by Amelia Grey
The shock on Angelina’s face dimmed the light of gladness in the captain’s eye at seeing her. And it was slight, but Harrison saw him stiffen.
“Miss Rule,” he said, and then almost immediately glanced past her to Harrison. He nodded to Harrison and said, “Sir.”
Harrison had to give the man credit. He hadn’t missed the fact that Harrison was shadowing Miss Rule. A good soldier was always aware of his surroundings, and he could quickly size up who was friend and who was foe. And it didn’t take Harrison more than an instant to size up the captain, either. The man was smitten with Miss Rule.
An unnatural hush settled over the three of them before Angelina spoke up and said, “Forgive my manners. Lord Thornwick, please allow me to present Captain Nicolas Maxwell.”
The man was older than Harrison had thought he would be. He’d assumed the captain was close to his age of thirty, not nearing forty. The graying hair at his temples and lines around his eye were a telling sign. And perhaps being laid up from the injury was the reason he didn’t fill out his coat. The man had probably spent months recovering from his wounds.
“My apologies, Lord Thornwick,” the army captain said with a bow.
“Captain,” Harrison greeted.
“Welcome home,” Angelina said with a little smile.
“Thank you,” he said, keeping his expression cautious. “It was a long journey.”
“I’m sure. You were injured while away.”
“It was several months ago.”
Her eyes took note of the scarring. “It looks well healed,” she said, and by the expression on her face, Harrison knew she believed that.
Angelina’s tone was soft, her words slow and guarded. She never took her eyes off the captain’s face. She was behaving the way any man in similar circumstances would want her to—concerned and accepting, not aghast or glib.
Harrison wondered how many people tonight had thought to say the simple words welcome home. He’d known the afternoon he’d talked to Angelina about rescuing strays that she had a deep capacity to care. She could also offer comfort and kindness in a way that wasn’t distasteful to the recipient.
There was no doubt she’d been shocked to her core when she first saw him, but she had recovered quickly and immediately started soothing the captain. Harrison had a feeling that because of the dogs she rescued and fed, Angelina was at her best when she was tending to and reassuring the wounded.
“Does it hurt?” she asked.
Captain Maxwell gave her a cautious smile before glancing at Harrison again. “Not anymore.”
“How long have you been home?”
Maxwell continued to regard her with uncertainty in his expression. “A couple of weeks.”
“My grandmother wrote a note to your aunt about your return but didn’t receive an answer.”
“I asked her not to.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend any of the parties this Season. I had to give it a lot of thought. I didn’t want my appearance to offend anyone.”
Harrison thought he caught an edge of bitterness in Maxwell’s voice as his gaze cut around to Harrison’s once again. He couldn’t blame the man if acrimony had seeped into his soul.
“Nonsense, Captain, you could never offend anyone,” she said earnestly. “I’m glad you decided to attend.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but I will not deny the obvious. My face does require some getting used to, Miss Rule. Even I wasn’t sure I wanted to look at me again after the first time.”
She stepped closer to the captain. “You have no cause to be so unkind to yourself. Everyone will feel as I do.”
His gaze turned intense. “And how is that, Miss Rule?”
“Grateful that you lost only an eye and not your life.”
“Are you truly?”
Harrison remained quiet and listened to their exchange. He watched her gentle, caring gaze skim up and down Maxwell’s face until it settled on his cheek that was tattered with scarring. She was pouring her sympathy out to him for the hurt and pain he had been through. It was natural and unhurried. Harrison could tell she wanted to soothe the wounded soldier much in the way he imagined that she soothed her father after his wife’s death, and all the wounded strays who passed by her house. She wanted to help shoulder his hurt and his sorrow and if possible make it easier for him to bear.
“Of course,” she continued. “I don’t know what brave act caused your injury, but I’m thankful it wasn’t worse.”
Maxwell glanced at Harrison for the third time. He got the feeling the captain was wondering what Harrison’s relationship was to Angelina: a friend, an acquaintance, or a beau? The man had been gone over a year. And now he was wounded and scarred. He had to have a mountain of fears and doubts about Angelina swirling and racing through his mind.
Especially since there had been no formal promise between them before he left.
Harrison couldn’t help but think of all the foolish things he’d done in his life and had never gotten seriously injured. There were so many times he could have lost a tooth, an eye, or a limb. Hell, he could have lost his life when he, Adam, and Bray had shot buckets and bottles off one another’s heads, raced their curricles over rocky terrain, and jumped from high peaks into rocky waters. They’d only wanted the thrill; most of the time they were too drunk to give a damn about the danger.
“The loss of my eye doesn’t keep me from dancing, Miss Rule, and I believe I asked you to save a dance for me when I returned. Perhaps later this evening, if you’re available.”
“Yes, yes, of course I remember. I’ve been waiting for you to return and claim that dance. Yes, thank you, Captain, I would very much like that.”
She was overdoing it with her acceptance. Harrison knew it. The captain knew it, and Angelina knew it. They all understood why.
“Good. I’ll see you later in the evening.” He glanced at Harrison, nodded, and walked away.
