4 Under Siege Read online

  ‘It could well be a mistake,’ he said. ‘They do occur in reports.’

  ‘But what if it’s not?’ asked Amalia, lower lip trembling.

  ‘We must remain optimistic.’

  ‘How can we be optimistic in the face of such terrible tidings, Sir John?’ asked Janssen. ‘You told us that your sources were usually reliable. Is that not so?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Sir John, ‘they are reliable as a rule.’

  ‘Then we have no hope. Captain Rawson is dead.’

  ‘Don’t say that, Father!’ begged Amalia.

  ‘I’m sorry, my dear.’

  ‘I must have some hope to cling to or I’ll die.’

  Beatrix tightened her grip. ‘I’ll not let that happen, Miss Amalia,’ she said with almost maternal concern. ‘Whatever’s happened, I’ll be here to help you through the pain.’

  ‘Thank you, Beatrix.’

  ‘I will promise no less,’ said Sir John, softly. ‘You’re in a house on my property and that gives me responsibilities. Be bold enough to lean on me. I’ll nurse you through this terrible time. The first thing I’ll do is to verify this information, of course.’

  ‘How soon can you do that?’ asked Janssen.

  ‘It may take a little time.’

  ‘The wait will be an agony.’

  ‘Try to stay brave, Mr Janssen.’

  ‘That’s asking too much, Sir John,’ said Amalia, sobbing. ‘How can we stay brave in the face of such a tragedy? If it’s true – and I pray to God that it’s not – then I’ve lost everything. My life would simply not be worth living.’

  ‘That’s a frightful thing to say, Miss Amalia,’ said Beatrix. ‘You’ll still have your father. You’ll still have me and Kees and all the others. Do we count for nothing?’

  ‘No, of course you don’t, Beatrix.’

  ‘We’re not going anywhere,’ affirmed Janssen, bending over to plant a kiss on the top of her head. ‘We need you, Amalia.’

  She squeezed his arm. ‘I know, Father.’

  Sir John watched the tender moment between them and smiled.

  ‘At the moment, I might suggest, it’s you who need your father, Miss Janssen. The best thing for you to do is to retire to bed. Rest is the only way to cope with these grim tidings,’ he said. ‘The news may seem a trifle less distressing after a few hours’ sleep.’

  Amalia shook her head. ‘I couldn’t sleep a wink, Sir John.’

  ‘You may surprise yourself. Trust me – I’m something of an expert in these matters. When I see signs of stress in my wife, I put her to bed during the day and have done for years now. In fact, I daresay I’ll do the same this very afternoon. Yes,’ he added, ‘I know that Lady Rievers is ill, but then grief is a form of disease as well. It invades the brain and makes the body helpless. Sleep is the best remedy, Miss Janssen. It will ease the burden of your anguish.’

  ‘That’s sound advice,’ decided Janssen, helping his daughter to her feet. ‘Take her upstairs, Beatrix.’

  ‘Yes, Master,’ said the maidservant.

  ‘How can I sleep with so much on my mind?’ asked Amalia as she was led out. ‘I’ll just lie there in torment.’

  She and Beatrix left the room and ascended the stairs together.

  ‘I’m sorry to bring such heavy news,’ said Sir John, spreading his arms in apology. ‘I could wish that it were anyone but Captain Rawson.’

  ‘Amalia dotes on him, Sir John.’

  ‘I established that the first time she spoke of him. Your daughter was not born to dissemble. She wears her heart on her sleeve.’ He looked upward. ‘Sleep would help to soothe her. The physician is coming to my wife today. Would you like me to send him here so that he can give your daughter a potion of some kind?’

  ‘That won’t be necessary,’ said Janssen. ‘Besides, you’ve already spoilt us. I haven’t really thanked you properly for the gift of that painting. It’s just that…well, the news about Captain Rawson has cast a shadow over everything else.’

  ‘I understand. The time will come when you can allow yourself to enjoy the painting and savour its fine detail. You have an artist’s eye, Mr Janssen. You appreciate quality.’ He walked to the door before turning back. ‘Please keep me informed about Miss Janssen’s state of mind,’ said Sir John. ‘She’s such a dear creature. I felt cruel passing on news that turned that beautiful face into a mask of suffering. To make amends, I’ll do everything in my power to restore her happiness.’

