Chapter 177

Even Hugo was glad to not have to ride through the black forest in the dark. He told himself the horse wouldn't like it, and with the bad footing it would even be dangerous to the animal, but in reality it just was an eerie place. By the time he arrived at Caitlin's house, the sun had disappeared behind the hill before him, and dusk was starting to approach.

She was waiting for him, keeping the goats away from the entrance of the paddock so he could take the horse inside without the clever animals escaping. The pen was really tightly secured, goats were notable escape artists, something Hugo hadn't known before meeting Caitlin.

'You make a fine figure on a horse, Jean,' she said with admiration, 'as if you've ridden horses all your life.'

She had never asked about his past and he had never offered any information, but he was still determined to get to know the women in his life so he had to start by being more forward about himself.

'I have. I never told you, but back in France I belonged to a well-to-do family. My father was a second son to a gentleman, and I was his second son. My uncle holds the family chateau and my brother is his heir, my uncle hasn't any children of his own, he got married too late in life. Sometimes I write, and he returns a letter. I grew up in my his house, my mother died in childbirth when I was two years old, and when my baby sister also died after a few days we moved back to our family home. My father and my uncle bred horses, and I spent every moment I could escape from my tutor with the horses and the stable staff.'

Caitlin nodded, she didn't reproach him for not telling her earlier. So far, gentlemen had treated her miserably, but Hugo wasn't like that, of course French gentlemen were different anyway though she couldn't know that. He offered her an embrace before stripping Daisy of her tack, and found himself surprisingly glad to have it accepted. They made love every time he visited, but Caitlin wasn't fond of casual intimacies, and being held and kissed wasn't the sign of affection to her that it was to most other women. Well, and men, if his observations of other couples meant anything.

Usually, Caitlin found it hard to relax in his arms, this time she returned his kiss eagerly and even rested her head on his chest for a few moments afterwards.

'I like the way you smell, of yourself, and of horse. Well, don't let me keep you, better settle your horse and we'll go inside, it's cooling down quickly out here.'

It was as if she was shocked by her own familiarity, though they had known each other for quite some time now, and of course very intimately. But Caitlin probably needed some time to find trust in a man, even though she was always an ardent lover.

Though no-one ever came here, it might rain, so Hugo always took his horse's saddle and bridle inside with him. Besides, those goats might eat it. He left Daisy with them, she could handle a few goats, and gave her some hay to keep her occupied. There was just enough light left to take a good look about him, talking to Mr Darcy had made him more aware of Caitlin's dire situation, and he really wanted to make an effort to help her.

The river was bubbling away within its banks, it wasn't very deep but it flowed swiftly over a bed strewn with rocks. The other side was covered in mixed woods, Hugo guessed it was used by local farmers to gather fuel and wood for simple repairs. It wasn't very well kept, but that made it more useful to Caitlin, who depended on certain plants for her tonics and poultices, most of which grew under leafy trees. Hugo didn't know the English names for all the trees, but he knew most were useful to make utensils, though a few had grown completely the wrong way, with too many side branches and all of them crooked.

This side of the river was less messy, there were no dead trees at all, not even loose branches lying about. The undergrowth was thicker because there was more light coming through the canopy. Caitlin probably used a lot of firewood to keep her house warm, and she had built that pen to keep her goats from roaming all over the woods at night. By day they did browse in the forest, with little Ben to keep an eye on them, and in the evening he brought them back home to be milked.

The house was built half into the river bank, half in some kind of natural elevation in the landscape. It had a hole instead of a window, covered in oiled paper to keep the rain and some of the cold out. There were shutters for when the weather was really cold or during a storm, and a short chimney stuck out of the sod roof. Fortunately, Caitlin had a furnace to keep the smoke from her fire out of her living space, but though the hut was clean, it wasn't comfortable.

