Free Vidal's Honor by Sherry Gloag

feelings.
    He’d also spent more time looking behind them and, on one brief occasion, thought he’d seen a glint of light reflecting off a shiny surface. If correct, were their followers watching them through a spyglass? That would account for why he and Juan hadn’t spotted them before now. Of course it may just as easily have been a reflection of light on the dark surface of the exposed rocks towering above the path in many places.
    Anger swamped him. An anger so powerful, it almost knocked him off his mule. What had Devlin been thinking, allowing Honor to follow him out to Spain? If he’d known… Vidal sighed. He’d have done the same. From his perspective Honor loved Dev, so he’d wished his friend well and bowed out. If it’d been any other man he’d have fought for his love.
    Now he wondered whether the Spanish patrol boats had been ordered to let him enter Spain from Gibraltar. If so, Honor had reason to suspect Juan, and yet his instincts told him the Spaniard was trustworthy. His assessment of the situation also confirmed Honor might be right on one count. In the meantime, before they managed to close in he’d have to discover the identity of their unwanted company and try and work out how to evade them. That meant talking to Juan.
    Since the night of the storm when they had sought shelter, Juan had avoided all signs of civilization.
    The women had provided a warm but sparse meal and Honor had settled down for the night not long after. If only Consuela would follow her. A glance in his direction and he realised she and Juan were probably thinking the same about him. Close, it would seem, had just become as personal as it could get between the Spaniards. Rising, he smiled at Consuela. “Do you mind if I have a quick word with Juan, before he joins you?”
    He couldn’t tell, in the light cast from the fire, whether Consuela blushed or not, but she dipped her head and moved away.
    â€œCare to walk with me?” In the firelight Vidal saw the other man’s assessing gaze on him before he rose.
    â€œThere is a problem?”
    Was that concern or defence in Juan’s tone, Vidal wondered, and how much distance from the women was safe if, as Honor suspected, they had company not far behind them?
    He’d spent the afternoon pondering on how to broach the subject and had decided bluntness would save time. It might bruise egos, but safety, in Vidal’s opinion, came before ego.
    â€œAre you aware we’re being followed?”
    â€œImpossible!” The denial exploded into the night air.
    â€œShh. I believe it is a fact.” Vidal grabbed Juan’s arm and hauled him into the shadows. “Lady Beaumont told me this afternoon she’s been aware of it for several days now, but was not certain enough to mention it before.”
    â€œAnd she decided to confide in you today, why?”
    â€œShe didn’t. It’s obvious she’s been worried about something for a while but I put it down to the loss of her husband and her concerns for the future.” He saw no reason to offer more information than necessary.
    â€œAnd you believe her?”
    â€œNot at first, but I spent more time this afternoon watching our backs, and believe she may be right.”
    The air filled with Spanish curses.
    â€œButton your lip, for goodness sake, man. Do you want to advertise our presence if they are nearby?” Perhaps direct had not been such a good idea after all.
    â€œShe also told me you have not followed Phillipe’s advised route. Why?”
    â€œYou were surprised when you discovered we had been followed all the way from Gibraltar. I am not.”
    â€œIt sounded like it to me,” Vidal snapped.
    â€œFirst Mrs. Beaumont’s husband is ambushed.” Ignoring Vidal’s interruption Juan said. “First Mrs. Beaumont’s husband is ambushed, and in a way so diabolical the captors had to be certain they would avoid