DECEPTIONS

DISCLAIMERS: the usual

RATED: PG

~~~~~

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 1814

Marta's nerves were overwrought. For days, the sounds of cannons and the rattle of gunfire had reverberated through the streets of the city. Now, all seemed quiet. It was over. The French had been driven from Madrid and were retreating toward the coast and the Pyrenees, harried by the English. She sighed heavily. One occupying army had left, and another had entered the city. Madrid seemed to be a pawn in the chess game of this war.

In the villa's large, hot kitchen, she went over their dwindling inventory of food with the cook. She shook her head in dismay. Where would they get more supplies? It was difficult to feed this small household even though they had the money to buy provisions. Now, with the English army marching into Madrid, supplies would be harder to find than ever.

A sudden shriek from the parlour at the front of the house caused Marta to exchange a startled look with the cook. Marta rushed from the kitchen and hurried down the hallway toward the sound as she heard Lucia, one of the housemaids, beseeching loudly, "God save us, God save us," over and over.

As Marta entered the parlour, she saw Lucia leaning near the front window that overlooked the street. The maid's face was ashen as she stared at something outside the window. The Alvarado villa was situated on a side street near the Plaza Mayor. It was a quiet neighbourhood of planetree-lined, pleasant avenues, and large elegant villas, away from the noise of the main thoroughfares of Madrid. What could have provoked such a reaction, Marta wondered, as she reached the window and looked out.

A sharp intake of breath escaped her, as she saw what had nearly made Lucia faint. A squad of English soldiers had drawn up in the street and two-by-two, they were going to the houses. A pair of soldiers detached themselves from the company and were now marching toward the door of the Alvarado villa. Lucia's eyes were wide with terror and she visibly quaked as the soldiers approached.

Marta took the woman firmly by the arms and faced her. "Lucia. Whatever I say to them, don't disagree. You understand?" The maid nodded her head, too speechless with fear to respond. Marta wondered uneasily if Tessa could hear any of this. She was in her room studying for a Mathematics examination, or, Marta thought with an indulgent smile, that is what she is supposed to be doing.

The sudden booming on the door brought her back the present as Lucia squealed with alarm. "Answer the door, Lucia," Marta said calmly, "and bring the soldiers in here to me". She clasped her hands tightly in front of her to stop their trembling. She heard male voices echo in the front hall, and moments later, two British soldiers stepped into the parlour.

She could see they were awed by the opulence of the room with its dark wood interior, its vivid red flocked wallpaper, and the huge portraits lining the walls. Marta glanced around the room proudly. Everything was of the finest, from the brocaded sofas, to the silver candelabras and the shiny oak table and chairs. The whole room shone in the light from the tall window.

The soldiers seemed abashed by their dusty uniforms and dirty boots as they ventured nervously into the room. Marta came forward with a smile to put them at their ease. They look so young, she thought sadly, to be fighting and dying in such a useless war. "Senores," she began, "I am Señora Alvarado. What can I do for you?" Marta glanced cautiously in Lucia's direction. The maid looked ready to faint at Marta's bold lie about being the mistress of the house.

One of the young soldiers stepped forward, bowed respectfully and pulled off his helmet. His sandy-coloured hair was plastered with sweat to his head, and his light blue eyes seemed disconcerted. "Señora Alvarado. The army of English...needs houses yours for ..." he paused searching for the Spanish words. "Houses for the keeping of..." He looked up and saw bafflement on Marta's face as she tried to decipher what he was endeavouring to say in his broken Spanish. "Habla inglés?" he asked hopefully, then looked dismayed as Marta shook her head.

He brightened suddenly as he pulled a piece of paper from his red tunic and began to read in Spanish from it. "The British army respectfully requests the temporary use of your home for the billeting of soldiers during our stay in the city." He sighed with relief at the look of comprehension on Marta's face.

For a second, Marta withheld her answer as she studied the two men. "And if I refuse?"

