From the doorway Sarah could see that he was a tall gentleman. His figure set off the dragoon’s uniform to perfection: such broad shoulders in the blue jacket and such long, powerful legs in their white breeches and highly polished black boots. Sarah admired the back view and felt a stir of interest. She advanced a couple of steps into the drawing-room, her eyes fixed on this stranger. He moved his head and she saw the copper gleam of his hair. It was all very appealing – but, no doubt, when he turned round, he would be disappointingly plain. So why did she feel such a pull of attraction?
The gentleman had his right arm in a sling. He was talking to General Gardiner, her friend’s uncle and guardian. Sarah moved forward into the room, looking round for Lizzie. As she advanced, the general spotted her and raised a hand in greeting. The tall gentleman stopped what he was saying and turned towards her. Sarah realized with a stab of pleasure that he was handsome. In fact, she could happily spend the rest of the day gazing at his face.
‘Welcome, welcome. So you received Lizzie’s letter from Portsmouth?’ The general struggled to his feet and winced. ‘Afraid my gout is bad again.’ He took a hesitant step forward. ‘Pleasure to see you, my dear.’
Sarah dragged her eyes away from the stranger’s face and hastened towards the general. ‘Please do not trouble to stand, sir. I can greet you well enough seated. It is fortunate I was still in Town when your letter arrived.’ She smiled up at his weather-beaten face, ‘But you are very grand! Full dress uniform! Do you have to attend a ceremony?’
He nodded and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. ‘Off to Carlton House within the hour. Oh, but you are a sight for sore eyes, my dear girl. Pretty as a picture. Lizzie is impatient to have your company. She has been talking of you this age. Where is the girl?’ He sat down again thankfully as Sarah urged him back into his chair. He settled his sore foot on the stool she placed in front of him and glanced up at the young man with a chuckle.
‘See what happens when you let the females take charge? Oh, but I am forgetting – you have not met. This is Major Gregory Thatcham, my dear, just returned from Spain’ – he waved a hand towards the sling – ‘and, as you see, he is a hero of the battle of Salamanca last July. This is Miss Sarah Davenport, my little Lizzie’s best friend.’
Sarah returned Mr Thatcham’s bow and feasted her eyes once more. Yes, he was handsome. He had a striking face with high cheekbones and a wide, sensual mouth. His nose was straight and his jaw firm. The whole was set off by thick, copper-coloured hair, neatly brushed back from a wide forehead. His large amber eyes seemed almost to glow in his tanned face. There was a pleasant, open look about him, but there were lines round his mouth and a hint of sorrow in his expression. Then she noticed the black armband.
He was looking at her keenly, a smile twisting his lips. His eyes moved to linger on her fair hair. Sarah quelled the urge to put up a hand and smooth her curls. She turned her head towards General Gardiner. ‘Did you have a good voyage, sir?’
‘Tolerable I suppose, but I am no great sailor. Lizzie looked after me. Where has she disappeared to?’
Before he could add more, they were interrupted by an exclamation of delight from the doorway.
‘Sarah, dear Sarah – at last.’
Sarah did not even have time to turn round when she was enfolded in a tight hug and Lizzie was laughing and exclaiming at her. ‘So sorry I was not downstairs to greet you when you arrived. I was putting on my pelisse. We must go shopping at once – but let me look at you – yes, you are just as I remembered you. What a long time it has been. How I wish you could have come to Lisbon with me.’ She danced across to her uncle and put a hand on his shoulder. ‘Poor Uncle Charlie has an attack of gout and he has to go to Carlton House to deliver Lord Wellington’s dispatches. But our kind friend Greg is here to help him.’
Sarah felt a pang. Lizzie was on first name terms with this gentleman. That meant she must suppress her own interest in him. In amazement she realized that it would be difficult – and they had only exchanged a murmured word of greeting so far. How could she be so fascinated on such a short acquaintance? She glanced at him again. She saw his lips twitch as Lizzie explained to her uncle that she could not wait another moment for new clothes.
‘You must have noticed, Uncle Charlie, that I do not have a stitch to my back.’
‘I have noticed no such thing! And I seem to recall you said much the same when we were in Lisbon,’ grumbled her uncle. His attempt at severity was ruined by the twinkle in his eye. Lizzie adjusted the lace at his cuffs and tweaked his sash into place.