Harrison could venture a good guess about all the thoughts jumbling together in Angelina’s mind. He heard the last call for a quadrille, and without thinking said, “The music is just starting, Angelina. Let’s dance.”
“No.” She shook her head.
“It will do you good to have something to do right now.”
“But I—”
“No buts. Let’s dance.”
Catching hold of her wrist, he led her onto the dance floor where they joined the others who were already twirling, hopping, and clapping to the music. It was Harrison’s least favorite of all the dances, but he was certain it was just what Angelina needed. It was fast, easy, and noisy. It wouldn’t give her time to think. She didn’t need to right now. Later when she was in the quiet of her home, she could think about the captain and his injuries.
The dance ended after they sashayed under the umbrella of arms and he led Angelina off the dance floor.
“Why don’t I get you a glass of champagne before I take you back to your father?”
She stopped and looked up at him. “I really don’t want a glass. I didn’t want to dance.”
“What do you want to do?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I—I’m so ashamed of myself for gasping and recoiling when I first saw him,” she whispered earnestly and lowered her lashes over her eyes.
Harrison ushered her away from the middle of the room to the wall. He wished he could take her in his arms and hold her. He didn’t know much about consoling anyone but she needed comfort. She needed to be told that everything was going to be all right even if it wasn’t.
“He expected you to. He knew you would be shocked.”
“No,” she whispered and shook her head again. “He didn’t deserve that. I was mortified I behaved so badly.”
Harrison had no doubt of that.
“You didn’t behave badly, Angelina. You were human. That’s all. And it’s easy to forgive people for having human emotions and reactions. You more than made it up to him by saying al
l the right things afterward.”
She looked up at him with a distressed expression, her blue eyes watering, and said, “He lost an eye.”
Her heart was breaking for what the captain had been through, for what he’d lost. Harrison could understand that and he hoped to hell the Army officer could too. She was looking for solace and Harrison wanted to give it. He wanted to pull her into the circle of his arms. He wanted to stroke her back, kiss the top of her head, and whisper her name softly. Those pesky rules of Society prevented that.
“Don’t think about what he’s lost or what happened to him, Angelina. Look how he’s handling his life now. Only a brave man could have walked into the ballroom tonight in his situation.”
Her gaze swept up and down his face. “Do you really believe that?”
“That he’s a brave man? Yes. Everyone in this room does.”
She breathed in deeply and on exhale said, “I just feel so sorry for him. He must have felt so alone, so far from home. I wish I could have been there and done something for him when it happened. I wish I could have helped him in some way.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted you there.”
“What?” She gave him a curious look. “Of course he would have. I should have been there. From the scars, I can tell that he must have been in excruciating pain.”
“Which is exactly why he was glad you weren’t there to witness it.”
Why the devil was he trying to help Angelina deal with the captain’s scars? Why was he defending the man?
“But he needed comfort. He deserved it.”
Harrison had little doubt about that. “Don’t dwell on any of that. I’m sure it was traumatic for him, but it’s over now. As you’ve already pointed out, he didn’t lose his life.”
“You aren’t sounding very sympathetic.”
Harrison remembered how Captain Maxwell had looked at him. The captain was thinking that Harrison was a rival for Angelina’s attention whether or not she was aware of it. And Harrison had a hunch the man was feeling quite inadequate at the moment. But Harrison had no doubts Maxwell would get over that feeling in time, rediscover his courage, and pursue Angelina with all haste. He was a soldier and used to fighting. He would fight for Angelina with the same dedication he fought for his country.
“But I do feel compassion. He deserves it. No one wants to be disfigured like that. And take my word for it, I am the last man he wants sympathy from, and he doesn’t want yours, either, Angelina.”
“Rubbish. Of course he does.”
“No, he doesn’t. No man wants anyone feeling sorry for him. He doesn’t want your pity. That is the last thing he would want from you.”
“How dare you think that I pity him?” she said indignantly. “I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. I do. There isn’t a person in this room right now who doesn’t. It’s human nature.”
“No.” She shook her head, as if that would give strength to her denial.
“Disavow it to yourself and to him all you want, but don’t try to deny it to me. I know better. And quite frankly, Angelina, Captain Maxwell knows better, too.”
Her angry glare softened. “You’re wrong. I will not let myself pity him.”
“Good, if you can accomplish that,” Harrison said quietly and ran his hand through his hair, feeling a stab of impatience. Why was he trying to help the captain? Because I do have compassion for the injury he suffered and how it left him. “He obviously isn’t letting his misfortune affect him. He came to the ball holding his head high and asked the most beautiful lady at the ball for a dance.”
“As he should have.”
At that moment, Harrison knew he would never let Angelina go into the captain’s arms without a fight. Competing for her was the last thing he wanted. If it wasn’t so outrageous, it would be laughable. He’d vowed to never be vulnerable to love again, never fight for a lady’s love again, and here he was admitting what he thought the moment he saw her standing at the entrance to the ballroom, what he knew after he’d kissed her. He wanted her to be his. She might claim to love the captain, but they weren’t married yet. Not even betrothed. Harrison had time to win her heart.
