Once a Soldier

by Mary Jo Putney

  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 attitude 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 passionate 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 passion....

  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 Gabrileños 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 lass 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. God 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, “Señora 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 Gabrileño 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.

  With a wry smile, he tried to remember the last time he’d cared about impressing a woman. Too long.

  He tugged the short jacket down. The buff facings and silver lace were intact, but he thought ruefully that the uniform had seen its share of war and had the wounds to prove it. Murphy had become adept at mending slices from French sabers or scorched powder marks when a bullet hadn’t quite hit him.

  On the plus side, wearing a uniform meant never having to decide what to wear. He’d actually have to think about clothing when he was a civilian again. Smiling a little at the thought, Will headed downstairs to the Olivieras’ apartment, with Murphy at his heels. He was greeted warmly by Sergeant Gilberto and his parents.

  “Major Masterson.” Señor Oliviera bowed deeply. “I thank you for bringing my son home.”

  “I didn’t,” Will protested. “Sergeant Oliviera and his men are highly skilled soldiers who had no need of me.”

  “No doubt,” the older man said with a glint of amusement, “but I cannot thank the entire British Army for what it has done for all of us on the Peninsula. So I thank you.”

  Understanding the need to offer thanks, Will said, “On behalf of the British, I accept your thanks, but truly, our victory came of many allies working together.”

  That being settled, it was time to address the more serious issue of breakfast. The meal was limited to the adult members of the family, which kept the noise level down.

  As Murphy said, the British were honored guests and the meal provided was lavish with sweet pastries, Spanish omelets made with fried potatoes, and ham shaved so thin it was almost transparent. Will hoped that a month’s worth of food supplies hadn’t been used up for this one breakfast, and honored the hospitality by eating with gusto. It was the best meal he’d had in weeks.

  He’d hoped Athena would join them for breakfast, but she didn’t appear until the meal was over. He was draining his coffee cup when she swept into the dining room, her vitality bringing the whole room alive. She gave Will a swift smile before greeting the Olivieras. He felt an instant of paralyzed shock and again the word “magnificent” sizzled through his mind.

  She was dressed for a day on horseback, but instead of a woman’s riding habit, she wore a short brown Spanish jacket embroidered in gold over a crisp masculine white shirt. Her tan divided skirt swirled provocatively above her ankles and in her medium-heeled riding boots, she was almost as tall as Will. Magnificent indeed.

  As she removed her flat-brimmed hat, she said, “If the time is not inconvenient, I would like to take Major Masterson to meet Prince Alfonso.”

  Señor Oliviera rose. “I shall escort you and make the introductions, Lady Athena.”

  Will was impatient for his ride with Athena, but manners must be observed, and that meant meeting the regent. The three of them ascended a floor to the public rooms. As Will’s footsteps echoed across vast, richly furnished spaces, he said, “There doesn’t seem to have been any looting here in the castle. I assume the French were unable to break in?”

  Señor Oliviera looked as if he would have spat if not indoors. “You are correct. We were able to preserve the royal treasures of San Gabriel. More precious are the lives of my countrymen. Many more would have died if not for Lady Athena.”

  Athena made a deprecatory wave of her hand, but Will decided that was a story he must hear before the day was over. He would have asked immediately, but they had reached a tall doorway and Señor Oliviera ushered them into a small reception room occupied by an elderly man in a thronelike wooden chair. Beside him Princess Maria Sofia was reading aloud. She stopped when the others entered, her gaze on Will. Since they hadn’t met properly the night before, she was understandably curious.

  Señor Oliviera announced in a sonorous voice, “Your highness, allow me to present Major William Masterson of the British Army.”

  Prince Alfonso, a thin man with white hair and a vague, happy expression, said, “We thank you for your visit, Major Masterson.”

  “My greetings, your highness.” Will made a courtly bow. “Thank you for granting me an audience.”

  “I am always pleased to see British subjects,” the prince said. “I spent two years in London representing my country, and I enjoyed it greatly. That’s where I met my dear Lady Delilah.” He nodded toward Athena.

  Surprised, Will gave Athena a quick glance. Her face was unreadable, and he remembered that she’d said the prince mistook her for her mother.

  “Britain values her long-standing ties with San Gabriel,” Will said. “Your troops fought bravely against the French.”

  Prince Alfonso scowled. “We do not like the French. Savages! They stole the Queen of Heaven! They must be punished for that. Punished!”

  “And they will be,” Princess Sofia said smoothly as she laid her hand on her great-uncle’s arm. “But now it is time for your morning coffee, eh?”

  The regent’s face smoothed out. “Coffee, yes. You’re a good girl, Isabella.” He patted her hand. To Will, he said, “Pray take our greetings to your own prince regent, Lord Masterson. I would like to pay a call on him in person, but I fear . . . I fear that is too much for me.”

  “I shall do as you ask, your highness.” Will bowed again, then withdrew, Athena at his side.

  As they left the room, Señor Oliviera said, “I shall fetch your coffee, your highness, and we have honey cakes.”

  The regent’s face brightened like a child’s. “Honey cakes are my favorite!”

  Will gave a sigh of relief when the door closed behind him. “I understand why you and Princess Maria Sofia have had to take on the duties of governance.”

  “Prince Alfonso has better days,” Athena said as she led the way through the great hall to the stairs. “Fortunately, he is always sweet tempered, except when the French are mentioned. He dotes on Sofia even if half the time he thinks she’s her mother, Queen Isabella. They look much alike.”

&nb
sp; “As you resemble your mother, Lady Delilah?”

  She frowned. “I can’t imagine why you have any need to know about her, Major Masterson.”

  “I don’t need to, but everything about you interests me, Athena,” he said peaceably. “I’d like to know more of your past. In return, ask me whatever you like, though I warn you, I’m not very interesting.”

  “Families interest me, since I haven’t much of any myself.” She glanced back over her shoulder as she reached the ground floor. “What was your family like?”

  “My mother died when I was six. She was sweet, but her health was never strong so I didn’t see much of her. My father wasn’t a monster, but he wasn’t particularly interested in his offspring. I was raised mostly by servants. Luckily, they were a decent lot and looked out for me.”

  “That sounds rather dismal. Who was your favorite relative, the illegitimate one?”

  “My half brother, Damian T. Mackenzie,” Will replied as they stepped outside and headed toward the stables. “‘Trouble’ is his middle name.”

  Athena laughed, her prickliness gone. “Really? I like him already.”

  “Mac is very likable.” Will smiled as he remembered their first meeting. “He’s two years younger than I, and his mother was an actress. After she died, her maid brought Mac to Hayden Hall, the family seat, then disappeared.”

  “How dreadful for him!” Athena’s voice held a vehemence that sounded very personal. “Was he fostered out somewhere distant?”

  “When my father returned from London, he wanted to do something like that, but I wouldn’t allow it. I liked Mac and had him moved into the nursery with me.” It had been wonderful to find he had a brother. He’d never forgotten his first sight of Mac, who was terrified, grief-stricken, and trying gallantly not to show it. “I was a well-behaved, rather boring child. Mac was a wonderful companion. Outgoing and full of fun. So I insisted on keeping him.”

  “Like a puppy?” Athena asked with amusement.

  “Exactly.” Will’s glance was rueful. “I might have been boring, but I was also rather stubborn. When I refused to let Mac be sent away, my father abandoned plans to have me educated at Eton. Instead, he packed us both off to a small new school for boys of good birth and bad behavior so the illegitimate son wouldn’t be obvious.”