Major Bradford remained behind the Colonel and made no effort to show himself when it became apparent that Mrs Hollyworth saw his presence as an annoyance. The Colonel remained a dutiful husband even when his wife’s enthusiasm borderlined improper. As her introduction of the Major brought no further interest and their conversation shifted to the Regiments arrival, Bradford turned to leave the conversing group. 

The the 75th Light Dragoons arrived into Appleby after three years spent on the Iberian Peninsular serving under the Duke of Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese force against the French. The depleted regiment was sent back to England to recruit and retrain the replacements to be posted back to the front in eight to 12 months times. 

As Major Bradford turned, he touched the arm of the Colonel and quietly gave his leave to his friend. His gaze briefly turned to the Farr family and fell upon the young woman; [i]Miss Farr[/i]. He felt foolish to not have recognised the name earlier, but to his credit the last time he had seen Miss Matilda Farr had been in Bath, a little over three years prior. At the bequest of his older Brother, William Bradford, Arthur spent the season at his Brother’s house before his deployment to Portugal.

William’s wife Eleanor was of a sickly disposition and much preferred the company of a select few rather than crowds of the various events held in Bath over the season. The exact connection Miss Farr had to Eleanor, Arthur could not remember, except that she was a regular invitee to the various small gatherings that Eleanor hosted. 

As Bradford’s gaze met Miss Farr’s, he bowed his head slightly in recognition. Noticing that his leave would not cause offence nor to be noticed, the Major moved away from the excited babble of Mrs Hollyworth and stood by himself awkwardly overlooking the dance floor away from the grating sound of her voice. The officers had yet to be at the Hall for five minutes and the Major was already tired of it all.