Redemption of a Fallen Woman(28)

‘I have no doubt of that.’

‘One of the victims was El Lobo himself— impaled through the chest by a huge splinter of wood.’

‘I don’t suppose that grieved you too much.’

‘It didn’t grieve me at all.’

‘How did you get away?’

‘In the confusion we stole some horses and set the rest free. Then we rode fast.’

Harry shook his head, torn between astonishment and admiration. ‘I’ll wager you did.’

‘I’m afraid I have shocked you again.’

‘The shocking thing is that women should be forced to such extremities as a consequence of war.’

It wasn’t what she had been expecting at all and she eyed him curiously. ‘No matter what you learn about my past you never judge me, do you?’

‘I have no right to judge you,’ he replied.

‘You have secrets of your own, perhaps?’

Harry avoided her gaze. ‘Who does not have secrets about the past?’

‘Is yours about Belén?’

He flinched as though stung. ‘That need not concern you.’

‘Forgive me. I should not have said that. It was only...’

‘Only what?’

‘It doesn’t matter. Forget it please.’

Harry got to his feet. ‘Since we’re on the next watch we should try and get a little rest now. Excuse me.’

She stared after him in stunned silence, mentally kicking herself. When she had asked the question it had never occurred to her that he might resent it so fiercely. With hindsight she realised how impertinent it must have sounded. What made it worse was the knowledge that she had inadvertently touched a sore place with him. She bit her lip. How could she have been so foolish as to think his tolerance extended so far?

Harry shook out his bedroll with unwonted vigour and then climbed in. Despite his weariness though, sleep eluded him. Anger continued to smoulder too, only now it was directed inwards. Being unprepared for her question he had snarled at Elena like an injured wolf. And in truth it had been a defensive response, albeit a churlish one. She had been open with him, after all. He sighed. He had never discussed the subject of Belén with anyone: he’d never told his family about their engagement, even Ross and Giles didn’t know about it. It wasn’t because he had anything to hide—although her birth was not of the highest her family was respectable. He hadn’t intended it to be a secret but events had overtaken him so fast he’d never had time to communicate the matter to his own relations. By the time he could there was nothing that he wished to communicate. He never spoke of it to anyone. Only Jack knew the truth. And then, out of the blue, Elena had unwittingly touched the wound and he’d bitten her head off. She’d tried to apologise and he hadn’t even listened. What must she be thinking now?

At some point amid these reflections he must have dozed off because the next thing he knew was Jack’s hand on his shoulder, gently shaking him. Like most military men he came to at once, alert and ready for action. Hefting his rifle he glanced towards Elena and saw her get up. She paused only to exchange a few quiet words with Concha and then came to join him.

‘Ready?’ he asked.

She nodded and they set off, taking up their position atop a small knoll hard by. Although it wasn’t particularly high, it afforded a good view of the countryside around. In this respect they were aided by the light of the waxing moon. Elena listened intently but the only sounds were the cicadas and, once or twice, an owl. Nothing else stirred.

Finding a convenient boulder she sat down in its shadow so that she was out of sight. If anyone were to approach they would be on top of her before they became aware of her presence. She saw Harry take up a position a few yards off. However, she made no attempt at conversation, guessing it wouldn’t be welcome. In any case she had no wish to get her head bitten off again.

Instead she let her gaze range over the hills whose tops were now silvered by the moonlight. Overhead a million stars filled a velvet sky and the air was scented with wild thyme. It was a romantic scene. She sighed, wondering what on earth had put that thought in her head. There was nothing remotely romantic about the situation: she had been foisted off on a man who had unwittingly become embroiled in her family’s sordid affairs, and she had now added insult to injury. Glancing across the intervening space she looked at Harry but his attention was firmly fixed on the land in front of him. No doubt about it, he was still angry. It saddened her to know that she had offended him; his opinion mattered rather more than she had expected. However, the fear of another rebuff held her silent.

A shooting star flashed a trail of radiance across the heavens and she caught her breath, smiling in spite of herself. Then she heard Harry’s voice, quiet on the night air.