Chapter 1

Arm in arm the Heywood sisters decided to take a walk whispering to each other about all was going on in Sanditon.

They were happily talking when Allison said with joy. "Look Charlotte I think I can see my captain in the top of the hill. We should join him!"

"Your captain?" her sister asked, amusement in her voice.

"He's mine. His letters leave no room for doubts. And I am his"

"How can you be certain? You barely know him" asked Charlotte with concerned seeing her sister act so impulsively.

"I know he has the soul of a poet. He's handsome and brave. A man who saved 50 soldiers from drowning..." replied Allison.

"-drowning..." said Charlotte simultaneously. "Yes, you have mentioned me thousands of times" whispered rolling her eyes. "In which battle you said that heroic action took place?" asked suspiciously.

"In Bidassoa" answered proudly Allison.

Charlotte was about to replied that he had done some research and find out that it was quite difficult that Carter has been on this war for he was very young but she decided not to mentioned to her sister until she didn't have more information that could confirm her suspicion.

"He's brave and noble and heroic and handsome" Allison sighed.

"However sometimes it is hard to get the scene of the man true character that lies beneath". But Allison decided to ignore this last warning and start collecting some shells from the beach. She wanted to collect the most beautiful shells to show them to Carter.

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That same morning the Heywood sisters were walking on the beach, Fraser decided to ride with his horse alone. He needed to clear his mind. He was not supposed to have fallen in love with Miss Heywood. If only she could see him who he was... but no... she was madly in love with Carter, or at least the Carter she thought he was, a brave soldier who showed great courage at Bidassoa and a poet... 'It's me' would have wanted to shout Fraser but in love issue he was not as brave as he was as a soldier and now it was too late. He could never declare his love to her because it will be a betrayal in their friendship. Moreover, he suspected she would never look at him the way she looks at his friend. She had proven herself to be different to the ladies with her opinions and honesty. That was something he wished for in a woman rather than a simpering, blushing miss. Every time he met her there was never lack for stimulating conversation or clever admonishment. He sighed heavily. The only thing he was determined to do was to talk with Carter to convince him to be honest with her.

Having these thoughts in his mind he found Carter alone in the hill. Carter didn't seem to notice Fraser's arrival since he was looking at the Heywood sisters who were walking by the beach. He was in fact admiring Allison's beauty. "Today is the day" mumbled Carter to himself but Fraser heard it.

"What happens today friend?" asked Fraser with a smile.

"I have the blessing of our commander officer. I'm gonna propose Allison" replied Carter with proudly.

Fraser shook his head in disbelief. "You can't go on".

"Why not? I love her, she loves me" Carter didn't see any problem at all. In fact, it was very simple.

"I've heard you said this before... more than once..."

"This is not the same. She's different-".

"But you're not" Fraser interrupted him. "You are the same Carter who said those words to those other girls in those other towns"

"Can a young man grow up and realize the qualities he requires in a young wife?" replied Carter.

Fraser shook his head. "But what about the qualities may a woman requires for a husband? What about honesty? You have been courting her with false pretenses..."

"I may have embellished a little of my past..." Carter admitted, shrugging it off.

"I can't believe what I am hearing Carter. You lied to her! She deserves better', he bitted. 'Set her straight".

"She'll forgive me one harmless little lie. I don't want to disappoint her. I'll do some brave things myself soon enough. And then she'll have a reason to be proud of me' said trying to convince Fraser. "These lies won't stop us from our happiness. My feelings for her are true".

Fraser's eyebrows raised; he shook his head as he mumbled to himself 'You are nothing but a coward'. But Carter never got to hear it. Declan considered his next words carefully. "And what if she was about to find out?"

"And why should she have to?" replied Carter upset and without thinking it he drew his swore towards Declan. "Are you threatening me?"

Seeing the sword, Declan's horse reared up. The movement caught him by surprise and he toppled backwards, the wind roaring in his ears. He belatedly remembered hitting the ground and then everything went black.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Charlotte was the one who witness the scene in the distance, how Carter drew his sword and how Fraser's horse got scared and fell to the ground. Without a word, Charlotte squeezed Allison's hand and sped over towards the captains.

"What's wrong?" asked Allison as she sensed the urgency of her sister. But she always trusted her sister and she would follow her until the end of the world with her eyes closed. So, she asked for no more explanation to sped over next to Charlotte.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Carter walked to where Fraser laid. He was unsure what he should do. He felt terrible for the things he had said before he fell. He thought he should do something when Heywood's sister arrived breathless.

First thing Charlotte did when they arrived was to make sure Fraser's horse was calmed before it would hurt itself or Fraser since the horse was already up but Fraser laid still on the ground.

Allison panicked, she thought it was Carter who was lying on the ground. Once the horse stepped back, he saw him standing up unharmed, she sighed in relief. However soon he recognize the man who was unconscious on the ground and ran to him, dropping to her knees beside Fraser.

After what felt an eternity to Carter, Declan opened his eyes still laying on his back, staring at the blue sky overhead. He started hearing people talking around him but he was unable to focus the silhouettes that were in front of him. After a few minutes words started making sense and he recognized one of the silhouettes that was standing in front of him. Carter's shocked face was the first one he saw.

"Fraser, can you hear me? Are you ok?".

"You're alive" Allison sighed with a lovely low voice.

Fraser blinked trying to see despite the sun shining in his eyes and he could see the concerned but relieved faces of the Heywood sisters.

'How are you feeling, captain Fraser?' Charlotte asked trying to do measure the gravity of the injuries he may had had.

"As if a horse has fallen on me" joked Fraser playing down the importance of the incident.

"It seems you took quite a fall" said Charlote seriously. "Can you sit?".

Fraser nodded and Carter gently put his hands on Fraser's back and shoulder, helping him up.

"I'm fine" mumbled Fraser as Carter let out an immense sigh of relief.

"Are you sure?" asked with concern Carter as he watched Fraser sway just a bit, although he remained upright.

Fraser nodded, he was unable to say anything, his head was soaring.

"Oh my God captain Fraser, you are bleeding!" Allison gasped as she placed her hand over her mouth in shock.

Fraser lifted his hand towards his head and saw that there was blood. "Indeed miss Heywood" said Fraser trying to be as calmed and steady as possible. He didn't want to scare her. "Do not worry, I'll be fine. It seems I'll just need a few stitches. I've come off horses before and will do so again, I'm sure, so there's no need to be alarmed".

"About your fall, how did it happen?" asked Charlotte trying to sound as innocent as she could. Although she already knew the answer, she began to be suspicious about Carter's true nature.

"I-" mumbled Carter with guilty in his eyes.

"I-I can't really believe what happened" Fraser interrupted him. "We were talking and suddenly a snake appeared and the horse got scared. Can you imagine? A war horse scared but a simple snake?" joked Fraser as he rubbed the horse's neck, soothing him an apologizing him for this lie. He could not recognize the truth. If the truth was ever be known Carter will be expelled from army forever. Carter was young and impulsive and somehow Fraser felt he needed to protect from himself and his reckless actions.

"Is it true?" asked Charlotte to Carter.

"Mmm", was the only response Carter could muster surprised by his friend loyalty that even in those circumstance decided to protect him.

Suddenly Fraser's legs appeared most unsteady and threatened not to keep him upright.

"You're not 'absolutely' well" said Carter. "We must take you to the camp so doctor can check on you"

TO BE CONTINUED…