  ‘How can you possibly do that, Sir John?’

  ‘By finding out that Captain Rawson is, in fact, still alive.’

  The Duke of Marlborough and his secretary were no strangers to tales of heroism. A long, bloody war like the one in which they were fighting spawned them on a regular basis. Daring and danger were everyday events. Extraordinary feats took place routinely on the battlefield. Yet they’d never heard anything quite as bizarre as the story that Daniel now told them. Because of his modesty, it was a tale of heroism without a hero. Playing down his own part in the rescue of Rachel Rees, he emphasised instead the roles taken by Henry Welbeck and Raymond Lizier. While he praised Estelle for her courage in wheedling her way into prison, he said nothing of the desire that had brought her into his bed at the tavern.

  ‘Lille has clearly put you on your mettle,’ said Marlborough. ‘As usual, you rose to meet every challenge – though I do question your wisdom in getting arrested for drunkenness. How could you be sure that this woman, Estelle – quite untried in such things – could help to get you out of your cell?’

  ‘Estelle is by no means untried, Your Grace. She’s been working with her brother-in-law and sister for a long time. Acting as an enemy agent calls for nerve and ingenuity. Estelle has both.’

  ‘So it would appear,’ observed Cardonnel.

  They were in Marlborough’s quarters and Daniel had just returned to the camp on a borrowed horse. Welbeck and Rachel Rees, meanwhile, had rejoined the 24th Foot which was involved in the siege. The Dutch soldiers who’d accosted them in the copse had also been under the command of Prince Eugene.

  ‘The one thing that worries me,’ said Marlborough, ‘is the fate of Guillaume Lizier. He’s been a valuable source of intelligence for us.’

  ‘I’m sure,’ said Daniel. ‘His wife told me what a brave man he is. Madame Lizier will be relieved that her husband is no longer digging ditches in a work party. Now that the attack has begun, only an idiot would dare to stay out there in the crossfire.’ He grinned. ‘You’re looking at one such idiot right now.’

  ‘You weren’t to know when the bombardment would start.’

  ‘Forewarning would have been very helpful, Your Grace.’

  ‘But the warning would have kept you inside Lille,’ noted Cardonnel. ‘Would you like to have spent the entire siege there?’

  ‘No, thank you,’ said Daniel. ‘I love action. I’d hate having to sit out the siege inside the town.’

  ‘What’s the general feeling there?’ asked Marlborough.

  ‘The people are quaking, Your Grace. They’ve all heard how you destroyed the French army at Oudenarde. I listened to some of the customers at the Coq d.Or. They’re desperately worried that their homes and places of work will be razed to the ground.’

  ‘It may not come to that,’ said Cardonnel. ‘What of the army?’

  ‘You’ve no need to ask that, Adam,’ said Marlborough. ‘They’ll fight tooth and nail. Marshal Boufflers will expect no less of them.’

  ‘He made an immediate difference,’ said Daniel. ‘Before he arrived, the soldiers were losing heart and talking of surrender. Once their arrears had been paid by the marshal, their attitude changed. He’s instilled faith in them.’

  ‘He’s more than capable of doing that, Daniel.’

  ‘You fought beside him once, didn’t you, Your Grace?’

  ‘Yes, he and I were comrades-in-arms. He’s a charming man and a fine soldier. We can expect ferocious resistance from him.’

  ‘Marshal Boufflers c
an’t hold out for ever with a garrison of that size. He must be hoping for relief from outside.’

  ‘It’s not been forthcoming so far,’ said Marlborough. ‘As you must recall, besieging Lille was not my first priority. Now that it’s in train, we must pursue it with all our might, but I never envisaged it to be an end in itself, Daniel. You will doubtless guess why.’

  ‘Yes, Your Grace,’ replied Daniel. ‘Your real aim is to provoke the French army to attack. When they see Lille about to fall, they should come rushing to its defence.’

  ‘They should – but, alas, they won’t.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Vendôme is too slothful and Burgundy too inexperienced. Both are still blaming each other for the defeat at Oudenarde.’

  ‘What about the Duke of Berwick?’

