17th May - After the Review.

George shook his head.
'No, sir. It was a French agent', which was the truth, for von Dorn did not get hold of any rumours, he knew for certain.

A French agent? Wellesley nodded.

"And what did this agent request of you?"

'That's the thing, sir, I am afraid, he did not have time to voice any requests.'

"Hunter," Wellesley said quietly. "I would appreciate it if you would be a little more plain. You are telling me half the truth only to make me guess the rest. Please, I would rather you tell me all, without my having ask each step of the way. It will make it easier for both of us. What exactly do you mean by your last statement, and what implications does it continue to have on you?"

'I'm afraid, sir, that when he told me that he was going to make a 'good little agent' of me through blackmail, I rather lost my head.' George swallowed. 'I killed him.' A shake of the head and Hunter continued: 'But there are no implications, sir. Not anymore.'

Wellesley gazed silently at Hunter for a while longer, then nodded his head.

"It is a shame you put an end to him instead of handing him over," he said wistfully. "But then, seeming as it would be blackmail... It is only your mother that you fear for, is it?"

'I do not exactly fear for her, sir. She is a general's daughter, she'll take care of herself, but I do not wish her entangled in anything, though she gets herself entangled with aplomb it would seem.'

Wellesley nodded again.

"One final question, if I may; which country was it that sought to engage you through your mother?"

'Russia, sir'. Haven't you guessed already?

"Thank you. I wished to be certain."

The General clasped his hands behind his back and took a few paces across the room, the fingers of his left hand brushing along the moulding of the desk.

"I thank you for being honest with me," he said after a lengthy silence. He was gratified to know that his instinct had been right all along. "And I believe now that you have been."

George looked down, feeling uncomfortable.
'I should have been honest about it from the very beginning, but, I guess, I abhorred the idea of being called a spy by someone I respect...' George shook himself, the worst was over.

"You should have," Wellesley said, brushing aside the flattery. "Yet perhaps not straight away as it happens I am inclined that I am more likely to believe you now than I would have been when you first arrived."

He looked up at Hunter. The icy hauter had thawed to be replaced by a much more human expression.

"I do not believe that I shall be taking any further action against you, Captain Hunter; nor shall this be put on official report."

George frowned: life taught him not to expect or trust such 'gifts'.
'Thank you, sir, thank you very much.'

Wellesley raised an eyebrow.

"You do not sound very convinced."

George looked up.
'I'm sorry, sir, but respect does not equate with trust. I am sorry, I know I am the last man that should be saying this, but you seem to appreciate honesty to an extent, sir.'

[OOC: riihaen has so busted our 'sex' discussion. XDDD ]

Wellesley gave Hunter a thin, but genuine smile.

"I do, and I am glad that you have finally come to realise it. You may not choose to believe me now, but I give you my word, Hunter, that this shall not go down on an official report - nor will I take action against you for what you have told me."

And now George was trapped: Wellesley not only knew about his espionage connections, he also knew that he killed someone. He felt stifled, caught like a fly in honey. Funny how kindness on the General's part turned out to be worse than his dislike and mistrust.
'Very well, sir, and thank you.' George too managed to smile. 'If you wish, I shall endeavour to sell my commission.'

The General shook his head.

"Not unless you really wish to. Truth is, Hunter, now that we have finally come to a conclusion on what has been the subject of open dispute I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt again. You will have another chance to prove yourself, and with battle looming I do not believe you shall lack the opportunity."

He gazed at Hunter steadily.

"Is that agreeable to you?"

'I do not wish to, I've promised to serve you, but truth is, I am what I am and I'll never be up to the standard of the other ADCs, baronet or not, and try as I might to be like the others, I am doomed to fail in that endeavour. But, sir, if you continue climbing trees, I shall break my neck one of these days, so that's one way out,' George gave the General, a small but genuine smile.

"I sincerely doubt that Captain Sanders ever thought he would be up to the standard of men such as Brandon or Somerset," said Wellesley. "Yet I still value them as members of my Staff. I am given to believe, Hunter, that whilst you may not be quite so 'tame' as the rest of them you have the potential to fulfil your duty to me and to Britain admirably."

Some of it was said because now, on reflection, he had been unnecessarily harsh on the boy.

"And I do not climb trees often, yet when I do decide to occasionally it is not a requirement for you to follow me up."

George looked down, praise like this made him very uncomfortable, especially when he knew that it was not deserved.
'I did not know it then and, honestly, sir, there was a damn dry branch that you nearly climbed on to.' George shook his head in dismay and huffed. 'Anyway, at the time, my almost only instruction on what is an ADC's job was 'look pretty and fawn over the General'. Seeing as how I failed to adhere to the first one, I thought to make up in the other.'

"I think you will now find the job involves a little more than that," Wellesley said. "I generally do not appreciate fawning, and if that comment came from Sanders then you can take such similar remarks with a pinch of salt."

George shook his head slightly, mouth quirking up at the corner: No, that was not Sanders.
'Generally, sir?'

"No, I don't," Wellesley said flatly. Cheeky beggar...

'Very good, sir. I am not particularly good at fawning, I find.' George kept his gaze down.