Untamed by Clare Pamela

Author:Clare, Pamela [Clare, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101553886
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2012-01-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The day was young when Bourlamaque summoned Morgan to his study.

“Please sit, Major.” He gestured toward an opulent armchair, a troubled look on his face, the fingers of his right hand pressed against his temple.

Aye, the old man was on the biting end of a bottle of brandy.

Morgan sat and waited in silence to hear his fate, his mind still filled with Amalie, her scent still upon his skin.

“The first matter we must discuss, Major, is your conduct yesterday.” Bourlamaque settled himself behind his writing table. “I cannot tolerate fighting amongst my officers. It breeds dissension and distracts us from our efforts to win this war.”

“I understand, sir.” Morgan met his gaze without wavering and pressed on, needing to say it. “ ’Tis grateful I am that you allowed poor Charlie a Catholic burial and that you stood there beside me. You are a far better man and more honorable than he whom I was forced to serve. I will accept whate’er discipline you decide is fittin’ wi’out complaint.”

Bourlamaque’s stern countenance softened slightly. “We French do not flog our officers as the British do, except for the most extreme of offenses, and this does not warrant such a response. Those who witnessed the incident agree that you were provoked. And yet I cannot ignore the fact that you struck Lieutenant Rillieux, who, despite his faults, is a dedicated officer and widely respected.”

Morgan looked down to keep himself from rolling his eyes. “Aye, sir.”

“I have therefore decided that you shall spend the day digging a new privy for the officers down on the riverbank.”

Dig a privy? That was to be his punishment?

Morgan had hoped for a good flogging. It would at least have taken his mind off Amalie and relieved some of the gnawing guilt he felt for deceiving so honorable and decent a man as Bourlamaque. Aye, a good flogging would have done it. “Aye, sir.”

Bourlamaque watched him, as if expecting some kind of reaction. “Lest you think I deal with you unfairly, you should know that Lieutenant Rillieux is even now hard at work cleaning the stables.”

Morgan fought back a grin, imagining the haughty bastard up to his knees in horse shite and filthy straw. “I dinnae question your fairness, sir.”

Bourlamaque nodded, the matter clearly settled. “It has been three weeks since I made the decision to spare your life. Despite yesterday’s unfortunate events, I have not been disappointed. Your actions demonstrate qualities I hope to find in my officers—skill, strength, compassion, restraint.”

Every word made Morgan’s growing sense of guilt more difficult to bear. “You are most gracious, sir.”

“I have decided it is time to give you a rank and place in our army—and to return your possessions to you. Alas, I cannot grant you the rank of major, for it would insult my officers, and Montcalm has forbidden it.”

So there was a new message from Montcalm. Morgan would make a point of finding and reading it tonight.

The old man was still speaking. “From this day forward, you shall be Capitaine MacKinnon, my adviser on all matters pertaining to the Rangers and Fort Edward.

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