The soldiers glanced at each other apprehensively, as they understood what she said. The second soldier, evidently of lesser rank, spoke up in much better Spanish. "Señora. Martial law is declared in the city. It is now under the protection of the British army. You cannot refuse a direct order. I am sorry." He glanced down as his companion shot him an irritated glance. Marta could see the different insignia on their sleeves must denote their respective ranks. The soldier with the better Spanish had spoken without the permission of his superior officer and was now in a bit of trouble.

To spare the second man further problems with his officer, Marta addressed her remarks to the first soldier. "How many soldiers?" she asked, keeping her words simple and clearly pronounced.

"Six officers, señora," he replied.

"When?"

"In two hours."

"We have no food, señor." Marta said reasonably. Perhaps they will station the officers somewhere else, she thought hopefully, if we can't feed them.

The young officer turned to the junior man and spoke rapidly in English. The second man smiled slightly and said, "My sergeant asked me to tell you not to worry about supplies. The British army will pay for the billeting and all expenses. A supply train is on its way here from Cadiz, and you will receive whatever provisions you ask for." A look of unmistakeable admiration crossed his face as he glanced over Marta's face and form and a flush rushed into his cheeks. He looked down again quickly.

The sergeant saluted, and put his helmet back on. "Buenos dias, señora," he said. The soldiers turned abruptly and strode toward the front door with Lucia fluttering in their wake. She came back into the parlour with a stricken look on her face.

"Marta, what are you thinking -- posing as Don Alvarado's wife. What will the young mistress say?" Lucia's high-pitched voice reached a new octave as she squeaked out her protest.

"I will explain it to her. Tell the other servants about the officers and get the bedrooms ready. The men will have to sleep two to a room. I will move my things to Tessa's room and give up my room. I want to be near her, for her protection -- just in case." Marta added grimly.

She left the parlour, followed by Lucia and turned toward the wide graceful staircase that led to the second floor. As she placed her foot on the bottom step, another loud knock sounded at the door. "Madre de dios!" she exclaimed irritably. "What now? Well, see who it is, Lucia," she said brusquely as the maid seemed frozen to the spot.

Lucia barely got the door opened before a heavy-set uniformed man pushed his way through and stood looking around the ornate foyer. His gold-braided tunic proclaimed an officer, though Marta thought his manner showed he was no gentleman. His florid face turned toward Marta as she moved away from the staircase. His pale grey eyes seemed to be taking everything in, missing nothing. It made Marta feel ill-at-ease, especially the quizzical way he was looking her over. His wide epauletted shoulders seemed to dominate the small entryway. He was an imposing figure of a man -- tall, lean with not an inch of spare flesh. In an automatic gesture, he pulled at his well-waxed moustache, straightening it to a fine point on both sides of his stubbly cheeks. Its ginger colour matched the wiry hair on his high domed head.

He stepped forward and saluted. "Colonel James Fitzroy, at your service," he said in a voice that was a deep grumble, his Spanish overlaid with a broad Scottish accent.

"I am Señora Alvarado," Marta said, almost choking on the words as his eyes narrowed at her suspiciously. "Welcome to my home, Colonel. You find us unprepared. We were not expecting you for two more hours."

He brushed her apologies aside with an airy wave of his hand. "Damned foul-up, as usual. They were appallingly slow getting the billets arranged. Left most of the officers standing in the streets with their bags in their hands. Damned incompetence," he muttered as he moved further into the hallway.

Marta gestured to her left and said, "If you will wait in the parlour, Colonel Fitzroy, I will see that your room is made ready for you. Would you care for some refreshments?" Without waiting for his answer, Marta went into the parlour, expecting him to follow. As she turned, she nearly collided with the big man as he trod silently behind her.

The front door opened again and a young soldier bustled in laden down with a variety of bags and rucksacks. He hurried over to the Colonel when he caught sight of him standing near the parlour entrance. "Sorry I'm a bit late, sir. There was some confusion over which house you were billeted in."

The Colonel's face was stony with rage as he regarded the young man. "Have you no manners, Corporal Jarvis?" he growled in his Scots brogue. "You don't just barge into a house without knocking, sir! This isn't a field tent! Apologize for your ill manners."