  ‘My nephew will not risk his army in a major engagement. I know the way his mind works. He’s sent reinforcements to Lille but is resigned to its loss because he’d rather see it fall than have the whole French army cut to pieces. In his place,’ said Marlborough, ‘I’d think the same. A town can always be recaptured but not with a shattered army. James – the Duke of Berwick – is looking to the campaign season next year. I think his advice will be heeded in Versailles.’

  ‘In short,’ said Daniel, ‘the siege will continue until the end.’

  ‘Yes,’ replied Marlborough, jadedly. ‘There’ll be skirmishes with the enemy, of course, that’s inevitable, but it’s foolish of us to expect another Oudenarde.’

  Talk turned to the ‘great convoy’, making its unwieldy way south under the aegis of William Cadogan. Until the rest of their siege guns, ammunition and powder arrived, they’d not be able to put Lille under maximum pressure. So far, Daniel was pleased to hear, the convoy had not been harassed by the enemy. He knew how much the Allied army relied on its safe arrival. To lose any part of it would seriously damage their ability to continue the siege.

  Before he left the quarters, he drew Marlborough’s attentions to the sterling efforts made by Rachel Rees. Even though ignorant of their true purpose in going there, she’d agreed to accompany Daniel to Lille and provided him with some cover. He pointed out that Rachel had been given scant reward in return. Not only were her animals and her wares confiscated, she’d been imprisoned in the gaol and all but raped by a turnkey.

  Marlborough stopped Daniel’s recitation with a raised palm.

  ‘No special pleading is required,’ he said. ‘The lady deserves tangible proof of our gratitude. Tell her that she’ll be reimbursed for her losses.’

  ‘Thank you, Your Grace.’

  ‘It’s heartening to hear that we have such people among our camp followers. Many of them are of dubious character but Rachel Rees has risen above the common herd.’

  ‘She’s a remarkable lady,’ said Daniel.

  ‘Aren’t we forgetting Sergeant Welbeck?’ asked Cardonnel. ‘From what you told us, he should also earn our congratulations.’

  ‘That’s true.’

  ‘I’ll write to him,’ volunteered Marlborough.

  ‘The sergeant will appreciate that, Your Grace.’

  ‘I’d be happy to promote him but, from what you’ve told us about him, I suspect that he’d refuse the offer.’

  ‘I know for a fact that he would,’ said Daniel. ‘Henry Welbeck is too boneheaded to accept promotion. He could never feel at home as an officer. Why lose a first-rate sergeant in exchange for a disgruntled lieutenant?’

  Marlborough chuckled. ‘That’s an interesting way of putting it.’

  ‘I was trying to be practical, Your Grace.’

  ‘He must settle for a letter from me, then.’

  ‘Nothing would please him more,’ Daniel assured him.

  * * *

  It was not the first letter of commendation Welbeck had received from the captain-general of the Allied army but it still produced a surge of pride in his breast. He resolved to cherish it. As a soldier who’d spent years on the move, he had very few treasured possessions. The new letter from Marlborough was one of them. After reading it for the fourth time, he was troubled by the thought that there was nobody to whom he could bequeath his property. No wife, no child, no member of his family existed who could inherit his minor trophies and take some pleasure from them. Once he passed away, a record of his deeds would perish with him. Nobody would mourn him and nobody would remember his military record. It was saddening.

  Putting the letter safely away, he opened the flap and stepped out of the tent. The first thing he saw was a musket aimed straight at him. Welbeck came to a halt and tensed. The weapon was held by Ben Plummer who lowered it with a snigger.

  ‘Don’t worry, Sergeant,’ he said. ‘It’s not loaded.’

  ‘Never point a musket at someone unless you mean to use it.’

  ‘That’s what we’ve been told, sir.’

  ‘Who’s been looking after you while I was away?’

  ‘Sergeant McGregor.’

  ‘He’s a good man.’

  ‘He drilled us until we were ready to drop,’ said Plummer. ‘We preferred you, Sergeant. Where’ve you been?’

  ‘I went behind enemy lines..’

  The recruit was impressed. ‘You went into Lille?’

  ‘Yes, I did,’ said Welbeck, ‘for a time.’

  Plummer’s eyes sparkled. ‘Were there any women there?’