Inside, there was a tiny living space with Caitlin's own bed, a table and three chairs, and the aforementioned furnace. Ben had a little cubby on the other side of the hut, away from the entrance and without a window, the warmest place for him to sleep. He was a lanky boy but not underfed, and he seemed generally rather healthy. Hugo made certain he had proper clothes and books to learn his letters and some ciphering, and the boy seemed rather clever and keen to learn. But sometimes, Hugo wondered whether he needed glasses to read, it seemed he had real trouble discerning the letters, especially in the gloomy light caused by the lack of a clear glass window. Only now did Hugo realise the boy needed a proper house to live in, a school where he could learn even more, and friends to play with, children's games, not minding his mother's goats.

Because of the lack of proper lighting, Caitlin and Ben usually went to bed when the sun went down, but whenever Hugo visited the boy was allowed to stay up a little longer and chat a bit with the adults. It was surprisingly easy to keep the conversation suitable for a child and as usual, Hugo was quite impressed with Ben's knowledge and how he managed to express himself. This time, Hugo told them about France.

'Where I was born and grew up it was not as cold in winter, we rarely had snow but plenty of cold rain. And it was much hotter in summer, so warm that the grass turned brown and the ground dried until it cracked. This is much better country for horses, with lush green grass, and the soil is not as stony. Summer here is pleasant, and summer there was often a bit too warm to work, we would rather go swimming in the river, but our tutor wouldn't let us before my brother and I had finished our lessons for the day. And then my brother would go fishing or help our uncle with the books, and I would go to the stables and help out there.'

'I wish I had a tutor, then he could answer all my questions. My head is always filled with questions, and as soon as one is answered, another five pop up. Did you learn English? And mathematics, and history? And music, did you learn to play the piano?'

Of all the things a boy might have envied the boy Hugo had been, a brother, a roof over his head, horses….

'I did not learn English, no, but I learned Greek and Latin, and indeed mathematics and history, and philosophy and geography. If my mother had lived, I think I would have learned to play the piano, but after she passed away my father couldn't bear hearing anyone else playing the piano. He sold it when we moved back to my uncle's house. I don't think I would have liked to learn, I didn't like lessons and sitting still, I liked brushing the horses and riding them. I even liked cleaning tack and mucking stables.'

'When did you learn English then? How can you learn to speak a language without a tutor?'

'I learned English once I was in England. You learn it from the people around you. Pronunciation is difficult, it's as if my tongue can't shape certain words the right way.'

'Your accent may be the most charming thing about you, Jean,' Caitlin interjected, but secretly Hugo thought her accent was much nicer. And the way she'd said that, was she flirting with him? Did she like him a bit more than just for bed sports?

'Is Jean a French name?' Ben asked, 'it sounds a lot like John but as you say it, with a French accent.'

'It certainly is French, a lot of French men are called Jean, it's a popular name, much like John over here.'

Soon after that, Ben really had to go to bed, and when he had left the room, Caitlin lighted a candle and invited Hugo to sit on the bed with her.

'It's more comfortable, and I'd like to sit a lot closer to you. I've missed you, Jean, it's so good to feel your body against my own.'

Did he dare ask her to marry him? Tell her Mr Darcy had offered to find a real house on his grounds for her? She wouldn't trust such an offer, wouldn't believe a landowner just wanted people to be safe and comfortable.

'I understand so well, I often feel lonely, too. Do you think you'll ever want to be married?'

'Marry? Why should I? To have someone? I'm not ever going to be someone's property, Jean, you know the law. A woman is her husband's chattel, to be dealt with as he sees fit. Besides, I have nothing, except a son born out of wedlock, what kind of man do you think would be interested in me? I'm Irish, that's even worse than being French, at least the French are the enemy, they are worthy of respect. We are nothing but slaves to the English, bodies to be exploited. And Catholic on top of all that. Believe me, my love, whatever companionship beckons to me is yours, no Englishman will ever dirty his hands on me. Now will you hold me? Please?'

