4 Under Siege (26 page)

‘I’d feel like a fish out of water,’ she said.

‘Nonsense,’ he countered. ‘You could hold your own anywhere.’

‘I’ll never be put to that test.’

‘We shall see.’ His smile became more avuncular. ‘Tell me about the visit to Somerset.’

‘It rained for most of the journey there but we were glad that we’d made the effort. I was able to visit the farm where Daniel had been born and brought up. Had things worked out differently, he might still be there with his family.’

‘And you might never have met him.’

‘That would have been a tragedy.’

‘Not necessarily,’ he said, pensively. ‘Surely it’s better never to have met someone than to meet them and lose them. Not that you
have
lost Captain Rawson, of course,’ he added, quickly. ‘I was only speaking hypothetically.’

‘How soon will we
know
, Sir John?’

‘That depends on the North Sea. If it’s in a bad mood, it can hold ships up for days or blow them right off course. I’ve been caught in a squall myself and know how hazardous it can be. We just have to grit our teeth, Miss Janssen, and be patient.’

‘I don’t think I have any patience left.’

He suggested that they walk around the lake. Leading their horses, they strolled side by side in a comfortable silence. Amalia was watching the swans on the lake while Sir John simply enjoyed being alone with her. They’d gone halfway around the perimeter of the lake before he spoke.

‘Your father would prosper in England,’ he observed.

‘He does well enough in Amsterdam,’ she said. ‘Father is never without work. By the standards of most people, we are quite wealthy.’

‘He’d have even more commissions here, Miss Janssen. Once his tapestry of Ramillies is hanging in Blenheim Palace, everyone who sees it will wish to employ him. Do you think he’d be happy here?’

‘I’m afraid not, Sir John.’

‘Is there any reason for that?’

‘His heart is in Amsterdam.’

‘What if
you
choose to live in England?’

‘That’s not going to happen in the near future.’

‘One never knows,’ he said, meaningfully. ‘Fate has a strange habit of making decisions for us that we’d never before considered.’

‘I have no control over that, Sir John. All I know is that I wish to be as close as possible to Daniel wherever he may be.’

‘That’s exactly how you should feel,’ he said, feigning approval. ‘Unhappily, it looks as if this war will carry on at least until the campaign season next year. There seems to be no earthly hope of a resolution.’

‘Then I’ll just have to wait,’ she said, resignedly.

‘We all will, Miss Janssen.’ He stopped to look at her, his gaze roving her face before locking on her eyes. ‘Remember what I said, won’t you? As long as you’re my guest, you can have anything you wish. You and your father can move into Rievers Hall tomorrow, if you choose.’

‘I don’t think we’ll need to do that.’

‘The offer stands open.’

‘I’m grateful to you for making it, Sir John,’ she said. ‘There’s only one thing I wish at the moment and that’s to know for certain that Daniel is alive.’

‘Even as we speak,’ said Sir John, slipping an arm around her shoulders, ‘your wish may be nearing fulfilment. I have the feeling that the man I sent abroad to verify the facts may be talking to Captain Rawson very soon.’

Andrew Syme had ridden into the main camp as part of the small but much needed band of reinforcements. It had not taken him long to find somewhere to stay and someone to bring him up to date with developments. He learnt that Daniel Rawson was no longer there. Since his injury made it impossible for him to continue, Prince Eugene had been forced to hand over the conduct of the siege to Marlborough himself, obliging the captain-general to attend on a daily basis. Daniel went with him. Syme was in no hurry. He was ready to bide his time until his quarry came within reach. Meanwhile, he was enjoying the experience of being back in an army that was constantly on the alert. News was coming in regularly of casualties sustained at the siege. As he settled into his lodging, Syme resolved to add a new name to the list of dead – Captain Daniel Rawson.

* * *

‘He was the victim of his own bravery, Dan,’ said Welbeck. ‘There was no holding back for Prince Eugene. He rode at the head of his men and that was his undoing.’

‘He’ll be sorely missed,’ said Daniel. ‘The prince was more than a gallant soldier. He was a figurehead, an example to all, the very essence of a fighting man.’

‘At least he was only wounded.’

‘Yes, Henry, he’ll be back in the saddle one day.’

Daniel had accompanied Marlborough on his visit to the siege that day and taken the opportunity to call upon the 24
^th
Regiment. There was a subdued air in the camp. Everyone had hoped that they would have made far more progress by this stage and were chastened by the setbacks. Welbeck’s evaluation of the situation was blunt.