But for tonight, it was time for him to go. Angelina had a heart as big as England for the wounded in body as well as spirit. That was one of the things that drew him to her. And why it was now time for him to take his leave. He’d heard all he wanted to about the courageous Captain Maxwell.
“I see your grandmother walking this way. If she hasn’t already seen the captain I know you’ll want to tell her. I’ll leave the two of you to talk and say good night, Angelina.”
Harrison walked away, wondering how in sweet heaven he was going to fight Captain Maxwell for Angelina’s love.
A wounded soldier!
With probably close to twenty years of military service behind him. Those were damned hard standards to measure up to and they put Harrison in an almost impossible position. Especially considering he’d never done a bloody worthwhile thing in his life. He’d never had to. No one had ever expected him to.
Being the youngest son of an elderly earl, Harrison never had to mind anyone until he arrived at Eton, where he quickly teamed up with Bray Drakestone and Adam Greyhawke. As they grew up they became a formidable trio who didn’t follow anyone’s rules but their own.
While Captain Maxwell had served his country, Harrison had served himself—to anything and everything he wanted. The captain had fought for his country and left a part of himself on some foreign battlefield. Harrison had fought more fights than he could remember. He’d had fistfights, sword fights, and duels, but he’d never faced a barrage of bullets or cannon fire as he was sure Maxwell had when he fought at Waterloo and whatever battle took his eye.
Harrison hadn’t lost an eye, but he’d lost his brother, Maddie, and their children. Though his wounds weren’t visible, he had them. They were as raw as a blade’s cut. His brother had asked him to come for a visit, but he hadn’t taken the time. Perhaps self-inflicted wounds were the worst kind. Those days were behind him now. Harrison didn’t plan on losing Angelina—not even to a man who deserved her much more than he did.
Captain Maxwell was no stranger to battles but neither was Harrison. Fighting for Angelina would be just one more for both of them. And the captain should plan to use every weapon available to him, because Harrison would.
Backing away wasn’t in Harrison’s nature, but his sense of brotherly love had led him not to pursue Maddie. He owed no loyalty to the Army officer and would show him none. Besides, Maxwell was well equipped. He had a weapon Harrison didn’t have and he expected the man to use it to his advantage. Angelina already fancied herself in love with the soldier. It would be one hard battle to prove to her she wasn’t, but Harrison could do it.
He had learned early to do whatever pleased him, to do only what he wanted, and to shake off any who tried to restrain or coax him to do otherwise. Maybe Angelina was fate’s way of paying him back.
Harrison turned to look back at the ballroom before he left. He caught sight of Captain Maxwell watching Angelina. Harrison had faith he could woo her and win her.
He would give the soldier only one concession. Harrison would do his best to fight fairly.
Chapter 12
I saw his heart in’s face.
Winter’s Tale 1.2.446–47
Her heart was still in her throat. The shock of Captain Maxwell’s injuries was so acute, it hurt to breathe.
Angelina turned away from Lord Thornwick, not wanting to watch him walk away. What was wrong with her? She just kept wishing he would take her in his arms and hold her, comfort her. For reasons she didn’t understand, she desperately wanted to feel his strength. She needed reassurance from him, from someone, that all she’d believed for the past three years concerning Captain Maxwell was still possible. But why would she want solace in the earl’s embrace? It didn’t make sense to her.
She needed some time to think, but that wasn’t going to happen r
ight now. The earl was right. Her short, dainty grandmother was plowing her way through the throng of people with the ease of a much larger person determined to get where she was going. Angelina thought about pretending she hadn’t seen her and quickly hightailing it to the retiring room, but she knew Granna would follow her there.
Lord Thornwick was wrong about one thing. Somehow she would prove to him that it was loving concern she felt for Captain Maxwell and not pity. He was still a handsome man, even with the patch and the scarring beneath it.
Her hands made fists. She closed her eyes and grimaced as she remembered her reaction to him. She could only hope that he hadn’t taken her shock and concern when she first saw him for anything other than what it was. Shock and concern. But if he had, surely he could forgive her for being human and reacting with a gasp when she first saw him.
After she’d had time to adjust to his appearance, his face hadn’t seemed as bad as she’d first thought. And now she was even thinking maybe the black patch made him look a bit like the dashing pirates she’d seen in drawings and paintings.
“There you are, Angelina,” her grandmother said, sporting an expression filled with worry. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Angelina could tell by the crease in her grandmother’s brow that she already knew about Captain Maxwell’s appearance. In fact, it was clear almost everyone in the room had heard by now. The music was playing softer, fewer people were dancing, and more ladies were huddled together in little groups, talking in hushed tones, and whispering behind their hands and fans. Angelina’s heart felt full. Her admiration grew for Captain Maxwell for being brave enough to face such a daunting crowd. He must have known everyone would be talking about him.
“I’ve seen him, Granna,” Angelina said to spare her grandmother having to say more.
She flattened her hand on her chest and slowly shook her head. “Oh, dear, is it as horrifying as I’ve heard? Never mind, you don’t have to talk about it.”
“Yes, his scars are still new and need more time to heal and fade, but no, I’m not horrified by them and no one else should be, either.”