you read this, the war will be over. Although the czar has not officially surrendered, the Russian army has abandoned their fort at Sebastopol. They have nothing left. It is reported that over one hundred thousand men died during this siege alone.
I can imagine how you must have celebrated when you heard the war had ended, but Gabe alone will understand when I write that I cried. I wept not only for those who are fortunate enough to go home alive, but for all those who will never return. So many lives affected. So many families changed forever.
The war lasted a mere twenty-eight months and according to the latest tallies, nearly a million men gave their lives for their countries. Unfortunately, almost two-thirds of the deaths were attributed to disease, starvation, and exposure. If nothing else, I pray to God we have all learned a lesson from such a travesty. If we have, our country will be the stronger for it.
I wish I would be writing to tell you I am on my way home, but I am not. Her Majesty has need of me elsewhere, although I’m not at liberty to say where that might be. Just know that I am well and miss you more than you will ever know. Stay healthy and happy until I return.
Forever yours,
Austin
Gabe – Harrison tells me you are improving more every day. When I return we will go to the country. I do so long to be there.
She lowered the letter to her lap and looked up at him. His eyes were filled with tears and it was nearly her undoing.
"I miss him terribly," she said, her voice husky with emotion.
"I know."
"Do you have any idea where they sent him?"
He shook his head.
"You and Austin aren’t just ordinary soldiers, are you?"
She noticed a fleeting hint of detachment.
"We are both officers in Her Majesty’s Army."
"And what exactly do you do that makes you and Austin so indispensable?" She folded the letter and placed it in her lap. "I know you relieved a Russian officer of some important papers that contained information vital to the outcome of the war. How did you happen to discover he had them?"
Gabriel remained focused on the scene outside the window. He obviously intended to ignore her probing questions. Except, she had no intention of giving up. "I overheard Austin say you were wounded in enemy territory. Are you and Austin spies?"
His brows arced. "We are soldiers," he said. "Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to discuss something else. Harrison tells me you intend to keep him busy every night this week attending one function or another. Who is hosting the ball you cannot miss tonight?"
"Lord and Lady Parness. It’s their annual holiday ball and everyone who’s come back from the country will be there."
"Does that include the Marquess of Culbertson?"
She didn’t even try to keep the haughty tone from her voice. "Of course. In fact, except for a short journey Geoffery took a few weeks ago, I have been with him each night this whole month."
"How fortunate for you."
She smiled. "Yes. Last night we attended the theatre and the night before a musicale at Lady Plunkett’s. And tonight, of course, we’re going to—"
Lydia stopped. Gabriel’s hand had dropped to his thigh and he clutched the muscles above his knee as if he’d been attacked. "Are you all right? Do you need something for the pain?"
"No, it will ease soon," he gasped, then rubbed the area harder. "It just chooses the most inopportune times to...remind me it’s there."
She looked at his face. He was unbelievably pale. Her heart increased its steady pounding in her chest. She rose to her feet and poured some liquid from the only decanter on the bedside table into a glass. It wasn’t the wine she remembered Austin using with the laudanum. This looked and smelled more like whiskey but maybe it worked better. "Where do you keep the laudanum?"
"I don’t need...any," he said on a gasp.
He breathed heavier as his hand kneaded the top of his leg.
"You most certainly do." She yanked open first one drawer then another,
Tamora Pierce
Brett Battles
Lee Moan
Denise Grover Swank
Laurie Halse Anderson
Allison Butler
Glenn Beck
Sheri S. Tepper
Loretta Ellsworth
Ted Chiang