Lady Emma's Campaign (14 page)

He crept closer, all signs of his offensive flirtation replaced by paleness and wide eyes.

They watched as the four soldiers followed the road. They did not appear to have seen the group upon the bluff.

Emma’s hands trembled as she reached for the musket. She crouched, preparing to run to the trees, and whispered to Serena and Enrique, “Wait here. I will fetch the others.”

Sidney reflexively clenched his muscles
when he felt someone shake his shoulder. He was instantly awake, pushing past the flare of terror before remembering that he was no longer a prisoner. Something was tickling his cheek, and upon opening his eyes, he found Emma crouched over him. Her hair was beginning to fall from its pins, and strands brushed against his face.
Not the most unpleasant way to awaken
, he thought.

“French soldiers,” she whispered.

Sidney’s heart slammed against his ribs. He sat up quickly, reaching for the musket that Emma placed into his hands. She pointed, and he saw Serena and Enrique crouched behind a clump of bushes.

“Wake Jim,” Sidney said, and Emma nodded. Staying low, he crept toward the others, praying that they weren’t about to be discovered. He pressed behind the bushes. From there he could clearly see the group of soldiers moving along a road a few hundred meters away.

Jim and Emma joined them.

“What do you make of this, Colonel?” Sidney asked in a low voice.

“I don’t like it. It’s unusual to see such a small band. And this close to the hills? They could be scouts.”

“Or deserters,” Sidney said.

Jim chewed on his lip, watching the French soldiers with his a crease in his brow. “Either way, we’ll not want to be seen. And if a larger army is following behind, we’re in for trouble.”

Sidney felt as though his insides were tying themselves into knots. How would he defend this band against an army? Their best course of action was to remain out of sight.

They all remained crouched behind the bushes as the soldiers passed below them at the base of the bluff and continued along the road. If Sidney were to guess, he would not have thought them on duty. They talked and laughed and didn’t seem to pay attention to their surroundings at all. He even thought they might be drunk. But there was no telling with the way the French army trained their troops.

When the soldiers were out of sight, Jim spoke again. “One of us should keep watch at all times. If a larger body is to follow, they will use the same road.” He pointed to a group of boulders and trees. “There is the best location for our sentry. Clear view and easily concealed. We’ll have plenty of warning against a surprise attack.”

Jim studied the view and the bluff for a moment. “Captain, if I might have a word?” Jim tipped his head, indicating for Sidney to accompany him a short way off. Sidney did not take offense to this. Technically, the two of them were equal in rank; however, the colonel was the more experienced in military tactics upon land, and Sidney was grateful for the man’s insight.

Once they were out of hearing from the rest of the party, Jim said, “We’ve about three hours until nightfall. We’ll need a more secure location to bivouac tonight. I am of the mind that you are the most equipped to reconnoiter and find a new site.”

“I am inclined to agree with you.” Sidney felt a measure of relief to be actually doing something. Watching the progress of the soldiers and worrying that they were merely the precursor to a larger party had him feeling anxious to secure the group somewhere safe.

Jim chewed on his lip for a moment, a sign, Sidney was learning, that meant the colonel was deep in thought. “I think Lady Emma should join you.”

Sidney could not have been more surprised by the colonel’s suggestion. “I hardly think Lady Emma is . . . physically equipped to . . .”

Jim held up his hand, stopping Sidney’s words. “It is true. She is obviously the least prepared for a mission such as this. But I have given it some thought.” He raked his fingers through his graying hair. “It is no secret that my injury is not healing. I can feel the infection spreading, and at this very moment, it is taking all my strength to prevent myself from falling to the ground.” Sidney reached for the colonel’s arm, but the man batted his hand away impatiently.

“I would do little good if I were to assist you. The most likely choice is that Spaniard, but I don’t trust him or believe his story. I’d rather keep him away from Lady Emma if at all possible. He seems to watch her more closely than the rest of us. Perhaps because she is the weakest of the party. Or he may have a partiality for fair-haired ladies. Whatever the reason for his attentions, I do not know if I could protect her while you are gone.”

