A week or so ago, when I was scrolling through YouTube looking for something to watch as I sipped some herbal tea before bed, this video was recommended to me because I’ve watched other History Hit videos. I found the information in this to be quite interesting since I have written stories that reference the Napoleonic Wars.
The story that immediately came to mind was Midnight with Mary (Sweet Extra 2) because the Peninsular War is mentioned a couple of times in it (even though it is a short novelette), and I did a fair bit of research reading before writing that book. In fact, I read about the people and battles mentioned in this video.
Here is the first time the Peninsular War is mentioned. The colonel and Mary have gone to call on a widow and friend of Mary’s to help her. (It’s a rather long excerpt. I hope you don’t mind. 😉 )
“Have you spent time on the continent?” Mrs. Hadley asked when they were nearly finished with their task.
“Yes.”
“Is it as horrible as I imagine it? My Patrick’s letters did not contain much detail about it.”
Richard drew a deep breath and nodded. “It cannot be any less horrific than what you might have imagined. In fact, it might be much worse.”
Mrs. Hadley stopped halfway between retrieving the final piece of wood and handing it to Mary. “You do not like to talk about it?”
He shook his head. “The things I have seen – I can understand why your husband would not have written about them to you.” He tried to take the log that Mrs. Hadley had handed to Mary, but she shook her head and then tipped it towards the cart.
“He was coming home,” Mrs. Hadley said. “But his wounds were too great for him to survive the journey.”
“I am sorry to hear that.” He helped her out of the wagon.
“I was, too.” She wrapped her shawl tightly around herself and tied it in place.
“If you will show me where you keep the wood near the house, I can see that there is plenty of it at the ready.”
“I will show you just as soon as you have given me three logs to carry.”
He did as she asked, filling her arms with wood, and then filling Mary’s before gathering his own portion.
“How long ago was it?” he asked.
“A year and three months.”
“Was he on the Peninsula?”
She nodded.
There had been rumors that he and his men might be sent to the Peninsula around that time. Currently, the French still had Cadiz cut off, and he might end up on the Peninsula yet. Richard stacked his wood and then took the pieces from each of the ladies to add to the pile.
“There we are. You are set for a while, or at least until your son is well.” Richard dusted off his greatcoat. “Is there anything else I can do for you? Do you need anything for your son’s care?”
“No. We are well-supplied with all that he needs as far as tinctures and broths go.” She looked at Mary. “I am sure I have you to thank for that as well.”
“How so?” Mary asked.
“Lady Lucas heard from Mr. Vace that Caleb was ill. It must have been you who told him for I spoke to no one else at church.”
“It does my heart good to see you cared for,” Mary said by way of accepting her friend’s thanks.
“Every lady should have neighbours who are so good as you, Miss Mary. Are you certain you will not come in for a cup of tea? The journey home will not be overly quick, and there is a chill in the air.”
“I would welcome something warm,” Richard said when Mary looked to him before answering.
“That is excellent news!”
“You do not mind staying?” Mary asked as they followed behind Mrs. Hadley, albeit at a more sedate pace than that of a lady rushing to see that tea was made ready for her guests.
“Not at all.”
“Thank you.” Her fingers, which rested on his forearm, held on to him a bit more tightly for a moment before she released her hold to remove her outerwear upon entering the house. “And I do not thank you just for letting me have a cup of tea before we leave. I wish to thank you for all you have done today. It is as much a gift to me as it is to Miriam.”
“I did it for myself more than for any other reason.”
She smiled at him as he removed his coat. “I know,” she said, “but I wanted you to know just how much good your actions have done beyond what they do for you.”
He shook his head as he watched her scoot away to the sitting room. “If I were not a soldier,” he muttered to himself and the maid who was waiting to take his outerwear. “If I were not a soldier.”
[from Midnight With Mary]
Thank you for that, absolutely fascinating. Plus Midnight With Mary is one of my favourite reads, although it always makes me cry buckets as we near the end even though I have read it countless times
I cried when I wrote it. I cried each time I edited or proofread it. I cry when I reread it now. 🙂 I’m glad I’m not alone in needing tissues to get through this story.