Page 8 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
It was time that he retired and sold his commission. As sad as that was, the day had come.
Knowing that he would be heading back to London soon did not thrill him. Thomas thought back to the last time he had been in the city, when he had just finished a tour of service and had longed to see the woman he loved.
He had returned just a matter of weeks too late. She had just found herself being courted by another. And that had had been the most heart-wrenching thing he might have expected to happen.
This time, however, things would be different. He was coming back not as a mere soldier, but an Officer who had proven himself in battle. He was a man that had little desire to ever return to the death and carnage of his work, but who had not shied away from it when the time had been appropriate.
Thomas finished up his letters and found his way to a few of his good friends, those to whom he would be saying his farewell.
“Lieutenant St. James, I shall never forget your steadfastness. When you are in London next, please come for a visit,” he said, handing one man a letter explaining his gratitude for the hard work he had observed.
To Colonel Franks he handed another, appreciative of the promotion that Thomas had received early on in his career among the troops.
Twelve others were passed out and goodbyes were said.
From there, he headed over to Lieutenant Culpepper who was the best at cutting the men’s hair. Having it trimmed up and having the stubble along his sharp jaw removed helped him to feel cleaner and freer than he had been before. He was more prepared for the journey ahead, even if it was going to be difficult to do.
But in the end, Thomas looked about the camp, thought about all the reasons he was deciding to leave, and headed to the stables.
Thomas checked in with the stable-hand and found that his steed had already been made ready for his journey.
“Officer Gregory,” came the voice of his dear friend, Officer Kingsley.
“Are you nearly ready?” Thomas asked, strapping some of his belongings to the pack that had been loaded onto his horse.
“More than ready. I am rather looking forward to getting off this field of battle for a while and enjoying a nice rest in the city,” he replied.
Thomas understood exactly what he meant. It truly would feel good to be away from all of this.
They had talked about traveling back to London together as Officer Kingsley had taken a leave in order to see his ailing father. But Thomas wondered if, perhaps, the real reason for the leave was to enjoy the final days of the season and visit a few of the young women he had been interested in courting.
“Do you think you’ll miss it?” Officer Kingsley asked.
“Yes, I think I shall. It is good to do meaningful work, to defend our nation. But I must confess that I am also looking forward to this. I know that my time has come to return,” he replied.
“What do you think you will do when you get back?” he asked.
Thomas sighed. “Most likely, I shall work alongside my father with the business. It is thriving and I know that we are doing quite well. My father has expressed an interest in my working for him and I think it is a reasonable enough opportunity.”
“So you shall trade your bayonet for business?” he asked.
“Certainly. I think I shall enjoy it, to be perfectly frank with you. It is the sort of work that I might always have preferred, were it not for the fact that I felt an obligation to defend my country,” Thomas replied.
They finished loading up their belongings and prepared to meet the road ahead, first guiding the horses from the stable, then mounting.
“Take a final look,” Officer Kingsley said.
Thomas turned and eyed the camp, remembering a great number of times he had spent there. It truly would be strange leaving what had been his home for four years. Traveling with these men, some coming and going, others leaving the world altogether, had been a fortune that he knew many men did not get to experience.
But the friendship and camaraderie had been a gift.
With that, the two set off, making their way forward and far from thoughts of battle and death.
The afternoon was growing older and the two men knew they would have to stay the night in an inn before setting off again the following morning. But by nightfall the next evening, Thomas was confident that he would arrive at his mother and father’s estate and be able to settle in.
But a small wondering in the back of his mind could not be shaken.
Would he see her? Would he stumble upon the path of Lady Sophia at any point in the next few weeks? Surely he would be invited to some of the balls and parties, as would she. He would not be able to miss her at them.
