Jillian Chantal

This week’s word for Tuesday Tales is cart. I am still in my Regency set story called Lady Soldier. Our heroine has been discovered to be a woman and was on her way home to England when she and her escorts had to save Wellington’s life.

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Relieved he wasn’t going to discipline her further, she saluted. “Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now, let’s get these men into a cart and send them on the way to the next encampment and the prisoner of war area. No more parole for them.” Wellington saluted them all. “Once we complete that task, be on your way home. And try not to run into any other Frenchmen with my murder or capture on their minds.”

“We’ll try, sir,” Sandy said with a grin.

Maud’s uncle hugged her. “Go home. I’ll see what I can do to smooth things over with my brother, the duke.”

“Thank you.” Tears sprung to her eyes at his kindness. He was the youngest brother, but the duke listened to him more than his other family members. Perhaps it was due to Fitzroy’s battle experience. Maud didn’t know, but it was good to have her uncle on her side in this situation.

They made quick work of getting the prisoners loaded as well as the dead men. Maud wouldn’t have wanted to ride along with them and was happier than she’d been earlier to be going home.

Sandy rounded them up and they returned to their horses. “We only have a few more hours of useable daylight so let’s try to get some miles covered before we set up camp for the night.”

The ride seemed more amiable as they left the cantonment.  Maud didn’t feel as if the two men behind her were as angry as they’d been. Maybe working together had reminded them of how much they meant to each other. She hoped so.

They rode along at a good clip for about two hours, no one saying a word. Maud thought about what happened with Bouvier and his men. She’d been in a number of battles by now, but being that close to the enemy was disconcerting. When she’d been running from howitzer to howitzer, she was on the ground and near the infantry, but she’d been too focused on getting those machines fired. Today was different. This was engaging the enemy eyeball to eyeball.

She repressed a shudder at the memory.