THE BETTER PART OF VALOR. Morgan Mackinnon

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      The Master of Illusion lamented he had no lady companion at present but was looking to correct that situation once the games room was opened. It was well-known among the single gentlemen on board that the games room, ostensibly designed for men to drink, smoke, and play cards, welcomed the company of a small cadre of ladies who entertained, sang, danced, offered companionship…all on the up and up, you know (wink wink). These ladies were rarely seen up on decks during the day. Cresta thought the scoundrel was most likely a card shark and probably adept at relieving gentlemen of their wallets without their knowledge.

      As everyone smiled and nodded and gentlemen resettled, Cresta and Myles seated, the waiter hurried over with a tray of filled champagne flutes for the ladies and glasses of whiskey for the gentlemen. The Master of Illusion offered the first toast to the Captain; there would be many more as the evening progressed.

      After initial toasts to the captain’s health and safe passage, Keogh turned to the man seated next to him, Second Lieutenant Gaylen Jefferson.

      “Did I hear correctly that you are attached to the one hundred fifty-fourth Infantry out of New York? Were you at Gettysburg, sir?”

      When Jefferson confirmed the fact, Myles grinned and slapped him on the back.

      “Were you with the unit trapped in the brickyard by the Rebs?”

      Jefferson turned excitedly. “I was! That was old John Kuhn’s brickyard. Those Rebs had us pinned down in there. I heard the mortality rate in our unit was over seventy percent.”

      “I was on General John Buford’s staff!”

      “So you were the boys in the Cavalry who held the line against the Rebs and gave us time to fall back! You covered us all the way to Seminary Ridge!”

      The two soldiers proceeded to forget anyone else was on the ship, let alone at the table. Keogh and Jefferson told a story about how General Buford knew the Confederates managed to get north of Gettysburg and that it wouldn’t long until a battle was joined. Not just Confederates but General Lee and the entire Army of Northern Virginia. Buford knew higher ground was easier to defend, so he ordered his cavalry to hold the Rebs back in hopes reinforcements in the way of Generals Howard and Reynolds’ First Corps would arrive in time. The order was to cover any Union men and make an orderly fall back to Seminary Ridge where they would have a chance. Once on the ridge, Rebs were coming at them from everywhere, but the Yanks dug in. During the night, the Cavalry dismounted and fought side by side with the Infantry all night long, the fighting so intense it was hand-to-hand. On the morning of July 1, Howard and Reynolds did arrive, and Buford was able to take his exhausted, hungry cavalrymen on to Taneytown for some rest.

      “You were out of the thick of it after that? Well sir, I cannot tell you how grateful those of us who survived were to see you horse-boys. You did a remarkable job under difficult circumstances.”

      Keogh raised his glass. “To those we have lost. May they be remembered.”

      Missus MacRae giggled. “All this talk of battles and charges! My goodness, it’s so exciting! I think military men are so gallant and heroic.” Realizing what she’d said, the woman simpered at her escort and corrected, “Next to handsome lawyers, that is!” O’drette did not smile. Replete with whiskey, the lawyer leaned back in his chair and fixed Keogh with a gaze.

      “Cavalry officers. Heroic, honorable, noble. Isn’t that right, Lieutenant Colonel?”

      Suddenly on edge and alert, Keogh raised his glass of whiskey. “That is what I understand, Mister O’drette.”

      “Strange.” O’drette looked around the table. “Strange that such an honorable, upright-ranking senior office would risk the reputation of an…innocent young widow.”

      Cresta was suddenly drawn into the conversation and wished very much she were someplace else. As it was, she put a discreet hand on Keogh’s arm and squeezed, warning him to behave. Too late. The Lieutenant Colonel tensed, put down his glass, and demanded O’drette make himself plain.

      “All right. I’m surprised you wish your…companion to remain. I believe the other night I saw you, Lieutenant Colonel, making for your own cabin after leaving a certain Apartment A-14 with your boots and uniform jacket in hand. Sir, I believe it was around daybreak?”

      As Keogh stood, so did Cresta. She intentionally put just an extra hint of Southern into her voice.

      “Now, gentlemen, let us not come to the wrong conclusions, shall we? Please sit down? Why, thank you, Myles. Thank you, Mister O’drette. This is such a silly misunderstanding. You see, that was the night of the really horrid storm. I would appreciate it, Captain Haynes, if you would take care to avoid any more of the same!”

      There was some laughter around the table, so Cresta charged on. “All you saw, Mister O’drette, were the remains of a very seasick officer who did not manage his roast beef and whiskey at all well, considering the heaving of the ship at that point. My apartment was closest, so I insisted he come inside, where I gave him a dose of phosphorus drops in water to calm his stomach. I am not a nurse, sir, and I fear I gave him too much. In fact, I thought for a moment I had killed him!”

      O’drette was listening, and again, a small trill of laughter went around the table. This woman seemed innocent enough, even though she was a widow, and he wouldn’t blame the Lieutenant Colonel if he had taken advantage of the situation and topped the lady. He would listen to the rest of her story. So far, she sounded credible.

      “And that’s all. Myles was out for hours on the floor, and I spent the night sitting on my drawing room sofa!”

      Missus MacRae folded her hands together and gave Cresta an I know what you’re pulling here stare, asking about the jacket and boots.

      “Is it normal for the Lieutenant Colonel to carry his boots and jacket to his cabin after being seasick?” She looked innocuous as she spoke, but her eyes were shrewd.

      Cresta understood the look very well and didn’t back off. “Why, my goodness! I don’t think he would have wanted to wear that old jacket and those boots in public. That is where the roast beef dinner and the whiskey landed!”

      This time, real laughter, and O’drette nodded toward Cresta.

      “Madam, please do forgive my tasteless and inappropriate question. I believe you have set me straight, and I do sincerely apologize to all at the table for my behavior. Lieutenant Colonel? Will you accept my hand, sir?”

      Keogh took his hand but leaned forward. “If you ever try to embarrass my companion or myself again, sir, you will feel the edge of my blade. Do you understand me, sir?”

      Missus MacRae tittered again and began chatting with Cordelia Jefferson and where ever did she get that adorable reticule?

      Cresta passed a shaky hand over her forehead. That was close. She needed to remember the legendary Irish temper of the man sitting next to her. She didn’t know what else she could have done given the situation at the time but was saved from thinking too much about it when the waiters came and presented menus.

      Menu

      Hors d’oeuvre varies

Consommé onion
Boiled haddock with lemon sauce
Entrees
Pork cutlets	Peas
Ragout of chicken supreme
Sirloin Steak	Crème СКАЧАТЬ В начало < 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 > В конец