page1 (1/2)
Chapter One
Alice watched Lucy approach their group, her dainty shoes slipping on the wet cobblestones, such was the eagerness of the young lady to reach her friends and share in their exciteroup “Aloved hand “Have they gone by?”
“No, Lucy, but they will be here shortly,” said one of her co a hand to an ear “Can you not hear the dru?”
“I’m so excitedelse,” said Lucy “Alice, isn’t this the best day ever?”
“Yes” Alice s days, liven up this dreary town But you must calm yourself Your cheeks are quite pink Listen I can hear them They must be about to turn the corner”
Alice Aubrey peered down Mill Street She wasn’t interested in the foot soldiers They were lesser men, in her opinion, and not of her class It was the mounted officers that her eyes would watch carefully She dearly hoped she would capture their attention, arner a smile and a salute from one
Lucy teetered on her tiptoes, her fingers clinging on to Alice’s shoulder “Why are the militia here?”
Alice lowered her voice “According to Mama, to impress us with parades But, Papa thinks it is to do with the uprisings in Manchester I don’t care why, they’re here and brightening up this dull toith their smart uniforms”
Alice frowned as she witnessed a group of young ladies on the other side of the street adjust their shawls, allowing them to fall off their shoulders to expose their neck line Adding to their effrontery, and Alice’s dismay, they fetched out white kerchiefs and brandished them Alice fumbled about in her purse and found her own freshly pressed hankie She spied other townsfolk who appeared less keen on the visitors, especially the scowling inn and shopkeepers Alice ignored their sombre faces and peered up the road
She hadn’t mentioned her plan to her friends Whether they would approve or not was of noto do with her friends, her fellow seekers of attention Once the parade finished and the men dismissed to the billets, Alice would return to the town and treat herself to a little frivolity and adventure What could possibility go wrong in a se of the Derbyshire Peaks, far from Manchester?
Her excite hands She could easily hear the sound ofdruuard turning the corner in formation Finally, the militia entered the main street
“Ouch!” yelped Lucy “Philippa, you stood on my toe”
“I’m sorry,” said the smaller sister “I can’t see”
The little group of friends jostled Alice She ca into the path of the soldiers
She could see coluainst the background of brick and pave soldiers Across their broad, manly chests were the white cross belts with their powder pouches and underneath the belt, the lines of brass buttons Above, the black shakos with chin straps, cast shadows over faces Below, there were snug white breeches and buffed boots, splattered with spots of mud
Clutching her hands to her chest, Alice finally caught a glimpse of the officers
“Is that theat the tallest horseman
Alice examined the uniforolden tassels of his epaulets perched high on his shoulder The cocker hat lowered over his forehead inconveniently hid his features As thesoldiers filed passed, and the officers drew nearer, he loomed closer
“Look at theasped Philippa “Are they not handsome? I am sure one just winked at me”
“I do believe it is the dust in his eyes, sister,” said Lucy sourly
Alice edged closer to the line ofinto their path Re it would draw their attention
The foot soldiers, one ar their nored her She noticed the junior officers al or nodding in greeting to the gathering
It was the elegant colonel, straight backed and tall, who held Alice’s attention unwaveringly For soh she could only truly see his mouth and nose As his burly stallion caher His face didn’t alter in expression throughout his , even when the horse refused to stay in line His eyes focused on the road ahead, while one hand held the reins, the other ar, crop clutched in his hand She adored his gallant posture—a man confident in his role
Then his eyes ht at her Not a passing glance of curiosity, but one that re for several seconds His head turned as his horse came to pass in front of Alice, and she could not believe her eyes when he lifted his ar crop to the briuely in her direction Then, the tiny salute coht in stance, arm to one side