Once A Soldier Part 3

When she reached the correct floor, she led him down a pa.s.sage to the left. She pa.s.sed several doors to open the one at the end. As she stepped inside, she said, "The castle has very few servants now because their labor is needed elsewhere, but the room should be clean. There may be a little dust, but this guest room has the best view."

She used her candlestick to light the lamp on the desk. Again, the furniture was spa.r.s.e with only a shabby canopy bed, a wardrobe, a desk, two wooden chairs, and a washstand, but under their feet was another splendid tile floor.

She checked the pitcher on the washstand to confirm there was water inside. "I hope you'll be comfortable here. San Gabriel may be in a poor way, but the traditions of hospitality are strong."

Will set his saddlebags on the floor. "No need to apologize. This is the best accommodation I've seen in months." He crossed to the window and gazed out at the valley. He was high enough to be above the mist, which was a pale fluffy coverlet over the valley. Above, a handful of stars and a quarter moon brightened the sky. "I look forward to seeing the valley by daylight."

"When you've had a chance to settle in, wine awaits in the family sitting room, which is the door opposite the stairs. I'll collect some food to go with it."

"And then questions. In both directions." He hung his greatcoat on a wooden peg. "I'll join you soon. May I a.s.sume that the Olivieras will find accommodations for my batman, Sergeant Murphy?"

"You may. Though it's an open question whether anyone down there actually gets any sleep tonight." She smiled and pulled the door closed behind her. The light of his candle caught a shimmer of auburn highlights sliding down her braid.

He checked the old wardrobe, which had a st.u.r.dy lock and key. That should keep his guns away from any curious children. He set his saddlebags and carbine inside, then locked the door. After washing his face and combing his overlong hair, he considered lying down on the bed for a few minutes, then decided against it because he'd fall dead asleep. Best to find Miss Markham and start that conversation, for he had many questions of his own for his magnificent hostess.

Chapter 5.

Athena descended to the castle kitchen and collected a basket of bread, cheese, and other foods that required no preparation. As she added olives and almonds to her basket, she heard musical instruments being added to the Olivieras' festivities.

So much happiness was infectious and she smiled as she returned upstairs. The sitting room had been used for small family gatherings for centuries, she suspected, and the wooden furniture had been shaped by the bodies of uncounted Alcantaras and their friends. Unlike the grand public rooms a floor below, it was relaxed and welcoming.

Shaken by her meeting with Major Masterson, she concentrated very hard on slicing cheese and sausage and bread. A simple meal, but the wine needed no apologies.

She had just finished laying out plates and napkins when the major entered the room. He looked so solid and handsome and English that she wanted to hug him.

She hadn't realized how hungry she was for the sight of a countryman. Here on the Peninsula, it had been years since she'd seen such a fine strapping fellow. Even in England, there weren't many men she had to look up to.

Even more compelling than those impressive broad shoulders was the humor and intelligence in his eyes. She hoped he'd stay for at least a few days.

Knowing she shouldn't stare, she lowered her gaze and poured two goblets of red wine. "I imagine you need this even more than food. Unless you're so accustomed to having guns pointed at you that your nerves are untouched."

"Anyone who claims not to be upset after staring down the barrel of a rifle is lying." His brows rose when he took his first sip of the wine. "But Sergeant Oliviera wasn't lying when he said the wine was exceptional."

Not wanting to think about the future of wine production in San Gabriel, Athena set out the platters of food. "I haven't much to offer, but this wine does go well with the local cheeses and sausage."

"Ambrosia." He took a seat and transferred samples of everything to his plate. "I'll try not to act like a starving wolf. It's been a long day."

As the major bit enthusiastically into the bread and cheese, Athena took the opposite chair. "My first and most important question is whether King Carlos and Prince Alexandre are on their way home. Have you heard anything about them?"

Masterson shook his head as he neatly cut a pickled onion into smaller pieces. "There was no word before we left Toulouse. Their fate is a mystery, though the man who sent me here is investigating what became of them. It doesn't look good."

"I was afraid of that," she said, wishing her pessimism had been misplaced. "Most people don't know that San Gabriel exists, so who sent you? And why?"

"I was asked to visit by a British Army intelligence officer who was concerned about conditions here."

