Once A Soldier Part 5

"Then I will send a message to Sofia now." Senora da Silva rose, her expression determined. "The sooner this task is done, the better."

"Your husband sent one other thing," Will said as he pulled a small velvet pouch from his inside pocket. "A gift for you."

Curiously the older woman opened the pouch. The object inside was wrapped in soft cotton. She unwrapped the fabric, and a blaze of crimson jewels spilled across her hand. "A ruby necklace!" she said, startled. "He knows that I have always loved rubies. Dare I wonder where this came from?"

"If you fear that he tore these from the throat of a screaming Frenchwoman, the answer is no," Will said firmly. "There is often looting after battles, and it's not uncommon for a soldier to take what he can find, then later sell it to an officer for enough money to become drunk. That's my guess as to how Colonel da Silva acquired this. You can ask him when he comes home."

"When he comes home," she repeated, her face shining. "I would offer you hospitality, but I must begin the tasks I have been given."

"And we must tour the valley," Athena said with a glance at Will. "Are you ready to learn the worst?"

"That's what I'm here for," he said promptly. Meeting Athena Markham was just a lucky bonus.

Chapter 8.

When Will and Athena left the da Silva residence, they rode through a grove of trees. Some looked fairly intact, others had been partially destroyed, and too many were charred skeletons. "Olive trees," Athena said. "Though the cork trees survive fire reasonably well, the olive and almond groves were badly damaged."

Will's mouth tightened as he surveyed the damage. "This kind of gratuitous destruction is vile. What did it profit them to destroy sources of food?"

"General Baudin seemed very fond of gratuitous destruction," Athena said, her voice flat. "He and his men were like a swarm of locusts, destroying everything they pa.s.sed over. The vineyards suffered even more."

They emerged from the damaged grove and Will saw great stretches of terraced vineyards stepping their way down the south-facing hills to the river that ran through the heart of the valley. His mouth tightened when he saw that most of the vines had been burned. A few had survived and were now leafing, but the vast majority had been destroyed, leaving the desolate terraces marred by lifeless blackened vines.

"I'm told that grapes have been grown on these hills since before the time of the Romans," Athena said. "Now look at them! Baudin and his men were furious at how the Gabrilenos fled and concealed so much of value. Before they set the fires, they packed straw around the bases of the vines so the heat would destroy the roots. As you see, very few vines survived."

"It will take several years to develop new vines, won't it?"

She nodded. "Yes, even if there were good cuttings available, it would take years. And we have very few good cuttings."

As they turned right to follow a narrow road that ran between two sets of terraces, Will asked, "Where did people take refuge?"

"The valley has many caves, some very deep. Large enough to shelter everyone in San Gabriel along with a few of their most valuable possessions. Not everyone got to safety, but most did," Athena explained. "Part of our preparations was to disguise the cave entrances so they were difficult for strangers to find."

"But the fields couldn't be hidden. I see wheat sprouting ahead of us." He calculated the ripeness of the crops when the French had come through the year before. "The invasion was before the harvest, wasn't it? Did they torch the fields?"

"Yes, and for an encore, they tore apart the valley gristmills. We'll ride by the largest mill later so you can see the damage. The mills are repairable, but we haven't been able to spare the labor to raise waterwheels and millstones. Not when there's no grain to grind and there are so many other urgent tasks."

Colonel Duval had been right to worry about this little country. "It must have been a hungry winter. Did the French take most of the livestock?"

"Yes, only a few of the best beasts could be hidden in the caves. They also carried off any other food they could find. Baudin's army probably didn't have to forage again until they were halfway across Spain."

Will studied Athena's elegant, determined profile, thinking he'd never met a woman like her. "How did people survive through the winter?"

Athena shrugged. "I used my savings and persuaded my trustee to advance me this year's income. I suspect that he actually loaned me the money out of his own pocket. For which I'm grateful, because otherwise there would have been people dying of starvation. I was able to supplement the available food with staples like flour, beans, potatoes, and dried cod. I used the last of my funds to buy seed stock, but I couldn't get as much as was needed."

Though starvation was a familiar legacy of war, Will hated to think of the inhabitants of this pleasant valley in such desperate straits. "The Gabrilenos are lucky you're here. Feeding a whole country, even a small one, is an expensive proposition."

"I'm not much of an heiress, if that's what you're wondering," Athena said. "But I inherited a bit of money from my mother, and my father pays a very small quarterly allowance with the understanding that I never, ever mention that I'm related to him."

