War of Hearts, A Historical Romance (10 page)

“Yes ma’am, I cleaned it. You will find it
folded up in the trunk at the foot of your bed. You are welcome to
wear anything in the trunk as well. Mrs. Radcliff will be away
until the war is over.”

“I’m surprised Tristan did not join
them.”

“He doesn’t fancy London much. And it would
kill him to miss out on all of this excitement.”

Excitement is not a word she would use to
describe warfare. Sarah nodded her thanks and she finished her
biscuit, heading out to the stables to check on Molly.

***

Molly’s ears perked up as Sarah approached
the corral. She was nibbling at the tender spring grass peeking out
of the ground. Sarah leaned against the railing and spoke to the
mare.

“Hey girl, you wanna go for a ride?” She was
rewarded by a soft neigh. Sarah slipped through the wooden fence
and grabbed her lead rope. The mare followed dutifully and stood
stock still while being saddled.

She followed the route back to the bay. It
felt wonderful to be on her own. She wanted to find out more about
the hulk and didn’t need anyone asking questions. Passing the park,
she was thankful they had finally removed the corpse. Hopefully
they weren’t making room for a new one.

Molly seemed more spry than usual and she
made good time. As the prison ship came into view she halted and
decided to walk the mare. Keeping the mare between her and the
water she was hopefully able to hide her interest. She came upon a
pier she had not noticed the day before; it would offer her a
better vantage point.

Tying Molly to a railing, she nonchalantly
made her way across the wooden deck. The sky was clouding up, as
was the wind. The water beneath her was churning white. She
hesitated, wondering if she should head back or not when she caught
sight of a loan figure at the end.

He was silhouetted against the gray sky and
something about him seemed familiar. Squaring her shoulders she
pressed on. Recognition sank in when she viewed his profile and
called to him.

“Gabriel?”

He turned a look of surprise crossing his
face. “Sarah? What are you doing here?”

“I would ask you the same.”

Gabriel shrugged. “Needed to stretch my
legs.”

Sarah stared at him intently; she noticed
how he looked away as he answered. “What do you know of the prison
ship?”

He frowned and his face darkened. “I’m not
sure what you mean.”

“Yesterday when I was asking about it, you
seemed pensive. It just seemed out of character for you.”

“If you must know, my brother, Jonathan, is
on board.” He whispered even though they were utterly alone.

“He is a guard?” she pushed.

“No, he was taken prisoner while I was on a
run to London. I told him to keep his nose clean. Youngsters,” he
said, shaking his head sadly.

“Surely Tristan will vouch for him, and earn
his release?”

Gabriel shook his head, “There is no
negotiating with the British.”

“What if I could help you? What if we could
help each other?”

“I don’t understand. Why do you need
help?”

Sarah smiled sadly. “I need to fulfill a
pledge.”

“Well, that is kind of vague.”

“Really? How about this, I plan on freeing
the men on the ship.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened, and he grabbed her
by the throat. “What kind of trickery is this? Are you a spy for
the British? Are you trying to get me tried for treason as
well?”

“No, for the Rebels,” she whispered
hoarsely. He released her in shock and she gulped for air.

“Prove it.”

Standing tall Sarah looked him in the eyes.
“Robert Radcliff has a scar on his left arm. He received it when he
was tangled up in ropes on the ship. You cut him loose but nicked
him in the process. You saved his life, or at least his arm. It was
then he decided to become a surgeon. To help people.”

“Robert is alive?”

Sarah sighed. “As of a week ago, yes.”

“And you were sent to help free the
prisoners?”

“Well, no, it is a personal quest of mine.
However I cannot think of a nobler cause. Can you?”

Gabriel smiled genuinely. “Surely you are
mad, but your spirit is catching. I vow to do whatever is in my
power to gain freedom for the damned.”

“A ship would help,” Sarah said, her heart
throbbing with hope. She was sent a champion to her cause. Although
it was a risk to reveal herself, it was worth it to gain an
ally.

