She was devastated. 'You'll disappear until October?'

'At the very earliest, I'm afraid. In all honesty, I can't offer you any guarantee that I'll return to England then. Our captain-general may have other assignments in Europe for me.'

'I want you here, Daniel!'

Abigail was inconsolable. Before Daniel had arrived, she had been entertaining the most wondrous thoughts of how their friendship would develop. He had given her the firm impression that they had ample time in London on their hands. Yet she was now facing the possibility that she would not see him for six or seven months and even that timescale was fringed with doubt. As she watched her hopes crumble, she came close to desperation.

'I'll speak to my father,' she said, clutching at straws. 'He's a close friend of His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough. Perhaps I can get him to intercede on your behalf. Yes, that's the answer,' she went on, breath coming in short gasps. 'Father can help us. He can use his influence to get you relieved of your military duties.'

'But I don't want to be relieved of them, Abigail.'

She was shocked. 'You would rather go to war than stay here with me?' she said, eyes moistening. 'Do I mean nothing at all to you?'

'Of course you do,' he said earnestly, touching her shoulder. 'Why else would I be here? From the moment we met, I hoped that our acquaintance could blossom into something more. But any soldier is subject to the orders of his commanding officer. It's not a choice between fighting the French or staying here with you, Abigail. That's a false antithesis. My hope was that you would wave me bravely off in the knowledge that I'd return in due course to renew our friendship.'