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.Excited by the prospect she quickened her pace.Then shepaused.What was she thinking? None of the French supplywagons were likely to be heading to the British camp.Nowwhat?Nearby, a bedraggled collection of donkeys and other workanimals milled about in a makeshift pen.A jumble of smalldrays stood beside the arena.Perhaps she could go it alone.Her back stiff with desperation and determination, shecircled around to the left.Nothing was going to keep her fromreaching Garrick.She'd walk to the British lines if necessary."Halt mademoiselle."She jumped in surprise as a perimeter guard stepped frombetween two tents to block her path."No one is allowed beyond this point," he said, in his nativelanguage.Frantically she worked to recall her rudimentary French."I'm a British nurse," she explained."Sister Clarisse sent meto observe your method of cataloging supplies." Did the liesound convincing?326 Lady Gallantby Gini RifkinHe studied her face and contemplated her figure.She smiled and tried to slow her rapid breathing."You may proceed then, but via the main entrance," heinstructed, and nodded over his shoulder."Merci," she said and moved to follow his directions.He snared her elbow as she passed.The pulse in her neck jumped as she stared up into hisface.It was all she could do not turn and run."I am free from duty at five o'clock," he said, with a grin.She smiled with relief and disengaged his hand from herarm."I only have time for wounded soldiers," she said, andstepped around him."For you, cherie, I would gladly shoot myself in the foot.""Please don't go to such trouble," she called over hershoulder."I'm not staying long."He gave her a good-natured laugh."I miss you already."Not looking back, she boldly picked her way over theuneven terrain.She was sure the sentry's gaze was stillfocused on her backside, and reaching the refuge of thesupply tent, she gratefully slipped inside.Three small lanterns with soot-coated mantles comprisedthe only source of light, and to her good fortune, the soldierswho unloaded the supplies were too preoccupied to takenotice of her.Keeping to the shadows, she ducked behind a toweringwall of barrels and crates.By sense of touch, she felt her way along the row ofprovisions.A splinter gouged her hand.Biting back a yelp ofpain, she gritted her teeth, yanked the wooden shard free,327 Lady Gallantby Gini Rifkinand raised her palm to her lips to suck away the blood.Thenat the sound of voices, she angled her head to one side andpeered through a gap between two barrels.Her minor injuryforgotten, Josie eavesdropped upon the men.Straining tohear, she mentally labored to convert the rapidly flowingforeign words into English.A French officer appeared on the scene."You are to deliverthese cases of champagne to the Duke of Cambridge," heordered and tapped his riding crop against the wooden cratesstacked beside a small wagon."But the Duke is at the British front at Mamelon," a soldierof lesser rank complained."That is the whole idea," the Officer said."The wine is agift from General Pelissier to celebrate the British taking thearea and advancing to the trenches at Malakoff.""Seems they could use gun powder and blankets morethan sparkling wine.""Oui, I agree," the third Frenchman put in."His royalhighness, the Duke, can afford his own spirits.Why not leavethis for us.We fought as hard today as the English.""It's a matter of politics and upper class back-scratching,"the man in charge explained."General Pelissier sends thewine and in the next big attack, the Duke will assign thevanguard to the French.Glory and honor bought with abottle.It happens all the time.""I'd rather have the glory of the bottle directly," the manloading the wagon said.328 Lady Gallantby Gini Rifkin"Just do as you are told, Bertrand," the officer ordered."Toot de sweet," he called over his shoulder and he took hisleave.Josie nearly squealed with delight.She could not believeher good fortune.Here was her transportation, ready todepart and headed in the proper direction."Orders, be orders, Bertrand," the smaller man finally said."If we hurry we can be there by dawn.Bring along acartouche of bayonets," he whispered, "we've extras, but theBritishers are low on them.We'll trade for a bottle once weget there."Bertrand grinned."A little low-class back scratching.I likethe way you think, Michele.You would do well in politics."The two men secured the load and scrambled aboard.Asthe driver urged the team into a walk and through the gapingtent flaps, Josie darted from the shadows and eased up ontothe back of the open wagon.She shoved her way betweentwo crates, settled in for the long haul, and wrapped her capearound her body and face.Exhausted she closed her eyes, but too nervous to sleep,she soon opened them again.Her stomach grumbled, and sheshivered.Was Garrick cold and tired and hungry too? Please,God, she prayed, let him be alive and safe [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.Excited by the prospect she quickened her pace.Then shepaused.What was she thinking? None of the French supplywagons were likely to be heading to the British camp.Nowwhat?Nearby, a bedraggled collection of donkeys and other workanimals milled about in a makeshift pen.A jumble of smalldrays stood beside the arena.Perhaps she could go it alone.Her back stiff with desperation and determination, shecircled around to the left.Nothing was going to keep her fromreaching Garrick.She'd walk to the British lines if necessary."Halt mademoiselle."She jumped in surprise as a perimeter guard stepped frombetween two tents to block her path."No one is allowed beyond this point," he said, in his nativelanguage.Frantically she worked to recall her rudimentary French."I'm a British nurse," she explained."Sister Clarisse sent meto observe your method of cataloging supplies." Did the liesound convincing?326 Lady Gallantby Gini RifkinHe studied her face and contemplated her figure.She smiled and tried to slow her rapid breathing."You may proceed then, but via the main entrance," heinstructed, and nodded over his shoulder."Merci," she said and moved to follow his directions.He snared her elbow as she passed.The pulse in her neck jumped as she stared up into hisface.It was all she could do not turn and run."I am free from duty at five o'clock," he said, with a grin.She smiled with relief and disengaged his hand from herarm."I only have time for wounded soldiers," she said, andstepped around him."For you, cherie, I would gladly shoot myself in the foot.""Please don't go to such trouble," she called over hershoulder."I'm not staying long."He gave her a good-natured laugh."I miss you already."Not looking back, she boldly picked her way over theuneven terrain.She was sure the sentry's gaze was stillfocused on her backside, and reaching the refuge of thesupply tent, she gratefully slipped inside.Three small lanterns with soot-coated mantles comprisedthe only source of light, and to her good fortune, the soldierswho unloaded the supplies were too preoccupied to takenotice of her.Keeping to the shadows, she ducked behind a toweringwall of barrels and crates.By sense of touch, she felt her way along the row ofprovisions.A splinter gouged her hand.Biting back a yelp ofpain, she gritted her teeth, yanked the wooden shard free,327 Lady Gallantby Gini Rifkinand raised her palm to her lips to suck away the blood.Thenat the sound of voices, she angled her head to one side andpeered through a gap between two barrels.Her minor injuryforgotten, Josie eavesdropped upon the men.Straining tohear, she mentally labored to convert the rapidly flowingforeign words into English.A French officer appeared on the scene."You are to deliverthese cases of champagne to the Duke of Cambridge," heordered and tapped his riding crop against the wooden cratesstacked beside a small wagon."But the Duke is at the British front at Mamelon," a soldierof lesser rank complained."That is the whole idea," the Officer said."The wine is agift from General Pelissier to celebrate the British taking thearea and advancing to the trenches at Malakoff.""Seems they could use gun powder and blankets morethan sparkling wine.""Oui, I agree," the third Frenchman put in."His royalhighness, the Duke, can afford his own spirits.Why not leavethis for us.We fought as hard today as the English.""It's a matter of politics and upper class back-scratching,"the man in charge explained."General Pelissier sends thewine and in the next big attack, the Duke will assign thevanguard to the French.Glory and honor bought with abottle.It happens all the time.""I'd rather have the glory of the bottle directly," the manloading the wagon said.328 Lady Gallantby Gini Rifkin"Just do as you are told, Bertrand," the officer ordered."Toot de sweet," he called over his shoulder and he took hisleave.Josie nearly squealed with delight.She could not believeher good fortune.Here was her transportation, ready todepart and headed in the proper direction."Orders, be orders, Bertrand," the smaller man finally said."If we hurry we can be there by dawn.Bring along acartouche of bayonets," he whispered, "we've extras, but theBritishers are low on them.We'll trade for a bottle once weget there."Bertrand grinned."A little low-class back scratching.I likethe way you think, Michele.You would do well in politics."The two men secured the load and scrambled aboard.Asthe driver urged the team into a walk and through the gapingtent flaps, Josie darted from the shadows and eased up ontothe back of the open wagon.She shoved her way betweentwo crates, settled in for the long haul, and wrapped her capearound her body and face.Exhausted she closed her eyes, but too nervous to sleep,she soon opened them again.Her stomach grumbled, and sheshivered.Was Garrick cold and tired and hungry too? Please,God, she prayed, let him be alive and safe [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]