The Officer and the Proper Lady by Louise Allen Read Free Book Online Page A

head back Julia could see Fellowes’s jaw clench. He was no more fooled by the mild tone than she was. He began to edge back wards, keeping her between himself and the other man.
    â€˜You know,’ Hal continued, close now, ‘I was ready to settle this with just your grovelling apology to Miss Tresilian and your word that you would not trouble her again. But now I am going to have to hurt you.’ Fellowes went very still. ‘Ofcourse, if I am to do that, you will have to let Miss Tresilian go and stop skulking behind her like a coward. But perhaps you are that, as well as being no gentleman?’
    â€˜Be damned to you, Carlow.’ Fellowes spun Julia round and pushed her towards Hal. For the second time, she landed pain fully against braid, buttons and solid man, but this time it took an effort of will not to cling on for dear life.
    â€˜Miss Tresilian, are you unhurt?’
    Except for frogging imprinted all over my bosom, she thought wildly. ‘Yes, thank you, Major.’
    â€˜If you would care to sit on the fallen tree, ma’am? Just while I deal with this—’ He waved a hand towards the other officer.
    â€˜Of course. Thank you.’ Julia sup pressed the urge to curtsey—Hal’s manner was better suited to the ballroom than to a brawl in a woodland glade—and re treated to the log. ‘You won’t kill him, will you?’
    â€˜I would remind you, sir, that duelling between serving officers is for bid den,’ Fellowes cut in.
    Julia sat down and tried to tug her clothing into order while keeping her eyes riveted on Hal. Fellowes was right. If Hal fought a duel he could be in serious trouble with the military authorities. If he assaulted a fellow officer without the benefit of a duel’s formalities and killed him, then things would be even worse.
    â€˜He is a black guard,’ she said, controlling the shake in her voice. ‘But Wellington will not thank you for killing any officer of his just now.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ Fellowes blustered.
    â€˜Thank you both for your flattering, and quite accurate, assumption that I would best Major Fellowes,’ Hal remarked, and despite everything, Julia felt her lips curve at the arrogance in his voice. ‘What would you like me to do with him, Miss Tresilian?’
    A well-bred lady should have fainted by now. Or, if conscious, she might say, in a forgiving and dignified manner, Send him on his way with a warning. Julia smoothed down her skirt, straightened her bonnet and said, ‘Hit him, please.’
    â€˜With pleasure.’ Hal took two long strides, doubled his right fist and hit Major Fellowes squarely on the point of the jaw. The taller man went down on his back, scram bled to his feet and launched himself at Hal, meeting a solid left hook that threw him back against a tree. Hal closed in, hit him in the stomach, took a blow to the side of the head, countered with another left, and Fellowes slid un grace fully to the ground, legs sprawling.
    Hal took him by the lapels, hauled him to his feet and gave him a push that sent him staggering out of the clearing. ‘And if I ever find you have been bothering Miss Tresilian again, I really will hurt you.’
    He turned back to her, blowing on his grazed knuckles. ‘Are you all right?’
    There did not appear to be much breath left in her lungs. Julia collected what little she could find. ‘Yes. Thank you. I feel a little…odd.’ He frowned, as he came towards her. ‘He didn’t hurt me; I am just not used to violence.’
    â€˜You did say to hit him,’ Hal pointed out, not unreasonably. ‘Running him through would have been—’
    â€˜Messier,’ she finished faintly, then got a grip on herself. ‘Thank you, Major Carlow. That is the second time you have rescued me from Major Fellowes. You must think I have been encouraging him, but really, I have not.’
    â€˜I know.’ He