Meetings

Chaves, northern Portugal, december 1812.

Everything was relatively quiet at the camp that morning. The troops were on rest after the umpteenth battle, celebrating the well-deserved victory and tending to the wounded. Freshly out of his bed, Sharpe stepped outside the tent, stretching lazily, and smiled when he noticed that Harper was already busy preparing his tea.

"Good morning, Pat. Already on service, are you?"

"Mornin', sir." the irishman replied, smirking, "When duty calls Patrick Harper never draws back, sir, you should know that. How's your leg?"

"Better than it was." Sharpe shrugged, sitting down in front of the small campfire and taking the mug that Pat was handing him. They remained silent for some moments, sipping the tea and looking around quietly. Both smiled when they saw the lads, on the other side of the camp, gathered around a fire and singing some lively song led by a seemingly quite cheerful Hagman.

"Go on and join 'em, Pat. I'll be fine."

"Yes sir. Thank you, sir." Harper smiled, standing up and walking towards the others, but he stopped almost instantly to look at his friend. "Oh, sir." he said then, "Major Nairn wants you to report at Lord Nosey's tent at nine."

"I will. Did he say what it is about?"

"No, sir."

"Thank you, Pat."

When Sharpe entered Wellington's tent, the Lord and Major Nairn were already waiting for him. There was also a young woman, dressed up in a dark green uniform quite similar to his own, but he didn't have the time to watch her closely, for Nairn was already rebuking him for his lateness.

"You're late, Sharpe."

"I am sorry, sir."

"Never mind, Nairn." Wellington said then, in a tone both indulgent and resigned, "He's always been unpunctual and he'll always be." and then, shifting his gaze to Sharpe, he asked: "How are you today, Major?"

"Just fine, sir."

"And how's the mood, Sharpe?"

"Just fine, sir."

"Good." Wellington nodded, "Because I want you to meet someone, and I also want you to be very polite towards this someone. I am delighted to introduce to you Captain Cassandra Nicolls" he said, looking at Sharpe first and then at the girl. Sharpe, too, turned to look at her. Her long, dark hair was gathered in a ponytail, and she had possibly the brightest eyes he'd ever seen, of the same color of as the sky. Her features were incredibly delicate yet decided and all about her showed a great pride.

"Madam."

"She commands the 60th Rifles and I truly hope you'll get along well, Sharpe, for you'll have to work a lot together. Miss Nicolls, meet Major Richard Sharpe."

“Good morning, sir” she just told him, bowing her head lightly.

To work with Sharpe was a great trouble for her, because Taylor had told her about the roughness of this man that came from the ranks and the way he was always expecting that every woman would fall for him.

But she surely wasn’t that kind of girl, at all.

"Good morning, ma'am." Sharpe replied, before turning his attention back to Wellington. "Is that all, sir?"

"Yes." the man nodded absently, engrossed in the reading of some papers, but then quickly corrected himself: "No. Report to my tent at four this afternoon, I might have a job for you two. And see to inspect Captain Nicolls' men before lunch."

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed."

Sharpe clicked his heels, and bowed his head towards the girl before stepping out of the tent.

Thomas Taylor was waiting outside, looking at Sharpe coming out of the tent.

When he saw his Captain, he smiled softly, noticing how distressed she was.

“Is everything ok, Cassie?”

“No” she almost barked at him. “Come with me, I’ll have a word or two with my men”.

Taylor eyed Sharpe and another man that were studying Captain Nicolls attentively and sighed deeply.

Indeed it was hard for her to have to work with a man that was told to be rough and vulgar, and as if it wasn’t enough, he was to be her superior. That meant that she had to obey his orders, a thing that Cassie didn’t like at all.

After another look at the two men, he followed the woman, walking reverently at her side.

No more than ten minutes later Sharpe and Harper were walking towards the Company, side by side. They stopped a few footsteps away from Cassandra, and Sharpe was quite pleased to notice that the men were perfectly lined, their uniforms clean and in order.

"So these are your men, Captain Nicolls."

“Yes sir” answered the girl, eyeing him, before to turn her head and look at her men.

“Rifles! Present arms!” she shouted, nodding with pride when they readied themselves.

“60th Rifles reporting for duty, sir” she then told to Sharpe, stepping aside, catching a glimpse of a smiling Taylor.

After another look at her Sharpe approached the lined men, checking them critically one by one, until he stopped abruptly in front of a young boy.

"Name?" he snapped, staring steadily at the soldier.

"Ross, sir."

"Then keep your chin up, Ross! We're soldiering, not bloody praying!"