The corporal looked confused for a moment as to whom he should address his apologies. He settled his gaze on Marta, and bowed deeply. "I meant no offence, señora. Please excuse my hasty intrusion into your home."

Marta felt a little sorry for the corporal. She had the feeling his colonel could be a harsh man indeed if provoked, and this was only a small misdemeanour. "Your apology is accepted, Corporal Jarvis," she said, having a little trouble pronouncing his last name which came out 'Harvis'. She saw him smile at her accent, and felt slightly nettled. She motioned to Lucia who was still hovering around uncertainly in the background. "Bring the colonel some of our best wine." Gesturing to the sofa, Marta said, "Please make yourself comfortable, Colonel. Mi casa es su casa."

As Lucia hurried from the room, the corporal began to set down his burden of bags. His head swivelled all around as he seemed overawed by the grandeur of the villa. It was evident to Marta that the soldier had never been in such a lavishly appointed place before. It made her smile at his youthful curiosity, as she watched him studying the paintings and books that lined the walls of the room.

"If you will excuse me for a few minutes, I will see that your room is made ready for you." Marta moved sedately out of the parlour and began to ascend the stairs once more. What she saw coming down the stairs stopped her in her tracks. Tessa gave Marta a saucy wink and stepped quickly past her. Marta dashed back down behind her, and gained the parlour just as the colonel was rising to greet the newcomer.

Tessa walked over to the colonel, and bowed formally, stretching out her hand. In a deepened voice, she said, "I am Diego Alvarado. I was not informed of your arrival, or I would have been here sooner." Tessa cast a quick glance at Marta whose face was neutral but whose eyes were livid with rage. Tessa turned quickly back to the colonel and waited patiently under his scrutiny. She knew she was an unusual sight to be sure. She was dressed in a dark brown velvet jacket, with a white linen shirt and lace jabot. Her legs were encased a pair of loose-fitting black trousers and her sword hung by her side. She smiled as the colonel uncertainly extended his hand also, seemingly confused by what he was confronted with.

The colonel recovered his aplomb and said heartily, "Don't blame your mother. She had no chance to inform you that we were here already. Usual army mix-up. Nothing to get upset about, señor." The edge of a question tinged that last word as the colonel grasped the delicate hand and shook it cordially. He tried not to stare but he felt at a loss for a reaction to this young man. He had never seen a more beautiful face on a woman -- let alone on a boy.

For a second, Tessa faltered. "My mother...," she said, smiling at Marta, "is the heart and soul of hospitality, Colonel. If there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, you have only to ask. We are at your disposal." She bowed courteously as she had seen the men do, and hoped it was correct.

At that moment, Lucia came in with the wine on a tray. Marta moved quickly to take it from her as Lucia nearly dropped it when she saw Tessa in men's garb conversing with the colonel. The warning in Marta's eyes was enough to keep Lucia quiet as she backed from the room and fled to some other part of the house. Madre mio, Lucia thought, as she entered the kitchen. This place is turning into a madhouse. Marta posing as the doña, and now Tessa dressed as a man. What next?

The colonel turned to Marta. "Might I use this parlour as my command room, señora? I have many administrative matters to attend to, and must see my officers in a private setting."

"Of course, Colonel. We will leave you alone now to attend to your duties. Diego," Marta said firmly, looking hard at Tessa, "will you come with me, por favor?"

Corporal Jarvis crossed the parlour and closed the ornately carved doors as they left. "Bit of a poofter, that one, wouldn't you say, Colonel?," he said, jerking his thumb toward the door. "He wouldn't last ten minutes in our army." The corporal chuckled as he strode back to where the colonel reclined on the sofa.

"Jarvis. Get me a real drink. All these Spaniards ever give you is this red swill." The colonel set the wine glass aside with a grimace of distaste. His aide hurried to one of the cases, and opened it to reveal a square bottle of amber liquid and two small glasses. He filled a glass quickly and handed it to his commander. Fitzroy downed it in one fast swallow, sighed loudly, and held his hand out for a refill. "Now that's a man's drink, Jarvis," the colonel said with satisfied grin. "Highland Scotch." He cradled the glass in his hands lovingly and swirled the fluid around before taking another sip.