‘We made too many mistakes,’ he said, bitterly. ‘For all his courage in battle, Prince Eugene has his weaknesses. Neither he nor General Overkirk studied Vauban’s plan of the fortifications with sufficient care. They should have realised how much effort it had taken you to get it.’

‘It was a combination of effort, luck and help from others,’ said Daniel. ‘It was Guillaume Lizier who told me where to find it and his son who acted as my lookout. But the plan was not comprehensive. Other defences had been added to the original design.’

‘Our early attacks were a form of suicide.’

‘Did you lose many men?’

‘Far more than we can afford, Dan.’

‘But the latest attack has borne fruit.’

‘I wouldn’t call the loss of our commander a case of bearing fruit,’ said Welbeck, ‘but we did make advances. We’re now masters of that particular ravelin and we killed a lot of Frenchies. I suppose that resembles a form of victory. Now that Corporal John is in charge of the siege, we’ll make further inroads.’

‘Don’t bank on that,’ warned Daniel.

‘Oh?’

‘His Grace is not at his best. He’s been troubled by headaches and weakened by some other malady. Having to come here every day has been an imposition on him.’

‘What does he feel about the state of the siege?’

‘He’s disappointed, Henry.’

‘I’d use a stronger word than that.’

‘He blames the engineers,’ said Daniel. ‘He feels that they’ve let us down. They’ve been too slow and too uninventive. He hoped for some enterprise from them but it never came. Also, of course, His Grace is very concerned about our lack of supplies.’

‘We’re desperate for ammunition, Dan. And don’t tell me it’s on its way,’ cautioned Welbeck, ‘because I’m fed up with hearing that. My men are hungry, fatigued, shocked by our losses and wondering if this siege is really worth such an effort. It’s a question I’ve asked myself.’

‘The strategic importance of Lille can’t be underestimated.’

‘Will we have enough men left to garrison the town?’

‘Of course,’ said Daniel. ‘Don’t be so downhearted, Henry. It’s not like you to want to walk away from a fight.’

‘I’ll fight until I drop,’ retorted Welbeck. ‘But I need ammunition to do it with and food to sustain me. Oh, no,’ he moaned, as he saw a figure bearing down upon them. ‘Here’s one thing I
don’t
need. What’s she doing here?’

‘I should have thought that that was obvious.’

As she got closer, Daniel could see the smudges of blood on her bare arms and on her apron. Like other women, Rachel Rees had been acting as an auxiliary nurse, cleaning and binding wounds at the behest of the surgeons. After tending a man who’d been badly burnt, she found a moment to go in search of Welbeck. Seeing that Daniel was there as well made her face glow with joy.

‘How are you both?’ she asked, cheerfully.

‘I’m very well, thank you,’ replied Daniel.

‘And I’m not,’ grunted Welbeck.

She was concerned. ‘Are you ailing, Henry?’

‘Yes, I’m dying for lack of peace and quiet.’

‘Do you have an injury?’

‘
You’re
my injury, Rachel.’

She cackled merrily. ‘You still have your sense of humour, I see.’  

‘Tell her, Dan, will you? I don’t want her anywhere near me.’  

‘You might change your tune if you’re wounded,’ said Daniel. ‘You’ll need a nurse then and Rachel is very experienced.’  

‘I’d sooner perish in battle than submit to her nursing. In fact,’ said Welbeck, ‘I’ll pass the word around the surgeons. If I am injured, she’s not to be allowed within twenty yards of me.’  

‘But I’d look after you, Henry,’ she said, softly.  

‘That’s my fear.’  

‘You ought to be grateful to women like Rachel,’ said Daniel. ‘They give freely of their time and energy. How many men would have died if it hadn’t been for their skills?’

‘They do useful work, I admit,’ said Welbeck, grudgingly. ‘But I still don’t want to be carried into a field hospital and find myself looking up at Rachel.’

‘No,’ she teased, ‘you’d much rather have me lying beside you. Anyway,’ she continued over Welbeck’s spluttering, ‘I really came to tell you that I’ve finally had enough. I’ve been thinking over that idea I told you about, Captain Rawson.’

‘You’re going to return to Wales?’ said Daniel.

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘though not immediately, of course. As long as I’m needed as a nurse, I’ll stay. But the moment that Lille is taken, I’ll be heading home to Brecon.’

‘Praise the Lord!’ cried Welbeck.