She was beautiful with her long blonde hair that looked orange with the candle light shining right through it. And she was right, he had never dared admit he had been raised a Catholic, he had just left his past behind and pretended to be someone else, to be accepted into an English gentleman's household. But it didn't feel as if he'd forsaken any important part of himself, he felt altogether whole. Just lonely.

He took her in a firm embrace and felt her freeze for a few moments, then give herself up to him. For a few moments he'd totally forgotten her fear of being held firmly, but he remembered now and would stay within her boundaries. Like a fearful horse that had lost its trust in people, she had to experience that nothing bad would happen to her if she gave herself up to him. What was he ranting about to himself? She was not a horse to be gentled, but a strong, independent woman who had been through enough trouble to break most others, women or men.

'Do you fear me, Caitlin?'

'No, love, I do not. I feel safe with you, you're not tall, and you're not particularly strong, but there is something about you, something unyielding. Like nothing will get past you to get at those you love.'

She was right, he didn't see himself as brave in the traditional sense of the word but he had courage, not the kind that took risks to gain victory from others but a strong sense of duty to protect whatever needed protection. He had never wanted to rule, though his staff might beg to differ. Hugo had fought and he had fought bravely to save what he valued, the France he had grown up in. He had no interest in conquest, just in preservation.

'And if it was me, Caitlin? Would you marry me?'

He did not expect her to look up at him and say deadly serious, 'You're a good lover and a kind man, Jean, but marriage? Could you imagine yourself living here with me, when you have been used to the comforts of a gentleman's house all your life? I suppose it's harder in the servants' quarters in a Northern English winter than in a genteel boy's apartment in France, but have you any idea what living here is like?'

He had, since he had served in the army for fifteen years and not just in the hot French summer, but also in rainy winters and even in the cold mountains of both his own country and the neighbouring ones. And in all situations, barracks had been the most hoped for place to spend the night, tents and even a bedroll and tarpaulin the more likely options. But he wasn't altogether ready to tell Caitlin about his time in the army, not when Mr Darcy didn't even know.

'I have had some experience with sleeping rough, yes. Even in winter, and I know it must be very hard to live here in winter. But we wouldn't have to stay here, would we?'

'Even under your protection I could never live in a gentleman's house, and certainly not as a dependant. I've learned to value my freedom, and I'm good at what I do, I'm not going back to cleaning and serving, not for any man in the world.'

'No-one would expect you to, Caitlin. You know how many people were sick last winter, Mr Darcy lost quite a few tenants to pneumonia and there are a few houses in his villages that have been deserted ever since. He would welcome a healer and midwife to rent one from him. It's not safe for you and Ben out here, at all. Anyone can just come here. And what if the river floods? You'd lose everything, maybe even your life!'

Caitlin didn't like to hear this, and Hugo didn't want to get into a row with her at all, especially not with her son trying to sleep in the only other room in the tiny hut.

'Never mind, Caitlin, I meant well. I didn't want to hurt you or make you angry. I won't mention it again, though Mr Darcy's offer of the house stands even without me living in it as well.'

Did she look at him in a certain way, did she like him that way after all? She did calm down a lot and reply in a way that suggested it.

'Do you love me, Jean, to want to marry me? You told me yourself you have at least two other women here in Derbyshire, and you couldn't even tell how many you'd had during your stay in your master's house in London. Why would you want to marry me if you don't love me? Can you even fall in love?'

'I don't know whether I can fall in love, no. And I'm not passionately in love with you. But I like you, and we enjoy each other's company, and Ben likes me, and of course I wouldn't see other women anymore. I take marriage very seriously. I'm lonely, Caitlin, and don't tell me you aren't. Is it so important to be very much in love?'

The tension seemed to just flow out of Caitlin, and she kissed him and said quietly, 'I don't think so, no. I don't think the villagers would be eager to accept me, and I don't think you realise how much of a temper I have. But I do feel lonely sometimes and if you could be faithful to me I think we could be happy together. I'm flattered, Jean, to have you ask me this question, and I'd like us to get to know each other a little better before I make a decision. Before we make a decision, you'd have a ten-year-old son as well, that is not something to rush into. Can you accept that?'

