To Taste Temptation (Legend of the Four Soldiers #1)(11)
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

“No, not all.” He crossed his legs again. “Most wear the same shoes or boots as gentlemen wear here.”

“Then why do you choose to sport such strange footwear?” She was aware that her voice was sharp, but somehow his insistence on unconventional clothing was unbearably irritating to her. Why did he do it? If he wore buckle shoes and stockings like every other gentleman in London, no one would notice him. With his wealth, he could perhaps become an English gentleman and be accepted into the ton. He’d be respectable.

Mr. Hartley shrugged, patently unaware of her inner turmoil. “Hunters wear them in the woods of America. They’re very comfortable and much more useful than English shoes. The leggings protect against thorns and branches. I’m accustomed to them.”

He looked at her, and in his eyes she somehow saw that he was aware that she wished he was conventional and more like the usual English gentleman. He understood and it made him sad. She stared into his warm, brown eyes, not knowing what to do. There was something there, something they communicated between them, and she didn’t quite understand the subtleties.

Then a male voice spoke from behind her. “Corporal Hartley! What are you doing in London?”

SAM TENSED. THE man hailing him was slender and of average height, perhaps a little below. He wore a dark green coat and brown waistcoat, perfectly respectable and ordinary. In fact, he would’ve looked like a thousand other London gentlemen if it weren’t for his hair. It was a bright, orangey-red and clubbed back. Sam tried to place the stranger and couldn’t. There’d been several redheaded men in the regiment.

The man grinned and stuck out his hand. “Thornton. Dick Thornton. I haven’t seen you in, what? Six years at least. What’re you doing in London?”

Sam took the proffered hand and shook it. Of course. He could place the other man now. Thornton had been one of the 28th. “I’m here on business, Mr. Thornton.”

“Indeed? London is a long way for a backwoods tracker from the Colonies.” Thornton smiled as if to take the insult from his words.

Sam shrugged easily. “My uncle died in sixty. I mustered out of the army and took over his import business in Boston.”

“Ah.” Thornton rocked back on his heels and glanced inquiringly at Lady Emeline.

Sam felt an odd reluctance to make the introduction, but he shook it off. “My lady, may I present Mr. Richard Thornton, an old comrade of mine. Thornton, this is Lady Emeline Gordon, Captain St. Aubyn’s sister. Also, this is my sister, Rebecca Hartley, and Lady Emeline’s aunt, Mademoiselle Molyneux.”

Thornton bowed showily. “Ladies.”

Lady Emeline held out her hand. “How do you do, Mr. Thornton?”

The other man’s expression sobered as he bent over Lady Emeline’s hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, my lady. May I say that we were all grieved when we heard of your brother’s death.”

No distress showed on Lady Emeline’s face, but Sam felt her stiffen, even though several feet separated them. He could not explain how this was possible, but it was as if there was a change in the very air between them.

“Thank you,” she said. “You knew Reynaud?”

“Of course. We all knew and liked Captain St. Aubyn.” He turned to Sam as if for confirmation. “A gallant gentleman and a great leader of men, wasn’t he, Hartley? Always ready with a kind word, always encouraging us as we marched through those hellish woods. And at the last, when the savages attacked, ma’am, it would’ve done your heart proud to see the way he stood his ground. Some were fearful. Some thought to break ranks and run—” Thornton suddenly stopped and coughed, looking guiltily at Sam.

Sam stared back stonily. Many had thought he had run at Spinner’s Falls. Sam hadn’t bothered explaining himself then, and he wasn’t about to start doing so now. He knew that Lady Emeline was looking at him, but he refused to meet her eyes. Let her damn him like the rest, if that was what she wanted.

“Your memories of my nephew are very welcome, Mr. Thornton,” Mademoiselle Molyneux said, breaking into the awkward silence.

“Well.” Thornton straightened his waistcoat. “It was a long time ago, now. Captain St. Aubyn died a hero’s death. That’s what you should remember.”

“Do you know of any other veterans of the 28th here in London?” Sam asked the other man softly.

Thornton blew out a breath as he thought. “Not many, not many. Of course, there were few survivors to begin with. There’s Lieutenant Horn and Captain Renshaw—Lord Vale, he is now—but I hardly move in the same exalted circles as they.” He smiled at Lady Emeline as if to acknowledge her rank. “There’s Wimbley and Ford, and Sergeant Allen, poor blighter. Terrible what he’s become. Never recovered from losing that leg.”

Sam’d already questioned Wimbley and Ford. Sergeant Allen was harder to track. He mentally moved his name to the top of the list of people he needed to speak to.

“What about your comrades from the regiment?” he asked. “I remember that there were five or six of you who used to share the same fire at night. You seemed to have a leader, another redheaded man, Private…”

“MacDonald. Andy MacDonald. Yes, people used to have trouble telling us apart. The hair, you know. Funny, it’s the only thing some people remember about me.” Thornton shook his head. “Poor MacDonald took a ball to the head at Spinner’s Falls. Fell right beside me, he did.”

Sam kept his gaze steady but could feel a drop of sweat slide down his backbone. He didn’t like thinking of that day, and the crowded London street had already made him uneasy. “And the others?”

“Dead, all dead, I think. Most fell at Spinner’s Falls, although Ridley survived for a few months after—before the gangrene finally took him.” He grinned ruefully and winked.

Sam frowned. “Do you—”

“Mr. Hartley, I believe we still have the shoemaker’s to visit,” Mademoiselle Molyneux cut in.

Sam broke eye contact with Thornton to look at the ladies. Rebecca was watching him with confusion in her eyes, Lady Emeline’s face was blank, and the old lady merely appeared impatient. “My apologies, ladies. I didn’t mean to bore you with the reminisces of long-ago events.”

“I apologize as well.” Thornton made another beautiful bow. “It was most pleasant meeting you—”

“Might I have your address?” Sam asked hastily. “I’d like to talk to you again. Few remember the events of that day.”