Jack Steel Adventure Series Books 1-3: Man of Honour, Rules of War, Brothers in Arms. Iain Gale

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СКАЧАТЬ bound for the dubious comfort of their field bivouac. As the last few made their way towards the door, one with the words of a song on his lips and the rest with muttered thanks to their officer, Steel called to Slaughter.

      ‘Sarn’t. Will you be so kind as to help Mister Williams to his quarters. Place him close by me. Not so close though that should he awake in the night he might make the mistake of taking my kit for a latrine.’

      Slaughter laughed.

      ‘I thought he looked a bit groggy, Sir. Unused to the wine, I suppose, and there’s hardly anything to him. I’ll see to him, Mister Steel. You take your time.’

      Slaughter had watched his officer all evening and had seen how he gazed at Louisa. He had known Steel long enough to understand what that look meant. Well, perhaps there would be time for love, if that was what he wanted. He recalled one drunken, desperate night in Flanders, after a day on which they had seen too many good men die, when Steel had told Slaughter about a girl called Arabella. About regrets and missed opportunities and what he had hoped life might hold for him. The following day of course, nothing more had been said. But the Sergeant had not forgotten his officer’s confidences. Maybe this girl would follow them now. Perhaps she would be the one to offer Steel the life he craved. Cradling Tom Williams’ comatose form in his great arms, Slaughter stepped from the inn and Steel found himself alone. He walked across to the door of the Webers’ private quarters and gave a gentle cough. Louisa turned and saw him.

      ‘I suppose that I should move Herr Kretzmer.’

      Steel nodded in the direction of the Bavarian, who, having purchased a bottle of fine French brandy from Louisa, had crept away from the soldiers to occupy the chair lately vacated by her ailing father and proceeded to drink the contents. Louisa did not mind. Herr Kretzmer came from a different world to the Grenadiers and he did not mix easily. She was happy to indulge her countryman. Together, she and Steel gazed on his sleeping form.

      ‘Leave him if you wish, Lieutenant. I will put a blanket over him and if he wakes up he will know which room to go to. Don’t worry. He’s as harmless as a puppy.’

      Steel laughed.

      ‘Thank you, Miss Weber, for all your hospitality. May I settle our account in the morning? We rise early.’

      ‘As I do, Lieutenant. And please, call me Louisa. You are most welcome. It really felt as if the town were still … alive. I …’

      She was suddenly lost for words. Instinctively Steel walked across to her. Gently placing an arm upon her shoulders, he looked into eyes which brimmed with tears.

      ‘Please. There is no need to worry. Tomorrow, you will come with us. Bring whatever is important to you but please, don’t worry. We will take care of you now. There is nothing more to fear. This is not an end, but a new beginning.’

      She nodded, smiled, and for a moment Steel thought that he could detect in her eyes a spark of something more. Now though, he sensed, was not the moment. Steel withdrew his arm from her shoulder.

      ‘Now, you must get some sleep. Tomorrow we march north. And you start a new life.’

      Jennings was looking for drink. Following Kretzmer’s departure, he had spent the best part of an hour in the church, deep in thought, if not in prayer. Then, feeling the pangs of hunger, he had sent Stringer into the inn to sniff him out what wine and food he could. He had chosen to eat his sparse supper alone, in the candle-lit gloom of the church, while his Sergeant sat outside on the steps. Now though, the man had reported that the Grenadiers, Mister Steel included, had retired for the night to their bivouac. Now at last, thought Jennings, he could enjoy the comforts for which he had paid. A real bed with clean sheets and perhaps before that a little more sustenance. And then, of course, there was the girl.

      Leaving the church he walked quietly into the street. Stringer was waiting outside, leaning against a wall of the basilica. Seeing Jennings he straightened up. Now, in the moonlight, the town presented a truly eerie prospect. The night was chill and even Jennings felt a sense of unnatural unease. He walked over to the Sergeant.

      ‘I want no one admitted to the inn on any account. No one. D’you take my meaning, Sarn’t?’

      ‘Sir. Yes, Sir.’

      Quickly now, Jennings moved to the inn and eased the latch of the door. It was unlocked. Inside, the room stood empty and dark. All the candles but one had been extinguished and the tables cleared. A light from the door at the rear betrayed the fact that the house had not quite gone to bed. Doubtless there he would find his brandy. And the possibility of other pleasures.

      He walked softly across the wooden boards, holding his sword close to his side and pushed open the door.

      ‘Miss Weber. How charming.’

      Louisa gave a start and turned abruptly.

      ‘Oh. Major Jennings. You gave me a fright. I am sorry. I was dreaming.’

      ‘Of course. So like a woman. I was wondering if you might have a glass of cognac? Or indeed any fortified wine? I have had a busy night. Writing reports and so on. It would settle my nerves. No time for those in command to indulge themselves with the men.’

      Louisa flashed him a sympathetic smile.

      ‘Yes, Major. Of course. I think that we have some good French brandy. Allow me to get it for you.’

      Moving further into the room, Jennings noticed Kretzmer asleep in the chair and instantly saw his opportunity. How very obliging, he thought, of the fat Bavarian.

      Louisa had turned her back to him now and was stretching up to the high store cupboard where they kept the good stuff. After all the Major would pay. She sensed that he was suddenly closer and felt his breath on her neck as he spoke:

      ‘You will recall, my dear, our conversation earlier. Our bargain. Your safe conduct to the English army. We agreed on a sum, did we not?’

      Louisa turned to face him and found it difficult to avoid contact. She held the bottle between them.

      ‘Your brandy, Major.’

      Jennings backed off a short way.

      ‘You do recall though, Miss Weber … Louisa. The sum of which we spoke?’

      She nodded. ‘Yes, Major. But since then, things have changed. Lieutenant Steel has promised to take me to your army. He says that it will not cost me anything. That he will protect me.’

      It was the worst thing that she could have said, and it sealed her fate.

      ‘Mister Steel told you that, did he? Let me remind you, Miss Weber, that we struck a bargain and by my code of conduct, a bargain once made, cannot be undone. So, Miss. Unless you want us to leave you here to the tender mercies of the French, you’ll pay up.’

      He paused and smiled at her.

      ‘Although, there is of course, another way. A way which would both save your hard-earned money and provide us both with a pleasurable diversion.’

      Louisa blanched and looked at Jennings. Could he mean it? Was he really asking her to sell herself to him in exchange for their passage north?

      ‘Major. You cannot mean what I suppose you СКАЧАТЬ