The colonel launched himself off the comfortable sofa, and went to the nearby table. It was of dark wood with delicately carved legs, not really adequate for the task he required of it, but it would have to do. He took a big gulp of his Scotch and said dolefully, "All right. Let's get on with the damned paperwork." Jarvis opened a large dispatch case full of papers, and began to spread them out on the table.

Once they were at the top of the stairs, Marta took Tessa firmly by the elbow and led her to Tessa's room. She pulled the door open abruptly, and practically pushed Tessa inside, closing the door with a loud bang. Tessa could feel the anger pouring off the other woman and felt a moment of worry. Though only twelve years separated their ages, Marta was her guardian, and at times, she had quite a vicious temper. Such as now. Tessa could see Marta trying to get herself under control enough to speak, and wisely kept silent. No need to provoke her further.

Marta strode back and forth, her chest heaving with agitation. Finally, she whirled around and said in a hushed voice laced with rage, "What game do you think you are playing now, Tessa? Dressing as a boy! Do you think they were fooled by your disguise? You don't look anything like a boy! Too slim and too beautiful. What do you think the colonel was thinking?"

"I know what his aide was thinking. It was written very plainly on his face. He thought I was one of those boys who prefer men," Tessa said matter-of-factly.

Marta's hands flew to her mouth and her eyes bulged with horror. "Where do you hear such things? You should not know of such."

"From the boys at the fencing school. That's what they think of me. I've had to fight to defend myself many times." Tessa met her guardian's eyes frankly, waiting for the explosion.

"Madre de dios! Don Alvarado will kill me for this," Marta exclaimed. "His innocent daughter being corrupted by those crude bullies at the Academy. Getting into fist fights and worse! And now this. Playacting as a boy. Why are you doing this, Tessa? What purpose does it serve?"

Tessa took Marta by the arms to calm her and stop her pacing furiously back and forth. "Marta, I hoped if they thought there was a man in the house, even one such as I seem to be, they might be less likely to take advantage of us. I can protect us with my sword, but not as a woman. I shouldn't even know how to use a sword in this society. We won't have to keep up the pretense for long. They will leave in a few weeks."

"Deception only leads to more deception, Tessa." Marta tore herself away and stood near the window, gazing at the street.

"Such as being the wife of Don Alvarado," Tessa said flatly. "Why did you do that...Mother?"

"I was afraid if they thought the house had only servants in it, they would loot it and steal everything of value. I also feared much worse. You must have heard the stories of those towns where the soldiers went wild with their plunder and rape. I was afraid for you, Tessa. You are too young to be the mistress of this house, so I took on the role. An older woman earns more respect." Marta sighed and returned to Tessa, taking her gently into her arms. "This war seems endless. If only your father were here, or even your uncle, Alejandro. But we are on our own and must do what we can."

Marta stepped back and smiled. "I will support your deception if you will support mine." Tessa nodded and Marta continued, "I was going to move into your room so we could stay together for protection, but now, of course, that is impossible. We will have to be very careful of our guests. They seem to be civilized but don't forget for a minute, they are also soldiers. Only ten years ago, they were Spain's enemies. We cannot trust them out of our sight."

"The English are our allies against Napoleon, Marta. The French are the enemy."

"Tessa, you have a short memory for history. The French were supposed to be our allies against the English so Spain could become a major power in the world again. But Napoleon betrayed us and took over the whole country. What will happen to Spain when the French are gone? Will the English give us back our country? Why should they now that they have control?"

Tessa took in a long measured breath. "Well, we can't worry about it right now. We have our honoured guests to take care of, and see they don't steal the family silver," Tessa jested as she smiled reassuringly at Marta. "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

**************

That evening, the colonel arose from the head of the long dining table with his wineglass in his hand. "Gentlemen, I give you a toast to our estimable and beautiful hostess, Señora Alvarado." He raised his glass as the other officers stood up with a noisy scraping of chairs and saluted Marta who was seated at the opposite end of the table.

