Read Online Merline Lovelace by The Horse Soldier - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: The Horse Soldier
Ads: Link
frontier, however, the lines blurred whenever the band struck up. Single troopers didn’t hesitate to ask the officers’ permission to partner their ladies in a dance.
Private Lowenstahl singled Julia out soon after her arrival. She declined his invitation to dance at first, but Maria Schnell took the baby’s basket from her hands and shooed her out onto the floor with instructions to enjoy herself. Self-consciously, Julia placed her hand on the private’s arm and let him lead her to the center of the room. They waited with several other couples for the first strains of the waltz. She hadn’t danced in years, couldn’t remember the last time Philip had taken her in his arms for a whirl about the floor. She’d so enjoyed it as a girl….
Her throat closing, she let her gaze drift to the officer standing beside the sergeant major of Company A. Both men wore their dress uniforms, the collars high and tight around their necks and the front facings piped with gold.
For a moment, the mud-chinked wooden walls and oil lamps hanging from the rafters faded from Julia’s view. She could almost see the brilliance of crystal chandeliers, jewel-toned silks, pots of lush flowers. Could see, too, Andrew Garrett’s lazy smile as he caught her eye across the ballroom floor.
He hadn’t worn a uniform that night, Julia remembered. His shoulders had strained the seams of a cut-away frock coat. A snowy white cravat had circled his throat. She’d snapped open her fan and hidden her smile behind its lace and ivory ribs. Her girlish confidence had told her the handsome stranger would make his way to her side before the evening was out.
And he had, damn him.
He showed no such inclination to dance with her tonight. He met Julia’s glance for the space of a heartbeat, then deliberately looked away. The slight stung. Quickly, she shrugged the little prickle of hurt aside.She didn’t want his attention any more than he wanted hers.
If the smile she subsequently turned on Private Lowenstahl was overly brilliant, she wasn’t aware of it. He certainly was, however. Murmuring polite, effusive compliments, he swept her into the waltz.
It wasn’t long before others in the room took note of the trooper’s fascination with his partner. Slowly, the rest of the dancers cleared the floor. The entire room watched as Lowenstahl dipped and swirled Julia around the room with an artistry they’d never seen before.
“Just look at that!” a petulant voice behind Andrew complained. “I told her she should give him a waltz, but I didn’t think she would make a spectacle of herself. The woman’s as bold and brassy as you please.”
Andrew didn’t have to turn around to identify the source of the spite. Why William McKinney, who had all the makings of a fine officer, had married such a shrew baffled most of the men on post, his company commander included. Then again, Andrew thought grimly, Julia could tempt a saint to spiteful jealousy.
Or sin.
His own stomach had knotted the moment she’d walked through the barracks’ door, and he certainly made no claims to sainthood.
Just look at her. Didn’t the woman have enough sense not to deck herself in lavender silk trimmed with black lace? Or wear a gown with a bodice cutlow enough to show the curves of her breasts? Half the troopers in the room were staring avidly at that swell of creamy flesh, the other half at the bustle that swayed so provocatively with each swirl.
Disgust, anger and desire all stirred in Andrew’s chest. He didn’t want to want her, dammit. Had tried to put her out of his thoughts. But by the time the music finally ended and Private Lowenstahl led a flushed, laughing Julia off the floor, Andrew’s body had hardened and his collar felt so tight it threatened to choke him.
After that, officers and troopers lined up ten deep to dance with her. To give her credit, she tried to refuse gracefully after the third or fourth romp. The men’s eager enthusiasm overcame her
Private Lowenstahl singled Julia out soon after her arrival. She declined his invitation to dance at first, but Maria Schnell took the baby’s basket from her hands and shooed her out onto the floor with instructions to enjoy herself. Self-consciously, Julia placed her hand on the private’s arm and let him lead her to the center of the room. They waited with several other couples for the first strains of the waltz. She hadn’t danced in years, couldn’t remember the last time Philip had taken her in his arms for a whirl about the floor. She’d so enjoyed it as a girl….
Her throat closing, she let her gaze drift to the officer standing beside the sergeant major of Company A. Both men wore their dress uniforms, the collars high and tight around their necks and the front facings piped with gold.
For a moment, the mud-chinked wooden walls and oil lamps hanging from the rafters faded from Julia’s view. She could almost see the brilliance of crystal chandeliers, jewel-toned silks, pots of lush flowers. Could see, too, Andrew Garrett’s lazy smile as he caught her eye across the ballroom floor.
He hadn’t worn a uniform that night, Julia remembered. His shoulders had strained the seams of a cut-away frock coat. A snowy white cravat had circled his throat. She’d snapped open her fan and hidden her smile behind its lace and ivory ribs. Her girlish confidence had told her the handsome stranger would make his way to her side before the evening was out.
And he had, damn him.
He showed no such inclination to dance with her tonight. He met Julia’s glance for the space of a heartbeat, then deliberately looked away. The slight stung. Quickly, she shrugged the little prickle of hurt aside.She didn’t want his attention any more than he wanted hers.
If the smile she subsequently turned on Private Lowenstahl was overly brilliant, she wasn’t aware of it. He certainly was, however. Murmuring polite, effusive compliments, he swept her into the waltz.
It wasn’t long before others in the room took note of the trooper’s fascination with his partner. Slowly, the rest of the dancers cleared the floor. The entire room watched as Lowenstahl dipped and swirled Julia around the room with an artistry they’d never seen before.
“Just look at that!” a petulant voice behind Andrew complained. “I told her she should give him a waltz, but I didn’t think she would make a spectacle of herself. The woman’s as bold and brassy as you please.”
Andrew didn’t have to turn around to identify the source of the spite. Why William McKinney, who had all the makings of a fine officer, had married such a shrew baffled most of the men on post, his company commander included. Then again, Andrew thought grimly, Julia could tempt a saint to spiteful jealousy.
Or sin.
His own stomach had knotted the moment she’d walked through the barracks’ door, and he certainly made no claims to sainthood.
Just look at her. Didn’t the woman have enough sense not to deck herself in lavender silk trimmed with black lace? Or wear a gown with a bodice cutlow enough to show the curves of her breasts? Half the troopers in the room were staring avidly at that swell of creamy flesh, the other half at the bustle that swayed so provocatively with each swirl.
Disgust, anger and desire all stirred in Andrew’s chest. He didn’t want to want her, dammit. Had tried to put her out of his thoughts. But by the time the music finally ended and Private Lowenstahl led a flushed, laughing Julia off the floor, Andrew’s body had hardened and his collar felt so tight it threatened to choke him.
After that, officers and troopers lined up ten deep to dance with her. To give her credit, she tried to refuse gracefully after the third or fourth romp. The men’s eager enthusiasm overcame her
Similar Books
