Read Online Beat the Drums Slowly by Adrian Goldsworthy - Free Book Online

youthful and lanky, whose very black hair was already flecked with grey. They had escaped, fallen in love, and married when they arrived in the British lines. She had never regretted any of the events, or the unorthodox, often threadbare life they had lived together. MacAndrews’ hair was now wholly white, his frame spare and ungainly, and in every way apart from height he was so different from the classically handsome general.
    Colonel Graham flirted prodigiously with mother and daughter alike, at times crowding out the younger ADCs, who were drawn inexorably towards Jane. Moore had already observed that the older man delighted in the company of every woman he met, flattering and praising in a way that was as relentless as it was harmless. One or two lieutenant colonels had also brought their wives with them on the campaign, to his knowledge, and he was sure that other officers had done the same. It surprised him to find such a young miss of respectable family with the army, and he hoped that the father’s judgement was not so poor in other matters. He urged his horse on, and let the younger officers swarm around the ladies, for there were too many serious matters requiring his attention to indulge in such pleasures. Yet one thought had struck him, and he could not resist raising it with one of his aides.
    ‘Do you see a likeness, James? In the major’s wife?’
    Captain the Honourable James Stanhope had failed to follow his leaders’ change of subject and looked politely baffled.
    ‘To Lady Hester?’ Stanhope’s sister was the ardent admirer of the general, and the two of them corresponded, although the brother was unsure whether she was realistic to hope for a closer bond. Sir John’s Calvinistic sense of duty had so far denied him the indulgence of wedlock. Yet his enthusiasm now was most marked. ‘I do not mean so much as to looks, as spirit.’
    For all his praise, Moore was saddened to see any ladies with the column. An even greater cause for concern were the wives and children trailing behind each regiment. It was the normal custom, but he felt it a bad one, especially in winter with the prospect of an arduous and harried flight through the mountains, a fear that was most likely to be realised. Before leading the army from Portugal he had offered passage home for all the soldiers’ families. Only a handful had accepted. He had also instructed each battalion to leave their dependants behind. All too many commanders had felt this cruel and had ignored the order. Such lenience was likely to prove misguided, but there was nothing that he could do to remedy it. Other problems and mistakes loomed larger in his mind. For all his appearance of calm, Sir John remained a deeply worried man.
    The cavalcade following him was universally more cheerful, encouraged even beyond its usual spirits by the presence of the ladies. Apart from Colonel Graham, few of the staff officers managed to enjoy more than a minute or two beside either of the ladies. Wickham chose his moment carefully, pushing his horse close alongside Jane’s grey as the girl was watching her mother being drawn away by the colonel to peer through his telescope at a distant peak.
    ‘You are a most elegant ornament to our hunt, Miss MacAndrews,’ Wickham said, raising his hat.
    Jane turned, surprised by his sudden appearance and the familiarity of his gaze. Yet several voices sounded in hearty assent, and so she felt obliged to acknowledge the compliment with a thin smile.
    ‘Do you speak of war as sport, Captain Wickham?’ asked the girl, very aware that he was looking at her intently.
    Jane decided it was better to draw others into the conversation. Wickham was a handsome man, with a manner both bold and highly assured. Jane’s heart beat faster with mixed excitement and fear from his obviously predatory intent.
    ‘Certainly – perhaps the highest field and challenge of all.’ Wickham was closer to her than any of the others, and when he dropped his