'Of course. I'm sorry to spring this on you, I've been thinking about getting married a long time, but you couldn't have known.'

'And your other 'friends', have you asked them as well?'

She meant that as a joke, but she must have seen the truth in his expression, and then she proved she really did have quite a temper.

'You did! Did they refuse, or were you planning to choose the best one and disappoint the rest of us? No, I don't even want to know, I think you'd better leave.'

She looked ready to cry, no, she shouldn't, he didn't mean that to happen! But he wasn't really planning on marrying her, he had been careless giving her expectations! Deep in his heart, he still thought he would settle with calm Rose and her promising children. But he couldn't have known Caitlin had feelings for him, could he?'

'Please don't send me away, Caitlin, I'm sorry. I don't want to leave you behind when you're upset like this, can't we talk about it? I didn't ask all three of you, just one other who I knew wouldn't want me, since she's way too young for me.'

That was the worst thing to say, but Caitlin didn't explode as she had right to. She merely swallowed hugely, she was strong, and beautiful when angry, Hugo noticed.

'You're right, there is no reason to spoil a perfectly good night when you just asked a simple question. I made more of it than I should have. I don't want to feel miserable when we could have a good time instead. Stay then, and let's not mention this again. Agreed?'

Hugo didn't want to promise her that, but he had made a huge mistake and he had no right to expect her to forgive him for it. So he merely bowed his head in acknowledgement, a gesture she accepted in the spirit in which it was offered, hopefully. He wanted to say he was sorry, but she didn't give him the chance to speak, taking him in a tight embrace instead and kissing him with more passion that he'd have thought possible after such a painful conversation. She had such a strong will, and a strong body as well, eking out a living from the forest by herself had given her firm muscles, though Hugo had known plenty of women who laboured even harder for a living, in London. Washing women were the strongest, and had the reputation for having the sharpest tongues, but to a Frenchman with his background all London women were rather outspoken.

Soon he had forgotten the whole mess, his shame about his insensitivity overcome with heat, though he made sure to give all possible attention to Caitlin first, not forgetting a single sensitive spot on her body. And when she was sated for a few moments, he let her lavish attention on him, driving him mad with lust with her mouth and tongue on his manhood. Then, somehow, the moment had come that they both wanted to become one, the most intimate moment, though of course their passion had by no means abated.

Like with Elaine, it felt as if this was their last time together, like a fare well. Caitlin clung to him, and Hugo felt himself clinging to her as well, as if they would never let go. Instead of urging him on, as she sometimes did, this time she relished Hugo's slow and intense movement, meeting him halfway without straining, calm and yet more intimate than they had ever been. She wanted to kiss, and he arched his back to reach her mouth with his, causing her to groan in satisfaction, and as they kissed he took care to stay in exactly the same position since that seemed to please her.

The effect was astounding, instead of her usual, calm expression of delight when reaching a climax, she cried out with surprise and pleasure, then clung to him as he felt free to stretch out his back once more and make some speed to chase his own high.

He could tell she had had enough for tonight since she turned her attention solely to him and stroked his face with love instead of lust, then gave him little kisses wherever she could reach his heaving chest. For few moments, these small tokens of love overcame his lust, and then his slight hesitation was met by a few very tantalizing movements from his lover that drove him right back to his wild abandonment of moments before.

As he felt his climax approaching he felt strangely removed from his own straining body and its exulting sensations. He could see Caitlin's face really clearly, she was watching him and relishing in his intense experience. Then the full effect of his release washed over him, and for a few moments he was totally lost as a pair of strong arms pulled him towards a very warm and soft chest.

'Will you stay the night? Please? Just this once? I'd hate to let you go without having spent a whole night with you. Your master's horse will be safe enough in the goat pen.'

At this moment, there was nothing he wanted more, however it might turn out. He was just not ready to let Caitlin go, though he would if Rose accepted the offer he was planning to make her. If she didn't, he had no idea what he would do.

