Page 39 (1/2)

She needed a h of himself to enjoy her cleverness, rather than be cowed by it A e her, to push her beyond the boundaries she’d set for herself A h to protect her, if she ventured a little too far Those were all the things she needed, as the remarkable woman she’d becohtened, wounded girl, who desperately craved so else: a man ould tuck neatly into her safe, scheduled life and promise to never, ever leave her alone Bram just didn’t think he could--or even should--be that man for her

When Thorne came to relieve him at the pitch-black hour of two, Bram accepted the torch his corporal silently offered andstairs Moths fluttered around hied onto the bailey and surveyed the neat rows of tents The sounds of snoring and the occasional cough kept the night frohost of a creature wandered toward hi from the shadows

Braave in and withdrew a handful of corn froround "Why can’t I eat you?" he asked irritably Though he knew the ansell enough "Because she na And now I’m stuck with a pet"

Ever since he’d arrived here, Susanna had been busy as a spider, spinning little wisps of senti him to this place in ways he had no wish to be connected If he didn’t leave soon, he’d begin to feel trapped

He approached the tent he knew to be Colin’s and softly cleared his throat A rustlenoise, and one of the tent poles shivered Good, he ake

"It’s Bram," he whispered "I need to speak with you about the artillery demonstration"

No reply No further movement

Bra the light would shine through "Colin" He nudged the canvas with his elbow "Colin We need to discuss the artillery de behind him tapped his shoulder "What do you want?"

Bra his torch "Jesus" He rose to a standing position, turned, and lifted his torch to illuminate

Colin

His cousin stood next to him, the picture of nonchalance, dressed in an unbuttoned, uncuffed shirt and loose trousers In one hand, he clutched a bottle of wine by its slender neck "Yes, Bram? What can I do for you?"

Bram looked at Colin Then he looked at the tent "If you’re out here withhis torch at his cousin, "thenwho’s in your tent?"

"A friend And I’d like to get back to entertaining her, if you don’t mind" Colin uncorked the wine bottle with his teeth and spat the cork aside "What is it that can’t wait forwith a woman in your tent?"

He cocked his head "Hm Just how detailed would you likeher"

"I don’t think so" Colin took a few steps away fro Bram to follow Once they were some paces away, he lowered his voice and said, "It’s the only way I can sleep, Braht awake When I told you I don’t sleep alone, it wasn’t an expression of preference It’s a statement of fact"

"After all these years?" Bram lifted the torch to ed "Still" He lifted the bottle of wine to his lips and drew a long pull

A pang of syhtic accident that took his parents’ lives During Colin’s first year at school, a few boys in his dorhttiest boy in fourth form--had pummeled some sense into the bullies, and that had been the end of that None of theain, and Bram had assumed his cousin’s dreams eventually ceased

Evidently, they hadn’t ceased They’d persisted For decades Damn

"So who’s in the tent?" Bram asked A bat swooshed by his ear, and they both ducked "Not Miss Highwood, I hope"

"God, no" Colin laughed a bit "Miss Highwood is a lovely girl, no mistake, but she’s refined, innocent And too delicate by far for my needs Fiona and Iwell, we understand each other on a more basic level"

"Fiona?" Bram frowned He didn’t even recall a wo past hiht him by the arlance at Braive me so off to meet Miss Finch?"

Braht he and Susanna had been so careful, re beneath everyone’s notice But evidently Colin had been awake And paying attention

"So don’t judgeI may be a rake, but I’irl And I’ve never co a woman’s heart"

"I don’t mean to ruin Susanna," Bram insisted And hers isn’t the only heart involved

"Oh, so you’re hed heavily "I don’t know"

"Why not? Holding out for better?"