A Heart Besieged

Synopsis

Setting: June 1810, Northern Spain - Napoleon's army has all but conquered the divided Iberian nation. The British, under the Duke of Wellington, are hemmed into Portugal. Caroline is a young French woman who recently was pressured by her family into marrying old General Brabantes. She then agreed to travel to join him with the army at Leon, Spain. Much of the action takes place at Vega de Tera, which is little more than a walled village near the Rio Tera.

Characters:

-Caroline Brabantes - young French woman, initially married to General Brabantes

-General Brabantes - General in French army that is invading Spain

-Captain Anatole Montesquieu - aide to General Brabantes, devote friend to Caroline and the General

-Narsico Calatrava (The Bastard)- bastard son of Spanish Nobleman. Scoundrel.

-Jago - manservant of Narsico

- Captain Henri Darlon - Roguish French hussar, friend of Anatole

-Major Hawkesworthe - English commander of a detachment of British Riflemen

- Esmeralda - leader of a band of Spanish guerrillas

The Story Synopsis:

CHAPTER ONE

The tale begins with Narsico Calatrava killing General Brabantes in a pistol duel. Anatole, serving as second to the General vows that he will avenge the old man. Also, Narsico has his servant give a locket to Anatole for unspecified reasons. Contained therein is a locket of Caroline's hair and a portrait of her. Worried for Caroline, Anatole tries to hurry to her to tell her about the secret duel, but duty prevents him.

Caroline, not knowing where the General has gone, worries in her rooms, until Narsico sweeps onto the scene and it becomes clear that he and Caroline are passionate lovers. He lies to her, saying that General Brabantes is ordering him arrested and will be hunting him down with the army. He intends to flee to the British at Almeida. He seduces Caroline into going with him and they roll away in a carriage. Caroline does not know that the man she travels with has just finished slaying her husband.

Anatole, too late, arrives at the Generals residence in Leon to find that she Caroline departed.

CHAPTER TWO

Anatole goes to a friend of his, Henri Darlon, and tells the tale. The Hussar puts the pieces together, having dealt with the Bastard before, and Anatole realizes that Narsico has taken Caroline with him. The lock of hair was his way of taunting Anatole and the General. Together, Anatole and Henri go off in pursuit of the pair.

The carriage gets past some French patrols on the road south from Leon, with Narsico getting Caroline to do the talking. Once past these patrols, Narsico relaxes but the carriage is ambushed by guerrilla bandits. In the attack, Jago and the coachman are lost, possibly killed, but Narsico carried Caroline down the road where they meet a British patrol led by Major Hawkesworthe that drives off the guerrillas.

The British soldiers escort Narsico and Caroline to the walled village of Vega de Tera where they are garrisoned. Narsico seeks protection from the French from Major Hawkesworthe for Caroline and himself. It is granted and the pair is accommodated. There is a brief scene where, by candlelight, Narsico reassures Caroline that all will be well.

Meanwhile, Anatole and Henri, while riding south come across a patrol of British soldiers. They cleverly hide themselves from the patrol but end up falling into the hands of El Burro's Guerrilla band.

CHAPTER THREE

Narsico goes to see Major Hawkesworthe and tries to settle on how much reward he can expect for turning over the wife of a French General to British authorities. He asks for whom best to unload her on for maximum profit. Major Hawkesworthe is outraged and offended by Narsico's affront.

When Narsico returns to Caroline, he is in a foul temper and part of his façade begins to crack.

As prisoners of the guerrillas, Henri and Anatole must strive to win their way into the good graces of the bandits. They are threatened with torture but with cunning and wit and charm, the pair convince Esmeralda, that they are worth more alive. The Guerrillas are charmed.

CHAPTER FOUR

French soldiers attack the village of Vega and Caroline begins to doubt aloud her decision. Those are her countrymen out there, afterall. Narsico uses strong words and a lusty ravishing attempt to keep her resolved.

After the attack, Esmeralda sneaks into the fort and goes before Major Hawkesworthe, looking to negotiate. Using a pretext that El Burro is the real leader of the guerrillas and that she has little control over him, Esmeralda tries to get a good price for the French prisoners that she has. Narsico is in on the dealings. Caroline overhears this exchange and for the first time realizes that Anatole is following her. Hawkesworthe cannot name a satisfactory price so Esmeralda goes away empty handed. As she is leaving, Caroline catches her in the dark and the two women speak in hushed tones. Now, Caroline learns everything about Narsico, since Anatole told Esmeralda. She learns that Narsico has killed her husband.

Esmeralda sees an opportunity to profit and encourages Caroline to join her, but critically, Caroline is too distraught and confused to think of leaving with Esmeralda. She feels a need to confront Narsico in person.

CHAPTER FIVE

Esmeralda returns to the guerrilla camp and lets Henri and Anatole go, telling them that Caroline deserves to be rescued. They make for the nearby French camp.

Caroline confronts Narsico and they have a knockdown fight in front of the soldiers and Hawkesworthe. It almost comes to blows between Narsico and Hawkesworthe. A day is spent with Caroline pleading with Hawkesworthe to protect her from Narsico Calatrava but Hawkesworthe cannot get involved as it is not his affair how two lovers fight, but he allows her to accompany him in his duties.

As the day nears its end, there is another attack by the French against the walled village. Narsico comes to claim Caroline from Hawkesworthe once again. This time, because Narsico is so threatening and insulting, swords are drawn and a fight begins. Caroline intervenes, urging them to spill no blood on her account. No one will die for me!

It is Anatole and Henri at the head of a half battalion of French infantry attacking the village. During the battle, before a charge, Anatole gives a speech to his men, telling them that a French General's young widow is held prisoner and it is their duty to rescue her. The men cheer and charge with him.

Meanwhile, Henri, having learned of the secret way in from Esmeralda, leaves his troops and runs off to enter the fort alone and find Caroline

CHAPTER SIX

Hawkesworthe and The Bastard are dueling with swords as the fighting goes on. Henri enters the scene and moves to secure Caroline. Hawkesworthe allows Narsico to flee as he turns to face the Frenchmen. Caroline again tries to tell the men not to fight. Henri agrees and surrenders. He pledges to remain a prisoner of the British. Firing intensifies. Hawkesworthe must get to the fight. Henri tells him to go lead his men. He will protect Caroline with his pledge that he will not escape.

Anatole courageously, heroically, and cleverly leads his troops to take the village. Hawkesworthe and his men retreat west.

Anatole runs through the streets looking for Caroline. She and Henri are drinking and making love in the wine cellar. There is a scene of fond and affectionate reunion between the pair. Anatole returns the locket to Caroline, but she insists that he keep it, and rewards him with a loving kiss. Henri shrugs and celebrates with his friend.

The final scene has Narsico being captured by Esmeralda's guerrillas and Jago.