"I'm glad to know that someone is concerned for San Gabriel," Athena said tartly. "What does he want you to do?"

"Observe how the country is faring after the ravages of the French," Masterson said succinctly. "And if aid is needed, determine what kind."

She stared at him. Grave gray English eyes, not dark brown. "Someone actually wants to help? The situation is difficult, and we haven't known where to turn."

"San Gabriel contributed a great deal to the fight against Napoleon, particularly given the size of the country," Masterson explained. "War is expensive in all ways. Lives, pain, treasure. Now that Napoleon is gone, it's time to start picking up the pieces. Since there was no fighting on British soil, we're in better shape to help our allies."

"That's a fine and n.o.ble sentiment," she said, hopeful but a little wary. "There is no self-interest in this?"

He smiled a little. "There is always at least some self-interest in politics. The man who sent me here fears that if San Gabriel is dangerously weakened, it might become the target of lawless guerilla bands that are at loose ends now that the war is over. Having a valued ally displaced by a bandit kingdom is not a pleasing thought."

Athena bit her lip. "That possibility has occurred to me. Your intelligence officer is right. With the king and the prince imprisoned or quite possibly dead, San Gabriel is vulnerable. Were you threatened by such guerilla bands as you crossed Spain?"

"Only fools would attack a troop so well armed and disciplined, and the guerillas I've known were not fools. But we did hear stories of attacks on remote villages," he said soberly. "We drove one such band away from a village west of Vitoria."

She shuddered as she remembered the a.s.sault of the French troops. "I've prayed that the mountains would protect us, but they weren't enough to save us from Baudin."

"That will change when the rest of the Gabrileno troops return in a few weeks," Masterson said rea.s.suringly. "They are well-trained fighters and their commander, Colonel da Silva, seemed very competent. Unless you think he might inst.i.tute a military coup when he returns, displacing the princess?"

"What an appalling thought!" Athena exclaimed. "I haven't seen Colonel da Silva in some time, but he and his family are famously loyal to crown and country. He would have had to change beyond imagining for that to happen."

"He didn't seem like a man plotting to overthrow his established government," Masterson agreed. "Speaking of his family, I promised to call on his wife when I arrived. He said they live just outside the town?"

Athena nodded. "It's not far. I'll take you over tomorrow morning."

"Thank you. After calling on her, will you have time to take me on a tour of the valley? I want to see for myself what conditions are like."

"I'll be glad to. But before seeing Senora da Silva, you should make a courtesy call on the regent."

"Of course. I would do so now, but I a.s.sume he has retired for the day." He hesitated before continuing, "I gather Prince Alfonso is advanced in years and not in the best of health?"

"Tactfully put," she replied. "Yes, he is very old and his wits sometimes wander." Often, in fact. "He mistakes Sofia for her mother. And me for my mother."

"Will Princess Maria Sofia make a good ruler if she ascends the throne?"

The topic was one that Athena and Sofia had discussed often. Obsessed about, in fact. "Sofia is intelligent and a good judge of people, and she has a strong sense of duty. She will not flinch from her responsibilities. But her nature is gentle, and she wasn't raised to rule, since it seemed unlikely that she would inherit the crown. She's working hard to remedy the deficits in her knowledge and she's very popular with the people, but she's not ready to rule. By Gabrileno law, she can't take the throne until she turns twenty-five, a little over a year from now. She will be better prepared by then."

"She is fortunate to have you." Masterson lifted the carafe of wine and topped up both goblets. "The loaded rifle made introductions brief. What should I call you? Miss Markham, Mrs. Markham, or Lady Athena?" He gave her a smile that took her breath away. "Athena, G.o.ddess of wisdom and war. Being called Lady Athena suits you."

The warmth in his smile gave her a stab of painful yearning for what could never be. Her voice sharp to put more distance between them, she said, "I'm sometimes called Lady Athena because I tend to give orders. The t.i.tle would be correct if I were legitimate, but since I'm not, Miss Markham will do."

She expected him to look shocked or disapproving, but he merely put the last piece of sausage on a slice of bread and didn't bat an eyelash. "All babies are legitimate. What their parents did or didn't do is irrelevant to the reality of a live, bouncing infant."

Startled, she said, "There aren't many who would agree with you."

