by Ann Chaney
Richard forced his face not to give away his own emotions as he reached over and stroked her golden hair. “Arabella, there is no reason to apologize and never doubt it, you did the right thing. We must always protect our loved ones no matter what.”
“That is what Papa says he does,” she said with grown up somberness. She took a deep breath, straightened up to her full height, and leaned forward with her arms wide. He had no choice but to lift her away from Serena and accept the sweetest kiss he could ever remember receiving on his cheek. He ignored the smile on Serena’s face as he settled the little girl in front of him.
He cleared his throat and motioned to the rutted way ahead. “I wager we will be eating good English cooking this night with a glass of wine. Time to make haste, my new little friend. Miss Carlton, hold on tight and we will ride like the wind."
“My papa calls me Bella.”
Flummoxed again by this tiny pocket baggage, Richard did not know what to say. His state was not lost on a laughing Serena. The hoyden dug her heels into the horse’s sides and cantered off. Time to bring this mission to a conclusion. Time to call on Wellington and Miss Carlton’s frantic parents.
“Hurry, milord,” Bella cried. “Mama’s shepherd’s pie is the best!”
He grinned and clicked his tongue to spring his horse forward. He would not be the last one at the dinner table this night.
Serena kept watch for any sign of a creek or river. Despite what he said, she knew tending to Richard’s wound was what had to be done as soon as possible. They were in the shadows of the first mountain when she noticed an oasis of greenery in the distance. Without consulting Richard, she struck out for that lush spot. To her delight, she found a stream of running water with trees lining the banks.
Richard came behind her wearing a fierce scowl. She’d sit and allow him to lecture her on her impulsive behavior without complaint as long as he sat still so she could clean his wound and bandage it with one of her cravats. Serena dismounted and reached up to take Arabella from him. The child moved out of her arms and stood to the side.
Richard moved to dismount, but Serena stopped him. “Wait, I’ll help you down.” She didn’t know if she was relieved or worried when he didn’t argue with her.
Slowly he managed to dismount and land on his uninjured leg. A hiss cut through the calm of the late afternoon. Serena grabbed him as he continued to slide downward. His face was devoid of color and his jaw jutting out in concentration.
“Lean on me. I’ll get you under the trees. I’ll tend the animals and fetch water.”
They managed to get him to a tree where he fell. She motioned for Bella to join them. The child ran over and took her place beside the Richard.
“Bella, I need your help. I must go to the stream and fetch fresh water to tend to Richard’s wound. I need you to remain here with him. I’ll give you my bag to look through my cravats until you find one that will suffice for his bandage. When I return, we will deal with his cut together. Can you do this for me?”
“Yes, I help mama all the time. We cut bed linens into bandages for the surgeons before the soldiers go into battle.”
“Excellent. Richard be good or Bella will call out and I’ll come running.”
She made her way to the stream, filled the water pouch, and hurried back to Richard and Bella. The little girl had one of Serena’s cravats laid out on Richard’s chest.
“Did Rodrigo happen to give you a bottle of his homemade port?”
Richard glared at her. “He did. Look in my bag. The bottle is on top.”
She found the bottle and handed it to him. “You may want to take a couple of swallows before I start.”
Richard said nothing. He did partake of the liquor quite liberally before nodding he was ready for her to proceed. Bella knelt at her side and watched as Serena cleaned the wound. Richard hissed and growled as she prodded his flesh looking for any threads from his breeches which could later cause an infection. She found several threads and removed them. The third time she did so, Richard lost consciousness.
Bella stayed at her side and never flinched. Serena couldn’t say the same. Each time she penetrated Richard’s flesh she wanted to run away from the task. Only sheer willpower kept her from doing so.
Serena took the knife from her boot and cut the cravat into several pieces. The largest she folded into a bandage and placed over the wound. Two other pieces were used as ties to hold the bandage in place. He needed stitches but she had neither thread nor needle.
Richard remained insensible which meant they would not be moving on until he woke. She smiled at Bella. “You were amazing. Your mama and papa must be so proud of you. You have courage. I’m proud to call you my friend.”
The child glanced at Richard. “Will he heal? Mama says injuries are very dangerous out here.”
“Your mama is right. I’m going to lay my jacket on the ground beside him. You can rest too.” She removed her jacket and spread it beside Richard.
With tears running down her cheeks, little Bella laid down, using his uninjured thigh for a pillow. Serena moved to take the child in her arms but at that instant, Richard opened his eyes and looked down at the distraught child. "Little one, there is nothing to fear. I am fine. Serena does this for me all the time.” He drew her into his good arm with a squeeze of her shoulder. He looked into her eyes with fervor. “You are safe with us. We are within shouting distance of the camp. I could not continue without Serena tending my wound. I would not be surprised if we do not see a patrol passing by soon. Maybe your papa and his men. You will be in your mama's arms by nightfall."
"Milord, I am not worried about me. I am worried about you and your wound. Lady Serena is right. Wounds are dangerous. Mama says so. You must live to be a papa. You will be a great papa, just like my papa.”
