Hurry up, Jessica!”

Sixteen year old Lady Jessica Seaworth stamped her foot, still unable to decide between one bonnet and the other.

“Do hurry up,” said her younger sister, Jacintha, who was already dressed and ready to go. “The military will not be passing through our village again for some time!”

Jessica wanted to retort that, being younger than she, Jacintha did not need to concern herself over such gentlemen, but wisely choose to hold her tongue instead. After all, Jacintha was only two years younger than she was and had already a great many dreams of marrying a handsome gentleman. Jessica, however, did not have thoughts in the same direction. To see the military would be enjoyable, of course, but she did not truly consider such serious things as matrimony. However, there was nothing wrong with catching a man’s eye, which was why she was still struggling with her choice of bonnet.

“They will not care which bonnet you pick!” Jacintha exclaimed, grasping one and placing it, a little ungently, on the top of Jessica’s head. “Hurry up, Jessica! Amelia and Harmonia are already waiting.”

Jessica sighed and rolled her eyes. “I know, I know.” Tying her bonnet strings and giving herself one last look in the mirror, she quickly made her way outside and found both Harmonia and Amelia arm in arm, waiting for them. Amelia, the eldest, and Harmonia, the youngest, had always been close, especially since the death of their mother many years ago.

“Are you ready to go?” Amelia asked, with a smile. “You look quite lovely, if I may say so, Jessica.”

Nodding, Jessica fell into step with her oldest sister and soon, they were walking quickly towards the small village.

“Are you excited to see the military?” Amelia asked, as they walked together. “You have never seemed so taken by an idea before, I must admit.”

Jessica shrugged, her cheeks burning. “I am of age, am I not?”

“Of course you are!” Amelia replied, laughing. “I am not teasing you, dear sister, it is just that you have always seemed quite determined not to show any preference to any gentleman who comes to call.”

Pondering this for a moment, Jessica nodded slowly. “That is true, I suppose. I have no thought of marriage or the like yet, especially since I am not the oldest sister.” She lifted an eyebrow and shot Amelia a teasing look, grinning as her sister coloured. “Yet something about the military captures my imagination,” she continued, almost to herself. “They are free, are they not? They are able to travel the world and leave England’s shores behind them. Their lives are filled with adventure and excitement and they are not bound by propriety or rules in the same way we are.”

The smile on Amelia’s face was a sympathetic one. “You have always dreamt of such things, have you not?” she replied, softly. “You are the one who goes off into the fields, exploring the area around father’s estate entirely on your own whilst the rest of us seem content to stay within the confines of the grounds.”

“That is not entirely true,” Jessica replied, with a shrug. “Jacintha comes with me sometimes.”

Amelia laughed, looping her arm through Jessica’s. “Yes but that is because you are both very close and she enjoys spending time with you. If you did not want to go off into the wilderness then I do not think that Jacintha would have any inclination to do so.”

“And, do you think such desires are a bad thing?” Jessica asked, biting her lip in concern. “I would not have you think badly of me, Amelia.” Ever since their mother had died, all three of the younger sisters had looked to Amelia as their mother-figure and Jessica did not want Amelia to have a bad opinion of her.

Amelia shook her head, pressing Jessica’s arm for a moment. “No, not in the least,” she replied with a smile. “We are not all the same, therefore none of our dreams and ambitions are the same. You have your own hopes for the future and I have mine. They need not match up.”

Jessica nodded and walked in silence for a few minutes, her thoughts filled with what Amelia had said. Her sister was quite right to state that Jessica’s days were filled with nothing but exploring and enjoying the freedom that the outdoors had to offer her. Their father was always quick to remind Jessica to take care but, for the most part, he allowed her to roam as she wished. Nothing ever happened to her and Jessica had found a great many wonderful places within five miles of her father’s estate.

The truth was, the military did hold that promise of freedom and adventure that she found herself longing for. She sometimes wondered what it would be like to marry a military man and follow the beat of the drum, tramping through the undergrowth and living on the very basics of life. It was a life far removed from her own.

However, were she to seriously consider the future, Jessica knew that she would have very little choice but to resign herself to a life of responsibilities and duty. As the daughter of a Duke, she would be expected to marry well and produce the heir and the spare for her husband. She would not be able to marry a military man, for they would not have the required title and a pauper was not the right choice for the daughter of a Duke! Her expected husband would be a gentleman of high title, decent fortune, and good breeding. That was all that she could truly expect. A Duke’s daughter did not throw off the reins of society and rush, headlong, into wherever the wind took her. It simply was not done. What was the use of dreams if it was never a true possibility?

Sighing heavily, Jessica tried to throw off the sudden sense of melancholy that filled her. Would she ever be able to find a man who would be willing to step away from society’s expectations and take her to explore distant lands? A man who would want to help fulfil her dreams instead of pushing them aside in favour of nothing other than societal duty?

“I highly doubt it,” Jessica said to herself, ignoring Amelia’s startled look.

Coming to the main road through the village, Jessica stood with the rest of the gathered crowd, her sisters by her sides. The sounds of the marching army had her spirits lifting, her fingers twining together as she leaned forward to get her first glance at the army.

How wonderful they looked! Their uniforms were pristine, the red and white declaring their loyalty to the King. Weapons glistened in the sunshine, the swords catching the light.

Jessica’s breath caught in her chest as they passed. They were marching as one, their steps in time with the beat of the drum. Their handsome faces did not turn to the right or left, simply facing forward as they walked. Jessica could not help but dream of where they might be headed, wondering when they would next step onto England’s fair lands.

“You are quite taken with them,” Amelia murmured, leaning towards Jessica. “What is it about them that attracts you so?”

Shrugging, Jessica frowned, trying to work out in her own mind what it was. “I am not sure whether it is the men themselves or what they represent,” she said, honestly. “I think I wish I could be like them. That I could have the freedom they have.”

Amelia did not laugh, as Jessica had thought. Instead, she smiled and nodded, her eyes studying Jessica’s expression. “Mayhap one day you will marry a man from the military,” she said, quietly. “Although it would have to be a titled gentleman, so someone with a high rank.”

Shaking her head, Jessica gave Amelia rueful smile. “I doubt that will ever come to pass, Amelia,” she replied, softly. “I think I value my freedom more than marriage.”

“But what if your husband could offer you both?” Amelia asked, with a quick smile. “What if you could still have your freedom yet have a man who loves you by your side? Would that not be the best of both worlds?”

Considering this for a moment, Jessica had to admit that her sister was right. “Yes, it would be,” she agreed. “But you know that it is not likely to happen. In time, I will have no other choice but to marry a titled gentleman of good breeding. It is what is expected of us all.”

Amelia pressed her hand but Jessica turned her gaze back to the military men walking past her, the ache in her heart growing steadily.

“Do not give up all hope,” Amelia said in her ear, speaking quietly so that none of her other sisters could hear. “Perhaps there is a military gentleman in your future, Jessica, one who will be able to give you all that your heart desires.”

A small hope began to burn in Jessica’s heart and, as she smiled, the ache in her heart lessened. “Perhaps,” she said, softly. “Perhaps one day I shall marry a gentleman from the army, who will take me places I have only ever dreamed of.”