Slightly Tempted Read Online Free PDF

reality of real men preparing for war-for killing and being killed. She twirled her parasol above her head and gazed at them each in turn. It was hard to picture all this male vitality in so desperate a struggle.
    "The Duke of Wellington is anxiously awaiting the arrival of more foreign troops," Lord Gordon was explaining to her, having maneuvered his horse right alongside the door next to which Morgan sat. "And it is said he is terrified lest the rest of the seasoned troops who fought with him in the Peninsula not arrive back from America soon enough to push the French back should they be foolish enough to attack us here. But it is clear to see that our cavalry alone is strong enough and ferocious enough right now to complete the task with ease."
    There was a cheer from his grinning fellow officers.
    "Would you not agree, Lady Morgan, after having watched the review?" he asked.
    Morgan knew very well-surely everyone must-that it was always the infantry that won or lost a battle.
    "You certainly looked very formidable indeed," she told him.
    "And the Life Guards in particular?" he asked her. "Everyone knows that we are the cream of the crop, so to speak, that all the Englishmen of highest rank choose the Guards-if their families can afford it-and that we have all the best horses. Have you noticed how the rest of the cavalry and all the infantry and artillery regiments look up to us with envy and awe? Especially the green jackets?"
    His companions cheered and laughed again, and Lady Caddick smiled complacently. Rosamond was engaged in a private conversation with Major Franks, who had ridden around to her side of the carriage.
    Morgan wished they did not all seem so disconcertingly like a group of schoolboys predicting a win at cricket over a rival school. She could not help wondering a little uneasily how such unseasoned troops would perform under fire. Most of the green jackets Lord Gordon had referred to were riflemen, and most had fought in the Peninsula and were seasoned, battle-hardened troops. Many of them were somewhat shabby in appearance, but Morgan had noticed that other soldiers spoke of them with considerable respect.
    "The Life Guards did look particularly magnificent," she agreed.
    He smiled warmly at her. "You must not fear, Lady Morgan," he said. "For one thing, no Frenchman in his right mind is going to fight for Bonaparte again if it can possibly be avoided. For another, Brussels is surrounded by our own Allied troops in an impenetrable fortress of protection. And for another, if all else fails, the Life Guards certainly will not. You are quite safe from harm."
    There was another good-natured cheer.
    "I do not feel threatened," she assured him.
    "We would not keep you here in Brussels if there were any danger, I do assure you, Lady Morgan," Lady Caddick told her, "and as I assured the duke, your brother, before we came here."
    "In a way," Lord Gordon said with boyish eagerness, his whole attention still on Morgan, "I am sorry that Bonaparte neverwill get close to the doorstep of Brussels. I would love nothing better than a battle to show him a thing or two about the English cavalry in general and the English Life Guards in particular. If Wellington had had us with him in Spain, I daresay it would not have taken him so long to push the French back into France."
    "Perhaps not," Morgan said. "But you are here now."
    She was feeling decidedly indignant. Until just last year, her brother Aidan had been a cavalry officer. He had battled his way across Portugal and Spain and into France, fighting the Peninsular Wars with Wellington's forces every slow step of the way. She had never heard him claim that his regiment-or even the cavalry alone-had won the war. He always spoke with respect of all the military forces-cavalry, infantry, artillery, British, and allied-who had fought. He even spoke with respect of the French. But then, of course, Aidan was older and more experienced.
    Her thoughts were diverted at that point