‘No,’ he said. ‘It isn’t easy.’
Elena eyed him curiously, sensing layers beneath those words. She wanted to know more, to understand exactly what he meant by them, but before she could say anything else he got to his feet.
‘We should move on. I want to cover some more miles before we stop this evening.’
Clearly the conversation was over for now. Feeling slightly cheated, she nodded and made to rise, then checked to see the outstretched hand. For a brief moment she hesitated but then her own went to meet it. That strong clasp sent a shock along her skin. He drew her easily to her feet. Having done that he made no attempt to retain his hold and she was free. The sensation should have been relief but it felt oddly like disappointment. In confusion she averted her gaze. Together they rejoined the others.
Chapter Eight
When they made camp that evening Elena and Concha tended their horses and then set about collecting wood for the fire. When they had amassed a suitable pile Concha laid the base and then took out tinder and flint from the leather pouch on her belt. Within a short space of time she had the fire started.
Jack, who had been watching quietly, nodded approval. ‘You’ve done that before, haven’t you?’
‘Once or twice,’ said Concha.
Elena grinned and handed her some more sticks.
‘Can you use that pistol an’ all?’ he continued.
Concha glanced up and met his eye. ‘With perfect accuracy.’
‘Oh, aye? Shot many men, have you?’
The scepticism in his tone was not lost on his audience. The two women exchanged glances.
‘Yes,’ replied Concha, ‘but not nearly enough of you.’
Jack grinned. ‘Frenchies, I’ll be bound.’
‘Frenchmen, of course, though nationality does not always govern the choice of target. I’d be just as willing to shoot an annoying Englishman.’
Harry’s eyes gleamed. ‘You’d best take heed, Jack, if you want to keep a whole skin.’
‘Aye, my lord. I’m trembling in me boots here.’
‘Nice boots too,’ replied Concha. ‘If anything untoward were to happen to you, I’d get a good price for those.’
Elena turned away to hide welling laughter. ‘I’ll go and fetch some water.’
‘Let me help you.’ Harry picked up the spare pan. ‘A mug of tea wouldn’t go amiss just now.’
The stream was only a short distance away and the pan wasn’t heavy, but Elena made no demur for the thought of his company was not displeasing.
‘I think Jack may have met his match there,’ he observed when they were out of earshot.
‘Don’t be in any doubt about it. I’ve never seen Concha bested.’
‘Is her nature really so warlike?’
‘No more than mine, but we can defend ourselves when we have to.’
‘That role falls to me now,’ he replied.
She shot a look his way but his expression was perfectly serious. The notion sat oddly with her.
‘It may take some time to adjust to that idea.’
‘Is it not a husband’s first duty to protect his wife from harm?’
‘So tradition has it.’
‘Well, then.’ He paused. ‘Will you trust me so far?’
‘I trusted a man once before but on that occasion my trust was misplaced.’
‘He has much to answer for, but I hope to restore your faith in our sex.’
‘That may take some time.’ It was an understatement: she wondered if she would ever be able to trust in that way again. While she felt an instinctive liking for Harry and he had behaved in a gentlemanly fashion thus far, would he stand by her in extremis? Would she be able to rely on him or would he too prove to have feet of clay?
‘No matter. We have plenty of that, and I know how to be patient.’
His gaze met hers and held it. There was no discernible trace of arrogance or mockery, only quiet certainty, and it sent a tremor through her that had nothing to do with fear.
Later, after they had eaten and Jack had gone to take first watch, the others turned in. Elena was weary now. Quite apart from the day’s ride, she had slept little the previous night. Of course, there had been considerable distraction then even though her fears came to nothing. It would be some time before she and Harry shared a chamber again and it was unlikely he’d initiate any kind of intimacy while they were on the road. She was safe enough for the time being.
* * *
Over the next few days the little group of travellers settled into a routine. Harry soon discovered that his marriage to Elena had not altered the original modus vivendi within the group as a whole: she and Concha still undertook their share of the chores with good grace, they took their turns on watch and neither of them complained about cold rations, long days in the saddle or hard ground at night. Both rode well and were knowledgeable about the care of horses. He never had to remind them of anything. Thus far the arrangement was working out better than he could have hoped. It seemed he wasn’t the only one to think so since Jack had privately confided that he thought both ladies regular troopers.