PIPPA NOTICED IMMEDIATELY when Captain Duroy’s attention veered from her. She turned and saw the Frenchman coming over the bluff.
In seconds, the sentry would see them. All would be lost.
And then Pippa knew what she would do. Captain Duroy wanted a diversion. Well, she would create one.
Before he could stop her, she rose to her feet and began walking toward the sentry. She pulled the scarf from her hair. Her copper curls sprung free in joyous abandon.
Of course the guard saw her and immediately crouched, his bayonet ready to run her through. Pippa stopped and thrust out her chest. Now was the time to show that she did have breasts.
“I am the daughter of Sir Hew Nelson, the British envoy to Spain. I insist on being taken to your commander.”
The Frenchman frowned. She’d deliberately spoken in English. Let them find out later she was fluent in their language. She also expected the sight of a woman in male attire would protect Captain Duroy. She was right. The guard had no eyes for anyone but her.
“Allez,” he ordered, waving her in front of him with his bayonet.
She held up her hands to show she had no tricks and walked forward. However, she could not resist a glance in Captain Duroy’s direction.
He was not there.
She had been a very good diversion.
It turned out that the guard had wandered away from his post to heed a call to nature. That is what he told his comrades as he proudly marched his captive into the camp.
The ammunition wagons, heavily loaded with kegs of gunpowder and the other needs of war, were in a circle in the middle of the camp, the tents arranged around them.
She made certain to hold her head high as she was paraded around. She wanted all eyes on her. She was like brave Boudicca, confronting her Roman enemies, or one of the goddesses of Olympus, unafraid. She also knew that, if she had any inkling of Captain Duroy’s character, he was thinking of a way to reach those wagons—and she trusted he would come for her as well.
However, her facade fell away as they approached the commander of the supply train. He was a short man with blondish hair and narrow, almost evil eyes. He was also evaluating her horse so intently, running his hand up and down Tatiana’s leg, he didn’t notice Pippa and the guardsman at first.
Tatiana nickered at Pippa’s arrival. Pippa wanted to run to her beloved horse and throw her arms around the mare’s neck, but she stood her ground.
The commander looked up, and then his gaze brightened. “What have we here?” he asked in French.
The guard told his story. By now a large crowd had gathered around them. Pippa tried to pretend she did not understand the crude comments made about her. Several men talked about her legs. Pippa found that interesting. She hadn’t realized legs on a woman were so desirable. A few complained of her lack of endowment, but instead of being insulted she thought of Captain Duroy. He didn’t mind her lack of an overabundant chest.
And she wondered what he was doing now. She hoped he was still safe—
The explosion behind her let her know that not only was he safe, he was close at hand.
Men cried out as debris hit them. Several turned to save the other wagons, but those, too, exploded.
Tatiana was frightened. She reared, pulling the lead rope out of her handler’s hand.
Pippa did not waste a moment but moved closer to her horse, even as she saw Captain Duroy. He was running from the explosions and fires that were quickly spreading to the tents.
Soldiers saw him and cried out to stop him. No one was paying attention to Pippa any longer.
“Tatiana, heed me,” she ordered.
The mare pranced but stilled enough for Pippa to throw herself on her back. She grabbed her mane, put her heels to her horse, and went charging to rescue the captain.
He was in a fight with several soldiers. He’d managed to find a sword and now defended himself from two soldiers while the rest were running around madly trying to put out the fires.
But they were too late. The last wagon exploded.
“Captain, here!” Pippa yelled out over the roar of flames.
He’d seen her coming. “Keep going,” he said.
“Not without you.”
He surprised her then by pulling a small pistol from his uniform pocket and firing it at the soldier nearest him. The man dropped, and Captain Duroy had enough time to launch himself up behind Pippa. Together, they rode as hard as they could to where Valiant was tethered.
“Can you continue to ride bareback?” the captain asked.
“Of course,” Pippa said.
He smiled, his expression saying he’d never doubted she could, and she was filled with fierce pride.
They rode then, hard and fast. Their horses wanted as much distance from the fire as they did. They raced over hills and across plains until at last they came to a village.
The hour was very late, but there were still some people out. There was no inn, but a widow rented a room and had stabling for their horses.
The whole time, Pippa felt as if her emotions were on edge. She didn’t even think twice when the widow assumed the two of them were man and wife. In fact, she couldn’t draw a decent breath until they were in the safety of the bedroom.
Captain Duroy whirled her around to face him. “That was the most foolhardy stunt you have pulled yet. You should never have put yourself in such danger.”
Taken aback, Pippa felt her temper ignite. He should be thanking her. “It worked, didn’t it?”
He took her by both arms, as if he would shake her. “But it easily could have been a disaster. Miss Nelson, Pippa, if you ever do anything like that again, I shall—”
“You shall what?” she dared him.
The anger in his expression suddenly eased, and in its place was an emotion she couldn’t quite define, until he said, “I shall kiss you.”
Before the meaning of his words formed in her brain, he was kissing her—and this time she didn’t hold her lips closed.
She was wiser now. She opened her mouth and kissed him right back.
And what a kiss it was! Who could have imagined a simple kiss could carry such meaning, such power? It was as if they breathed in each other’s souls . . . and she was lost.
“Pippa,” he whispered. She adored hearing him say her name.
He started to pull away. She threw her arms around his neck, holding him close, and answered, “Yes, William. Yes.”
Some things were not the same in life as what she’d read in books. She now knew They kissed was tame in comparison with actually kissing, and she wondered what else she didn’t know.
Her father had warned that men could be beasts. She now decided that could be a very good thing.
Their kiss deepened. He was holding her, his hands at her waist.
She found she wanted more. She wanted to be completely in his arms without any barriers between them. She began unbuttoning his uniform.
His lips brushed her forehead. “Don’t, Pippa.”
“Yes, William.” She found the buttons of his breeches, and his protests stopped.
They made love.
And Pippa thought this was the most beautiful thing she’d experienced in her life.
Here was a man she could admire. A gallant man. One filled with courage.
He took great care of her.
The thought passed through her mind that if they had not just come so close to death, he might have considered twice about claiming her. She was glad he didn’t.
Having him deep inside her body fulfilled her in a way she’d not believed possible. Years of self-doubt, fear, and insecurity were vanquished in her lover’s arms.
He spoke to her. He said her name as if it was a blessing.
Her body responded to him with a will all its own. But there was something else at work here. Pippa felt as if she was meant to meet this man, to be here in his arms. He was her fate, her destiny—and as their bodies worked together, as he initiated her into the rites of love, taking from her that which was only hers to give, she discovered the pure bliss of pleasure. And she learned pleasure’s depth as well. Two shall become one. She now understood what those words meant.
For a long, long time, she could not speak. He didn’t move, either, except to ease his body off of hers and then gather her close. She laid her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat return to normal.
He spoke, his fingers playing with her curls. “I want you to return to England.” Before she could protest, he continued, “I must know you are safe, Pippa. I will send you to my mother. She’s very forward-thinking, and my father worships her. I adore her.”
Pippa rested her hand on his chest. “Do you think you could adore me?”
He pretended to consider the matter a moment and then confessed, “I already do.”
No words could be sweeter to her. She swallowed and then took a risk. “I think I love you,” she answered.
“I know I love you.”
His words hadn’t been a mistake. He cared for her. Truly cared for her. This strong, noble, honorable man loved her. She finally found words to speak. “Is making love always like it was with us, William?”
“It’s never been like that before,” he answered. “Only with you.”
Only with her. Magic words. “Can we try it again, just to be certain?”
His response was to laugh, and then they did try again. Their lovemaking wasn’t as good as it had been the first time.
It was better.