On his thirty-seventh day in Dublin he finally received a letter from Tom…

Dear Jim,

I am glad to hear that you find Dublin agreeable, I knew you would it's a wonderful city, with the most wonderful people. I have not heard any roomers to say that there will be any sort of large demonstration soon so any sense of anxiety is coming from your lot, though it wouldn't make sense to stir trouble, are you sure they're not just giving you a few days off and sending new equipment. If anything it's a sign that nothings going to happen, surely you'd be given more training drills if they suspected anything was afoot.

Everything is good up this end. Every single car journey together your mother and sister complain endlessly of your lack of communication, please give my ears a rest and write to them, you seem to find enough time to write to me.

Yours faithfully,

Tom

It was shorter than usual and the last comment stung a little but it was something, at least it seemed he was in, his ever sarcastic, good humour.

Strait away he concocted his reply…

Dear Tom,

As you say it is a wonderful city, I'm not sure about the people tough. I suppose you're probably right (for a change), I should try to enjoy my days off though it will not be easy without my dearest friend. The torrent of general abuse on the streets tough is as rife as always. All of your fruitful ways of describing the British forces hold nothing on some of these chaps. I wonder if such a polite young man with such decorum as yourself has even heard of any of these words.

There is a lot of excitement between the lads about this annual dance thing that's going on soon, it seems to have the entire city talking about it, do you have any idea what it is and why its so important to so many people. I shall try and write more often to Mama and Lizzy, I don't think they quite appreciate the time it takes for letters to get there from here. Not that there's anything I particular to write about anyway, nothing they would need to know.

I have found some of the books you have told me about and I can't wait to discus them with you when I return home on holyday next month. I know you take great comfort in gifts only accessible here, is there anything you wish for me to send over?

Hope to hear from you soon

Jim

After that he wrote a letter each to his Mama and Elizabeth, writing a small paragraph at the end of his mother's for his Papa. It was still morning; they had received the post after breakfast as usual and he knew one of the privates who was assigned as messenger boy would be collecting reply's to take to the post office in about half an hour. He left the letters on his bed along with a picture he had done of the city library which he intended to send to Tom. He was not in full uniform as the commanding officers rarely did inspections in the mess hall and more out of boredom then anything else, started to fix his tie and cuffs, leaving his top button slightly undone but with a high tie, and fetched his jacket and re-combed his hair. After doing all he could think of to keep himself occupied he decided to just go out and post the letters himself.

It was a surprisingly warm day for the Irish winter. He was yet again free of duties for the majority of the day that remained as he liked to rise early and get his chores done before breakfast; this left him once more at a loss of things to do. He had intended to spend his day off on Sunday buying commodities to send home then take a picnic out to the grounds of Dublin Castle, which he planned to draw, but with nothing else to do he decided to move the later forward.

When he got back to the base, to retrieve his sketchbook and charcoals, he noticed the officers were coming out of the officer's mess. The newly appointed Lieutenant Jamie Stewart was looking decidedly down beat and walked alone towards the paddock where the horses were kept, James knew from past experiences that this usually meant something was very wrong, as the happy go lucky socialite rarely saw himself unfit for human company and officers only ever visited their mounts in the stables once the horses had been prepared. He decided to fetch his drawing equipment first, to give Jamie some time to himself and to give him an excuse for going to the paddock.

He arrived there to find Jamie sat on the fence head down, there was no one else around at this time of day and he decided that it would be better to go straight to him and greet him rather than waiting to be noticed. "Good morning James!" he chided. Jamie seemed to start at his voice but smiled when he saw who it was, even if that smile did fade after a few seconds only to be replaced by a less sincere one.

"Why hello there James." he replied, carrying on the old childhood joke.

"It's a fine day to day isn't it James?"

"I suppose it is James, yes. And what brings you here today?"

He sheepishly held up his sketchbook and pencils and waved them a bit. Though he had not actually come to draw and despite the fact that it was Jamie, who already knew of his drawing, he still felt rather embarrassed to admit to his hobby.

"And what, pray tell, are you doing here?" he sat on the fence post next to his friend after giving him a half hearted salute.

"I just find it easier to talk to the horses." Jamie sighed, hoping his friend would see his dejection and not press the subject further. Jim continued to look at him, his eyes radiated warmth as only his could, and Jamie looked away.

After a few extended minutes passed, they where still sat there in silence. As Jim had made no move to pursue his sketching Jamie realised the true meaning for his friends visit and caved in to his concerned stare.

"Well, you see, the thing is…" his neck and face grew red as he realised who he was talking to "I…I…have you heard anything from Elizabeth recently?"

"Not since last week, she wrote a surprisingly long letter about her new frock which she was going to wear for a birthday ball of one of her friends, why?"

"Did she say anything of any guests at this party?"

"Not that I can recall."

"Did she mention anyone called Harry, Harry Percy, future duke of Northumberland?"

"I don't think so, I know she is close to a Penelope Percy of Northumberland, and I have heard conversations of several brothers. I suppose one of them could have been a Harry but I've never met any of them."

"Do you ever think that this is getting in the way of things?" He gestured to his body. Jim looked down at hi perplexed. "The army I mean, do you ever think it gets in the way of other things?"

"I don't really think I had any other things to get in the way of, and those that I did, like keeping acquaintances, I do via letters. Why, do you ever think it gets in the way of things?" Jim asked, but he was fairly shore he knew where this conversation was heading.

"Well yes." Jamie bit his lip, opened his mouth to say something then closed it again.

"Like what?" Jim understood how this conversation was awkward for Jamie but his saintly patience was running thin.

"You know, life, relationships…"

"My sister" Jamie's head snapped round, he looked startled. Jim laughed. "Oh come on Jamie you two have been flirting with courtship since we were children, do you think I wouldn't have noticed?" Jamie turned an even brighter shade of red.

"Well none of that matters now." He sighed again and passed Jim a peace of paper from his inside pocket. That peace of paper was covered in his sister's scrawl, he read it. There was only one brief mention of this 'Harry' and Jim wondered what the fuss was about. "You see."

"See what?" he said handing the letter back.

"See what she wrote about him." This last word was said with a venom that Jim had never heard his friend speak with before, or since.

"That he had asked her to reserve a dance for him and that she looked forward to it." This was not uncommon practise in their circle; in fact Jim could name many girls in which Jamie had asked for such an honour. But Jamie looked visibly deflated. "It's hardly a marriage proposal" he offered "if he was anyone important she'd have told me. Look next time I write to her I'll ask about him."

"But then she'll know we've had this conversation!" he protested.

"Well why wouldn't we, we're friends, we're just sharing news from home, and as her older brother I want to know what sort of man she dances with. Any way wouldn't it make sense to tell her how you feel about it, she may not even realise you reciprocate her feelings." Jim got up and left before Jamie could protest further and said a silent prayer of thanks that his heart had never been slighted by such an unkind, unnecessary burden.