Josefina's other neighbour had shifted his chair closer so that his view was not impaired. Sir Augustus pushed half of his partridge away, uneaten, and stared unhappily across the table. Josefina was dazzling the Dragoon Captain, fingering the silver wire of his epaulette, and asking him how he cleaned it. Sharpe smiled to himself. She was superb. As untrustworthy as a cheap sword in battle, but the years had not palled her excitement or her mischief. He saw Ducos' eyes on him, the spectacles flashing on and off with candlelight as the Major chewed, and it seemed to Sharpe that Ducos smiled because he knew what was happening.

Harry Price was explaining cricket to one of the Frenchwomen, using a blend of English and outrageous French. 'He bowls la balle, oui? And he frappes it avec le baton! Comme ca! Price made a stroke with his knife that rang loud on the edge of a wineglass. His flushed face smiled an apology at the senior officers who turned to look.

A French major egged Price on. 'The same man? He throws and hits?

'Non, non, non! Price drank from the wineglass. 'Onze hommes, oui? Une homme bowls et une homme frappes. Dix catch. Une homme from autre side frappes comme le man bowls. Simple!

The French Major explained cricket to the rest of the table, making much of'une homme' and 'le frapping', and the laughter was unforced, the room warm, and the wine good. Christmas evening with the French? Sharpe leaned back in his chair and it seemed so strange, no, more than strange, unnatural that tomorrow these same men might be trying to kill each other. Price was offering to teach the French cricket in the morning, but Sharpe's instincts warned him of a different game.

Josefina's foot was still for the moment, hooked about his ankle while she listened to the Dragoon tell a long story about a ball in Paris. That would be to Josefina's liking. Paris would be heaven to her, a mythical city where a beautiful woman could walk for ever on soft carpets beneath crystal lights receiving the homage of dazzling uniforms. He thought to remove his foot, knowing he did not want her, but he could not summon the energy or desire to move. He looked at Farthingdale, unhappily defending his book against Ducos' surprising knowledge, and Sharpe supposed that he was flirting with Josefina because he disliked Sir Augustus so much. He did it, too, because he was weak. If Sir Augustus was not guarding her tonight Sharpe knew he would not resist the temptation. He shifted his foot a fraction and she tightened the pressure fiercely.

Dubreton leaned forward as the orderlies removed the remains of the partridges. 'You're looking warm, Lady Farthingdale. Would you like a window opened?

'No, Colonel. She smiled at him, her black hair curled about her face, her mastery of the men at the table absolute. There was something satisfying in having her attention, albeit hidden, though Sharpe guessed she might have extended it to any neighbour.

The kitchen doors opened again and this time a variety of dishes appeared, all hot, and orderlies put new plates before each diner. The smell was tantalizing. Dubreton clapped his hands. 'Lady Farthingdale! Sir Augustus! Ladies and gentlemen. You will have to forgive us. No goose this Christmas, no hog's head, not even a roasted swan. Alas! I tried for beef in our guests' honour, but nothing. You will have to put up with this humble dish. Major Sharpe? You will assist Lady Farthingdale? Sir Augustus? Allow me.

There were three kinds of meat on one set of plates, next to dishes of beans that seemed to be topped with breadcrumbs, and then there were bowls of crisp, brown, roasted potatoes. Sharpe had a passion for roasted potatoes and he worked out in his head how many bowls were on the table, how many potatoes in each, and how many guests had to share them. He offered some to Josefina. 'Milady?

'No thank you, Major. Her knee rubbed his. Sharpe was sure that Sir Augustus must see what was happening, Josefina was so close to him now that their elbows rubbed whenever they ate. There had been a time when he had murdered for this woman and back then he would never have believed that such a grand passion could fade into mere affection.

'You're sure?

'I'm sure. Sharpe helped himself to her share of the potatoes as well as his own. He would hide the excess under the beans.

Dubreton helped himself last, then looked to see that everyone had a full plate. 'This should cheer your English hearts. Your Lord Wellington's favourite dish, mutton! But mutton as Sharpe had never seen it, nothing like the yellow-brown, greasy meat that the Peer ate with such relish. Dubreton's thin face was full of pleasure. 'You roast the mutton, but only a little, and then you add the garlic sausage and the half roasted duck. Alas, it should be goose, but we have none. You cook them in the beans, then separate them. The beans were delicious, white and swollen, and there were tiny squares of crisp, roasted pork rind among them. Dubreton speared a single bean. 'You cook the beans in water and you must throw the water away, you know that?

The British shook their heads, looking puzzled, and Dubreton continued. 'The water of flageolots is stinking, horrid. You can tell a slattern because she does not throw it far enough from the house. However! He held the bean up, smiled. 'You can bottle the water, yes? Then you will have a substance that will take the most stubborn stains from linen. You see how much you have to learn from us? Now eat!

Dubreton had apologized for the main course, but the apology was needless for the food, once more, exceeded Sharpe's experience and the potatoes, to his secret delight, were so crisp that each threatened to explode like a small shell and skid across the white table-cloth. He drank the lighter wine and he understood why Dubreton had insisted that they save it for this course, and he felt wonderfully good, relaxed, and he laughed as Harry Price complained that beans always gave him flatulence and solemnly speared each one to release the hidden gas he insisted was within. The mention of gas prompted a question from Dubreton whether it was true that London already had gas lighting, and S'harpe said it was, and Madame Dubreton wanted to know exactly where and then she sighed at the answer. 'Pall Mall! I haven't seen the Mall for nine years.

'You will, Ma'am, again.

Josefina leaned close to Sharpe, her hair brushing his own. 'Will you take me to London?

'Whenever you like.

'Tonight? She was smiling at him, teasing him, her thigh pressing rhythmically against his.

'I didn't hear your words, my dear? Sir Augustus, unable to contain his anger, leaned forward.

She smiled at him prettily. 'I was counting the potatoes on Major Sharpe's plate. I think he is very greedy.

'A man needs his strength. Ducos said, his eyes going back and forth between Sharpe and Josefina.

'Which is why you eat so little, Major? She smiled at Ducos and it was true that the small, plain-dressed man picked fussily at his food and ate little. She leaned back towards Sharpe and put her fork over his plate. 'One, two, three, four, five, you've eaten part of that one, six. Her knee and thigh were hard against him. She lowered her voice. 'He sleeps like the dead. Three o'clock?

‘Qui vive? The shout was from outside the inn, the French challenge.

Josefina's fork was in her left hand, her right hand was beneath the table, its fingers running up the junction of green cloth and leather of his French overalls. 'Eight, nine. Ten potatoes, Major? Yes?

'Three and a half would be better. He said. He could smell her hair. She was hovering over his plate with the fork, deciding which potato to prong. She picked one, leaned away from him, and held the potato to his mouth. 'For your strength, Major.

He opened his mouth, the fork came forward, and then the challenge was repeated, the door was hammered, opened, and the thick curtain was swept aside letting in a flurry of freezing air.