“Does Tristan know?” Gabriel asked
hesitantly.

“No, I’m not sure where his loyalties lie.
It will have to just be us for now.”

“We need a plan,” Gabriel replied, “and it
had better be a damn good one.”

***

The sky opened up as Sarah headed back to
the Radcliff’s. The cold rain matched the chill in her heart. Had
she done the right thing confessing to Gabriel? Only time will
tell.

Gabriel would gain information on the guard
schedule, and it was her job to persuade Tristan to help. She was
doubtful of the request, but Gabriel assured her he could be
convinced.

He knew Tristan better than anyone, and it
was Robert who requested she go to him if she needed help.

Of course Robert would consider this a
fool’s mission. But isn’t that what is thought of the whole affair?
That a handful of farmers stood not a chance against the Crown’s
army? Yet, they still fight on, and so shall she.

Determination built in her chest as she
nudged Molly a bit faster. She thankfully passed off her reigns to
the young boy working the stables while she scurried to the house.
Cecilia met her with a towel and ordered her upstairs to
change.

She took the servants’ stairs and was
breathless when she reached the top. Stepping on the landing she
ran full force into Tristan. He grabbed her arms to keep her from
toppling backwards.

“Whoa! Where have you been? You are soaked
to the skin.”

“Yes, that happens when it rains,” she spat
out before remembering she wanted him on her side.

His rich chuckle reverberated against her
chest and she realized he was still holding her. They were so close
that when she looked up their mouths were only inches apart. She
felt his warm breath on her face an instant before his lips dipped
down and captured hers.

Surprised, she hesitated a second before
kissing him back. His kiss was hot and seemed to melt her to the
core. She found herself clutching to his shoulders for support as
her world spun.

She hadn’t kissed many men in her lifetime,
and the fact that one of them was his brother Robert was awkward to
say the least. Reluctantly she had to pull away to catch her
breath. He took full advantage, his mouth traveling down her
neck.

The dinner bell clanged from below, breaking
the spell. “I need to change,” she explained, hastily turning and
scurrying to her room. She shut the door and leaned against it for
support. This was not the meeting she had expected to have with
Tristan, however it may work to her advantage.

She quickly stripped off the wet clothing
and dried her body first, and then her hair. Needing comfort, she
opened the trunk and pulled out her dress. The one her mother sewed
for her. Clutching it to her chest, she prayed for guidance,
wisdom, and strength. She dressed and twisted the still damp hair
up into a bun.

There was a chill in the air so she grabbed
a shawl from the trunk, wrapped it around her shoulders, and headed
down to dinner. She greeted the men as she entered, and hungrily
dug into the hot soup.

“So glad you could make it!” the Colonel
exclaimed heartily. “You can share in the good news.”

Sarah forced a smile; she somehow doubted
that her idea of good news would match the Colonels.

“We are having a Ball. In a fortnight, this
house will be filled with the King’s elite. There will be dancing,
music, and the finest food and beverage in all of the
Colonies.”

“A Ball? I’m not sure a ball is appropriate
in these trying times,” Sarah replied, appalled.

“Nonsense! That is exactly why we need a
dance! To lift everyone’s spirits and to remind them what we are
fighting for.”

She glanced over at Tristan for help, but he
just shrugged. Anger filled her being. Men were being slaughtered,
on both sides, and here they were worried about a party.

“Of course, it is your home. However, please
do not look for me to attend. I still mourn for my family,” Sarah
replied, pushing back her chair and leaving the table. It would not
be the first meal she had missed, or her last.

Tears were stinging her eyes as she reached
her door. This was not how she had planned out her day. She should
have just agreed to the damn ball and been done with it. What
compelled her to voice her true thoughts she did not know.

She was turning out to be an awful spy,
after all a room full of drunken officials would be the perfect way
to gather news. Of course she had a different mission now. One she
had to fulfill for her own reasons.

