Free Anna Jacobs by Persons of Rank

creature, lacking an arm and with a rather grimy and tattered sleeve pinned across his chest. He was an old soldier, from the looks of him. The streets of the capital were still full of men like him, though the war had been over for nearly two years. Intrigued, Justin followed Beatrice across the square.
    “Oh, Tom, I’m so glad to see you looking better!” she exclaimed.
    The man touched his cap, as if saluting an officer. “Came to show you me tray, Miss.”
    “Yes, it’s exactly right! Now, you must be sure to keep it clean. That makes such a difference, you know.”
    Justin watched in amazement as his erstwhile tongue-tied companion, who seemed to have completely forgotten his presence, laughed with Tom over some escapade or other and then questioned him closely about the details of his business plans. When her face was animated, as it was for this shabby creature, Miss Dencey was quite startlingly lovely. As he listened, he found that Tom’s business appeared to consist of selling hot pies from a tray slung around his neck to people he met in the streets, and the whole contraption seemed to have been recently funded by Miss Dencey.
    It was Tom who, after a while, ahemmed and begged the gentleman’s pardon for taking up the lady’s time.
    Beatrice’s animation vanished abruptly. “Oh yes, I had quite forgotten. I do beg your pardon, Mr Serle! I was just so glad to see Tom looking better. He’s been very ill, you see. You be sure to keep your chest warm, Tom! I shall keep an eye open for you when I’m out shopping tomorrow.” She watched as he touched his cap and walked away, then turned back to Justin, her expression schooled to that of a dutiful listener once more.
    He was irritated enough to say unguardedly, “That’s a strange kind of acquaintance for a lady!”
    Knowing how annoyed Johanna would be at this further encounter with Tom, Beatrice could feel herself colouring. “I saw him collapse in the street a few days ago from hunger and was able to help him. All he needed was a little assistance and he was quite capable of earning himself a living. It’s shameful the way these old soldiers are abandoned by their regiments. The government ought to do something about them, if no one else will! Tom lost his arm at Waterloo, poor fellow.”
    She sighed and dropped her eyes. “I’m sorry. You cannot be interested in him. You were saying ... ?” Her eyes became glazed as she waited for him to take up their conversation again.
    Justin felt indignation surge up within him so strongly that he almost allowed himself the pleasure of giving her a set-down. Here he was, honouring her with his company for over half an hour and she could hardly be bothered to listen to him! Then she left him in mid-sentence and became animated at the sight of a shabby old ex-soldier, a mere ranker!
    His expression was for a moment so savage that Beatrice stared at him in astonishment.
    “I can be very interested in anyone who was at Waterloo,” he snapped, “since my own brother was killed there! And I applaud your generosity in helping that man, Miss Dencey. I do, indeed.” He would keep a better look out himself for old soldiers fallen on hard times from now on, he added mentally. Peter would not have liked to see his men in trouble. He’d thought the world of them, and they of him. Some of them had even written to the family after Peter was killed to say that. Justin had found their ill-spelled letter signed by six names very touching and still had it in his possession.
    Beatrice flushed. “Oh. Well - I thank you for the compliment, but it’s a pleasure to help people like him.”
    “Not all ladies feel that way. You are to be commended.”
    An embarrassed silence fell and they were both relieved to see a footman coming across the square to tell them that her ladyship was waiting for them with a light luncheon as soon as they were ready to return.
    Justin was certainly happy to join the others, for Miss Dencey was not