Read Online Coming Home by Vonnie Hughes - Free Book Online Page A

thought. She should not have to worry about such things. ‘I think it is,’ he agreed. ‘Let us hope one of the young women will suit. Your relatives will simply assume she has been with you all the time.’ He paused. ‘By the way, I wish you to be easy about the cost of staying at the Saracen’s Head: I shall take care of that.’
    When she began to argue he made a slicing movement through the air with one hand. It was a device he had found worked very well with subalterns who wished to discuss an order at length, rather than simply get on with it. ‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘I made the decision to stay here, so I shall bear the cost. That is all there is to it.’
    But he saw the firming of her lips and knew that would not be all. So independent. However, from what he knew of her background, her independence was understandable.
    Then he noticed she was peering around his shoulder at someone behind them.
    â€˜Who is that man, sir?’ she asked. ‘I saw him watching us when we arrived at the Saracen’s Head. Do you know him?’
    Colly turned, but the man had disappeared around a corner. ‘What does he look like?’
    â€˜Um … medium height, shabbily dressed. Tanned skin. Possibly a foreigner. I’m sure I’ve seen him before.’
    Colly smothered a smile. She was already identifying with her
English side. He shook his head. ‘I don’t remember seeing anyone like that.’
    He took her gloved hand and placed it on his arm. They strolled back to the Saracen’s Head like any other married couple. Which was just as well, because they met Lieutenant Davidson weaving drunkenly over the uneven cobblestones outside the inn.
    He bowed low to Juliana and sketched a careless salute in Colly’s general direction. ‘Ah, the happy married couple!’ Lieutenant Davidson was in his cups. ‘What it is to be married, and yet not married. The best of both worlds, eh, Brigade-Major?’ He emphasized his comment with a jab at Colly’s chest.
    Juliana’s face blanched.
    Colly smiled at her reassuringly and stepped towards the lieutenant, now waving backwards and forwards like a straw in the breeze. ‘You seem to be the worse for wear, Lieutenant Davidson. Might I assist you?’ As he spoke, Colly got a firm arm-lock on the man.
    Davidson stared blearily into his face. ‘I’m looking for the Saracen’s Head. It’s my home away from home, y’know. M’aunt and uncle are sending their carriage, but it won’t get here for a couple of days.’ He belched with enthusiasm. ‘For two whole days I can be free of their whining and man-manipulations. Until then, drink up.’ He waved an imaginary tankard in the air.
    Colly grinned. ‘As a matter of fact you are directly outside the Saracen’s Head, Lieutenant. Allow me to help you to your room. I think you need to lie down.’
    â€˜Lie down? Lie down? What do I want to lie down for?’ Davidson asked indignantly.
    â€˜Good Lord,’ Colly said, quirking his eyebrows at Juliana. ‘He’s in prime order. I’ll take him to his bedchamber.’ He shoved Davidson through the big oak doors and propelled him upstairs by keeping his knuckle fisted in the small of the lieutenant’s back.
    â€˜All right, all right,’ Davidson protested. ‘You’re like my bloody aunt. Always pushing. Why can’t people take life peaceably?’ Here, their progress was hampered by Davidson’s injured leg, which stuck out stiffly to one side. Colly sighed and persevered.
    Ten minutes later, after a nasty interlude involving Davidson casting up his accounts all over his boots and then descending into maudlin self-recriminations, Colly returned to their suite of rooms to find Juliana pacing to and fro.
    â€˜What happened?’ she demanded, the instant he opened the door.
    He struggled out of his greatcoat and checked