For Love and Honor Read Online Free PDF

walked forward. However, she could not resist a glance in Captain Duroy’s direction.
    He was not there.
    She had been a very good diversion.
    It turned out that the guard had wandered away from his post to heed a call to nature. That is what he told his comrades as he proudly marched his captive into the camp.
    The ammunition wagons, heavily loaded with kegs of gunpowder and the other needs of war, were in a circle in the middle of the camp, the tents arranged around them.
    She made certain to hold her head high as she was paraded around. She wanted all eyes on her. She was like brave Boudicca, confronting her Roman enemies, or one of the goddesses of Olympus, unafraid. She also knew that, if she had any inkling of Captain Duroy’s character, he was thinking of a way to reach those wagons—and she trusted he would come for her as well.
    However, her facade fell away as they approached the commander of the supply train. He was a short man with blondish hair and narrow, almost evil eyes. He was also evaluating her horse so intently, running his hand up and down Tatiana’s leg, he didn’t notice Pippa and the guardsman at first.
    Tatiana nickered at Pippa’s arrival. Pippa wanted to run to her beloved horse and throw her arms around the mare’s neck, but she stood her ground.
    The commander looked up, and then his gaze brightened. “What have we here?” he asked in French.
    The guard told his story. By now a large crowd had gathered around them. Pippa tried to pretend she did not understand the crude comments made about her. Several men talked about her legs. Pippa found that interesting. She hadn’t realized legs on a woman were so desirable. A few complained of her lack of endowment, but instead of being insulted she thought of Captain Duroy. He didn’t mind her lack of an overabundant chest.
    And she wondered what he was doing now. She hoped he was still safe—
    The explosion behind her let her know that not only was he safe, he was close at hand.
    Men cried out as debris hit them. Several turned to save the other wagons, but those, too, exploded.
    Tatiana was frightened. She reared, pulling the lead rope out of her handler’s hand.
    Pippa did not waste a moment but moved closer to her horse, even as she saw Captain Duroy. He was running from the explosions and fires that were quickly spreading to the tents.
    Soldiers saw him and cried out to stop him. No one was paying attention to Pippa any longer.
    “Tatiana, heed me,” she ordered.
    The mare pranced but stilled enough for Pippa to throw herself on her back. She grabbed her mane, put her heels to her horse, and went charging to rescue the captain.
    He was in a fight with several soldiers. He’d managed to find a sword and now defended himself from two soldiers while the rest were running around madly trying to put out the fires.
    But they were too late. The last wagon exploded.
    “Captain, here!” Pippa yelled out over the roar of flames.
    He’d seen her coming. “Keep going,” he said.
    “Not without you.”
    He surprised her then by pulling a small pistol from his uniform pocket and firing it at the soldier nearest him. The man dropped, and Captain Duroy had enough time to launch himself up behind Pippa. Together, they rode as hard as they could to where Valiant was tethered.
    “Can you continue to ride bareback?” the captain asked.
    “Of course,” Pippa said.
    He smiled, his expression saying he’d never doubted she could, and she was filled with fierce pride.
    They rode then, hard and fast. Their horses wanted as much distance from the fire as they did. They raced over hills and across plains until at last they came to a village.
    The hour was very late, but there were still some people out. There was no inn, but a widow rented a room and had stabling for their horses.
    The whole time, Pippa felt as if her emotions were on edge. She didn’t even think twice when the widow assumed the two of them were man and wife. In fact, she couldn’t