Free Lord Harry's Daughter by Evelyn Richardson

make a contribution, to be useful in the way that you are useful, to do something."
    “And so you have. You did something very useful today. No, it was more than useful, it was crucial. And now, in order not to diminish the usefulness of what you have done, I must go and get word to Wellington and the others. In fact I have tarried too long already. But I do not forget what you did for me and our country. Thank you.” With that he was gone, striding back to headquarters, eager to climb in the saddle, to be off, joining in the action.
    Sophia remained standing in front of her door, watching him go, thinking about the look in his eyes as he said, You did something very useful today. No, it was more than useful, it was crucial. He had understood her. And that look of understanding had been as intimate and as meaningful to her as a kiss.
    A blast of wind, brisk and cold from the mountains, swept down the street, whirling clouds of dust as it passed. She pulled her shawl tightly around her and opened the door.
    Lady Curtis was precisely where her daughter had left her, calmly doing her needlework, waiting for whatever news there was to hear of her husband. “And were you able to assist the major?"
    “I hope that I...” Sophia paused and smiled as she recalled his words of thanks. “Yes, I was."
    “I am glad.” Her mother snipped a thread and turned to her workbasket to select another color; as though she had not observed the flush in her daughter's cheeks or the special sparkle in her eyes, but she had. It would be most interesting to see what developed. Lady Curtis felt certain that they would be seeing more, much more, of Major Lord Mark Adair.

Chapter 9
     
    But it was some time before the major reappeared in their lives. Sir Thornton arrived home that evening exhausted and ravenous, but in between bites of a roasted chicken he was able to thank his stepdaughter for her part in the day's proceedings. “I understand that it was your decision that I send reinforcements to help Cole, Stewart, and Hill defend the passes to our right instead of concentrating them on San Sebastian."
    “My decision? I merely drew a portrait of two men to enable Major Adair decide which one was telling the truth."
    “Well you drew wisely. When Wellington returned this evening from San Sebastian there was a message from Cole telling him that they had been attacked at Roncesvalles. Of course I could not order the troops to march to Cole's rescue without the duke's authorization, but I was able to prepare them to head in that direction and to show them the maps your Major Adair had drawn."
    “He is not my Major Adair."
    “From what I hear, you are his eyes, as he called it, and he credits you with the accuracy of his prediction that the bulk of the French forces will attack on our right instead of our left."
    “That is very kind of him, but I only drew pictures; he made the decision.” Though she might demur in front of her stepfather, Sophia went to bed that night feeling immensely gratified. Not only had she actually been able to do something, but she had been given credit for it. How many other men in a similar situation would have even respected a woman's judgment enough to ask her advice—very few, if any. And she could not imagine a one that having asked a woman's advice would have taken it and then given her credit for it.
    The next day the general rode off to Ostiz to direct the reserve troops marching to reinforce Cole's and Picton's men at Sorauren and was gone all night, prevented from returning home by a fierce thunderstorm. The ladies waited up anxiously, but finally, comforting themselves with the thought that the ferocity of the storm would make it impossible for anyone to fight, they went to bed.
    When Sir Thornton at last returned he was exhausted, but jubilant. “Soult is back on French soil. With the exception of the garrisons at Pamplona and San Sebastian, we have driven the French out of Spain!” He turned to Sophia