She blushed and smiled at their unwonted courtesy. She had not expected it. From the corner of her eye, she saw Tessa had also arisen with the men for the toast. So far, the deception seemed to working, though Marta's heart had been in her throat the whole meal. Tessa had placed herself among the officers rather than next to Marta. She had insisted it would look more natural and manly not to sit with her 'mother'.

The meal had been convivial and noisy with the men's talk. The wine flowed liberally which loosened the officers' tongues and they told story after story to a fascinated Tessa, of their battles and victories. The gore and horror were left out, and only the bravery and glory were recounted. Marta watched carefully as Tessa sat among the handsome officers, and kept hoping Tessa would remember the charade she was playing -- a boy too young yet for the army. Tessa's eyes shone with excitement as she listened and asked questions.

It was evident to Marta that Tessa craved the danger and passion of war as much as any of the men. She wondered when such fierceness had lodged itself in the young woman's soul. Or had it always been there and Marta had never seen it before? Was that why she had taken up fencing -- to appease that dark violent being inside that wanted an outlet? Marta shuddered involuntarily. She had known Tessa since she was a small child, and suddenly, looking at her in this company, she realized she didn't know Tessa at all.

Marta began to rise from her place, saying, "I'm sure you gentlemen would like to retire to the den for your coffee and brandy. I will have it sent to you there. Diego, please come and help me." The men all rose once more as Marta left the room with Tessa following.

As soon as they entered the kitchen, Tessa whispered, "That went well, don't you think, Marta? No one seemed to suspect anything."

"Yes, tonight it went well. But what about tomorrow night and the night after? Can you keep up the deception? You are a woman, Tessa, and I saw how you were looking at some of the men. If you are not more careful, they will be offended and call you out for a duel. What will you do then?"

"Fight," Tessa said bluntly. "What else could I do? But it won't come to that, Marta. I will be more careful from now on. It was just so exciting to hear about the battles, to imagine those brave men charging into the jaws of death and emerging victorious. How wonderful it must be, to be on the battlefield with your comrades, pitting your strength and courage against the enemy's."

"Have you ever seen a battlefield, Tessa?" The young woman shook her head, and Marta continued, "I have. It is not glorious or beautiful. It is ugly, with the stench of rotting fly-blown bodies, corpses everywhere. And the thought that these brave men were someone's husbands, sons, brothers, fathers. The victorious soldiers and civilians loot the bodies of everything of value, leaving them naked and unknown. That is the glory of war, Tessa." The haunted look in Marta's eyes vanished as she turned to the sound of someone coming down the hall toward them.

"Lucia," Marta said as the maid entered the kitchen, "take the brandy to the den and serve the men a glass each. Give the colonel his first and leave the bottle beside him."

The young maid shivered suddenly, and looked terrified. Tessa said, "I will do it, Marta. They would probably expect it anyway." She went to a cabinet and pulled out a full bottle of dark brandy.

"No, Tessa, you cannot go in there. Let Lucia do it." Marta's protest went unheeded as Tessa turned quickly and strode toward the den with the bottle clenched in her hand.

As Tessa opened the door, a din of male voices drummed in her ears and the scent of cigar smoke assailed her nostrils. She coughed as she entered the den, so thick was the smoke inside. Through the haze, she spied the colonel seated in one of the comfortable stuffed chairs and moved toward him purposefully. "As our maid is afraid of you, gentlemen, I have offered to bring you the brandy." Her remarks were greeted with a few guffaws. Tessa stepped over to the sideboard and picked up a brandy goblet. She filled it generously and then handed it to the colonel. Gesturing to the bottle and glasses, Tessa said to the other officers, "Please help yourselves, señores."

Tessa turned to leave, but the colonel called out, "Señor Alvarado. Won't you join us? I'm sure your mother won't mind." A ripple of laughter accompanied the colonel's barbed invitation, and Tessa felt she had no choice but to remain, at least for a while.

She found an empty chair and sat down uneasily. It was one thing to dine with the men, quite another to be alone among them as one of their number. The conversations resumed and laughter flowed easily. Tessa began to relax, waiting for an opportune moment to escape. She looked up and noticed the colonel eyeing her intently.