Sidney nodded. Everything Jim said made sense. He’d noticed Enrique’s interest in Emma, and his chest tightened at the thought of her being left defenseless anywhere near that man. “Do you think Serena is in danger as well?”

“Possibly, but I believe she would make it very difficult for him if he were to attempt anything improper. The fact is I am sworn to protect Señorita Alvarez. And I will do so until my dying breath—which likely will come sooner than later. But he could use one of the women against the other. I do not believe I am strong enough to defend both of them.”

Sidney could tell this confession was difficult for the colonel. The man had undoubtedly been in a serious amount of pain the entire journey, and this was the first sign of weakness he had shown.

“And that little British gal might surprise you. She’s much braver and quite a bit more resourceful than meets the eye. And I think she would be useful should you meet up with any irregulars. A woman will gain their trust more readily than a single soldier exploring the countryside.”

Sidney could think of no argument, other than the potential damage to Emma’s reputation by being alone with him. But a quick evaluation of their circumstances rendered that a paltry thought to say the least. London’s rules of decorum were of no consequence when lives were in peril.

Jim had thought through the situation, and it seemed as if he had considered all angles. Sidney did not want to take Emma scouting through the rugged terrain, but what was the alternative? The mere thought of Enrique laying a hand on her sent a surge of rage through Sidney and made him want to pound the Spaniard’s smirking face—again. And Emma had not complained once. He had seen her push herself to the point of exhaustion without faltering. Once she set her mind, she followed through. Sidney realized he could hardly think of a better man for the job. The thought made him smile.

Jim swayed a bit before he seemed to get control over himself. He turned to the others, speaking loudly. “Señor Trevino, take the first watch.” He pointed toward the group of rocks he’d identified earlier. “We can forget about catching rabbits as we’ll not be lighting a fire tonight.”

Enrique scowled. Whether he was disappointed by the change of menu or the fact that he would be acting as sentry for a few hours, Sidney did not know or care in the least.

“And Lady Emma, you will accompany me?” Sidney said.

Emma blinked and hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowed. “Of course.” She glanced to where Enrique was watching her and squared her shoulders. Her face took on a look of determination that Sidney was beginning to find utterly adorable.

Once Jim was settled again in the shade with Serena next to him and a cool cloth over his forehead, Sidney took one more look around the hills. He thought their most promising path would be away from the road, so he led Emma down the slope on the far side, following the stream.

The hill was rocky, and they both slipped on the loose stones, but neither fell. Sidney worried that he was moving too quickly, but Emma managed to keep pace with him.

They walked through a large meadow that was covered by sunflowers. The expression on Emma’s face showed him that she was completely enraptured by their surroundings. He studied her from the corner of his eye and wondered how it was possible that such a woman as Emma was unattached. She was clever and pleasant—lovely, certainly. In Sidney’s opinion, she was everything a man could want in a wife. It simply did not stand to reason that she had not been spoken for. The only explanations he could find were either William had chased away suitors with his sharp tongue—and where his sister was concerned, possibly his sharp sword—or, more likely, Emma had simply not accepted any offers.

Emma turned to him, smiling, and a warmth covered Sidney’s heart. Despite their situation, it was very enjoyable to have her with him. If the circumstances were different, this would be a perfect country stroll. The setting was picturesque, the company amiable. But it was impossible to forget the threat looming over them.

“What exactly are we looking for?” Emma asked, shaking him from his thoughts.

“Primarily, shelter. It will rain during the night.”

Emma looked at the sky and then at Sidney. “You are like William. He can predict a storm when there is not one cloud to be seen.”

“It must be an old sailor trick.”

“You are not an
old
sailor.”

“But I will be someday, I fear.”

Emma pursed her lips, and Sidney wondered what about his answer had bothered her.

Within a short time, the small mountain stream they had been following had grown much wider as a result of melting snow higher in the mountains. Sidney realized that following the stream would only continue to lead them down into the valleys. He spotted a fallen tree spanning the water like a bridge and decided it was the best place to cross. He pointed it out to Emma, and with sure feet accustomed to running across sail yards, he led the way. Upon reaching the other side, he turned back to help Emma.