He offered her a half smile. "They're wrong, I'm right. My favorite relative is illegitimate and, to the best of my knowledge, he has neither horns nor hooves."

A defensive knot in her midriff eased. "Your att.i.tude is refreshing, Major Masterson."

"Call me Will." He scooped olives from the platter. "Most people do, unless I'm their commanding officer."

She smiled and surrendered to the ease that wanted to flow between them. "Then you should call me Athena, though I make no claim to special wisdom."

He studied her, his gray eyes thoughtful. "How did you come to be here, Athena? If you've lived in San Gabriel for five years, you must have arrived in 1809, when war was exploding throughout this part of Europe. Do you have a mad adventurous streak?"

"When I arrived, the situation was much more dangerous than I expected," she admitted. "Do you want the whole dramatic story of my bad judgment and close calls, or will the short version suffice?"

"I most certainly want to hear the long story soon." He covered a yawn. "But for tonight, the short version will do because it would be unpardonably rude if I fell asleep in the middle of the full, dangerous account."

Athena considered where to begin. "The Alcantara family has always maintained strong ties with Britain. Since my mother had friends here, I visited San Gabriel as a child. Long enough to learn the language and make friends of my own.

"Five years ago, Uncle Carlos-the king-wrote me to say his wife had died and could I come to San Gabriel because he wanted an English companion and teacher for Sofia. Someone who also knew San Gabriel." She smiled a little. "He didn't know anyone else who fit that description, I suspect. The letter arrived in the middle of a cold, wet English winter, so I immediately accepted. The plan was that I'd stay with Sofia for three years, until she turned twenty-one and would be ready for marriage."

"Plans so often change when life intervenes." He sampled the almonds and washed them down with a sip of wine. "Do you think of San Gabriel as your home now?"

She hesitated, recognizing that he asked questions she hadn't had the luxury of considering. "I love this place and these people. Sofia is like the little sister I never had. But San Gabriel is a long way from the sea. I thought I would be home by now."

"And now you're needed too much to consider leaving?"

"Exactly." Athena was aware of irony. A major reason she'd accepted Carlos's offer was because she wanted to be needed. "But I don't suppose I'll be needed forever."

"The world will stabilize in time," Will agreed, "though I don't suppose that's much comfort when you're anxious to return to your family in England."

She laughed ruefully. "I have no family that will acknowledge a blot on the escutcheon like me, but I have friends I want to see again, and I miss England itself."

"I'll miss the sunshine of the Peninsula, though not the summer heat," he said with a chuckle. "You've had enough adventuring?"

She nodded. "I've seen more of the world than most women. Now it's time to plant a garden of my own and watch it grow. What about you? Will normal life be a flat bore after your years of war?"

"'To everything there is a season.'" He eyed the last piece of cheese and transferred it to his plate when she gestured that he was welcome to it. "I've had my seasons of war, and since I've rather surprisingly survived, it's now the season to return home and take up the responsibilities I've been ignoring for too many years."

Catching something in his voice, she asked quietly, "Did you want to die?"

There was a long silence while he cut the cheese into very thin slices. "I rather did at first," he said in a low voice when he finally ran out of cheese. "I married young. My wife died in childbirth within a year. I couldn't imagine I'd ever again have anything, or anyone, to make life worth living. So I bought a commission, thinking I might as well at least do something useful."

Her heart ached for him. He wasn't all that old now, somewhere in his early-to-mid thirties, she guessed. "I'm very sorry. I hope you now find life worth living."

He meticulously arranged the thin slices of cheese across a round of bread before glancing up, his voice light again. "There is nothing like having large numbers of strangers shooting at you to make life seem desirable. I've been very lucky, and I intend not to waste my good fortune." His gaze was warm. Admiring, even.

Admiration, and desire. She almost didn't recognize desire because it had been so long since she had seen it. Or perhaps, since she had let herself see it.

Even longer since she had felt desire herself. She felt it now and she imagined those warm, strong arms around her. A kiss, ah, she was sure he could kiss well! Any man who could so enjoy such a simple meal must surely have a sensual nature.

If she was more like her mother, she would rise and give him an alluring smile and invite him to her bedchamber. They could have a pa.s.sionate affair for a week or two until he left San Gabriel-she was sure he'd be willing.