Will's mouth tightened. "You'd best not tell me the family name or I'll be tempted to hunt your father down and hurt him when I return to England."

"You needn't look so murderous," Athena said. "I'm a serious embarra.s.sment. I've always suspected that my mother might have seduced my father just to humiliate him. At least he felt some sense of responsibility. He didn't have to give me anything."

"You're very forgiving."

"Merely pragmatic. There is no point in wasting resentment on a man I only met once in my life. He acted as if I was something one of the dogs dragged in. But he didn't have me sent to the workhouse, for which I'm grateful."

Dismissing the subject, she pointed ahead to where their current road met the river. "You can see the remains of the bridge there. It was the only bridge in the central valley, so losing it causes a good deal of inconvenience. There's another bridge higher up the river, but using it makes journeys across the valley much longer."

"I was sometimes seconded to help the engineers, and bridges were a specialty." He studied the width of the river, the rushing force of the water, and the stone piers that were all that remained of the old bridge. "If timber is available and we can draft enough workers, it won't be hard to build a new one."

"Both wood and labor are in short supply," she said. "Do you think the soldiers who returned with you would be willing to help rebuild?"

"Most have family obligations to attend to, but they'll surely contribute some time to such an important project. Which leaves the problem of timber." Will gestured toward the sunny expanses of the valley. "This part of the world doesn't have a lot of trees."

"We'll find something," Athena promised. "Shall we continue on? A dam was destroyed on one of the creeks that leads into the river and it is also much missed."

Will grinned. "Bridges and dams are an engineer's notion of amus.e.m.e.nt. Lead on, Lady Athena."

She laughed. "I'm very glad you were Colonel da Silva's choice to come here!"

As he watched her face light up with laughter, Will was equally glad.

By the time Athena had shown Will the worst problems in the valley, it was time for lunch. She led the way to a favorite spot of hers when she was in the area. Long ago, someone had built a wooden bench inside a shallow cave that wasn't much more than a stone overhang. In front was a patch of soft gra.s.s and a dozen feet away, a spring emerged from the hill and pooled in a small stone basin perfect for horses or humans to drink from. The overhang was about halfway up the valley wall and gave a sweeping view of the river, farms, and vineyards.

While Will tethered the horses in a spot where they could enjoy water and gra.s.s, Athena unpacked her saddlebag and spread a cloth in the middle of the weathered bench. "Sorry that lunch is another really simple meal," she said as she set out packets of bread, cheese, and olives. Last to emerge was a jug of wine, a knife, and two st.u.r.dy gla.s.s tumblers.

"No apologies needed," Will said as he settled down on the other end of the bench. "Good food, good wine, a wonderful view, and most excellent company." His gaze was warm.

Even without looking, she was very aware of Will's strength and presence. It was difficult not to stare at him. She'd given up trying to persuade herself that her attraction was merely because they were both English. She was attracted because he was unnervingly appealing. Intelligent, kind, quietly charming, and rather beautifully strong and handsome. Of course she noticed. She was human and female.

So be it. They could be friendly and speak English for a week or two, and then he'd leave and she'd never see him again. Not ever. So enjoy his company, and give thanks for his presence.

With an internal sigh at her foolishness, she poured wine. When she handed him a gla.s.s, he clinked it against hers. "To San Gabriel!"

"To San Gabriel, and someday England!" Though heaven only knew if she'd ever make it back there. She sipped appreciatively as she gazed at the fields and terraces and the distant glint of the river. "It's a luxury to relax and enjoy a beautiful day. Most of my time recently has been spent jumping from one crisis to another. Dealing with trees and missing the forest."

"Metaphorically speaking," he said with a wave at the mostly treeless valley.

"Metaphorical trees," she agreed. "But touring the valley has reminded me of just how much needs to be done. We barely made it through last winter. If more fields aren't planted soon, next winter might be even worse."

Will cut a slice of cheese and laid it on a piece of bread. After swallowing a bite, he asked, "If you could wave a magic wand, what would you ask for?"

"Money and men," she said promptly. "Money for seed and equipment and to pay laborers hired to do the work." She frowned as she considered other needs. "I'd also wish for really good vine stock to replant the vineyards. There will be few grapes harvested this year, and if we don't start planting, the future will be no better."

"I a.s.sume the French drank or carried off most of the wine," Will said. "How much is left for the Gabrilenos? Clearly, it's vital for morale."

