Free A Most Delicate Pursuit by Pamela Labud

and she was fast proving herself not one of those wilting flowers like many young women of the ton.
    “Very well. One of my happiest moments was learning that I was going to be serving in Ash’s regiment, under his command. I know you think him a bit stiff, but he truly is a great leader. Takes his service to heart, and he cared very much for the men who served under him.”
    It was then that she gave a quick yank and he swore that she’d torn his arm from his body.
    “By the gods,” he gasped, a white-hot sheet of pain enveloping him. At the same moment, he felt the meal they’d just finish rise up from his gut. It was all he could do not to vomit, clamping his jaw and moaning.
    “Here,” she said. “Turn on your side. Can’t have you choking, now, can we?”
    Barely able to move, his shoulder spasmed with pain. “Can’t move.” He clenched his jaw.
    “Right.”
    Leaning over him, she gently pulled the blanket from behind him, tipping him forward and settling him on his right side.
    Though the small move ratcheted up his agony for a few seconds, once she had him settled, it eased a bit.
    “Is that better?” she asked in a hopeful tone.
    He swallowed. “Yes, thank you.”
    “Good. I’m going to fetch some more straw to put behind you so you won’t roll back. Can you stay in this position while I do?”
    Unable to speak, he nodded and gripped the side of the cot.
    “Good.” He felt her move away from him and instantly missed her presence. Silly, he thought, because it wasn’t as if she was leaving him, after all.
    He wasn’t really sure what happened next. He felt twinges of pain here and there and realized she was dressing his wound. Then he felt the horse blanket go over him. Closing his eye because he could no longer keep it open, he mouthed a thank-you but was sure she hadn’t heard him.
    Time passed and he felt her presence, as surely as the warmth from the fireplace or the sounds of the night gathering all around them.
    Some time after that—he couldn’t be sure how long—he thought he felt Beatrice slipping beneath the blanket to lie beside him. She was hesitant at first, but a few seconds later she scooted in to lie against his back and then slipped her arm about his waist, gently anchoring herself against him.
    This must be what Heaven was like, he thought, absorbing her warmth and enjoying the closeness of her. Never in his life had any woman been so amazing. If he hadn’t been taken by her already, he would have fallen in love that very moment.
    If that wasn’t enough, he heard her sigh behind him.
    “Michael?” she asked.
    “Hmm?”
    “Do try not to die tonight.”
    “I shall do my utmost to stay alive.”
    “Good.”
    He might have dreamed it, but he felt her lean forward and place a gentle kiss at the back of his neck.
    “Scandalous woman,” he muttered, teasing her.
    “Insufferable man,” she answered back, nestling in behind him.
    Michael sighed. It was well worth getting himself stabbed by a tree branch if it meant having Beatrice so close to him. He wondered what it would take for her to accept his marriage proposal. Losing a limb, perhaps?
    Well, he thought, drifting off to sleep, hopefully he could come up with a much less drastic measure than that. But, then again, what wasn’t worth risking when it came to winning Beatrice’s love?

Chapter 6
    Thankfully, they’d both slept a few hours before Michael aroused again before dawn. Though she knew he was doing his best not to wake her, she felt him tense beside her.
    “Michael?”
    He sighed. “So sorry to have awakened you,” he said. “Perhaps if I return to my pile of straw…”
    “You are not moving from this cot,” she ordered. “If anything, I should be the one moving.”
    “No, please don’t. It’s not you, really. Just having a tough go of it. I’m not used to sleeping long hours in the rough. Army training, I guess.”
    He was lying, and Beatrice well knew it. Still, she had to let the man have his