‘Yes, but the fashions are quite different in London. Would you have me a laughing stock, Uncle? And you so fine with all this gold braid.’
‘Well, I suppose you know what you need, miss. Off with you then to get your falderals – and do not ruin me.’
Lizzie laughed and kissed him.
Sarah noticed that Major Thatcham watched with an indulgent smile. He was obviously familiar with their joking ways. The two girls exchanged a bow with him and then they hurried out of the house and set off in the direction of Bond Street.
‘Now, then,’ said Lizzie, tucking a hand in Sarah’s arm, ‘we can have a comfortable chat and catch up with our news.’
‘Two whole years,’ said Sarah thoughtfully. ‘Have you been in Lisbon all that time? What an adventure.’
‘No, not really,’ said Lizzie with a laugh, ‘Life is very restricted in Portugal you know. Ladies are strictly supervised at all times.’
‘What, even you?’ exclaimed Sarah. ‘The madcap of the school…?’
Lizzie sighed. ‘I had a very strict duenna. And Uncle Charlie wanted to be sure I could be put on a ship if the French Army should break through our defences.’
‘Well, that was exciting!’ Sarah looked at her, round-eyed. ‘Were you scared?’
Lizzie stopped to examine a bonnet in a milliner’s shop window. ‘No….’ she said at last. ‘I fear the brim is too wide for my face— What were you saying, Sarah? No, we never doubted that Wellington would keep the French out.’
‘We have heard of many battles in the last two years,’ said Sarah, lengthening her step to keep up as they headed for the next milliner’s display. ‘Are your brothers both well?’
‘Yes, thank heavens!’ said Lizzie fervently. Then she gave Sarah’s arm a sympathetic squeeze. ‘I was so sorry to learn of your father’s death.’
Sarah just nodded. Impossible to say what changes that had brought about in her life.
‘Oh!’ Lizzie jumped excitedly, ‘I do believe I can see the very thing. Come on.’ And she led the way inside the shop.
Ten minutes later they emerged again, Lizzie triumphantly carrying a bandbox.
Sarah shook her head and smiled. ‘The bonnet you have on is very smart.’
‘Thank you, but this one’ – she gestured at the box – ‘is just what I have been looking for. I look best in a small brim. Now you, Sarah, can wear anything and still look lovely – it is not fair.’
‘You are not exactly ugly yourself,’ retorted Sarah. ‘You are fashionably dark-haired and I, alas, am a blonde. And my clothes are not in the latest fashion.’ She could not help a tiny sigh.
Lizzie looked at her closely. ‘You did write and tell me that there were problems with the estate. Things have not improved then?’
‘Alas, they are far worse now that James has inherited.’ An embarrassed look flitted across Sarah’s lovely features. She fixed her green eyes on her friend and continued awkwardly, ‘That is why I am in Town. My sister is trying to find me a husband before the family is quite ruined. But, let us leave such details for the moment. It is such a pleasure to escape for a few hours and enjoy your company.’ Sarah gave a bright smile. ‘Where next?’
‘Gowns,’ said Lizzie. They both laughed and hastened on their way.
‘Well,’ exclaimed Sarah when they had finally selected two new day dresses and an evening gown, ‘I do not think you can now say to your uncle that you no longer have a rag to your back. That sky-blue silk will set off your dark hair marvellously. How fortunate they had a dress made up in your size.’
‘Yes, and I mean to wear it tonight. Will your sister chaperon me? Uncle Charlie will no doubt want to stay at home and nurse his gouty foot.’
‘Of course she will.’ Sarah devoutly hoped her older sister would not make too much fuss about the extra journey to collect and return Lizzie to Green Street. ‘Do you think your friend, Major Thatcham, will want to join us as well?’
‘I expect he will make his own way, if he attends the function. Perhaps you noticed that he is in mourning?’ Sarah nodded. ‘He looked so sad.’
‘Yes, he has lost his older brother. Ashocking accident, I believe. And naturally he is desperate to go home and see his father, but he had to deliver Lord Wellington’s dispatches to the Prince Regent first – together with Uncle Charlie of course.’
Sarah did not reply to this. It seemed that Lizzie and Major Thatcham were very close. She hid a sigh. The first man for whom she felt a real attraction was already attached – and to her best friend. How ironic!