‘You could always come with me, Henry.’

‘I feel safer being shot at by the Frenchies.’

‘What made you reach your decision?’ asked Daniel.

‘I’ve seen too much blood and misery and horror,’ she said. ‘I’m ready for a quieter life. In a sense, Captain Rawson,
you
helped me to make my mind up.’

‘How did I do that?’

‘It was when you took me into Lille. I know I was only a serving wench for a short time but I loved every second of it. I felt at home. I was meeting new people, selling them something they wanted and working in a happy atmosphere. I can do all that back in Brecon,’ she said, ‘with no danger of being arrested and thrown into gaol.’

‘It’s a good decision, Rachel,’ said Welbeck, smiling at her for once. ‘I support it wholeheartedly.’

‘And so do I,’ added Daniel.

‘Wales is the only place for a woman like you.’

‘I haven’t gone yet, Henry,’ she said, eyes twinkling. ‘There’s still time for you to make me change my mind.’

When she returned to the house, Amalia found her father seated in front of the painting so that he could study it in detail.

‘Are you still looking at that?’ she said with slight mockery.

‘I like it, Amalia,’ he rejoined. ‘I liked it when I first saw it. To be honest, I thought of returning to Oxford to buy it.’

‘Sir John anticipated your wish.’

‘I was amazed when I found it waiting for me.’

‘His generosity is overwhelming.’

‘That’s what worries me,’ said Janssen. ‘I’d feel much happier if he’d let me pay for the painting. We don’t deserve such favours. He’s been treating us like close friends of his rather than strangers.’

‘He’s invited us to move to Rievers Hall.’

‘Why should we do that? We have everything we need here.’

‘That’s what I told him, Father.’

Emanuel Janssen was a doting parent of an only child. When Amalia lost a mother and he lost a wife, they became even closer. Protective of his daughter, Janssen had been delighted when he saw her friendship with Daniel Rawson develop into something deeper and more lasting. He was, however, less certain about her friendship with Sir John Rievers.

‘Did you enjoy your ride this afternoon?’

‘I always enjoy it.’

‘You seem to spend a lot of time in Sir John’s company.’

‘I can hardly refuse an invitation,’ she said. ‘Besides – and I don’t mean this as a criticism of you – Sir John and I are the only two people who are absolutely sure that Daniel is still alive. His presence helps to reassure me.’

‘I believe he’s alive as well, Amalia,’ he attested.

‘You only do that for my sake, Father. I can see it in your eyes and it’s the same with Beatrix. Both of you do all you can to bolster my spirits in spite of your misgivings.’

‘We’re bound to have some qualms. After all, Sir John told us that he’d seen Daniel’s name listed among the dead in the
Gazette
. That’s an official publication, apparently. It doesn’t often make mistakes.’

‘It did so in this case,’ she said, firmly.

‘I hope with all my heart that you’re right, Amalia.’

‘I
am
right. Sir John agrees with me. His only regret is that he told me the bad news when he did.’

‘Yes,’ said Janssen, ‘I’ve been thinking about that.’

‘He keeps apologising to me. He did so again this afternoon. Sir John believes that he should have been certain of his facts before he passed on such dire news. It’s because he’s feeling so guilty,’ she explained, ‘that he went to the trouble of sending a man abroad to investigate.’

‘Why
did
he tell you when he did?’

‘He’d promised to find any mention of Daniel that he could.’

‘That’s not what I’m asking, Amalia,’ he said. ‘Why did Sir John break such terrible news to you alone? I was there at the time. He’d just presented me with this wonderful painting. Can you understand what I’m saying? I should have been with you at such a moment.’

Amalia was jolted. ‘That never occurred to me.’

‘By the time that I came into the room, you’d fainted.’

‘Luckily, Sir John caught me as I fell. What I think happened was this,’ she said, thinking it through. ‘I suspect that he didn’t intend to give me such a shock like that. But knowing how eager I was for news of Daniel – and catching me alone – he couldn’t stop himself from blurting it out. That’s why he can’t stop apologising.’

‘Yes,’ said Janssen, unconvinced by her theory, ‘it’s one explanation, I suppose.’

‘Can you think of another one, Father?’

Face puckered with concern, she looked up at him. Amalia seemed so young and fragile. He simply could not bring himself to upset her by raising any doubts. For her benefit, his fears had to be suppressed. He glanced admiringly at the painting once again before manufacturing a smile.