.
"Did you fight in Spain, Lieutenant?"
"No. My first posting was in Nova Scotia. Cold, it was. But I no sooner got there then we were shipped back. Few from my regiment went to join Wellington's army in Belgium."
