Free Solemn Vows by Don Gutteridge Page A

peace and stability as the necessary prerequisite to addressing the people’s concerns.”
    “And you yourself, sir, will need to be circumspect in your comings and goings until we know more about the nature and extent of this business.”
    Sir Francis leaned back. “Then you don’t know me, Lieutenant. Not only do I have no intention of curtailing my public appearances, I have already put in train plans for an expanded trip into the London district, beginning next Monday.”
    “You can’t mean that, sir? Those counties down there are the hotbed of radicalism. Half the populace are naturalized Americans.”
    “Be that as it may, I intend to lead a delegation of Executive councillors to Brantford, Woodstock, and London—where I shall stand tall upon the hustings and deliver my message of hope and reconciliation.”
    “But, sir, if I am to continue the investigation, then I’ll—”
    “—not be able to organize the guard for my protection.”
    “Precisely.”
    “I will take Willoughby with me. In fact, starting this afternoon, Willoughby will replace you temporarily here atGovernment House as my assistant military secretary. I have a mountain of correspondence to get through before I set out next week.”
    “Willoughby is a good man, certainly. He has done much of the detailed, day-to-day work on security …”
    Sir Francis caught the reservation in Marc’s assessment. He smiled paternally. “You don’t have to be coy about Willoughby, Marc. I know all about his checkered past. I am a friend of his good father, and it was I who agreed to bring him out here with me. He is still young enough, I hope, to find himself as a man, and what better means could there be for doing so than taking on a new profession in a new country? In fact, my original intention was to put him in charge of my security and work him in as military secretary eventually. He is, as you know, well educated and highly intelligent.”
    “Why did you not do so?”
    “First, a few days after our arrival, he got himself disgracefully drunk and ran about Government House frightening the maids and throwing wild punches at anyone trying to restrain him—all this while babbling incoherently about his ‘faithless Rosy’!”
    “The woman who left him at the altar,” Marc said.
    “Indeed. Then, while I was reconsidering the matter, I read Sir John’s report on your splendid work in the Cobourg investigation and his unequivocal recommendation that I take you on as my aide-de-camp.”
    “Well, Willoughby has begun to adjust nicely in the past few months, has he not?”
    “Thanks to you, lad. And to Mrs. Standish’s cooking. There’s even a rumour that he may have himself a lady friend.” Sir Francis raised one eyebrow.
    “Truthfully, sir, I’ve seen no sign of it, but, until yesterday, he had seemed much more optimistic and friendly, less given to moodiness.”
    “Yes, I heard about yesterday from Hilliard, who let the cat out of the bag, I’m afraid.”
    “It was the sight of the body, sir. Crazy Dan was hit with a full volley. The corpse was a mess. Several of the men were sick.”
    “I know all about that sort of thing, alas. I was at Waterloo—a slaughtering ground. Mind you, I was with the engineers and not in the main battle at all, but I was close enough, nonetheless. He’ll get over it, as far as anyone ever does.”
    “He’ll be happy to hear your news, sir. I think keeping him active and giving him more responsibility is just the tonic he needs.”
    “Then why don’t you send him in on your way out.”
    Marc paused before answering.
    “He is at his post, is he not?” Sir Francis narrowed his gaze.
    “In fact, sir, I could not rouse him before I left at ten-thirty.”
    Head’s blue eyes blazed with a cold, steady fire. “Well, Lieu tenant, please return home instantly and inform Lieutenant Willoughby that he is to report to this office by one o’clock ready for duty. If he fails to do so, he will find himself