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Drew winced, now seeing where Miss Montgomery got her inquisitiveness.
"Yes, but when I arrived, I had every intention of returning to Lord Wellington, the Duke now, in Portugal."
"Injured at Talavera?" Lord Montgomery asked. "That is, if you are comfortable talking about it."
Drew shrugged.
"All water under the bridge. A bit after Talavera. At Buçaco."
"Can't help but ask. How did you keep that arm?"
"I never quite lost consciousness and just stayed away from the surgeon." He could not help recalling the moaning misery of the wounded, their screams when the saws ground into their bones. He looked at his thumb and remaining two fingers. "Damnably lucky, I was."
"And here you are now, shepherding a bunch of useless swells who want to indulge their imaginary discomforts and nervous spasms."
"In all honesty, we probably have more holiday-makers than valetudinarians. I am beginning to feel satisfied in this position. There are a variety of duties to perform and coddling the afflicted is only one of them. I am even learning to be a collaborative participant in promoting the town."
"And your family?"
"From Berkshire. My oldest brother, John, farms the land now, something of a local squire. Charles was the only scholar of the three of us and he has a post in the bosom of the church hierarchy, a secretary to an archbishop, last I heard."
"I admire a man who makes his own way, takes a setback and turns it around," Lord Montgomery declared.
"In my case, opportunity fell into my lap." Captain Drew tuned away to answer the summons of his assistant from the reception area. "Excuse me, my Lord. Let me know if you have any requests."
"I shall."
******
As he conducted a final survey of the dining parlour, Drew removed four place settings to the sideboard, from where they could be quickly returned to the table when needed. He'd had a note by messenger an hour ago. The four officers on their way to meet him had been held up for a few hours and now predicted their arrival to be very late that night. Their chaise had broken several spokes on a dreadful stretch of road. Drew wanted to pound his fist on the table. He'd been more than eager to show off his chef's excellence to the Montgomerys and Staplefords. But he relished the thought of his former battle companions enjoying his hospitality and superior food. They deserved respite from their service, and had to return to France soon for their duties in the army of occupation. Now it seemed that they might miss out on most of the elegant dinner to come. Nevertheless, he had to brush off his disappointment for the primary aim of the exercise this evening was the perfection of the menu.
For most of the dinner party, Drew was strictly an observer, occasionally assisting the service or peeking into the kitchen. Though Andre was at his imperious best, directing the work of his staff, in the dining room, nothing disturbed the pleasure of the guests. Their discussion of each dish brought praise. Lady Stapleford rhapsodised over the mussels and Lord Montgomery favoured the sole. Drew listened particularly for discussion of the food, but also kept his attention on any remarks made about the battle. Frequently, during the hours they sat at the table, someone would ask Lieutenant Endicott another question about it. He was polite enough to decline any conversation about the injuries, the hospitals, the scavengers who ransacked the bodies, emptied their pockets and saddlebags, tore off their jewellery, stole everything. Drew had seen them after almost every battle, performing their ghastly despoilation of the fallen.
He'd kept an eye on Lieutenant Endicott throughout the first and second removes. How could he justify the abhorrence he felt for the fellow? Yes, he envied a young rattle who'd seen the whole of the Belgian campaign and even had some claim to a role in saving the Duke. Also, the wretched dandy seemed to have charmed Miss Montgomery. She seemed quite attentive to him, even though both her mother and sister were pressing his suit. That alone could have caused dislike. But why did it matter, Drew wondered. Had he foolishly allowed himself to think about Miss Veronica as he wished he could, as an object of his own romantic emotions? How ridiculous. What had he to offer? The role of innkeeper's wife in a provincial resort?
At last, the noise from outside, the sounds Drew had been waiting for all evening, made him excuse himself from the dining room to hurry to the front door. Sure enough, before the steps to the pavement was the coach bearing the four officers he'd been expecting who were now, all four, majors in their regiments. They seemed to fill the reception area completely as they exchanged friendly cuffs and back-slapping glee. He sent the footman up with their luggage and called for quiet, explaining the dinner they had almost completely missed. He promised them some much-needed drinks and refreshment.
"We will make you want to stay here forever," he vowed.
When they entered the dining room, Lieutenant Jasper Endicott was standing and speaking. The only words Drew caught were ‘Wellington’ and ‘Copenhagen’, his horse. But the instant the Lieutenant turned his gaze to the doorway, filled with the four officers, he ceased speaking. He stood with his mouth open, the colour draining from his face.
Captain Drew begged the pardon of the guests for interrupting to recast the party at the table, introducing each man as he took his seat while the footmen instantly filled their wine glasses.
"Their bit of trouble on the road delayed them, but now we have the opportunity to sit down again and see what Chef Andre can rescue of our fine dinner. Gentlemen, we are testing dishes for an event to be held here for her Highness Princess Charlotte…"
The side of beef recently removed was brought back, and the shrimp and vol au vent also returned to the table.
"Well, we are most interested in hearing what you men have to say about the great victory," Lord Montgomery said. "The lieutenant here was just telling us about his…"
Endicott leapt to his feet
"Oh, Lord Montgomery, my exploits are nothing compared to Major Bevins, for one. I cannot pretend to—"
"Let us hear it, Lieutenant. We all saw different parts of the battle…" Major Bevins said. He stopped to down a swig of wine. "Go right ahead."
Endicott sat down, shaking his head. As soon as the conversation changed to comments on the food, Drew noticed the Lieutenant leave the room.
******