"Actually, the French didn't get much of our wine, but most of what's left isn't accessible," Athena said. "The local vintners have always stored wine in the caves because the temperatures are so steady. A troop of French cavalry was on the verge of capturing the two main storage caves when an avalanche sealed them off."

Will's eyes widened. "I'm guessing that wasn't an accident. Or else the patron saint of your valley is very, very good at his job!"

Athena chuckled. "You're right, it was no accident. Sofia and I were visiting the Benedictine convent when we heard the warning bells from Santo Espirito. I had a spygla.s.s with me and I could see the French pouring into the valley from the west. They moved at amazing speed. They'd obviously planned the invasion and sent in spies to learn the lay of the land because the cavalry troop was heading right for the storage caves. The convent wasn't far off, so Sofia and I were able to get there first."

Will stared at her, appalled. "The two of you thought you could take on a troop of French cavalry?"

"Not directly, of course. But a violent storm earlier in the summer had washed away the soil around a group of boulders above the storage caves. The vintners had been arguing about whether the hillside could be stabilized, or if it would be necessary to move the wine barrels into new caves, which would be a huge job. I'd inspected the damaged area a fortnight or so earlier and I knew it was unstable." Athena smiled wickedly. "So with the help of the horses, some levers, and the basic laws of physics, Sofia and I triggered a landslide."

"You're an intrepid pair," he said admiringly. "Then what? I a.s.sume you raced off at top speed."

"Exactly. We took shelter in a small cave higher up and hid for several days. That's why Sofia wasn't taken by Baudin as her father and brother were." Athena made a face. "Baudin was enraged that she escaped, but he couldn't take the time to search for her because he was retreating from Wellington's army."

"I suppose he declared Prince Alfonso to be regent because he wanted to leave the country weakened," Will commented.

"Perhaps. No one disputed the appointment since there was no other senior member of royal family available and Sofia is too young to rule." Athena shook her head. "We were all too busy recovering from the damage Baudin caused to think about his motives. At least we could take pleasure in depriving the French of their loot, but, of course, the caves are sealed off from us, too. I'm sure they can be dug open, and I think that most of the wine barrels will have survived, but it will be a huge job. Once again, we need laborers and the ability to pay them."

"If people run out of wine, I'm sure you'd get many volunteers to clear the debris, but there are other priorities," he agreed. "What is most important?"

Between them, they'd polished off all the food and half the bottle of wine. Athena shook out the cloths, wiped the knife blade clean, and returned everything but the wine and winegla.s.ses to her saddlebag.

"The answer to that depends on what kind of help is available," she replied. "Now that you've surveyed the valley, what do you think is doable? Despite your Colonel Duval, I have trouble believing that the British government that never gave Lord Wellington sufficient resources to fight a war will contribute anything to help a tiny country most Britons have never heard of." Her mouth twisted. "Even if they want to help, heaven only knows how long it would take for effective aid to arrive."

"I have some ideas," Will said, unperturbed by her pessimism. "An old school friend of mine, Justin Ballard, lives in Porto. He runs his family's wine-shipping business and I think he'd be willing to help you out."

"Ballard Port, the Scottish company?" she asked, surprised. "Everyone has heard of them."

"His family has been in the business for several generations," Will said. "The port business has been badly disrupted by so much war in the region, and it's been frustrating for Ballard because he hasn't enough to do. I'm sure he'd be happy to send grape vine cuttings and the men to plant them, and he could do it quickly."

"That would be wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I'm sure it would even be the right varieties of grapes. But who would pay for it?"

"I will," he said calmly.

She gasped. "As you observed earlier, supporting a whole country is a very expensive proposition."

He shrugged. "I'm comfortably off and I haven't had much chance to spend money while in the army. I can afford to pay for some practical help for San Gabriel."

He was completely serious, she saw. "I don't know when, if ever, the royal treasury will be able to repay you," she said uncertainly.

"I'm too cautious to lend anything I can't afford to lose, so I don't. This is a gift to a gallant country." Seeing her doubtful expression, he grinned. "Christian charity?"

She took a deep breath. "I have no official authority here, but nonetheless, on behalf of San Gabriel, I accept! How long do you think it will take to contact Mr. Ballard and get a response?"

