1 July, feminine wiles

"Woodmarsh," Jenny said, sitting up suddenly from the cot where she had been lying. "Do you know what we need? Woodmarsh, are you listening to me? I said do you know what we need, darling?"

"Hmm?" Woodmarsh, who had been busy writing a letter to his brother John (detailing all of his single-handed, fantastic, heroic exploits in many, many battles in order to make his older sibling feel guilty about not serving in the army), glanced up from his desk.

"Need? Oh yes Jenny, we do need some much better chairs in here. Though seeing as how we do such little entertaining, that would most likely be unnecessary. Some fresh bottles of wine would not go amiss, though..."

She smiled indulgently. "How right you are, darling. And on that note, do you know what else we need? A maid."

A maid? Why did she think they needed a maid? Woodmarsh shook his head slightly and made a noise that sounded as though he was scolding a child. "Really Jenny dear, whyever would you think we needed such a thing? What use would we have for a maid?"

She continued, still smiling. "Well it's not really proper for your man Christian to look after both of us. I can hardly ask him to dress me. Or undress me." She wrapped her arms around the lieutenant's shoulders, allowing her hands to explore.

"Hmm," Woodmarsh murmured approvingly as she embraced him, "I suppose that is a valid point." He certainly did not want Christian doing anything of the sort. So perhaps it would be prudent to acquire a maid for Jenny. It was not as though he would mind having another woman around. "Well my sweet, if you wish to have a maid, then we had best get you one."

Good heavens, that was easy! She kissed him on the cheek. "Wonderful! I'll speak to Christian about it and see if he knows anyone."

Of course there was the issue of wages, but she would arrange that herself and simply announce it to Woodmarsh later. No need to bother him with those sorts of details. She pushed aside the tent flap, ready to spring out.

"I'll find us some good bottles of wine too, yes, darling?" she added, holding out her hand for the money.

Ah, wine. Now that was much more to his liking.

"Yes dear, do speak to Christian about it," Woodmarsh said, not overly concerned whether she spoke with the batman or not. He was more interested in the wine. Retrieving some money and handing it to her, he added, "And be sure to select the very highest quality wine, won't you? After all, we must have the very best."

"Of course, my dear. You're an angel." And with that she dashed from the tent.


[Jenny goes here.]