"So what do you think?"

Sarah couldn't help but smile as her eyes travelled over her new room. It was beautiful, with its polished oak floor boards and four poster bed. All the furniture was a beautiful dark mahogany wood, and the view from the window fell on a stunning stretch of beautifully kept lawn.

She turned to James and smiled, "It's beautiful! I've never seen anywhere so amazing!"

He laughed, "It is yours my lady…"

She smiled, looked at the floor in embarrassment, "Thank you…but…I do not deserve this…"

James Stukely laughed again, "My Lady, you do…someone as beautiful as you deserves the world. I will leave you to unpack and freshen yourself…"

She watched as he disappeared from the room, before jumping on the huge double bed. The mattress was so soft, the silk sheets almost making her almost slide off. She giggled out loud, wondering what she had done to deserve such treatment. After all, she was a prisoner of parliament, and surely should be kept in a dungeon somewhere.

After a moment, she stood up again and walked over to the window, the heels of her patent leather boots clicking on the polished wood floor. As she gazed out of the window across the grounds, she saw someone ride in through the main gates on a beautiful brown steed. She watched as the man dismounted, noticed how good his clothing was. Even from such a distance, she could see that he wore a red jacket with gold stripes, a leather buff coat, a pair of black bucket topped boots and a very nice hat. She couldn't help the smile that crept over her face as she watched him walk into the front doors of the manor, and wondered who exactly this man was.

***

"Sexby!"

James Stukely embraced the man with a smile, clapping him on the back.

"It is good to see you Edward!"

Edward Sexby nodded, and removed his hat, revealing a face scarred by conflict, covered by shoulder length dark brown hair. He was not old, far from it, yet his hair was streaked with grey. It was as if his years of fighting in wars had aged him somewhat.

"You too James…it is good to escape battle once in a while…Cheriton was…" he sighed, "Cheriton was not the nicest of experiences…"

James nodded, his brow furrowing, "I know. I was there don't forget…in fact…I have someone here who also fought there…"

"The woman?"

James nodded again, "Yes…she is…exceptional to say the least, fought like a beast from the pits of hell when I tried to take her. And her regiment obviously thought a lot of her, the way they tried to fight me off…"

Sexby sighed, "Was it really such a wise idea taking her? I am surprised Waller did not have her executed…"

"He wanted to…"

Edward Sexby nodded, "I am not surprised…a woman fighting?"

James raised an eyebrow, "I didn't think that bothered you?"

Sexby said nothing, just gave his coat to the young servant boy stood close by. After a moment, he looked at James, "I would like to meet her…"

"I will invite her to dine with us…"

Without another word, James Stukely turned around and walked away chewing his lip. How could this vagabond show an interest in a woman he had never met? And worse still, how could he show an interest in the woman whom he had plans for? He sighed, wishing that dinner time would never come.

***

Sarah felt nervous, more than nervous, as she sat at the long dining table with a plate of barely touched food in front of her. She had been forced into coming to dine with these men whom she hardly knew, and felt like she was a school girl again. One of them, a man who she had never seen before, was sat opposite her. His dark hair with streaks of grey fell across his shoulders, framing a scared face that made her think he was truly handsome. So far, he had said nothing to her, the only conversation had been directed between the two men about various battles, and beliefs in what parliament stood for. Sighing, she drained her glass of wine, and gestured for the servant to refill it, smiling at the red liquid sloshed into the glass.

"Edward, may I introduce to you, Sarah Young?"

She looked up, hearing her name, and noticed the scarred man looking at her. She gave him a slight smile, before looking down at her plate of untouched food once more.

"The famous Colonel Young? I hear he was very brave at Cheriton?"

She blushed, "I did what I had to…"

The man raised an eyebrow, "I'm sure you did Madam, yet you were still captured."

She recoiled slightly, hurt at the comment, "You think that because I am a woman, I could not fight?"

"Not at all, I have known many feisty women…"

She frowned, and quickly downed her glass of wine, needing the comfort that alcohol could bring. This man, this man who she had thought would be charming, was in fact an ignorant pig. She went quiet once more, noticing the way both he and James looked at her, obviously thinking that they could both entice her into bed. Sighing to herself, she stood up, "If you don't mind, I would like some fresh air…"

She didn't wait for a response, instead pushed her chair back with a deafening screech and stalking from the room.