29th May - Morning in camp

Jenny smiled contentedly as Christian awoke them with two cups of tea. Delicious. A tent and a bed and a civilized waking. And he would soon be serving them breakfast. How could she have forgotten how luxurious this was? Life at the side of an officer was good. She smiled and closed her eyes again, delighting in the feel of the smooth bed linens.

Woodmarsh awoke to find Christian with tea ready for them. He murmured his approval, then turned over and saw Jenny lying next to him. He saw that she had her eyes closed and for a moment he thought she was still asleep. But her contented smile told him otherwise. Clearly she was quite pleased to be back in his bed. Which suited him well, for he was very pleased indeed to have her back.

"Good morning, Jenny dear," he said, lightly stroking her cheek.

Even the presence of a buffoon in her bed could not spoil her mood. She continued smiling without opening her eyes. "Gareth. I was born to be by your side. This is worth living for." How long had it been since she woke in a bed? Even when she had stayed in Vickery's quarters in Coimbra, she had let Joe take the bed because of his injuries. Poor Joe. At least he would be waking in a comfortable padded wagon without having to share it with anyone, lucky sod. She opened her eyes and grinned at Woodmarsh. "What's for breakfast?"

"Damned if I know." He glanced over to see that Christian had left them the tea and was now busying himself with the breakfast. "Though I'm sure it will be something worthwhile. He's a decent cook, Christian is."

Sod the breakfast, Woodmarsh thought. He would much rather have liked to hear more of Jenny's flattery than to discuss food. So she was born to be by his side, eh? That only served to swell his already over-inflated ego, and he would have loved to hear more such praise from her.

She understood very well the look he was giving her. But one thing would lead to another, and if she carried on flattering him they might end up missing breakfast altogether. She wanted his protection, but enough was enough. She slid out of his reach and off of the cot. "Such a shame the army always marches so early," she sighed as she began to dress. "I wish we could linger here all morning."

"Hrumph." Woodmarsh grumbled as she moved away from him. He saw nothing wrong with lingering. As if he cared about the bloody regiment. "If I had any say in the matter, they wouldn't go marching so blasted early."

But since she was already out of bed and dressing, he saw no need to complain further. It was not as though he would accomplish anything by doing so anyway. Finally he crawled off the cot as well and started to dress himself.

"Get that breakfast ready, will you?" he snapped, shooting a look in Christian's direction.

Jenny pretended to be affronted by Christian's presence in the tent as he came to help his master dress. "Gareth, does your servant have no manners?" she asked, covering herself with a bed sheet even though she was already half dressed. "I'll never get used to servants walking right in. Go out and cook breakfast or whatever it is you do! I can help the lieutenant if he needs it." What a bore. She suddenly felt weary of it all. But that was a common enough feeling, and she was used to it. She knew it would pass if she ignored it.

Christian looked offended at Jenny's suggestion that not only did he have no manners, but also at the idea that she wanted him to shirk his duty to his master. Woodmarsh however could have cared less. It was not as though he could not dress himself after all.

"Go tend to the breakfast, Christian," he said, dismissing the batman with a wave of his hand, "I would much prefer to dress myself than to starve to death waiting for you to help me."

Jenny smiled. Poor Christian. She would make it up to him later. But for now, she reached her arms around Woodmarsh's neck on the pretext of tying his cravat. "I want you all to myself before we march. You'll probably be way up ahead with your men, won't you? And I'll be far in the very back of the column with the baggage. Walking alone. With those men lurking about." She gave him an anxious glance. "I wish we could stay here, together. You make me feel safe."

"Dear Jenny, I wish I could stay with you as well." He grinned back at her and slipped his arms around her waist. He was still delighted that she was practically throwing herself at him. "But I do not wish for you to be all alone." Of course not. Did he want her to fall prey to some other man, some oaf who would not treat her properly? A ghastly thought. Then an idea occurred to him.

"Ah yes, yes that's it," he said, mostly to himself, then to her he said, "Never fear Jenny, I will not let you go unprotected. Christian can accompany you. You can trust him to keep you safe in my absence."

"Christian?" she exclaimed derisively. "Well, I suppose he's better than nothing, in terms of protection from ruffians. But I wish it was you instead, looking after me."

The man himself now returned to the tent, announcing himself with a cough before entering with their breakfast.

"As do I, but we must make do, because sadly I cannot countermand the orders I have been given." If only he could, Woodmarsh thought. He would be much better in a higher rank than some of those fools who currently outranked him.

He turned at the sound of the cough and saw the batman returning. "Ah Christian. It's about time. Bring in the breakfast, will you? And I have something I wish you to do for me...and Miss Ross."

The batman had found an extra chair, and he unfolded it in front of the small folding table. Jenny sat at once and began lifting covers of the dishes and little pots. "Butter. And is this marmelade? Woodmarsh, you do travel in style!" She helped herself to a piece of bacon and affected to be uninterested in the lieutenant's conversation with his batman.