But she was not her mother. So she rose and said, "I'm glad to hear that, Will. Good night. I hope you'll sleep well."

He rose and gave her a formal bow. "I'm sure I shall. Till tomorrow, Athena."

She lifted her candlestick and left the room, wishing intensely that for the next few days, she could be more like her mother.

Chapter 6.

The bed was sinfully comfortable, which might be why Will had sinful dreams. When the rising sun woke him, he lay still and savored hazy images of a warm and willing woman in his arms. A long and lovely lady with intelligence and wit, whom one wouldn't break and could match him in strength and pa.s.sion....

The last shreds of the dream vanished when a crisp knock sounded on his door. Murphy called, "Sir?"

"Come in." With a sigh for vanished dreams, Will rolled from the bed as Murphy entered with a jug of hot water. "How late did the celebration go, Tom?"

Murphy grinned. A young and handsome Irishman, he'd shown a propensity for getting into imaginative trouble before Will had drafted him as batman. The more varied duties of an officer's personal servant had suited Tom very well. "Midnight was naught but a memory, sir. These Gabrilenos know how to have a good time."

Will poured hot water into the basin and gave his face a good scrub. "Does that include the particularly lovely young woman who made you look like a stunned ox?"

Murphy blushed, a sight Will had never seen before. "Maria Cristina is Gilberto's sister and a sweeter la.s.s I've never met." His blush deepened. "She gave me a kiss to thank me for bringing her brother home safe."

Will lathered up his soap so he could shave. "Did you tell her that her brother managed to make it home very well on his own and you were merely along for the ride?"

"No, sir. I was too busy being a stunned ox," Murphy said cheerfully. "You're invited down to the Olivieras' for breakfast, and Lady Athena will meet you after to take you to the regent, then on a tour of the valley."

"Have you met Lady Athena?" Will asked. "Because I wasn't up for the enthusiastic Oliviera celebration, she fed me bread and cheese and wine up in the family sitting room. An interesting woman." Which was a major understatement.

"I've not met her yet, but she's very well respected here." Murphy pulled Will's uniform from the wardrobe and started brushing off the travel dust. "She's the right hand of the princess and very important. Since she's also English, someone started calling her Lady Athena."

Feeling a ridiculous desire to talk about her, Will asked, "Do you know how an Englishwoman came to be here?"

"She has family ties to San Gabriel, I think. She came as sort of a governess to the princess, but she's knowledgeable about many things, which has been useful this last year. From the way she's spoken of, I think she may have done some brave deeds during the French invasion." Murphy pulled Will's boots from under the bed and began buffing off the mud. "Will you need me for the ride with Lady Athena?"

Will thought as he regarded the cleanest of his shirts, which wasn't very clean. G.o.d willing, he could get his laundry done here. He pulled the shirt on, thinking that Murphy would come with him if required, but he didn't look keen.

Noticing Will's expression, Murphy said, "Senora Oliviera said to bring down your clothes for washing. We're honored guests here. Very fond they are of the British."

Since Will and Lady Athena didn't need a chaperone, Will said, "Spend the day with the Olivieras and listen to what they have to say about conditions here in the valley. Their views will probably differ from those of the royal family."

Murphy smiled with delight. "Cristina said she'd take me on a walking tour of the town. There's a grand old church in the central plaza. She's very devout. She said she's been considering becoming a nun."

Will suppressed a smile. A pretty girl was less likely to make such a choice if there were adoring young men around. "Here's your chance to show her what a good Catholic you are, but be careful. I'm sure the Gabrileno men are as protective of their womenfolk as the Portuguese and the Spanish, and I don't want to find your hide nailed to the nearest barn door."

"I would never do anything to offend Maria Cristina!" Murphy said hotly before he realized that Will was joking. He relaxed into a smile. "I'll see what I can learn about how people are managing, sir. Maybe I'll run into some of our cavalrymen. They will surely have opinions on what has changed and what is needed."

"The more we learn, the better, though I'm not sure how much Colonel Duval can do. But learning the situation is the vital first step." He pulled on his coat. He'd sometimes envied the 95th Rifles because their dark green uniforms didn't make as good a target as the red worn by most British troops. But when one wasn't actually being shot at, the scarlet uniform was impressive.