"Perhaps a week? Porto is much closer than Toulouse and I suspect there are many men in the city who are eager for work. Plus, Justin is very efficient." Will's brow furrowed. "I just had another thought. Does your river run down into the Douro? I'm no expert, but to me the wine tastes very like the expensive wines from the upper Douro."

"Yes, the San Gabriel River is a tributary of the Douro and the soil and climate here are much the same."

"Have the local wines ever been sent down to Porto for export? When the vineyards are restored, that could be profitable if transportation is practical."

"The river isn't navigable and the land route over the mountains into Portugal is too difficult for large-scale shipping. Gabrileno wine is consumed locally or sent east into Spain." She split the last of the wine between them, corked the bottle, and stashed it in her saddlebag. "It's a pity there's no reasonable transportation. Our wines keep well so they'd be ideal for export. On good years, there are sizable surpluses so the vintners add brandy to the excess and it keeps even longer."

"Could the river channel be improved to become navigable?" Will asked. "It used to be impossible to sail up the Douro farther than the Cacho da Valeira Gorge, but the waterfall and overhangs were blasted open twenty years ago so boats could continue up the river. Now there are vineyards almost all the way to Spain and wine production has increased dramatically. Perhaps the same could be done for San Gabriel River."

"Uncle Carlos may have considered improving the river, though if he did, I heard nothing about it," Athena said thoughtfully. "San Gabriel has been a sleepy, isolated, and content little country for a very long time. But Uncle Carlos realized that the world is changing, and his country must also. That's a major reason he sent troops to fight Bonaparte. The young men who return will have new ideas and know a broader world." Her voice broke for a moment. "Now he'll never see that."

"It's too soon to a.s.sume that he and his son are dead," Will said quietly. "But if they are, San Gabriel will go on, so the future must be considered."

"You're right, of course. Will you have time to survey the river to see if improvements can be made without it being prohibitively expensive? If work could be started soon, perhaps the river could be sailed about the time the vineyards are reestablished."

"I'll ask Ballard if he has time to come up here himself," Will replied. "He can take a look at the river channel. His family was involved in improving the Douro so he would know something about what is involved." Will lifted his gla.s.s in an informal toast. "Plus, I'm sure he'd be interested in your wines. If the storage caves can be opened up and the wine is still good, you might be able to sell some sooner rather than later if the shipping problems can be solved."

"What a wonderful possibility! Bless you, Will." With the first optimism she'd felt in months, Athena leaned over to brush a light kiss on his cheek, but he turned his head and her lips landed on his. He tasted of wine and sunshine, warmth and kindness-and something much deeper and more dangerous.

The kiss deepened, and her world turned upside down.

Chapter 9.

Athena's winegla.s.s tumbled to the gra.s.s as shock and desire flooded her senses. She felt Will's large hand behind her head, cradling her neck and drawing her closer. She surrendered to the moment, hungry for his warmth and tenderness. As the kiss deepened, his arms came around her in an embrace that fitted her against his broad chest. It would be easy, so easy, to fall into this man and lose herself and her fears and worries....

Will shifted, murmuring, "You are so lovely. . . ."

His words broke the spell and Athena pulled away, angry with herself and her lack of control. "I won't be your mistress," she said tightly. "Or is that the price of the aid you've offered?"

He looked as startled as if she'd slapped him. Then he began to laugh. "And here I was trying so hard to behave like a gentleman. I suppose it wasn't very gentlemanly to kiss you, though you started it, you know."

"So I did." She wiped damp palms on her riding skirt. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did. Unless you actually do want me to lie with you in return for your aid to San Gabriel?"

"What would you say if the two things were linked?" he asked with interest. He turned toward her, his chest looking impossibly broad in his scarlet army coat. A wave of brown hair fell over his forehead and one arm stretched along the back of the bench. Even though he wasn't touching her, she was acutely aware of his physical presence and nearness. Mere inches away....

She edged back as far away as the bench would permit, which wasn't very far. Though smoky desire had dissipated, a sense of connection remained. Which was absurd, since twenty-four hours earlier, they hadn't even met.

Wanting to put more emotional distance between them, she said ironically, "An intriguing question, Major Masterson. Would I sacrifice my honor to help my adopted country? But since I was born in dishonor, it might not be a fair question."

His dark brows arched. "Nonsense. You know my views on what is considered legitimacy. Let me add that I have no desire to acquire an unwilling mistress."

"A surprising number of men lack your scruples," she said dryly. "But it's clear I overreacted. All you wanted was a kiss, not a mistress."