Finally, he said, "You don't look anything like your mother, señor. Do you favour your father more?"

"Si, Colonel. Actually, Marta is not my real mother. Mama died when I was quite young. Some years later, my father married Marta. So she is my stepmother." Tessa swallowed, and her heart began to race. Was he already suspicious of her deception?

"Well, that explains why there seems to be so little difference in your ages. I wondered how a woman who looks as young as the señora could have a son as old as you. How old are you, Diego?"

Tessa considered telling the truth, that she was seventeen, then recalled he would wonder why she was not in the Spanish army. "Fourteen, colonel," she answered. Deception leads to deception, Marta had said, and it was true. She was getting herself in deeper all the time. "If you will excuse me, Colonel, I have my studies to attend to."

She felt the colonel's eyes on her back as she hastily left the den and made for the staircase to the upper floor and the safety of her room. Marta was seated on her bed and looked up with a baleful glance.

"You court danger, Tessa," she said angrily. "You want to get as close to discovery as you can while still fooling them. It's a game with you. Maybe you could try to remember there is more at stake here than your craving for excitement. The other servants in this house depend on you for their livelihoods and security. I warn you, you must stay away from that colonel. He has eyes that can penetrate your soul and is not easily fooled. Keep out of sight as much as you can, Tessa, for all our sakes."

Marta left the room abruptly, leaving the young woman in turmoil. Was any of what Marta said, true? Did she court danger and crave excitement? Tessa compressed her lips. Yes, she admitted to herself, I do want some excitement in my life. Parties and dances are all fun and pleasure, but where is the passion for life, the zest of being in the centre of something important? She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. A darkly beautiful face looked back at her, the black eyes brooding and soulful. Even with her auburn hair tied up in the male fashion, she did not look masculine to her own eyes. How can I expect to fool them? Maybe I should just admit I am a woman and explain the ruse to the colonel. He seems like an understanding man. But, she thought ruefully, that would end the fun of the charade. Just a little longer, then I will reveal the truth.

***********

The days fell into a routine with the officers and the colonel having their meals together at regular times. The promised supplies arrived and soon the larder was full of food items that had been unobtainable for months in Madrid. The paymaster gave Marta the sums that she accounted for in her statements, and she relaxed her vigilance and became more trustful of the English.

Tessa continued to play her part and even went out to her fencing lessons as before, dressed in her male garb. She did as Marta suggested and avoided contact with the English officers in her home as much as possible. Only at dinner in the late evening did she and Marta share a meal with the soldiers. Tessa had to admit she looked forward to those dinners. It was so exhilarating to hear the men's conversation and share in their talk as an equal, a comrade. She was careful to keep her eyes averted and not stare, though some of the officers were very handsome. After that first night, Tessa declined the colonel's invitation to join the men for their cigars and brandy. That seemed too dangerous, like voluntarily going into the lion's den.

One afternoon, as Tessa was returning from her fencing lesson, she entered the house and heard something fall suddenly. Listening intently, she heard a noise that sounded like mewling or whimpering. Following the sound, she stopped and listened at the door to the den. She heard it again along with a rustling noise. For a moment, she was tempted to leave, not knowing what was going on behind the door, then she heard a muffled scream. She wrenched open the door and dashed in to find Corporal Jarvis holding one hand over Lucia's mouth and the other firmly grasping her bodice as she struggled ineffectually to get free. With his body he held her captive against the wall. He turned suddenly, his flushed face angry then frightened as Tessa pulled her sword and rushed at him.

He pushed Lucia roughly to the side and pulled out his own sword. The two fencers circled each other, waiting for the opponent to make a move. Jarvis lunged and Tessa parried easily. She realized he was no threat and concentrated on giving him a fencing lesson he would never forget. She met his clumsy lunges with her own graceful ripostes, trying to keep out of the way of the furniture for Marta's sake. It would be hard to explain to Don Alvarado how his fine velvet club chairs had sword slashes in them.