"How did you become so clever?"
"My papa says I am a babe with the soul of an old woman. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
"I think your papa is right, my tiny wise one. Now, let's both close our eyes and rest for a few minutes. Once we wake, we will go find your papa.”
Bella yawned and curled into his good side and rested her head on his chest. Tears welled in Serena’s eyes as she watched them sleep. She had never seen a more peaceful pose.
Serena left the pair sleeping to take the horses and Gertrude to the stream. The animals drank their fill of water. She took her knife and cut a sturdy branch. Stripping the stick of all vegetation to create a walking stick for Richard.
Not bad for a pampered society miss who’d never left England. Surrounded by footmen and maids who saw to it that her every desire was granted before she voiced her wish in some instances. Not bad at all.
Chapter 20
Richard, awakened by the incessant buzzing of a honeybee near his ear, watched Serena strip the leaves and small branches from a tree branch. He smiled. The minx was making him a walking stick.
“Milord, do you want me to fetch Lady Serena.” Bella popped up.
“No, poppet, she’s just over there. See her? She’ll return to us in a moment or so. I feel better already. No need to worry.”
Serena looked over in their direction. After she stripped a few more bits from the limb, she headed back. “I led the horses to the stream. They enjoyed the water. All three are now saddled and ready to go when you are.”
“You made me a walking stick I see. Most inventive of you, my dear.”
“Lady Serena, I like your walking stick. When we return to camp, I think I’ll make one for Papa. He says his bones are getting too old to ride out all day chasing Frenchies. He’s as old as his lordship here.”
Richard started to debate the issue of his age with the child, but the sound of Serena’s laughter washed over him erasing any thought of a discussion of his age. He loved her laugh.
“Well, ladies what say we continue our journey. If Sergeant Williams was correct and Bella here has us going in the right direction, we should run across a cavalry patrol at any tim
e.”
He sucked in a deep breath and made to stand. Serena reached around him to help him stand.
He grabbed the walking stick and motioned for the ladies to precede him. “I’m fine. Let’s be off,” he said, trying to inject a jovial tone in his voice.
Bella succumbed and skipped over to the animals while Serena gave him a skeptical look. She wasn’t buying his display of bravado for one moment. He hobbled over and with her help managed to get into the saddle. Bella stood to the side and waited until he was ready to take her up.
“Bella, perhaps this time you should ride with me,” Serena suggested.
“I must take care of his lordship. He was hurt because of me.”
Serena turned her gaze on him. “What do you think? Can you manage the horse and Bella?”
Richard smiled or at least he hoped the grimace on his lips resembled a passable smile. “Of course, I need my favorite girl with me. She’ll call out if I need your help. Won’t you, Miss Carlton?”
“Promise. I’ll watch over him every second.”
Serena gave in and handed the child up to him. He’d never admit it but having the child in his arms did make him feel better. Serena watched him for a moment. “Give me your promise you’ll go slow and take no chances.”
“You have my vow I’ll not do anything to put this sweet child at risk. Now, shall we be off? Time to get this angel home to her mama,” Richard replied as he turned his mount out on to the old Roman road.
After about an hour, Richard pulled back on the reins to halt his horse. Serena rode up beside him. He pointed to the way ahead as it widened and smaller ruts grew into larger craters.
“A good sign we are close to camp,” he commented. “Good thing we have the little miss along to steer us in the right direction.”
Bella slept. Her head rested in the crook of his good arm. The child was all done in. No doubt the little one was used to the constant noise of soldiers coming and going. He could share what the child had told him with Serena and not worry about waking the girl.
Serena reached over and smoothed the little girl’s hair. “I tremble at the thought of what could have happened to her.”
“At last”—Richard pointed to a cloud of dust in the distance. “we’ve been saved.”
“How do you know those are our soldiers?” Serena demanded.
“Listen, do you not hear the bugle call? Only an Englishman can ride in the saddle while he plays a bugle one handed. Also look at the colors of the flag at the front of the column. I believe we may be rescued by Bella’s father. Those colors are those of the 95th Rifles if I’m not mistaken.”
He jostled Bella to wake her. The child rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The bugler blew another call to them.
That sound brought a smile to the child’s lips. “Papa! Papa!”
He had never seen a more beautiful sight as the Union Jack and the guidon pennant with its green and white colors of the 95th Rifles waving in the wind as the column approached.
“As I said, it appears we are rescued.” He grinned as the little girl bounced on his lap as the column drew nearer. His heart swelled to overflowing when the officer at the head of the column raised a hand in greeting. Bella waved back for all she was worth. At least, this child would be able to go to bed tonight with both her parents hearing her prayers, tucking her under the bedcovers and kissing her.
Maybe, it was time to move on. Maybe, it was the perfect time for Serena to become his other half.
Serena watched as the column of soldiers drew near. The lead rider broke from the ranks and raced toward them. He wore the green and black of the 95th Rifles, but it was the look in this man’s blue eyes that bore irrefutable proof his child was in Richard’s arms. The colonel pulled back on his horse and drilled each one of them with a cold stare. His gaze settled on Bella lastly. Tears filled his eyes and slid down his cheeks.
