Excerpt: The General's Daughter

"Well," Linwood explained, "it was supposed to be an under the table pact made between the two countires. Our government's intelligence picked up on it and are now sending the details."
"So in the event that they go through with this agreement the effect on our economy could cause seom rough times."
Actually, never mind. Switch this around. Their country is the one getting the trade cut off to it and maybe their governement goes to war...never mind. I don't like that idea either. Oh no! I forgot a reason for the war in my preplanning so when I think of one I'll stick it here, but I need to weave it through my novel. A few pages in and it's screwed. Okay, that might be over reacting, but it's close.
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It was a bright warm day, the lady and her father's secretary were walking through the field towards the trees.
"You are sure Miss A'Court, that you don't mind walking through this grass?"
"If I did then I wouldn't be here." She gave a coy smile an as her green skirts wished lightly through the grass. Honora took a deep breath of the spring air. Reaching for her hair she let her waves fall down around her face and neck. A smile played about Linwood's mouth. She looked up at him.
"I hope you don't mind."
"No, of course I don't mind something like that."
They were silent for a moment as they contintued walking.
"Tell me Linwood, are you happy here?"
"Yes I am. Do you have reason to doubt that?"
"No." She spoke softly. "I was just wondering."
"I have been with oou six years, if I didn't enyoy being here I wouldn't have stayed."
"Perhaps."
"You think because I have no other place to go. Trust me, I don not regret these years serving your father. He is g g a good man. So strong and noble. His character, I have come to believe is perfect. All these years I have learned from him have been the best years of my life yet."
"Yes, I know that father is all that you say and more. He has been like that for as long as I can remember. I only wish that I could be more like him."
"Why Honora!" The man exclaimed. "What do you mean by that?"
She was taken back a moment by his earnestness and the use of her first name. "Well Mr. Linwood, there are times when I'm not as selfless as I think that I should be." She blushed.
"Forgive me Miss A'Court," he said in an attempt toget back on the right footing wither her, "You startled me with what youi said. I have always observed a likeness between you and your father."
"Thank you for saying that." She seemed to relax. "But take the coming of Geneva, my niece, I'm not exactly pleased with her coming. To be honest I don't like change. I am happy with our family as it is right now. I'm not used to young children, Linwood, but I haven't wanted to say anything."
"I think that those are grounded fears and not at all selfish."
"Well I suppose that if it gets difficult I shall send her to try your patience."
"I don't believe that I said she wouldn't try my patience, just that you are not being selfish." He laughed.
"Fine then, let me suffer." Honora teased.
"I would not let you suffer, but I do not believe the child will be a difficult one. She is an A'Court after all."
"Yes, but that is just it. Us A'Courts have strong wills."
"True, but I have a feeling that your brother would not have a bad tempered child."
"No, Justice would not. I am sure that I am just worrying too much and that it will be fine."
"It is a perfect day, don't you think?"
"Yes, it is absolutely lovely. I should have brought my paints out, but walking is a good way to enjoy the weather."
"Riding would be as well."
"Yes, that would have been enjoyable as well, but sometimes walking is better. Well, not better I suppose, but variation is good. I looke the feel of the grass."
Linwood smiled. It was indeed a carefree afternoon. Everything seemed lethargic and there was no hurry to do anything. A light breeze came by every now and then, but otherwise everything was completely still.
"I wish," Honora said, "I wish that the field didn't end over there at the trees. There is a swamp back there, is there not?" I was with Bitte a few weeks ago and we noticed that thick smell of a swamp."
"Yes, so goodness, stay out of the trees. Who knows what is in there. I don't like the idea of you two in there alone and I think that your father would agree."
"Linwood, do you reallly think that we would have?"
"No I suppose not. It is beautiful back there though. there is heavy moss hanging from the trees. You could take a boat back in there and spend hourse going over the entire place I think." He got a far away look in his eyes that Honora didn't comprehend. "Someday perhaps, I can take you and Bitte back there and we can see what it is like. What do you think of that?"
"Yes...I suppose that would be interesting to see. You don't think that father would mind that, do you?"
"No, just so long as you didn't go unescorted. Would you like to sit here for a while?"
"Let's do."
Linwood took off his jacket and spread it across the ground, motioning for Honora to sit. She did so and leaned back on her hands, gazing up at the clear summer sky. Everything was so beautiful so perfect. A bird chirped from somewhere off in the distance.
"Honora?"
"Hmm?"
"Sometimes I wish that - "
"Mr. Linwood!!!" A call broke through the distance. The couple started and looked towards a figure running towards them.
"What is it, do you think that everything is all right?" Honora paniked while pushing herself to her feet.
"I don't know. Wait, he's coming." Linwood put his hand on the girl's arm as they waited with anticipation for the runner to come nearer and explain his haste.
"Mr. Linwood," the messanger started hurridly once he was close enough, he took no notice of Honora who stood starkly pale next to her escort. "The General sent me to you, he asks that you come to his study as quickly as possible. The uprising, the rebels - they have declared war."
"They have been at war."
"Yes, but sir, news has arrived that they have overthrown their govermnent and are now declaring war upon us!"
Honora felt Linwoods grasp on her arm tighten like a vice. Her own thoughts were spinning, could this really be?
"Miss A'Court, I am going to have to run ahead. You will pardon me."
"Yes, of course I will."
Swiftly he was gone with the messanger, dashing towards the house, leaving Honora behind. She stood there in shock from the news that had just been delivered and then fell to her knees. All her life she had been surrounded by the idea of it. Stories of hero and cowardice had been told in their parlor until the late hours of the night. She had seen soldiers and officers, talked to them and spent her evenings with them. She knew about politics, about tactics, about the leaders and battles of the past. Yet, she had never known the real thing. The last war had been before she was born. All she knew about it was what other people had told her, she had heard all the stories and the tactics, but there was something different between hearing about life during a war and actually living it. Honor started shaking...her father...yes, he was retired, but the governement could still call him to head up troops once again. He wouldn't accept though, he wouldn't leave his daughter alone and go off and fight on the front lines. Justice's prediction was right she thought. In a daze she picked herself up out of the grass. Linwood had left his dark jacket lying on the ground in the dirt. Taking it in her arms she slowly made her way in the direction of the house.
Inside, as she passed her father's study, she could hear the two men talking in low voices. She had tarried outside, but it seemed as if the beauty of the day had been shattered. One thought, one word, occupied her thoughts: War. Honora made her way up the stairs and to the back of the hall. Stopping by a door she leaned against the frame holding the coat close to her. This couldn't be...she was imagining it all. Her father and Linwood were simply talking strategies again down in the study, but she could tell by his face as soon as he rounded the corner in the hall that Linwood had not been having a regular conversation with her father.
"Honora, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone down in the field."
"Tell me. Are we really going to have a war Linwood, please tell me."
He sighed. "Yes, an official declaration of war has come from the new government. Which means that we will have to take defensive actions."
"There is no mistake?"
"No, we are certain. This is war, Honora."