Page 66 of A Foolish Flirtation

Teddy seemed to consider this. “We-ell, perhaps his sister,” he conceded at last. “But she’s rather a simpleton,” he said scornfully, “and believes the best of everyone.”

“I expect he writes her long letters, telling her all his woes,” Emmie said whimsically as she peered at Pomfrey’s beady little eyes.

“Papa says he may come right in the end,” Teddy admitted doubtfully. “He says his own schoolmaster said something very similar about him once.”

Emmie gave a strangled cough. “You, however, do not have high hopes for Pomfrey’s military career?”

He shook his head. “Even now, he is shirking guard duty,” he said gravely. “He should be up here,” he said, gesturing to one of the towers, “with Corporal Winthrop, but instead he is playing cards down here in the courtyard with Bayliss, who is a subaltern.”

“Very shocking.”

“I know.”

They spent a very pleasant hour playing with the fort. Emmie had Pomfrey up before a disciplinary where it was pronounced he would get sent to bed without any rations that night. She told Teddy she believed this would make him think twice about his wicked ways. Teddy told her that he doubted it, and that Pomfrey had a stash of hidden rum that he would fortify himself with before bedtime.

“Goodness me. He’s quite a resourceful fellow, isn’t he?” she marveled.

“Who is?” Jeremy asked, sauntering into the room, and leaning down to kiss her cheek. Emmie gave a guilty start.

“Pomfrey,” Teddy answered at once.

“Pomfrey?” Jeremy echoed in lively disgust. “I never thought I would hear anyone praising that scoundrel! What, pray, has Pomfrey been up to to earn your admiration, Ballentine?”

“Smuggling rum,” Teddy expanded.

Jeremy threw a startled glance her way.

“That is not what I was admiring!” Emmie protested hotly. “I simply think he has some qualities which might recommend themselves, if they could simply be channeled into a more worthy direction.”

“No one thinks Pomfrey has any redeeming features,” Jeremy said damningly, sitting down opposite them on the rug.

“His sister does,” Teddy objected.

Jeremy lowered the flag he had picked up to add to the tower. “I never knew he had one!”

“Oh yes,” Emmie said knowledgeably. “He writes to her once a month, great long epistles all about his troubles.”

“He would!”

She shook her head. “I am convinced Pomfrey is simply misunderstood.”

“That’s what his sister says,” Teddy said eagerly. “She even wrote to the captain of the guard saying as much.”

Jeremy narrowed his eyes. “I see that young Pomfrey has the knack of cozening womenfolk.” He picked up the toy soldier to regard him in a new light. “I never knew that about him before.”

Emmie tossed her head. “You are far too hard on him. I shall add my voice to his sister’s and appeal to the captain on his behalf.”

“I shall grow very jealous if you start writing to other men so soon into our marriage, Ballentine,” Jeremy warned her, making her gasp. “In fact, I forbid it.”

Emmie fought down her blush. “The captain, I am persuaded, is a most proper person,” she said primly. “And would never dream of imposing on me through our correspondence.”

“Yes,” agreed Teddy, “and besides, I do not know if Mama could write letters small enough for him to read.”

The next hour flew by, as it was discovered that the captain, whose name was Gerrard, had fallen madly in love with Miss Pomfrey by the power of her beautiful penmanship and kept her letter hidden in his breast pocket next to his heart.

“Poor Captain Gerrard!” Emmie exclaimed. “He must be a great romantic, I think.”

“I may demote him,” Teddy confided with disgust. “I can paint over his stripes and promote Stavers instead.”