7th July, midday; In the baggage

Thieving was frowned upon by the army. Not only that, it was a crime that received swift punishment when thieves were discovered. But this hardly counted as thieving, since Lily had not actually stolen the article. She'd found it instead, lying quite abandoned in the dust, as the army was moving off for another endless day of marching. So, naturally, she'd claimed it as her own, since whoever had owned it before clearly no longer wanted it.

It would be a difficult item to sell or swap, though. Shakoes were generally considered regimental property and one as fine as this one would attract little interest. Bloody Foot Guards. Still, it was too nice an article to consign to the crowded mess of her little cart, so Lily decided to wear the shako herself. Doing so was probably not very wise, considering, but she rather liked the oddity of it. The shako was just a little too small but wearing it tipped back a bit on her head helped it fit.

How many other camp followers could claim such a unique piece for themselves? None. So Lily wore the dusty shako with its gleaming brass plate and slightly crooked red-and-white plume and was not in the least concerned about any possible trouble that might arise from her boldness. Besides. The shako's leather peak was much better than her usual bonnet at shading her eyes from the sun.

"Well," drawled a woman's voice from close by, "Don't you look flash. A guardsman and all!"

"But of course," answered Lily with a smirk, before she glanced around to see who was addressing her. "Who better for standin' out, eh?"

Better than some regiments, anyway!

Janet laughed, drawing even with the other woman. "And what unlucky sod did you lift it off of?"

"Dunno," Lily answered with a shrug. "Found it just layin' on the ground, didn't I? Some idiot must have dropped it. Or chucked it away after stealin' it off some other unlucky sod. Don't care, 'cause it's mine now and ain't it a fine piece?"

Besides. In her estimation, the shako looked better on her than it did most of the lads who legitimately wore it.

"Course you did." No one ever 'stole' anything in the army. They 'found' it. She laughed again, "I'd like to see the poor devil try to take it back now."

Ha! Lily cut loose with one of her trademark braying laughs. "He'd owe me a pretty fee, he would. Finder's rights an' all. If I want to give it back, anyway!"

The sound caught Jenny's attention, and she turned around to look. It was impossible to mistake that laugh. "Well! Finally taken the king's shilling then, Lily?"

"What? Oh! Well of course. I did always want to be one of those high and ever-so-mighty Guardsmen." Lily smirked and reached up to make a show of adjusting the shako on her head.

"Guess you'll be marching with them now, and not in the baggage with us anymore."

Her, marching up front with that lot? Wouldn't that be a lark! "Cor, could you see me all done up in sparkling red an' white like those lads? What a fine figure I'd cut then, eh? Put 'em all to shame, I would. Ha!"

"Give the Frogs a proper fright, too," Janet teased.

Yes. Wouldn't it, though? The idea made her laugh. Maybe she could actually pull it off.

"Don't tempt me with it," she said cheerfully. "It might actually be fun!"

"Or maybe they've met you before and they would flee in your path.  Were you with us when the baggage was taken?"  Jenny had been ill for several of those days and somewhat oblivious to her surroundings.

At first, Martin could only stare. Was that really what he thought it was?

"W-W-What is t-that?" He blurted out. "O-On your h-h-head, I m-mean!"