Page 40 of Gallant Waif
“Yes,” she confirmed, trying hard to suppress her rising jubilation.
“And you think my leg may benefit from similar treatment?”
“I am no medical expert but, yes, I think it would help.” She swallowed convulsively. “At least…I cannot say if your leg will be completely restored, but I firmly believe there would be significant improvement.”
“Because of your brother.”
There was considerable scepticism in his voice, but Kate detected a grain of hopefulness. It was time to tell him the truth. It might cost her his respect, but if he could be convinced to try the treatment he might regain full use of his leg. Faced with that option, there was no choice but to risk it.
“Not only because of my brother—there were many others.”
“Others?”
“Yes, I saw this treatment used on many of our soldiers and, in almost every case, it brought some improvement.”
“And naturally there were hundreds of wounded soldiers in the village in…where did you say my grandmother found you—Bedfordshire?”
“No, of course not, but I saw hundreds of wounded soldiers in Spain and Portugal.”
He was incredulous. “Youwere in Spain and Portugal?”
She nodded.
“In wartime?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“For the last three years.”
“On your own?”
She flushed. “With my father. And my brothers, where possible.”
“What was your father doing there? Surely he was too old to be in the army.”
“My father felt he was needed more on the Peninsula than in his parish in Bedfordshire.”
“So he just packed up his Bible and went?” he said sceptically.
“Yes, indeed. Though you would have to have known my father to understand. Once he had made up his mind there was no gainsaying him.”
“But what of you?”
She looked at him in mild surprise. “I went with him, of course. He was a brilliant scholar, but hopelessly impractical in the domestic field. He had no notion at all of how to procure lodgings or food or any of the other things so necessary to life in a country torn by war.”
“And you had?”
She looked at him in surprise. “Yes, of course.” She flushed, realising she must sound boastful. “Well, not at first, but I soon learned. And once I was able to speak some of the language it became much easier.”
“Incredible. You were—how old—seventeen, eighteen?”
“At first, yes.”
“And you did not mind?”
She opened her eyes at that. “No, I did not mind.” She grimaced wryly. “Remember my unladylike hands? They’re a sign of a terrible hoyden, I’m afraid. I had some of the best times of my life travelling with the army…I see I’ve shocked you.”
