Chapter 3

"I cannot stay here Charlotte. I was willing to give him my heart, my life, and then I find out all our love has been based on lies. My mind is made up. I leave tomorrow. What is left for me here?" asked a heartbroken Alison to her sister once they arrived to Trafalgar House.

"Your sister, for one thing" Charlotte calmly pointed out. "I was planning to go back to the camp tomorrow to visit Captain Fraser. At least come to me please".

"So the whole camp can laugh at my folly? … And he will be there!" said

"Alison… whatever pain you feel now, in time it will pass. The heart is more resilient than you think" Charlotte said trying to comfort her sister. "'Unlike Captain Carter, Captain Fraser is a good man. I'm sure he will be pleased to have some company if he needs to remain in bed to recover. Please come with me tomorrow" Charlotte pleaded.

Alison gave a weak smile. "Ok, I'll go with you. But as soon as Captain Fraser recovers, I'll come back home".

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When the Heywood sisters entered in the camp, the first man who talked with them was colonel Lennox.

"Good morning ladies" Lennox greeted them. "May I speak with you miss Heywood?" asked looking directly to Charlotte.

"You may colonel" Alison replied quickly before her sister could refuse it. "Charlotte I'll go and visit Captain Fraser" said and then she left them alone.

"I've been told you acted bravely attending Captain Fraser once he fell from the horse" Lennox said admiring the courage she has shown.

"I didn't do anything extraordinary. Just helping as anyone would have done" replied Charlotte uncomfortable, she didn't feel it was a heroic action.

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On her way to the infirmary tent Alison found herself face to face with Captain Carter. He made a gesture as if to place a restraining hand upon her arm, but drew it back when he recognized the flash of determination in her eyes. "Do not misunderstand my presence here. I'm here to visit Captain Fraser but I wish not to speak with you again"

Carter nodded and watched as she went away. She turned around fast before Carter could see a few tears falling from her checks. She wanted to show him she was stronger and independent woman not a fragile damsel who couldn't stop weeping for a lost love.

"Miss Heywood" said Fraser surprised (and happy) to see Alison entering in the tent. She dried her tears and tried to put a happy face to him.

"Once again you managed to get in the camp. I'll need to talk seriously with Colonel Lennox because we really need to strengthen our fortifications" Fraser joked.

"Forgive me for disturbing you" Alison was bewildered for his comment. 'Was he just joking or was her presence not welcomed?' thought.

"You have not disturbed me in the least. I could never refuse a company such as yours" said Captain Fraser with a friendly tone. "But as I once said this is no place for a young woman" added.

She nodded and smiled. "I am relieved to find you awake. I guess it is a good sign if you have not lost the strength to keep mocking me" Alison said. "We have all been so worried. How do you feel?"

"As if I have been thrown from a horse," replied Fraser offering a weak attempt of a smile. "I don't mean to be nosy but-" he stopped trying to find the correct words. "Everything's fine?" he asked as carefully as he could.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking" with a smiles she replied.

She was about to leave when he carefully placed his hand over hers. "Are you sure?" he asked anxiously, his eyes darting hers. "It's just you look as if you have been crying" he said earnestly.

"Oh this?" she said gesturing her eyes. "I just got something in my eyes earlier" she said hopefully convincingly.

He didn't look very convinced. "And your eyes are watering now because there's still something in your eyes?" he asked incredibly gently with a half smile.

She tried hard to control her tears but at the end she couldn't and then he understood.

"My advice to Captain Carter was to tell you the truth" Fraser admited. "I understand he talked to you" mumbled.

She opened her eyes widely when she understood what he was talking about. "Oh my God, you knew it the whole time, and you said nothing" Alison realized.

"It was not my place to say. I couldn't betray his confidence" he said with regret.

"How foolish am I? To give him the slightest merit of his invented stories of a battlefield?"

"They were not invented. Merely borrowed" he replied avoiding looking at her. He was not proud about it. It was true he saved lots of soldiers, but others died because he could not save them all.

"From you?" asked

"It doesn't matter now. The damage is done. But I do hope you will forgive me for my part in this suit", he begged.

She nodded unable to say anything else, she left the tent when Charlotte was about to get in.

"Is everything ok?" Charlotte asked with concern.

"Yes, I just need some air. I'll wait you outside" Alison answered.

Charlotte turned around and looked confused to Captain Fraser.

"I apologize if my words have upset your sister. I didn't mean to" Fraser said sincerely. He made the attempt to sit but Charlotte gently forced him back upon his pillow.

"Lie still, you need to rest. Remember you a horse fall upon you"

"How can I forget?" smiled as all his body was in pain.

"But tell me," she said, turning serious "Have you any recollection of what caused your mishap?" asked Charlotte.

"Save my own recklessness; a small animal, I suppose" Fraser answered. It was the official version he said at the beginning and he needed to keep telling anyone the same story.

Charlotte shook her head. "I don't understand why you protect him... I saw everything. I saw you arguing with Captain Carter and afterwards how he-"

"Miss Heywood I beg you do not rush on your own conclusions based on what you think you saw and do not repeat this to anyone" whispered Fraser. "It is true I argue with Captain Carter yesterday. Carter is young and what happened in the hills was a terrible mistake but if the truth was ever known by Colonel Lennox, Carter would be punished and his military career would end. I can't let one mistake due to his youth defines the rest of his life. We argued because I couldn't allow Carter wasn't completely sincere with your sister. She deserves better. And I truly regret that your sister believed Carter to be something he was not. But you must believe me when I say I tried my best to amend it but now I see I should have tried harder to cut this lies before" admit sadly.

"You care about my sister..." Charlotte realized and whispered.

He stopped to take a deep breath and forced himself to look directly at her as he spoke. "I-" began Fraser but then he started coughing never able to finish it 'I do' wanted to say but he was not sure he had the courage to say it aloud.

"Do you want water?" Charlotte asked. He nodded, and then she picked up a glass. When he had drunk it all, he slumped back against the pillow and closed his eyes.

"Should I call the doctor?" Charlotte asked worried.

His eyes were still closed, his face tight with discomfort. "No, please, give me a moment to settle. My ribs hurt from the coughing." His face slowly begin to relax and his breathing slowing down. Fraser opened his eyes and smiled faintly at her. "Thank you. I am better now."

Alison always described Captain Fraser as a typical soldier, heartless and rudest but Charlotte suspected there was a beating heart inside and that Alison may be the reason of this heart to beat louder.

"I think I should let you rest. If you want we can come back tomorrow and bring you something to read. I guess you'll need some distraction if you have to spend some days still in the infirmary. Would you like a poetry book?" Charlotte asked hiding her smile because she started to suspect it was Captain Fraser who was behind those letters Alison had received.

"That would be very kind miss Heywood" replied Fraser not getting the double meaning when Charlotte mentioned the poetry book.

TO BE CONTINUED

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