And, of course, there was always the possibility of contracting malaria.
A chill slithered down her spine, but she held her smile graciously.
Was she at all amenable to following the drum? Why hadn’t she considered the possibility of living under such harsh conditions before?
“None of those hardships matter, however,” he concluded, “when two people are in love.”
The very fact that he mentioned love sent heat flooding her neck and cheeks. Such love must be genuinely magnificent if it could make all those inconveniences worthwhile.
What would it be like to be loved by Captain Greystone…? No, notGreystone, she corrected herself, by CaptainEdgeworth?
“Miss Diana.” A manservant chose that moment to reach between her and the captain to serve the first course.
“Thank you.” Was that her voice, sounding so high and breathy?
“Ahem,” Lord Greystone cleared his throat loudly. She must have done or said something wrong. Was she swooning again? She sipped at her wine to hide her blush.
“What of you, Miss Faraday?” the captain asked the lady on his opposite side.
The marquess’s cousin lowered her eyes but then just as quickly brightened them. “I’m not inclined to become attached to a military man ever again.” Apparently electing not to elaborate further on that particular statement, she went on, “But to be perfectly honest, neither am I inclined to make my bed on the ground. I’m far too old for that.”
“You are not that old,” Diana insisted. She didn’t allow herself to question Miss Faraday about the attachment to which she referred. Had the older woman given her heart to a soldier when she was younger? Was that why she’d never married? Diana was dying to ask, but even she knew that wouldn’t be appropriate.
“Lady Tabetha said she and Mr. Spencer slept beneath the stars on their way back from Gretna Green,” Collette inserted, breaking away from her conversation with Lord Greystone. “Do countryfolk do that often?”
“Only when they are willing to be walloped for it. Do you remember, Cockfield? That night your father thought we were sleeping in the gamekeeper’s hut?” Lord Greystone asked.
“How could I forget?” the Lord Major answered. “Blackheart, Mantis, Chaswick, Gil—Captain Gilcrest, I mean—and his brother, Tempest, all took part as well. Although, I must say, you and Blackheart took the brunt of the punishment.”
Lord Greystone winced jokingly, laughing as he sent Diana an amused glance. “And to think I only went so I could try out my new telescope. But with you and Chaswick insisting you heard bears rustling about in the trees, none of us got any sleep. Cowards, both of you.” He was teasing, of course. Lord Major Cockfield could not have achieved his distinguished rank if he was unable to exhibit great courage.
“Did you find any?” Lady Isabella’s lovely eyes were wide. “Were there bears in the trees?”
“Kittens.” The major leaned back in his chair, looking chagrined. “But in my defense, I have since come across a few bears, and I’ll have you know that the sounds they make can be eerily similar to the noises those felines made that night.”
Lady Isabella’s shiver seemed somewhat exaggerated, and her widened eyes lent a fragility to her natural beauty. “I don’t know how you gentlemen do it, putting yourself in danger like that. Your mothers and sisters must suffer greatly knowing that your survival is never a certainty.”
The lady’s comment drew the conversation to a jarring halt. Because, of course, every soldier’s mother and sisters always worried—as did anyone who loved them.
“What did you do with the kittens? You didn’t leave them to fend for themselves, did you?” Diana said the first thing that came to mind, trying to lighten the suddenly solemn mood.
“Greys insisted on taking all four of them back to the stables,” the major answered. “Mocking us the entire time.”
“Although I don’t think your father appreciated the contribution,” Greys added. “I distinctly remember him complaining that his stable was already littered with cats.”
Diana’s gaze shot toward the marquess. “You saved them?”
He shrugged. “They would not have survived. Autumn was already setting in, and if I remember correctly, that particular winter turned out to be a rather miserable one.”
But it was he, the marquess, who had saved them. Diana raised her fist to her heart. “My mother kept two cats in our kitchens. One of them caught mice and ignored all of us, and the other loved us unconditionally. He even slipped into our room on occasion.”
“To sleep in your bed—which was forbidden, but you allowed it anyhow.” Collette reminded her as older siblings were apt to do—not meaning any harm, but not thinking that it would be improper to mention a young lady’s bed. Diana stared down at her food, warmth crawling up her neck.
A warm hand settled on her leg, and Diana straightened.
Was Lord Greystone comforting her? Reassuring her? Did he not realize how inappropriate that was?
Of course, he did. His palm felt heavy and warm, and the circling of his thumb both excited and calmed her.
