THE GENERALS by Simon Scarrow Page A

neatly cut jackets and breeches. As usual for such occasions, many of the men wore uniforms, with the cavalry being the most ornate and the Navy the most prosaic. As an officer of foot, Arthur felt himself to be smart without being distastefully ostentatious. An orchestra was tuning at the far end and men in livery moved through the crowd serving refreshments. Arthur stood with his back to one of the columns that supported the arched ceiling. He glanced over the crowd looking for Kitty, but could not see her and felt a moment’s relief that he would not have to confront her about her feelings after all. Then he felt something tap his arm and turned quickly to see Kitty smiling at him as she withdrew her fan. Her other hand was tucked under the arm of a tall naval officer with broad shoulders that seemed intent on bursting out of his uniform coat.
     
    ‘Hello, Arthur.’
     
    ‘Good evening, Kitty.’ There was a slight hesitation in his use of her name and Kitty’s fine eyebrows narrowed for a moment.
     
    ‘I do hope you aren’t going to revert to calling me Miss Pakenham all over again.’
     
    ‘Of course not, Kitty.’ Arthur smiled. ‘After all, we are close friends, are we not?’
     
    ‘Indeed.’ She turned to her companion. ‘May I introduce Captain Charles Fenshaw? Apparently he is one of the youngest post captains in the Navy. A protégé of my uncle, Captain Pakenham. Although that was some years back, before he retired and became Surveryor General of the Ordnance, whatever that means.’
     
    Captain Fenshaw smiled modestly. ‘Captain Pakenham was kind enough to offer me a berth on his ship when I was a midshipman. Since then I have done my best to be worthy of his patronage.’ He raised his hand and offered it to Arthur.
     
    ‘Glad to make your acquaintance,’ Arthur responded.‘Colonel Wesley, at your service.’
     
    ‘Arthur has been away from Dublin fighting the French in the Low Countries,’ Kitty explained. ‘He returned some weeks ago, as I discovered from his brother William. It seems that he is such a good friend of mine that he neglected to let me know that he had returned from the war safe and well.’
     
    The words were barbed, but the tone was light hearted and Arthur made a rueful face. ‘My duties have kept me busy, Kitty. What else could prevent me from attending on you? Apart from your dear brother.’
     
    Kitty laughed. ‘Touché, Arthur.’
     
    Captain Fenshaw ignored the jibing between the two of them and concentrated on Arthur. ‘My brother was in the same campaign.’>
     
    ‘Indeed?’ Arthur turned his gaze away from Kitty.
     
    ‘He was injured and sent home back in January,’ said Fenshaw. ‘He wrote to tell me of the conditions there. It seems he was lucky to have survived most of the winter, when many others did not.’
     
    ‘You have a funny notion of luck to think that any man who experienced that winter was in any way fortunate.’
     
    ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Fenshaw replied quietly.‘Especially since he succumbed to his wounds only a week after writing to me.’
     
    ‘Ah . . .’ Arthur bowed his head. ‘Forgive me, Captain. I did not mean to seem flippant.’
     
    ‘I am sure of it, sir.You know well enough what my brother endured.’ Fenshaw turned to Kitty. ‘Allow me to fetch some drinks while you and the colonel exchange your news.’
     
    Kitty nodded gracefully and the naval officer turned away, gliding through the crowd with a surprising grace given his imposing physique. Kitty stared after him with a calculating expression.
     
    ‘What do you think of him, Arthur?’
     
    For a moment Arthur said nothing. He hardly knew the man, but Fenshaw seemed decent enough at first glance. It would be a great shame if he should prove to be a rival for Kitty’s affection. ‘I’ve only just met him, Kitty. What can I say?’
     
    ‘That he has a handsome appearance.’
     
    ‘I suppose so. Any other qualities that I should be aware of