It proved to be two more Redcoats, obviously guarding a crossroads and very unhappy with their cold duties. They had a pretty good fire going and were...grilling slabs of ham on their spike bayonets when I walked into the circle of light. One put down his meat carefully and lifted his musket in my direction."'Ou the 'ell are you?" he asked, sounding a bit worse for alcohol."Lost," I said, showing him my empty hands and inserting a bit of the Home Counties into my speech, "saw your fire, mates.". "Nicola Christine Thomas," Sarah said in a quiet, serious voice, "will youplease marry me?" Do you even need to ask?" I whispered as tears streamed down my face. "Yes,of course I will!" Sarah laughed as she stood up and we wrapped our armsaround each other."You know," Sarah whispered, "it is still only 6:15... Want to go back to bedand, umm, 'consummate our engagement'?" You said it, fianc?e!" I said as I got back in bed, making Sarah's gringrow even wider."Too right, fianc?e!" Sarah giggled as. She didn't want you to get upset if..." If nothing happened? Let me guess, you'd back out so she didn't have to?"Harriet smiled and nodded. "You're a good guy, Neil."Neil shrugged. "It doesn't fix my main problem, though"."Me?" Harriet asked, hopefully.Neil grinned "No, Mae. She won't... actually date me, you know? We're not going out."Harriet nodded knowingly. "Yeah, boyfriend back home... she mentioned it." Yeah. So, that's that. My next problem though..." Me?" Harriet asked, grinning.Neil. *With a shaking hand, Lina reached up and knocked on the black door. She had an overwhelming urge to leave before he opened it, but she stayed and waited. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard the door unlock and open. She couldn’t see him. All she saw was the dark hallway, dimly lit by the full moon shining through a large window from the adjoining room. Lina couldn't see him, but she could feel his presence.Excitement and fear were rolled into one, and she could feel her heart quicken.