  ‘I didn’t notice.’

  ‘Why didn’t you bring a couple back for us? It’s not healthy for a man to be deprived of the feel of a woman. We have needs.’

  ‘The only need you have,’ warned Welbeck, ‘is to mind your manners when you address a superior. And don’t ever point a musket at anyone in fun or he’s likely to take it from you and put it somewhere that will make your eyes water. Most of all, Ben Plummer, forget about women. Save all your manly marrow for combat. When you’ve been fighting the French night and day, you’ll ache so much with fatigue that you won’t have the strength to lift a finger, let alone any other part of your anatomy. Women won’t exist for you.’

  ‘What’s that about women, Henry?’ asked Rachel Rees, coming towards them. ‘Are you taking our name in vain again?’

  ‘He loathes the whole sex,’ said Plummer.

  ‘Disappear!’ ordered Welbeck.

  ‘It’s a hatred based on ignorance, if you ask me.’

  ‘Disappear!’

  The order was supplemented by a punch that sent Plummer wobbling backwards. Regaining his balance, he vanished at speed. Welbeck turned an unwelcoming glare on Rachel.

  ‘What do you want?’ he said.

  ‘I came to thank you.’

  ‘The best way to do that is to keep out of my sight.’

  She cackled. ‘He’s at it again – still pretending to dislike me.’

  ‘Detest is the word I’d choose.’

  ‘Come now, Henry, how can you expect me to believe that? You took your life in your hands when you went to Lille. You took even greater risks when you rescued me from gaol. You put real love into the making of that coffin. Who else would have thought of lining it with cushions? And then, when you saw that cannonball ahead of us, you pulled me to the ground to save me.’ She gave him a playful push. ‘Are you claiming that you did all that because you detested me?’

  ‘I was prompted by my friendship with Captain Rawson.’

  ‘I was the one you saved – not him.’

  ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘I understand you only too well, Henry. However,’ she went on, ‘let me tell you the good news.’

  Hope stirred. ‘You’re going away?’

  ‘I’m going nowhere.’

  ‘Oh.’ His face fell.

  ‘I’ll be able to continue my work as a sutler because I’m going to be compensated for my losses. Isn’t that wonderful?’ said Rachel, clapping her hands. ‘Captain Rawson spoke up on my behalf. Just think – His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough was actually talking about me. But wait a moment,’ she went on, mistaking his misery
for disappointment, ‘you should be rewarded as well, Henry. You’re a hero. At the very least, you should be given a promotion.’

  ‘I’m happy serving in the ranks.’

  ‘Don’t you want to be an officer?’

  ‘They’re a loathsome species.’

  ‘My first husband was the same. He never wanted to be an officer either and it was just as well because he didn’t have the money to buy a commission. Will Baggott liked what he was, especially when he was married to me. I know how to keep a man contented.’ She became serious. ‘Is it going to be a long siege?’

  ‘All the signs point that way.’

  ‘After listening to that clamour, I still can’t hear properly.’

  ‘Then you need to rest,’ he said, trying to move her away.

  ‘Why don’t you come and rest with me?’

  ‘I’ve no time to talk, I’m afraid. I’m back in uniform now with men to lead. They rely on me.’

  ‘So do I,’ she said. ‘You’ll always be in my thoughts, Henry. I know you act like a flint-hearted curmudgeon but I’ve had a glimpse of the real Sergeant Welbeck and I was touched. When this is all over,’ she continued, gesturing towards Lille, ‘I’ll be waiting for you.’

  When she kissed him, he put a hand to his cheek as if he’d just been stung by a wasp. While he could subdue the most unruly recruit, Welbeck had no control at all over the irrepressible Rachel Rees. As he watched her go, he was filled with a compound of emotions. And the kiss still burnt on his cheek.

  Relations between Vendôme and Berwick had never been harmonious. Meetings between them therefore tended to be conducted with a terse politeness. While Berwick was keen to act, Vendôme was all for delay. It needed a few tart despatches from Versailles to goad the older man out of his obsession with the failure of the French army at the battle of Oudenarde. Spurred into action at last, he issued orders, then stepped outside his quarters to review his troops. A few minutes later, Berwick rode up and dismounted.