Sin and the Soldier by Lancaster Mary

Author:Lancaster, Mary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

By the time they returned to the cottage, Richard’s old soldiers, including Daniels, had arrived. They lined up for inspection, and Richard introduced each of them by name. As apparently instructed, they had brought provisions for Natalie as well as themselves. While she cooked something for the men, Richard bowed and departed for the hotel.

She could not help being disappointed. But then, if Gerald did try to tarnish their reputations, Richard would not wish to give too much fuel to rumor. After all, they were already sleeping in each other’s room—admittedly apart—and traveling together in closed carriages. If Natalie had been a debutante, or even back in her old life in the country, she would already be ruined.

The men insisted on eating outside. While they did so, Natalie replaced the broken string on her slightly battered harp and settled down to practice. Although she did her best, at times like these she missed not having the full-sized harp constantly with her. But that instrument belonged to her employer, and besides, there was no room in her tiny room for a large harp as well as the pianoforte.

When she had changed and dressed her hair for the evening, she emerged cautiously from the cottage. Before she had even locked the door, her escort materialized at a respectful distance on either side. Smith, with one ear, and Havers with the horrific facial scar. The latter wore a wide-brimmed hat, pulled down to cover most of his face.

“We’ll walk behind you, Miss,” Smith said. “Don’t look back unless you hear us call to you, just trust we’ll be there. Daniels and Fellows will keep the cottage safe.”

“Lovely music, ma’am,” Havers muttered. “Does the heart good.”

She smiled her pleasure in his remark and set off along the track.

An hour later, her second evening recital began. Captain Gorse sat in his usual place, his posture relaxed, his eyes watchful. And not haunted. The orchestra played their hearts out. So did Natalie, for him.

And nowhere in the audience did she see Gerald. All was right with the world.

*

Gerald Monck was in fact at Renwick’s Hotel but keeping a low profile in the less exclusive wing, where he had contrived to encounter Amy Laurel. When they met in the coffee room, which doubled as a refined kind of taproom, she looked delighted to see him. Monck was actually flattered until he realized more of her attention seemed to be on a younger man brooding by the empty fireplace. Clearly, she was using Monck to make this person jealous.

A girl after my own heart. Monck chose to be amused rather than annoyed.

“Not at the concert, sir?” she said.

“I thought I might catch the final piece.”

“I caught the first,” she admitted. “She’s very good is our Miss Nat.”

“Then why on earth does she stay in that peasant’s cottage?” Monck was only making conversation. He didn’t expect to learn anything important from the remark.

So, he was surprised when Amy said carelessly, “Well, she don’t no more.”

Monck stilled, his ale halfway to his mouth.

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