and passion....
The last shreds of the dream vanished when a crisp knock sounded on his door. Murphy called, “Sir?”
“Come in.” With a sigh for vanished dreams, Will rolled from the bed as Murphy entered with a jug of hot water. “How late did the celebration go, Tom?”
Murphy grinned. A young and handsome Irishman, he’d shown a propensity for getting into imaginative trouble before Will had drafted him as batman. The more varied duties of an officer’s personal servant had suited Tom very well. “Midnight was naught but a memory, sir. These Gabrileños know how to have a good time.”
Will poured hot water into the basin and gave his face a good scrub. “Does that include the particularly lovely young woman who made you look like a stunned ox?”
Murphy blushed, a sight Will had never seen before. “Maria Cristina is Gilberto’s sister and a sweeter lass I’ve never met.” His blush deepened. “She gave me a kiss to thank me for bringing her brother home safe.”
Will lathered up his soap so he could shave. “Did you tell her that her brother managed to make it home very well on his own and you were merely along for the ride?”
“No, sir. I was too busy being a stunned ox,” Murphy said cheerfully. “You’re invited down to the Olivieras’ for breakfast, and Lady Athena will meet you after to take you to the regent, then on a tour of the valley.”
“Have you met Lady Athena?” Will asked. “Because I wasn’t up for the enthusiastic Oliviera celebration, she fed me bread and cheese and wine up in the family sitting room. An interesting woman.” Which was a major understatement.
“I’ve not met her yet, but she’s very well respected here.” Murphy pulled Will’s uniform from the wardrobe and started brushing off the travel dust. “She’s the right hand of the princess and very important. Since she’s also English, someone started calling her Lady Athena.”
Feeling a ridiculous desire to talk about her, Will asked, “Do you know how an Englishwoman came to be here?”
“She has family ties to San Gabriel, I think. She came as sort of a governess to the princess, but she’s knowledgeable about many things, which has been useful this last year. From the way she’s spoken of, I think she may have done some brave deeds during the French invasion.” Murphy pulled Will’s boots from under the bed and began buffing off the mud. “Will you need me for the ride with Lady Athena?”
Will thought as he regarded the cleanest of his shirts, which wasn’t very clean. God willing, he could get his laundry done here. He pulled the shirt on, thinking that Murphy would come with him if required, but he didn’t look keen.
Noticing Will’s expression, Murphy said, “Señora Oliviera said to bring down your clothes for washing. We’re honored guests here. Very fond they are of the British.”
Since Will and Lady Athena didn’t need a chaperone, Will said, “Spend the day with the Olivieras and listen to what they have to say about conditions here in the valley. Their views will probably differ from those of the royal family.”
Murphy smiled with delight. “Cristina said she’d take me on a walking tour of the town. There’s a grand old church in the central plaza. She’s very devout. She said she’s been considering becoming a nun.”
Will suppressed a smile. A pretty girl was less likely to make such a choice if there were adoring young men around. “Here’s your chance to show her what a good Catholic you are, but be careful. I’m sure the Gabrileño men are as protective of their womenfolk as the Portuguese and the Spanish, and I don’t want to find your hide nailed to the nearest barn door.”
“I would never do anything to offend Maria Cristina!” Murphy said hotly before he realized that Will was joking. He relaxed into a smile. “I’ll see what I can learn about how people are managing, sir. Maybe I’ll run into some of our cavalrymen. They will surely
The last shreds of the dream vanished when a crisp knock sounded on his door. Murphy called, “Sir?”
“Come in.” With a sigh for vanished dreams, Will rolled from the bed as Murphy entered with a jug of hot water. “How late did the celebration go, Tom?”
Murphy grinned. A young and handsome Irishman, he’d shown a propensity for getting into imaginative trouble before Will had drafted him as batman. The more varied duties of an officer’s personal servant had suited Tom very well. “Midnight was naught but a memory, sir. These Gabrileños know how to have a good time.”
Will poured hot water into the basin and gave his face a good scrub. “Does that include the particularly lovely young woman who made you look like a stunned ox?”
Murphy blushed, a sight Will had never seen before. “Maria Cristina is Gilberto’s sister and a sweeter lass I’ve never met.” His blush deepened. “She gave me a kiss to thank me for bringing her brother home safe.”
Will lathered up his soap so he could shave. “Did you tell her that her brother managed to make it home very well on his own and you were merely along for the ride?”
“No, sir. I was too busy being a stunned ox,” Murphy said cheerfully. “You’re invited down to the Olivieras’ for breakfast, and Lady Athena will meet you after to take you to the regent, then on a tour of the valley.”
“Have you met Lady Athena?” Will asked. “Because I wasn’t up for the enthusiastic Oliviera celebration, she fed me bread and cheese and wine up in the family sitting room. An interesting woman.” Which was a major understatement.
“I’ve not met her yet, but she’s very well respected here.” Murphy pulled Will’s uniform from the wardrobe and started brushing off the travel dust. “She’s the right hand of the princess and very important. Since she’s also English, someone started calling her Lady Athena.”
Feeling a ridiculous desire to talk about her, Will asked, “Do you know how an Englishwoman came to be here?”
“She has family ties to San Gabriel, I think. She came as sort of a governess to the princess, but she’s knowledgeable about many things, which has been useful this last year. From the way she’s spoken of, I think she may have done some brave deeds during the French invasion.” Murphy pulled Will’s boots from under the bed and began buffing off the mud. “Will you need me for the ride with Lady Athena?”
Will thought as he regarded the cleanest of his shirts, which wasn’t very clean. God willing, he could get his laundry done here. He pulled the shirt on, thinking that Murphy would come with him if required, but he didn’t look keen.
Noticing Will’s expression, Murphy said, “Señora Oliviera said to bring down your clothes for washing. We’re honored guests here. Very fond they are of the British.”
Since Will and Lady Athena didn’t need a chaperone, Will said, “Spend the day with the Olivieras and listen to what they have to say about conditions here in the valley. Their views will probably differ from those of the royal family.”
Murphy smiled with delight. “Cristina said she’d take me on a walking tour of the town. There’s a grand old church in the central plaza. She’s very devout. She said she’s been considering becoming a nun.”
Will suppressed a smile. A pretty girl was less likely to make such a choice if there were adoring young men around. “Here’s your chance to show her what a good Catholic you are, but be careful. I’m sure the Gabrileño men are as protective of their womenfolk as the Portuguese and the Spanish, and I don’t want to find your hide nailed to the nearest barn door.”
“I would never do anything to offend Maria Cristina!” Murphy said hotly before he realized that Will was joking. He relaxed into a smile. “I’ll see what I can learn about how people are managing, sir. Maybe I’ll run into some of our cavalrymen. They will surely
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