'I will stay, gladly. I'm sorry if I hurt you, Caitlin, I meant well.'

'I know, my love, and I'm not angry. You're just different from most people, you don't invest in a single person, but that doesn't mean you're a bad man. On the contrary.'

As soon as he had regained his breath he'd rolled off her chest to lie beside her, and she snuggled against him, her face on his chest as if they went to sleep like this every night. A privilege Hugo had inadvertently spoiled for himself, but maybe rightfully so since he wasn't committed to either of the women he hoped to marry. Maybe he needed to choose, not keep his options open.

Soon after, Hugo became very sleepy, and it seemed Caitlin expected that, since she gently stroked his hair until he stopped fighting his inclination.

'You're not my first lover, Jean, though my best. I know it's hard to stay awake, and I've had a busy day, too. Sleep well, and we'll talk in the morning.'

Yes, he'd ask her what her day had been like in the morning.

It was still dark when a familiar noise woke him. Listening carefully, he decided it was indeed a horse's reaction to being disturbed, a series of huffing sounds and short clatter of hooves. Something had spooked Daisy, and though in the unfamiliar territory she wouldn't need much to spook her at night, all by herself inside a small pen with high walls, his time in the army had taught Hugo to trust his horse's warnings. Their hearing and sense of smell were much more acute than a man's, and if he could keep a stray dog from taking one of Caitlin's goats or even chickens it would be worthwhile to investigate.

He got up quietly, careful not to disturb the sleeping shape beside him, and decided to only don his boots and his coat, since he knew exactly where they were in this unfamiliar and very dark cramped space. A poker from beside the furnace would do very well as a weapon.

It was cold but not freezing, and Hugo's coat covered his most vulnerable parts, making him feel slightly more secure but not too much: he had been trained to defend himself and his mates under any circumstance, including a total absence of clothing or weaponry. He trusted he could still kill with his bare hands despite lack of specific training these last few years.

He managed to dress and arm himself in total silence, and quietly waited behind the door for a few moments to get an idea of what to expect and where to position himself. Then he calmly opened the door, not checking out the pen from the exposed doorway but slipping behind a large bush on the side of the house furthest from the path. From this position he could observe Daisy and whoever or whatever was threatening her, before he decided to attack or merely distract the horse with a bundle of hay and go back to bed.

Again, Daisy huffed in alarm and ran towards his side of the pen and back to the front, in a tight circle, head turned towards a certain spot in the distance. That didn't have to mean anything, horses might be spooked by a low hanging branch or an early bird or owl rustling in the bushes. Hugo waited, checking his breathing and keeping his legs from getting numb in his crouched position.

But Daisy had been right in raising the alarm, she wasn't eager to run away as she would have been if a bear or wolf had tried to stalk her. There weren't any large predators here in England, not even in the relatively wild north, not besides a large dog gone feral. But Hugo had seen his share of wild creatures in the unspoiled mountains between his homeland and its enemies, and the dark shape gliding over the fence wasn't one of those. This was a man, and he could hardly have come for the horse since it wasn't usually there, but he might not hesitate to steal it with the opportunity presenting itself. Or he might take a goat, a horse was difficult to hide or sell and a bit large to kill and eat for one person. Besides, the English didn't like to eat horse meat.

Maybe...and Hugo's skin crawled at the very idea, this man might have come for different prey. A beautiful, young, helpless woman living with her little boy in these deserted woods. That certain alert state in which a soldier entered enemy territory was still very familiar to Hugo, he had tried to keep it at his beck and call by pretending to be in a dangerous situation every so often, like with Elaine's father and brothers. Obviously, he had succeeded, and he forgot every distraction, keeping an eye on the surroundings in case there was more than this one intruder, now walking towards the horse but seemingly not intent on catching it. Daisy did not let him approach but rather backed away, towards Hugo in fact. She had probably smelled his presence, she was no longer as alert, Hugo could only hope she wouldn't give his position away by demanding a greeting from him.

