Glancing out of the window, Beatrix was the first to see him and her cry of delight roused the whole house. When Daniel was admitted to the voorhuis, the welcoming committee comprised Amalia, Beatrix, Emanuel Janssen, Kees Dopff, the other weavers taken on by Janssen and the rest of the servants. Daniel only had eyes for Amalia. He greeted everyone individually but was pleased when all but one of them melted away into the house or the workshop. Left alone with Amalia, he was able to embrace her and kiss away the time they’d been apart.
‘What are you doing in Amsterdam?’ she asked.
‘I was hoping that you’d be thrilled to see me, Amalia.’
‘I’m overjoyed.’
‘His Grace instructed me to deliver dispatches to The Hague,’ he explained. ‘I think he knew that I’d relish the opportunity of paying a brief visit to you.’
‘We were so happy to hear what happened at Oudenarde,’ she said, stepping back to look him up and down. ‘What makes me even happier is that you seem to have come through the battle unscathed.’
‘Good fortune attended me yet again.’
‘Did you have no injuries at all?’
‘None that prevented me from coming here,’ he said. ‘My horse was shot from under me and I collected a few painful bruises as I fell. Otherwise — thank God — I escaped unharmed.’
‘Tell me all about it, Daniel.’
‘I can’t do that.’
‘But I want to hear the details.’
‘Then you’ll have to find someone else who was there.’
She frowned. ‘Why are you being so unhelpful?’
‘Because I don’t want to waste the little time we have together, talking about a battle. It was fierce, hectic and very bloody, Amalia. My sword gave me good service. That’s all I’m prepared to say.’ He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around a couple of times. ‘Let me forget about the army for once in my life.’
‘But you’ve just helped to conquer the French.’
‘The only conquest I’m prepared to discuss is you.’
Face glowing, Amalia laughed with sheer joy.