„I asked Jesseck how rich we were and he said that as soon as you sell your commission we will be quite comfortable.“

„Am I all that anybody in this house talks about?“

„No, Papa. Sometimes we talk about Billy’s new teeth.“

That was a relief. Dared he hope that when Billy began to crawl it would push his papa to second place? „Yes, Poppy, we will be quite comfortable when I sell my commission, but that has nothing to do with the possibility of marriage.“

„Why would she not want to marry you? You are very handsome and have the Waterloo medal.“

„Because we are only friends, Poppy.“ This was worse than being questioned by the General. „It is all that we want to be to each other.“

„Oh, like Jesseck and Miss Truslow. They take tea together, but Jesseck would rather hold Nancy’s hand.“

„Is that so?“ Jesseck and Nancy. There was his own little bit of gossip.

The new clock in the hall struck the hour and Lindsay realized that he was on the verge of being embarrassingly late for his ride in the park with Grace. „I have to leave now. Do we understand each other, daughter?“

„Yes, Papa. I will stop talking about a new mama until you sell your commission.“ She spoke the last as though her patience with the process was a challenge.

Lindsay nodded and sent her off to clean up for supper. It was not the complete capitulation he had hoped for, but since it might well take years to sell his commission he would leave it at that.

He made his way to Norfolk Street, relieved to find that Grace was late herself. He spent some time with Cardovan, talking over the war years yet again. Cardovan spoke of the Peninsula as if they had been there yesterday. For his part, Lindsay had done his best to forget the misery of the winters.

„Can hardly help but think of it these days, Major. The dedication of the Waterloo Bridge is upon us.“

„On the second anniversary of the battle.“

„I’ve decided that I will go. Have no medal to show, but think I need to be there.“ He thumped his cane against the side of the chair. „You know, for all the men who are not there.“

„Yes, George, I do know.“ He tried to think of something to lighten the atmosphere. „Do you think they would have had the ceremony on the anniversary of Waterloo if we had fought on the eighteenth of February instead of the eighteenth of June?“

His question had the desired effect, and he left Cardovan laughing.

The park was crowded. He and Grace sat in the open carriage even though they could have walked faster than the equipage progressed.

That one burst of temper, or perhaps the kiss, had cleared the air for the last week. He had joined her for brandy twice since that first ill-fated invitation. But there had been no more kisses.

Once Cardovan had joined them, and had spent an hour giving them all the details of a visit by Colonel Wendle, the battalion commander of the 28th.

The other time they had been alone, if you did not count the butler coming in with brandy and then with some cakes and then with word that the rain had let up and would the major be wanting a carriage.

„We seem to be drawing some stares today. Do I have dirt on my face?“ She turned toward him and they smiled at each other. He shook his head, and she shrugged.

He knew why people were watching, and it was not because Poppy had made him self-conscious. Each dance, each dinner, each time they were together they were more drawn to each other. He felt as though she were a flower opening to the sun and he were a bee who longed to sip nectar. And that bad bit of poetry was more than enough to convince him that he was in danger of compromising the single thing that kept his employment honorable.

They could have found privacy if they had wanted it, but the lingering power of their first kiss made him, at least, fear the consequences of the next one. If he gave in to the wanting, if he took her and all she was offering, he would lose all respect for himself. Being cautious enough for both of them was infinitely better than saying good-bye.

„We must leave now. If we wait any longer the Waterloo Bridge will be opened without us, and I do so want to see the Prince Regent,“ Grace said, urging them from the table and the meal she hoped would hold them through the afternoon. „George, would you like the last bit of wine?“

„Grace, this will guarantee that I sleep through the entire event.“ He leaned as if to speak confidentially, but did not lower his voice. „And I snore.“

They were a merry group. George seemed to be in better humor than he had been for months. His mother was so pleased by her son’s good spirits that she did not need wine to feel light-headed. Grace had plans of her own. Plans she had shared with no one but Kitty, who was given the day and night off to celebrate as she wished.

„I tell you what, George, you sit near Lindsay and he will nudge you if you nod off.“ She glanced over at the major to see if he would agree, and shook her head.

Lindsay was slumped down in his chair pretending he was already asleep, then an indelicate snore made the other two laugh. Rousing from his supposed stupor, he looked around. „What did I miss?“

They all crowded into the carriage, still laughing, and settled for the ride to the river and the Waterloo Bridge, the newest and most graceful addition to the river scene.

It was a day filled with extremes. Tears and laughter, cheers and solemn attention. The bridge was named for the battle so „that posterity would remember the great and glorious achievement.“ The tolls were excused for this first day and the span was crowded as people made the trip from the end of the Strand to Lambeth and back. It was slow progress, whether on foot or by carriage, but no one complained.

Grace declared that they would join the parade. Aunt Louise insisted that George put his leg up, and it was a testament to the overall good humor, or perhaps the wine, that he allowed her to fuss over him.

George rested his leg on the opposite seat. It meant that Grace and the major had to sit very close together. Grace loved the feel of Lindsay beside her, the way his broad chest made her feel safe and cared for. He put his arm along the cushions behind them in an effort to give her an inch more space, and the feeling of safety changed to a thrill of awareness.

The open carriage made the two men in uniform available to the crowd, and everyone from their friends to the lowliest flower seller paid their respects to the two soldiers who, as one man said, had „made England safe for the next hundred years.“ He included George in the praise despite his lack of a Waterloo medal. Today, any man in uniform was a hero.

There was a fair set up to 4he southeast of the bridge, and Grace was delighted when her suggestion that they stop a while was well received.

She and Lindsay made their way through the fair, his medal drawing so much attention that finally he took it off and stuffed it in his pocket. The crowd was a mix of every class and calling; it was one of those rare days when all of London gathered, remembering the celebration of the war’s end a year earlier and determined to reprise the good feelings of peace and a secure future.

There was the occasional scuffle. When fists were flying very near where they stood, Lindsay leaned down to her. „Do you want to leave? It is a bit close here.“

„No.“ She laughed as a missed punch resulted in a very comic tumble. „It gives me an excuse to hold on tight to you.“

There were jugglers, trained animals and an illusionist who held their attention for so long that he asked them if they were interested in an apprenticeship.

When they shook their heads, the illusionist asked if Grace would like to assist him. She really did want to go, but her aunt hissed in her ear, „That is unacceptable, Grace.“ And the major held fast to her arm when it appeared she might have stepped forward anyway.