He could now see the intruder clearly, it was a large man and broad, with farmer's clothing as far as he could see in the low light. The man knew his livestock, for he kept a close eye on the horse, not as if he wanted to steal her, but to see whether she would keep calling the alarm, giving away his presence to the people inside. Would he realise that that was what the horse's presence meant? That a man was staying with Caitlin? Or at least someone wealthy enough to own a horse?

It didn't look that way, or maybe he just wanted one of the goats or a chicken, they would be easy to take away and slaughter at home, despite what Hugo and Mr Darcy might think about Caitlin being poor, some people were even poorer and needed to steal to eat.

But the tall shape passed the curious goats as well and headed to the front of the pen, past the gate and thus past the door. It seemed he wasn't planning to use the door either, but where was he going? The chicken coop was on the other side of the pen, he couldn't be after a quick and easy meal.

Suddenly, the large man sprang into action, startling Daisy, and Hugo, since he sprinted right towards where Hugo had thought himself well hidden. Without a word the brute attacked the much smaller stable master, and if the latter hadn't been a superb fighter he would have quickly been overcome.

As it was, he took a nasty hit to his head where it struck a branch of a tree behind him as he sprang up to defend himself, causing him to drop the poker and leaving him reeling for a few precious seconds. Fortunately the large man was slow and not used to fighting. He tried to grab Hugo's throat, but Hugo expected such a move and kicked him firmly in the stomach. The man was as durable as he was slow, that kick didn't stop him for a second, and he nearly got a punch past Hugo's defence. Despite a slight dizziness from his stupid encounter with the tree, Hugo managed to sidestep that punch, his opponent overextending badly, enabling Hugo to drop the heavy man quite easily.

All this time, neither had spoken a single word, but now Hugo acted the officer and issued a challenge.

'Who are you, and why are you lurking around this house at night?'

By now, he had the unknown man in a brutal hold, restraining a rather muscular arm behind the broad back in a way that gave a smaller man enough leverage to control a much larger one.

'Let me go, you're hurting me! Let me go, or I'll break you in two when I get free! You cannot hold onto me forever!'

Hugo repeated his questions, this fellow would find out soon enough that it was practically impossible to free oneself from this hold unless one knew the counter and had a basic agility he clearly lacked.

'I might as well ask you the same! Who gives you the right to hang around Caitlin, with your precious horse and your fancy boots. You're just using her, you filthy frog! My friends were right, she is not good enough to marry if she gives herself to the likes of you! I might as well have taken my due! All this time I have been good to her, and she hasn't even offered me a single kiss!'

'Jean? Is that you? What is going on? Was someone trying to steal your master's horse?'

It was Caitlin, fully dressed as far as Hugo could see but with her hair still hanging down, the candle in her hand enhancing the ruddiness of the blonde with sparkles of light. She looked like an absolute princess, and the concern in her voice seemed to enrage the man on the ground even more.

'What kind of name is that, Zjawn? Some fancy froggy name he has made up for himself no doubt, to go with his lies and his fancy coat. Why did you lower yourself for the likes of him, Caitlin, when you could have had a solid local man? Now no-one will marry you, but believe me, when I tell my friends they'll have some of those favours you handed out to him! He doesn't even own the horse, I bet his master is some craftsman from town who doesn't even know his foreigner servant is using it to impress some slut of an Irish woman!'

That man had so much anger and hatred in him that even Hugo, with years of army experience, was taken a little aback. How did Caitlin know him, and how often had he been hanging around her house in the dead of night, possibly gathering courage to force himself on her while she was at her most helpless?

Caitlin was surprisingly calm, considering that this fellow had just more or less threatened her with rape. She approached fearlessly and addressed Hugo first.

'Are you all right? I take it you've never seen this man before since he doesn't seem to know you're Mr Darcy's stable master?'

