17th May - After the Review.

The review over and done with, George stabled Firebird. He actually looked forward to doing some work: it would take his mind of other matters in hand. With that he went to enquire if there was anything that needed doing: he was not yet accustomed to being an ADC and not always sure what came under his duties and what did not.

As Hunter approached down the corridor Captain Sanders, who had also just come in from stabling his horse, caught hold og Hunter's arm.

"Oh, Hunter - I was to mention to you that the Beau wishes to speak to you."

George tried not to show that Sanders' hold on his arm was less than welcome. He nodded.
'Very well, Captain, I shall go to him presently.'

Freeing his arm, George made his way to where he thought the General would most likely be - his office.

"I would make that sooner rather than later!" Sanders called after Hunter.

Sir Arthur had only just got back to his office and was in the process of stripping out of his uniform coat, star and sashes when there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

'It's Hunter, sir. Captain Sanders said you wished to see me,' called George from behind the closed door.

"Come in!" Wellesley called, hanging his Garter sash over the back of a convenient chair and unpinning the jewelled star from his chest.

George came in and shut the door. It looked like the General could not wait to get rid of the various regalia he'd worn for the Review. George saluted and waited for the General to tell him why he wanted to see him.

Usually he would not tolerate himself appearing in a state of undress before a junior officer, yet on such an occassion he would permit the possible indignity in favour of practicality.

"I wish to speak to you about your behaviour before the Review," he said shortly, removing the star and setting that down on the padded chair seat, moving on the unwind the crimson officer's sash from about his waist. "Normally I would expect better of my staff officers, as I tend to give the benefit of the doubt and assume they are aware of how to conduct themselves in polite society - yet I am disappointed, very disappointed and embarrassed that you should think that such a display at that time would ever prove acceptable."

George bowed his head slightly.
'Indeed, sir. I myself have regretted my behaviour greatly.' Only for totally different reasons. 'Such a display from me was in no way acceptable, sir. I apologise.' George studied the man's hands as his bowed head did not allow him to study the Genera's face, and to George a man's hands were the next best indicator of human emotion.

"I am glad you acknowledge that at least," Wellesley said gruffly. He folded the sash swiftly and neatly, laying that down on top of the chair and began undoing his coat buttons. "Such concerns would have been better presented to me now - afterwards - with a request to do so beforehand."

Here his blue eyes locked on Hunter.

"As I do not appreciate being accused of spying in front of my own officers."

George looked up to lock gazes with the General.
'Indeed not, sir. I am sure you do not. I should not have said anything.' George was indeed, somewhat disappointed with himself for letting his frustration interfere with the 'game'. He'd never really learned patience.

"No, you should not have," Wellesley said in an acid tone. "As a result you not only were seen to be insubordinate, but also to have upset my Family with your ill-timed accusations. I require tact and good-sense from my Staff, Hunter - and I am beginning to severley doubt whether you possess either."

George's eyes sparked with humour for a moment upon hearing the Staff Officers called Family. George wondered if he was supposed to defend himself in any way? After all, he did do all the things Wellesley accused him of.
'I am sorry, sir, unfortunately being spyed on severely impedes my ability to be tactful. I was a fighting officer, sir, I am not yet used to the more political life of an ADC,' replied George calmly, one hand resting on the hilt of the sabre.

"The life of an ADC is not supposed to be political!" Wellesley snapped, undoing the last of his coat buttons. "You are here to serve the best interests of His Britannic Majesty's army in the Peninsula and to follow my orders. Or have you as of yet been unable to grasp this concept?"

'Oh, yes, sir, I have, and I am trying to adhere to it. I myself find politics of any kind distasteful, but when one is forced into a situation, one, I think, must act, even though his acts might be viewed as being tacteless and lacking in good sense, sir.' George gave a small cold smile to the General.

Wellesley glowered at Hunter.

"And what political act do you believe you have been forced into?" he asked curtly. He stripped off his coat and threw it over the chair, its buttons and decorations jingling as it landed heavily on the backrest.

George shrugged.
'If I knew, perhaps, I would have the good sense not to act so tactlessly in public. I do not presume to know the workings of minds greater than mine and men greater than me. I would be very curious to know myself what have I done to warrant having spies following me around.' George's mouth quirked at the jangling sound of the coat.

The rather ironic tone to the Hunter's words riled Wellesley even more, and he began fumbling to undo his neckcloth. It was his best silk, and it would not do to wear it longer than necessary; the same went for the shirt, but it would have to wait until Hunter was gone.

"You tell me!" he snapped. "You seem to be the only one to know anything of significance about this wretched 'von Dorn', and the only one that he trusts to act for him. Answer me that honestly, Hunter, and I may well see fit to answer you honestly."

'Significance? No. I told you everything I know about him, sir.' Or at least tried to, but von Dorn trusted him and offered help of sorts and advice, and George was not going to betray the man. 'And I think it is not that he trusts me to act for him, I think it is the fact that I was the only one who deigned to listen to him and trust him, when he said that his business with you was important, sir. If I thought he meant to harm you, sir, ... ' he'd be dead now, thought George grimly.

"Has it occured to you, Hunter, that it may not be me that he seeks to harm, but British interests?" Wellesley questioned. "Von Dorn has presented to me a small fortune in cut stones, with no provenance and no questions answered. What do you think would be the damage to Britain were we to find out that we had acepted funds from an undesirable foreign power?"

George was silent for a few moments, thinking. He knew that von Dorn was not here to harm British interests, but how to reassure the General, without betraying what extra knowledge he had?
'First, sir, they would need to prove it, but, harming you sir, is harming British interests, and when I said I thought von Dorn is not out to do you harm, I meant that however selfish his intentions, he is not out to do damage, period.' George shrugged again. 'But then, you do not trust anything I say, sir.'

"You have not yet given me reason to trust you, Hunter," Wellesley said flatly. "I do wish that it were not so, but there it is. You were foisted upon me when I usually have liberty to pick and choose my own Staff; the men who are in my opinion best for the job, and not any other's opinion. You are a renegade and something of a loose cannon in battle - you demonstrated as much at Pombal - and now you are witholding information from me, which is in my interests to know. Would you trust yourself were you in my position?"

George smiled.
'I did not say I expected you to trust me, sir.' Hunter paused. 'May I speak plainly, sir?'

It would be a first, Wellesley thought, yet nodded his consent.

"Go on."

George took a step forward.
'My first commanding officer did not trust me either at first. He expected me to prove myself to him, he did not, however, send spys after me, sir. We all have our secrets, sir, that usually have no bearing upon our service. Those that do, I am prepared to tell you.' George patted the sabre. 'And here is the proof that I can prove myself, so to speak.'