She walked unsteadily in the oversized boots, and when she was nearly halfway across, she grabbed a branch that protruded from the side of the tree.

Sidney stepped up onto the trunk again, reaching out his hand, and she clung to it, nearly falling into him when she stepped down.

Emma let out a breath of relief, and Sidney realized she had been more nervous than she had let on. He brushed a strand of her light hair off her forehead, tucking it behind her ear. Her skin was impossibly soft, her hair like silk. And how had he never noticed that her eyes were the precise color of the sky over the sea in the moments before the sunrise?

What the devil has come over me?
He shook his head, turned, and continued to follow the stream.

Emma walked alongside, her hands clasped behind her back.

Sidney cleared his throat. “Aside from shelter, we will want a position where we can remain concealed, as that will be our only form of defense should an enemy approach.”

Emma glanced up at him for a moment before she must have realized that he was continuing their former conversation. “What is your opinion about the soldiers we saw? Were they scouts or deserters?”

“There is no way of knowing. This sort of thing is Jim’s area of expertise, not mine.”

“But they made the colonel quite uneasy.”

Sidney nodded.

The two of them climbed the hillside silently.

Emma’s breathing became heavier, but she didn’t fall behind.

Near the top, they found themselves on a ledge covered with large stones. The ground between the stones was flat, and there were rocky overhangs protruding from the steep hillside that could provide a small degree of protection from the rain.

Sidney studied the area. They had walked for more than an hour, and he was convinced they were far enough from the road that the group would have a good chance of remaining concealed. There was even a space nestled among the large slabs where they might dare to light a fire.

He heard Emma calling to him and followed the sound of her voice. When he found her, she was crouched over, peering into a cavity in the hillside.

“I believe I have found the perfect spot,” she said.

Before he could stop her, she took a few hunched steps into the small cave.

“It is quite large enough in here for our entire party, though I do wish we had a lantern.” Her voice sounded a bit distorted as it echoed. “Come, see for yourself. You may have to turn to the side. Your shoulders are much broader than mine.”

Sidney stopped at the entrance to the cave. His heart beat erratically, and sweat broke out over his body. He crouched down and peered inside. The smell of rock and stale water hit him, and he began to shake. Memories of his time in le creux crashed over him. He squeezed his eyes closed, his chest contracted, and he could not draw a breath. Sitting heavily on the ground, he pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes. The terror he felt was overwhelming and was only heightened by the fear that he was going mad.

“Sidney,” Emma’s voice sounded as if it came from a great distance. He felt her hands upon his wrists. “Sidney, you must breathe.”

Emma pulled his hands from his eyes and placed her palms upon his cheeks. Her face gave him something to focus on instead of his terror. She shifted closer, kneeling upon the ground directly in front of him. “Breathe, in and out. It is all right.”

Listening to the soothing sound of her voice, Sidney was able to calm his breathing and heartbeat. He allowed her nearness, the softness of her hands upon his cheeks, to comfort him, and finally, the episode began to ebb.

Sidney drew a ragged breath. “I am sorry, Emma.” He realized that his hands were clasping her shoulders; he did not remember putting them there. He slid them down her sleeves to hold her hands, lowering them, but not releasing them. He continued to shake. “I am sorry you had to see me like this.” He did not want to raise his eyes and see the look of disgust or, worse, pity that was sure to be upon her face. “It is the cave. During my incarceration, I developed an unnatural fear of tight places. It is ridiculous, I know.”

Emma remained silent; he held on to her hands as if they were the only thing keeping him from falling back into the darkness that had overcome his mind. Perhaps they were.

“This is not the first time an attack has seized me,” he continued, feeling the need to explain himself, to apologize. “I’m afraid I was quite unprepared for it.”
What must she think?
He was her protector. The person responsible for keeping her safe from danger, both of man and beast that lurked in war-ravaged Spain. “I am sorry I caused you distress.”

“Is that why you will not look at me?” Emma said. “Did you assume I would think less of you for such a thing?”