'I prefer to call Mr Darcy my employer, I really don't see myself as his underling, and he certainly doesn't treat me as one. Caitlin, I think I can release this fellow since he seems to be more loud than actually dangerous. I'd like to teach him a lesson but I'm afraid that would only bring more trouble to you. Do you know him?'

'He looks familiar but I cannot remember where I've seen him before. Not more than once or twice surely, I would have remembered, wouldn't I? You can let him go, yes, I suppose you can subdue him again? Since I suppose he attacked you?'

'He did. I was watching him to see if he was planning to steal Daisy, she woke me up, but apparently he'd seen me. I didn't expect that, bumped my head in surprise, but he wasn't much of a challenge frankly. I think he may be a bit intoxicated, he is strong but clumsy. He did spot me, though, and I'm certain I didn't make a noise leaving the house.'

Hugo had released the man, who stood up, rubbing the arm Hugo had used to restrain him. The fellow turned out quite a bit younger than he'd seemed lying on the ground, and since he didn't run or even amble off, Caitlin took a good look at him. The brawn had gone right out of him, but Hugo wondered about the anger and therefore kept a close eye on him when the fellow addressed Caitlin.

'I think he lied to you about being Mr Darcy's stable master, Caitlin, or he would have known the horse gave him away. She was restless when she noticed me, and then she ran from me to stand where he was hiding and stopped being nervous.'

'Now I remember you, you live on a farm on the other end of Ripley, your mother had twins a few months ago. That was a difficult delivery, and they were very early, I dropped by regularly to check on all three of them. I did think you were a good brother to them, most young men aren't that interested in babies. I'm sorry, I don't remember your name.'

'It's Mitchell. You never even spent a single thought on me, did you?'

'Well, you were nice to your mum and sisters. But you know, I was very busy caring for them, and it's not as if a woman will fall in love with you if you're kind to her a few times.'

'I know that now. Instead she's handing over the goods to an undersized foreigner. An old man with a froggy accent. I know when I'm not wanted.'

He turned towards the path, as if he was leaving. But something in his air alerted Hugo, the lad felt humiliated and projected that on the smaller foreigner who had beaten him in a fight. And indeed, on passing Hugo the tall young man had another go at him, not a swinging fist this time but a full frontal attack using his superior weight and height, trying to wrestle Hugo to the ground undoubtedly, maybe take him out of action and have his way with the woman who had spurned him. This time, Hugo would not let him off unscathed, whatever the consequences when word reached Mr Darcy.

A quick look assured him that Caitlin was not in the path of his opponent's retreat, so he merely controlled himself not to do the boy real harm and struck him with first his right fist, then his left, squarely on each jaw. Before his opponent had recovered from the impact, Hugo hit him hard in the stomach where his kick had landed earlier, that wouldn't show much but it would smart for days. He felt like flooring him with a punch to one of his kidneys but the lad doubled over with pain was such a sad sight that Hugo relented and decided to let him off easy, unless he tried to attack a third time.

No further words were exchanged, Caitlin ignored the young man who'd threatened to set his friends on her and instead focussed her attention on Hugo. Well, he was her guest, after all, and despite her disappointment in him the night before, they'd had a good time afterwards. Hugo didn't dare let the fellow out of his sight altogether, though he expected the lad to have learned his lesson. And indeed, as soon as he had managed to right himself, the fellow took the path up the river bank and disappeared out of sight.

Instead of seeking reassurance, as Hugo would have imagined any woman to do after such an invasion of her private space, Caitlin was checking him for injuries, of course she was a healer first of all.

'He didn't lay a hand on me, there is no need to look for injuries, Caitlin.'

It felt good, though, to have her hand stroke his shoulders and chest and face.

'What is this then?'

She reached behind his head and showed him her hand, which he could see was covered in blood. Now he also felt the pain, it was where he'd hit his head on the overhanging branch just before the fight. It had left him dizzy for a moment, it must have been quite a blow.

'Ah, merde! I forgot all about that!'

