Warning: Rated [MA] Mature Adults only. Contains strong m/m sexual scenes, violence, coarse language and adult themes.
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The following is just a bit of fluff, part of the Tiger Stories. It will make no sense what-so-ever unless you have read Sharpe's Choice and remember the part in there where Joshy Smith tells Dick Sharpe about his escapades at school.
It was planned as part of a larger story which was never undertaken.
Usual disclaimers. Rating: PG..[very]mild m/m references.
JJ
The Trouble With Angels
Madras, India, Mid January, 1799
"Bloody Hell, will yer look at that." Dick Sharpe's exclamation drew the attention of the men around him as they stood in ranks awaiting inspection. The morning sun beat down, promising another scorching day.
"Shit," murmured Percy Peters quietly to Tom Garrard, "What will they be sending us next? As if Fitzgerald wasn't bad enough! This one looks like he'd faint the first time he has to draw his sword."
"Probably cut his own bloody head off and save those heathens the trouble." Toby Dodds added as the continued to stare at the their new Lieutenant who stood nervously beside Captain Morris, wiping at the perspiration on his brow with a lace handkerchief.
"Bet Morris is pleased," Sharpe whispered, "He's probably been panting all over him since he got here."
There were snickers of laughter from the infantrymen as they took in the long fair hair and delicate features of the young Lieutenant, ready as always to judge any man on appearance.
Morris commenced his inspection walking between the rows, stopping here and there to closely examine the infantrymen and point out faults that were recorded by Sergeant Hakeswill in the punishment book. The new Lieutenant followed behind, quietly attentive.
But the young man's whole countenance changed as he stopped in front of Josh Smith. His mouth dropped open, only to shut again very quickly as a deep red blush slowly spread up from the lace at his collar to colour his delicate complexion.
Dick Sharpe looked down at Smith who stood next to him in line, to find his young friend smiling unashamedly up at the new officer. Sharpe looked up also and only to be caught by a pair of startled blue eyes as the young lieutenant glanced around to see who had witnessed this breech of decorum. The fair lashes fluttered as he tried to regain his composure and taking a deep breath, the Lieutenant moved on as if nothing had happened.
"What was all that about?" Sharpe whispered to Smith, his curiosity along with his interest, well and truly aroused.
"That's William! My William!" Smith exclaimed clasping his hands together.
"Yer mean yer friend from school?" Sharpe asked, remembering the story Smith had told him long ago.
"Yes, The one I was kissing on the chaise lounge in the drawing room!" Smith sighed. Sharpe quickly turned and took an even closer look at the retreating figure of the young Lieutenant in light of this new information. A lazy smile slowly spread to his lips as he felt another kind of arousal take hold.
"What's bloody going on?" Tom Garrard asked Sharpe in a hurried whisper after witnessing the turn of events. Percy Peters was digging Tom in the ribs impatiently waiting for the same information.
"Joshy knows him. They were friends at school and got thrown out together." Sharpe answered unable to stop his grinning.
"Really?" Tom asked in surprise. The new Lieutenant looked far too angelic to ever get into trouble. "What did they do?"
"They got caught fooling around on the cheese lounge in the drawing room." Sharpe muttered very softly, not wanting everyone around them to know. He was already making his own estimations of just what their new lieutenant would be like.
Tom Garrard frowned and considered this information. He shook his head. It didn't seem to make sense.
"So, what the story Tom?" Peters persisted. "Tell us!"
"Josh knows him from his school days. They were expelled for fooling around with cheese on the lounge in the drawing room."
"Bloody hell! Doesn't sound like a reason to kick two lads out of school...just for eating cheese!" Peters declared and he proceeded to relate the story to Toby Dodds beside him.
"They probably stole the cheese! One of those great big round cheeses! Stole it from the kitchens and sneaked it up to the drawing room." Peters and Dodds stared at the innocent face of the new Lieutenant who had glanced back towards Smith only to look away again just as quickly. "Yeah, look at him. That's the face of a guilty man if ever I saw one. I wouldn't trust him! Wonder what other capers he got up to?" Dodds declared.
"Probably stole other things as well!" Sam Rawlings decided as he joined in the conversation. "Apples, oranges, must a made a bloody mess in the drawing room! All that food scattered about. No wonder they were expelled."
"Do yer think he still does it? The stealing?" Peters asked. "Does this mean we have to watch our stuff?" Rawlings and Dodds cast worried looks at each other and Dodds spoke up. "Better ask Tom to ask Josh. He'd be the best one to find out for us. Maybe he could go and ask him later."
Peters pulled Tom's red sleeve to get his attention. "Listen Tom, we're a bit worried about him. Do yer reckon yer could ask Josh to find out if he still does it so we know to watch out for him?"
"What? Eat cheese?" Tom frowned. Maybe Peters had a touch of the sun.
"NO! Not keeping his hands to himself. Thieving!" The last word was hissed loudly which caused several on the men in the rank on front to turn and look. Tom wondered where his friends had learnt this new information about the Lieutenant. Maybe he had a reputation already. Tom turned back to Sharpe.
"So does he still do it? Could Joshy find out?" Dick Sharpe grinned at Tom. "Why Tom? Reckon you'd like to try him out? Fancy him do yer?"
Tom stood speechless, his face a deep red. But Dick Sharpe continued on, taking great delight in Tom's embarrassment. "Of course yer mightn't be his type Tom...but I guess Joshy could ask him if yer want? Do yer want him to put on the night shirt too?"
In the rank in front Abraham Avery shook his head and moved closer to Seamus O'Neill. "I'm worried about Tom, someone should have a word to him. Him and Dick Sharpe are one thing but chasing after the Officers....He's going to get a reputation!"
The officers had returned to the front of the Company and the infantrymen snapped back to attention as Captain Morris began his address.
"Men, I want to introduce our new Lieutenant, William Lawford."
Oct 1999