This man may be a tough military man, but at that moment, he was a father who loved his child. To be in the presence of such affection was humbling. Serena realized she wanted to feel that fierce love.
“It would seem we have found someone who wants to be given a bath, a scold and a surfeit of kisses,” Serena said with a smile.
Richard moved up beside the colonel’s horse, so the scamp could jump into her father’s arms. Parent and child held on to each other without speaking.
Colonel Carlton drew back from his daughter’s embrace and took her face into his hands and looked down into her eyes.
“Arabella Jane, after your mama and I recover from the fright your abduction caused, you will be punished for whatever part you had in this nightmare.” He held her as if he would never let her go.
“You will not be able to punish me if you squeeze the breath out of me.” Bella complained.
Her father loosened his grip and laughed.
“Mama would never forgive you. Can we go home, Papa?”
“Excellent idea, poppet, but first you must introduce me to your rescuers.”
The man extended his hand around his daughter’s body. “Colonel Howard Carlton, 95th Rifles.”
Bella plowed ahead. “Papa, this is Lady Serena and Lord Richard. She dresses as a man like you but is really a girl. Lord Richard tries to be stern with her, but I know he really loves her.”
Carlton gave Richard a hard look as if he were trying to take his measure. Only after a moment’s pause, the officer nodded. “My lord, no need for introductions. We met in London last year. We had drinks at White’s with Captain Lord Abingdon. You are with Whitehall, are you not?” The two men shook hands before the colonel turned his gaze upon herself.
Howard Carlton’s eyes grew large. With a jerk of his head, he looked back and forth between her and Richard. The officer burst out laughing. “Captain Lord Abingdon’s little sister? The bluestocking who is too stubborn for her own good?”
“The one and the same. Although, I wish to take exception to my buffleheaded brother’s description.”
Carlton looked Richard’s way. “You are about to provide us with much entertainment, my lord. Abingdon will be most surprised to see you and apoplectic at the sight of his sister. I would not miss this reunion for anything in the world.”
Arabella grabbed her father’s face with both hands as he had done to her earlier to get his attention. “Papa, I got Richard stabbed.”
“My lord, please tell me she did not witness such.”
“Colonel, it is a long story and we will tell you all that we know but first my priority is to reach Wellington in all haste. I have information the general needs at the soonest moment by order of the Home Secretary.”
“He and his command staff are walking a section of what will become his First Line. I’ll send a rider ahead to alert him of your arrival. His staff will summon you once he returns.”
After he’d seen to sending a messenger back to the encampment, Colonel Carlton gave the order for the formation to return to camp. He followed along with Bella in his arms and Richard and Serena following behind.
Once the column broke through the picket lines of their encampment, the colonel motioned one of his subordinates to assume command of the column. Carlton veered off while his column of soldiers continued to the lower valley.
Once clear of the dust of the column, Colonel Carlton stopped and waited for the others to join him. “Lady Serena, I insist you billet with my family for the evening. There are extra cots for you to use during your stay. I am sure the general will agree with me on the matter. My lady wife will ring a peal over me should I not see to this. Don’t tell the general but I fear her more than him.”
Serena bit back a chuckle and nodded in agreement. “Thank you for the invitation. I will try to not be a bother.”
“Lord Weatherington, you and I will stay with my officers. There is always an empty cot with patrols coming and going. It will not be a problem to find a bed. After your journey, I’m certain you will appreciate a cot over the hard ground.”
Richard r
ode with Serena behind Howard Carlton into the trees toward a city of white tents. Arabella and her father spoke in hushed tones. Richard couldn’t make out what was being said. Bella would just look around her father’s body at Serena and with a sigh turn back around to resume her conversation. The child was indeed an adult in a diminutive body.
They would have to talk to the child and everyone they encountered including his best friend who would not take their current situation well. His aches and pains would make him an easy target for Thorne to kill. He didn’t have strength left to deal with his friend’s fists. Maybe Wellington would protect him but eventually he’d come across Thorne without anyone to protect him.
The colonel came to a halt. He turned to say something but never uttered a word as a scream echoed through the encampment. Every head swung toward the sound. A woman who could only be Bella’s mother ran toward them with her skirts hiked up above her knees. She did not stop until she barreled into the side of her husband's horse and reached for her little girl.
The heretofore self-possessed Arabella fell into her mama's arms crying. It was apparent that the child’s talkativeness came from her mother. The pair of them cried and consoled each other. The colonel’s wife talking just as rapidly as her little girl.
Richard spared a glance in Serena’s direction to find her watching the reunion with what he thought was wistfulness. An interesting reaction that.
Mrs. Carlton leaned away from Arabella and looked at them with gratitude in her eyes. “I am assuming you are the ones I must thank for rescuing my baby. Once I hear the whole story of what happened, I know I will be reduced to hysterics. Right now, I want to savor her return. I will always be in your debt.”