@ luceti ; as if he'd ever get castmates lol

[greenjacketed]

My lady,

Beg pardon, but I do not see the point in canvasing this spot for any of my men. [ or women, lest he ever let himself dream of seeing teresa again. ] Not a one of them would like life in that village -- nor like the wings neither. Not even Harris. And as it is my duty as Major to look after their interests, I must insist. Don't try and tempt a single rifleman to Luceti. Especially not...

[ a taut, brassy silence. it's finally broken when sharpe's formal tone erodes and he argues more casually: ] Look, you. I'm doing bloody well fine without Harper. I don't need him or anyone else to brew my tea. And no, I don't need him to make certain I don't muck things up with with Miss Carpenter. I'm perfectly capable of wooing a woman without my Sergeant Major in attendance. I'm not tied to Pat's apron-strings.

[ wait -- did he just say wooing? blast it. blast it all to hell. ]

...Give it a rest, ma'am.

-- Major Richard Sharpe

Comments

[greenjacketed]

[ a stiff (but good-natured) bow. ]

At your service.

[fairytaling]

[ her eyebrows are very up and amused and pleased ]

What does that mean, anyway, 'at your service'? Are you literally at someone's service, and is there - I dunno, a hierarchy or servicitude?

[greenjacketed]

Why, Miss Pond. It is both an officer's duty and right to provide for a lady in any instance.