The Sultan's Daughter Read Free

cards that led to his being given the command of the Army of Italy; and it may well be that now he is once more dreaming of himself as the conqueror of England.’ Giving a twisted smile, Roger added, ‘If so I’ll be back quite soon, but in a foreign uniform and making it my first business to ensure your not being raped by the brutal and licentious invaders.’
    Georgina snorted, ‘ ’Tis more likely that you’ll find yourself back in the sea with a British pitchfork stuck in your bottom.’
    â€˜I’ve good hopes of escaping such a fate,’ he laughed, ‘for it’s my opinion that the French will never get ashore at all. The attempt would be at best a desperate gamble, and Bonaparte has an uncanny way of assessing odds correctly. I think it more than probable that he will decide against staking his whole future on such a hazardous undertaking.’
    â€˜What, then, are the alternatives?’
    â€˜He has several times mentioned to me a grandiose project for leading an expedition to conquer the glamorous East and make himself another Alexander.’
    â€˜Should he do so I asume, from what you have said, that you would perforce accompany him?’
    â€˜No, no!’ Roger laughed. ‘That will not do. I’ve no mind to spend the rest of my life fighting Saracens and savages. Were I faced with such a grim and profitless prospect I’dthink up some way to relieve myself smoothly of my aide-de-campship, Personally, though, I think it unlikely that the Directory would agree to Bonaparte taking a large army overseas for his own aggrandisement. Since France is still bankrupt, despite the immense treasure Bonaparte looted out of Italy for her, I count it probable that the minds of the Directors run on renewing the war across the Rhine, or sending him to invade smaller States that have remained neutral, to act again as a robber for France. But all this is speculation. It would, therefore, be unfair in me to disguise from you the possibility that new developments in France might prevent my return this year, or even next.’
    For a long moment Georgina was silent, then she said, ‘I am very conscious that I owe it to my little Charles to marry again, so that he should have a father to bring him up. At any time I might meet a suitable
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. Not one who could ever take your place in my heart, but a home-loving man of probity and charm for whom I could feel a genuine affection. Since you may be away for so long, I must hold myself free against such an eventuality. You too might meet some charming woman with, whom you may feel tempted to share your future. If so, as in the past, you must also consider yourself free to marry again; for I can hold out little hope that I will ever alter my opinion that this unique love of ours can be preserved only by our never remaining together long enough to weary of one another. All I can promise is that should we both be still unwed when you do return to England I’ll give your proposal serious consideration.’
    Roger refilled their glasses with port and said, ‘In fairness I can ask no more, and I pray that my return may be neither in a French uniform nor delayed beyond the summer. Let’s drink to that.’
    She raised her glass and they both drank. As she set it down, she sighed, ‘I would to God I could be certain that you will return at all. Each time you leave me to set out upon these desperate ventures my stomach contracts with the horrid fear that I’ll never see you more. You’ve been monstrous lucky, Roger; but every day you spend among our enemies is tempting Fate anew. Hardly a week passes but I think of you and am harrowed by the thought that you maymake some slip, be caught out and denounced as an English spy.’
    He shrugged. ‘My sweet Georgina, you need have little fear of that. I have spent so long in France that my identity as a Frenchman is established there beyond all question.