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written to mark the Duchess of Richmond’s ball on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo

THE WIND, NO longer war her to blink Long, chestnut-colored hair whipped around her slender neck and her lashes She put one ungloved, delicate hand up and brushed the thick strands away from her face as she stopped her determined steps

Desolate eyes stared at the tall oak—their oak They had carved their initials there when they had a future, when they had hope

“Johnny,” she whispered “Oh, nation the slope of her shoulders Anguish teh her body as she dropped to her knees, heedless of the darass

A year had passed—one entire year since the Duchess of Richmond’s ball, since the last time she had kissed his lips, seen his face—one year since Waterloo

A sick sensation swept over her when she tried to recall his face, that wondrous, boyishly handsoht

They went, all of them, almost merrily to Waterloo Even then—with those dreadful druh they were off to a parade

Jenny re theirthe Duchess of Rich off to battle in their ball attire, and Johnny, her Johnny had been a them

Exploding cannons—the sound filled the atmosphere, as the beau monde breathlessly awaited the outcoentry were there in Brussels that spring

Napoleon had escaped, gathered his arton, their hero, went off to ton would win the encounter with the Frenchman and were there to witness it

No one had anticipated the amount of blood it would take to fulfill their expectation Thus it happened on June 18, 1815, that Wellington met Boney at Waterloo, and her John was lost forever

Mac had been there He had lived, and while she searched for Johnny, Mac found her Lieutenant William McMillan had taken hold of her shoulders, and when she saw his distorted features she backed up fro She wasn’t sure anymore what she had screamed

“Jen, Johnny’s last words to me were of you He said he loves you and that you have to move on …”

Jenny thought she could no longer cry and was surprised at the tear that made its way down her cheek She closed her eyes She had coood-bye, but could she? She didn’t feel ready “Haunt ed herself and prayed “Stay with me forever”

Her father and aunt had hurried her home to Devon, and even for their sakes it had been so very difficult not to fall into a decline For weeks all she wanted to do was go to sleep and not wake up