The loud clanging of the duel soon brought alarmed spectators from all parts of the house. The doorway was filled with servants ogling the match. Suddenly, the colonel thrust his way through the assemblage and stormed into the den.

"What the devil is going on here, Jarvis? Have you lost your senses, man?" Colonel Fitzroy's face was red with rage as he grasped hold of the corporal and threw him to one side. He turned to Tessa, watching her closely as her chest heaved with the exertion of the fight, and her eyes flashed with anger at her opponent. Jarvis remained on the floor, cowed by his colonel's sudden appearance and the trouble he was now in.

Lucia pulled the top of her gown across her bosom and began to weep. Tessa crossed to her quickly and took her gently into her arms. "It's all right now, Lucia," she said soothingly. "You're all right."

Jarvis got to his feet and stammered, "The maid invited me in here, sir, for a quick slap and tickle. Then she changed her mind. I was just about to leave when this crazed nancy-boy rushed in and tried to kill me."

The colonel glanced from Lucia to Jarvis, then his gaze settled on Tessa. "That was a fine bit of swordsmanship," he said almost grudgingly. He turned to Lucia, and pulled out his purse. He counted several gold reales into her hand, and said, "That is for the trouble you have been caused. Along with my most humble apologies for the abuse to your honour. I swear it will not happen again." Lucia offered a tremulous smile, then curtseyed and hurried from the room.

By this time, Marta had arrived from the market and strode into the den. Turning to the servants thronging the doorway, she said, "Get back to work. The show is over." She closed the door and walked over to Tessa. "I see you have finally found some excitement," she said caustically.

The colonel stood glaring at Jarvis who hung his head. "This disgraceful conduct will be rewarded with the severest punishment. We are not a barbarian horde plundering an enemy city. We are supposed to be protecting the Madrileños, not attacking them! Consider yourself under arrest, Jarvis. A court-martial will be convened later. Now, get out of my sight!"

When the corporal had left the room, Marta said, "Colonel Fitzroy, there are some things you should know. It is time for the truth."

"You mean that this young rascal is not a boy. I knew that from the start. I wasn't sure why she was posing as a young man, but I assumed it was because you were afraid of us. Afraid of exactly what has just happened here." The colonel focussed his penetrating gaze on Tessa. "Where did you learn to fence like that, Señorita Alvarado? It was exquisite to watch, like a ballet."

Tessa's colour deepened under the colonel's praise. "My maestro is Señor Torres. He is the best fencing master in Madrid." Tessa looked up uncertainly at the colonel. "What will happen to Corporal Jarvis? I think he has learned his lesson. I hope you will be merciful to him."

"We execute men who disobey orders, señorita. That's the only way to maintain discipline in an army filled with riffraff and thieves." He stepped away a few paces and added tersely, "It's going to be damned hard to replace him. He was an excellent aide."

"No one needs to know about this incident, Colonel," Tessa said. "Make his punishment a private one and keep your aide. I'm sure he will not transgress again."

"I will give it some consideration, Señorita Alvarado." He smiled thinly at Tessa. "The next time I see you, my dear girl, I hope you will be attired in a manner more befitting your beauty." The colonel bowed formally to the two women and left the room.

A long silence developed until Tessa finally spoke. Her voice and mien seemed subdued. "Did this incident happen because of me, Marta? Was it because of my deception that Jarvis molested our maid?"

"That has nothing to do with what happened to Lucia. He tried to take advantage of her weakness, and if you had not interfered, her life might have been ruined. You saved her reputation and her virtue, Tessa. That is something to be proud of." Marta crossed to the younger woman and took her hand fondly. "Perhaps if you had not assumed that disguise, you would not have been able to help her. So, in a way, the incident is connected with your deception, but did not cause it."

"You were right though, Marta. Deception does lead to more deception. I'm glad it's over and I can go back to being myself. I think I've learned my lesson about disguises." She took Marta's arm and led her toward the door. "Now what gown should I wear for dinner tonight? I want to really surprise the officers." Tessa giggled as Marta rolled her eyes heavenward.

"And to think I was worried when you were disguised as a boy."

END