Moving to the hearth, she knelt to build a
fire. She stacked in straw and twigs, then grasped the flint rocks
and began striking them together. The spark caught quickly and she
nursed the small flame into a larger one.

Fire starting had become one of her
specialties while in the army. She had mastered them in the worst
conditions. Silas had taught her well. Staring into the flame, she
could almost picture him. The orange flames mimicked his hair
perfectly.

She jumped at the knock on the door. Not
wanting to answer, she stayed silent. To her annoyance, a key
jangled in the lock and Tristan appeared with a tray laden with
food. Setting it on the bedside table, he received a glare for his
effort.

“Hungry?” he asked with an apologetic smile.
“If the ball is that upsetting to you…”

Sarah stood and walked over to him, her head
barely came to his shoulder. However, the strength in her stance
spoke volumes. “What is wrong with you?”

His smile faded. “I’m not sure I know what
you mean.”

Sarah hesitated; how much should she tell
him? How much could she tell him? Her decision made here not only
affected her life but possibly hundreds of others.

“You. You have no passion, you are like a
leaf floating along the stream, trying not to make waves.”

He laughed. “I have been called many things
in my life, but never a leaf. And as far as passion,” Sarah gasped
as he once again pulled her to his chest, “I have more passion,
than you can imagine.”

Their lips again met and Sarah cursed
herself for her weakness. She so wanted to give in, to escape the
pain of life for a while. His strong arms wrapped around her and
she allowed herself this brief respite.

Lifting up her arms, she wrapped them around
his neck and pulled him closer. A yearning developed deep inside
her; it felt so good to be held, to not have to be strong for once,
to just exist.

Her mind barely registered when his hands
moved to undo her dress. His mouth moved down her throat, to her
chest and left her trembling with need. The edge of the bedstead
hit the back of her knees and she toppled backward. She gasped in
surprise and his mouth once again covered hers, muffling her
concerns.

Her breathing quickened as his large frame
covered her. A chill seeped into the room from the window and for
the first time she realized she was laying bare. When had her gown
been tossed aside? Her mind was dull, her passion taking over. She
pulled at his clothing, wanting…no…needing to feel him against
her.

She was not ignorant to men’s needs. Being
surrounded by rough men taught her that. However, she was not
prepared when she felt his length against her thigh. Her eyes flew
open in a panic, her awareness returned. Just how far was she
willing to go to gain his allegiance? Or was this purely to sate
her own needs? To fill the emptiness inside of her?

Still unsure of the answer, she spread her
legs and welcomed him in. The deed was a bit more cumbersome than
she expected and she held her breath as he thrust deeply. She
winced from the burning sensation, a small price to pay for
freedom. She bit his shoulder to keep from crying out as her hands
instinctively clawed at his back.

One more lunge and he was fully encased
within her folds. She felt a heart pounding against her breasts and
was captivated that it was his. He was so strong, so commanding
that she felt miniscule beneath him as he continued his wondrous
onslaught.

He grunted, grinding his hips against her
pelvis. Shocks of electricity traveled through her and she shifted
her hips trying to reproduce the effect. Tristan chuckled in her
ear, kissing her neck before again finding her mouth.

His tongue darted out and teased into her
mouth, duplicating the action below. Sarah was lost in emotion. She
clung desperately to him, trusting him. She barely registered his
tempo increasing or his soft pants as he collapsed upon her.

He emitted a groan before rolling over and
covering his face with his arm while he caught his breath. With his
heat removed her nakedness was a stark reminder of her sin. Sarah
clutched the bedspread and wrapped it around herself to use as a
shield against the world.

She sat on the edge of the bed, trying to
collect her thoughts. She wasn’t sure what to say, she wasn’t even
sure she could speak. Unable to help herself, she broke into sobs.
What or whom she was crying for, she wasn’t sure. She was
overloaded with emotions and needed a release.

A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped.
She had almost forgotten Tristan. She reluctantly turned to look
into his concerned face.

“I’ve been with a lot of women, but you are
the first I have driven to tears. Are you alright?”