Worry over his good coat and the whole useless nastiness of the incident had him revert to a once-familiar profanity, but it made Caitlin laugh merrily.

'You undersized old froggy, you'll have to tell me where you learned to fight like that, I almost swooned. Is your horse all right?'

'She is, and your goats as well. He wasn't after the animals. Is my coat still clean? I thought I'd wear my best one since all the others smell of horse.'

'Don't worry, I know how to clean blood out of everything, even by lamp light. Will you hold me for a moment? I promise not to get blood on your coat.'

It seemed she was a bit upset after all, and small wonder, she could not stay here with who knew how many local men out to prove their mettle to one another at her expense. If the fellow dared tell them how he'd been beaten by an undersized Frenchman almost twice his age.

She held him tightly and rested her head on his shoulder, and suddenly he realised he wasn't wearing anything under his coat. The thought excited him immensely, which in turn drew Caitlin's attention to the inevitable reaction of his body.

That broke her vulnerable moment instantly, and she reached under his coat to take hold of his erection, hopefully with the hand that wasn't smeared with his blood, although he really didn't care about stains anymore at that moment. They kissed with incredible heat, and would have run straight to the bed to make love if Caitlin hadn't been a healer.

'I really need to check that head wound, Jean, it was still bleeding just now. Come inside, I'll light a lamp and you may fondle the goods whilst I ply my trade.'

How could she be joking about something that repulsive fellow had said? But the offer was genuine and very tempting, and once he'd removed his coat and boots she sat him down on the bed with the blanket to keep warm, washed her hands in a bowl she filled from a ewer, lighted the lamp and fetched some things from a chest standing next to the furnace. Then she turned him towards the light and carefully probed between his hair with her deft hands. She was standing bent over him, and he relished her scent and also stroked her a little.

'The wound is not too bad, I don't think it needs stitches. But there seems to be a lump forming underneath, do you feel dizzy?'

'I feel fabulous right now,' Hugo replied truthfully.

'No nausea or headache?'

'Nothing, just a bit tired and very, very excited by your presence.'

'Well, do tell me when you feel anything of the kind, head wounds can be dangerous.'

She cleared away the blood with a cloth, then wetted another cloth with something from a bottle.

'This may sting, but it will keep the wound from going bad.'

It did sting, nothing too bad, and soon afterwards she neatly bound up the wound with a clean cloth.

'Just to keep the bed clean, it will be scabbed over in no time. Let's get into bed.'

She tucked him in like a child, then cleaned up her materials and put out the lamp. Sadly, this meant that Hugo didn't see her undress, but soon enough she joined him under the blankets and his excitement was back instantly. She did not react adversely to his tentative touches, on the contrary, her ardour was almost tangible and their loving was as intimate and as passionate as it had been earlier that night. This time they were both ready to sleep afterwards, Hugo very much aware how intensely happy he was to fall asleep holding a soft warm shape.

Caitlin apparently had a cock in her coop, for the next morning his crowing woke both of them. Or had it? When he opened his eyes a beautiful woman was looking right at him, had she been awake for some time already, watching him?

'Good morning, love,' she said, 'a new day, but nothing will be the same. Thank you for saving me, Jean. Some day I'd like to hear where you learned to fight so well.'

'So you agree it's too dangerous to stay here?'

'I do. I could talk to his mother but I'm afraid that wouldn't stop his friends. But Jean…'

He didn't want to hear her say it so he took care to be ahead of her.

'I'll talk to Mr Darcy today, see if he can find a place for just you and Ben.'

'Thank you. And until you get married, will you keep visiting me once a week?'

'I will, Caitlin. I really don't want you to spend another night out here. Do you have a place to stay for a few days until you have a house in one of Mr Darcy's villages?

'Yes, I have a friend I can stay with. She's a widow living in Ripley, it'll be a hassle with the goats, but I shudder to think what might have happened if you hadn't been here. We'll manage for a few days, Ben and I. Do you have time for breakfast?'

He had, and then he'd go straight to Mr Darcy.