Harper couldn't help but grin at such a display, and shot a quick glance at the seemingly impassive Captain. She was a sight, indeed. And he was sure that the detail hadn't passed unnoticed to Sharpe.

Cassie was clenching her fists at that sight, trying to hide her feelings at the other.

He was worse than she was expecting. A filthy bastard, indeed.

When he had finished his inspection, many screams later, she sighed in relief and gave a little bit of freedom to her men, walking away, desiring a little time to herself.

But Taylor followed her.

“Major Sharpe wants us to have lunch with him”.

“Oh no…” was her answer. “I can’t stand him, you know that!”

“Yes, Cassie, I know it, but it would be wise to avoid a fight with him. He’s a Major and he will give you orders. So try and smile, ok?”

As always Taylor was wise and relaxed, giving her good advices.

“I’m sorry Tom. It’s just…” she started, trying to calm down. “Have you seen his face? He was laughing at us! There weren’t faults in our men, but he complained about a chin, about how many times they wash themselves! Oh, come on Tom!”

She was damn right, but he would have to convince her to be nice to that man, or things would be worse for them all.

After having washed herself, Cassandra walked with Thomas to Sharpe’s tent. The Major was outside with another man, apparently waiting for them.

“Sir”.

"Captain Nicolls." Sharpe greeted Cassie, standing up, and then gestured towards the young man that was with her. "Taylor, isn't it? The 60th Rifles' best shot."

"Aye, sir, he is." Harper confirmed, nodding gravely, "Major Nairn speaks highly of him."

"So he does about our Captain here, Pat." Sharpe smiled, eyeing the girl, and sat down again. "I'm glad you did accept the invitation."

“It’s an honour, sir” she replied, sitting down in front of Sharpe, at Taylor’s side.

Tom gave a look around, not daring to break the awkward silence that was in the air for he didn’t know how the Major could react.

Cassie was deep in her thoughts, still trying to decide if Sharpe was laughing at her, or was really glad she had come.

"So" Sharpe began while a soldier was serving them some soup, glancing at the girl. "How did you happen to get in the army, madam? I've never seen a woman fighting for her flag before, aside from partisans."

At his words, Taylor worriedly looked at her, before to turn his attention to the soup.

Sharpe was crossing a mined path.

“My father was a Major, a valiant one. He was killed in a skirmish with a french patrol. I decided to join the army because I had nothing left at home. My mother had died when I was two, and I haven’t got brothers or sisters. A marriage of convenience was not in my plans, so… here I am” she explained, raising her eyes to meet his for the first time.

"I am sorry." he murmured, and stared intently into her luminous eyes until Harper eventually cleared his throat, causing both him and Cassie to turn in his direction.

"Why don't you tell her your story, sir?" the irishman grinned, "I'm sure she'd be most delighted to hear it."

Sensing the challenge Sharpe didn't draw back, but nodded and hinted a smile, raising an eyebrow. "Of course." he said, knowing that Harper was doing that with the sole purpose to embarrass him, for the girl was without any doubt an aristocrat. But probably Harper yet didn't know that he wasn't so easily embarrassed.

"I was born in a brothel, my father's unknown and my mother was a whore." Sharpe began quietly, "She died when I was three, and thereafter I spent some years in an orphanage, until a sweep bought me when I was twelve. I fled, and survived by living in a ginhouse and stealing, 'til I killed an inn-keeper and had to flee again, to Yorkshire this time. And there I entered the army."

"I'm so very proud of you, sir." Harper said solemnly, eyeing first Cassie and then Taylor, a smug grin on his rugged face.

"Oh are you, Pat?" Sharpe chuckled, flashing him a sidelong glance. "I fear there's nothing to be proud of."

Taylor looked at him with an hint of disgust, shaking his head, but Cassie just looked intensely at him, as if her piercing eyes could see through his very soul.

“My turn to be sorry” she quietly stated, resuming her eating.

"Sorry?" Sharpe asked, quite surprised by her reaction. "There is no need to be sorry. I'm happy where I am now."

He had expected her to despise him for what he'd said, or even stand up and leave the table. it wouldn't have been the first time, nor certainly the last. And conversely there she was, quietly eating her soup as if anything was fine. He had probably underestimated her. Or she was merely acting, he couldn't figure that out.

"I agree, sir." Harper said then, while busying himself with the soup with great enthusiasm, "No need to be sorry, sir, but you must admit that you've had quite a.. boisterous youth."

"I give you that, Pat."

“Life is not always easy. And bad boys can born even in rich families” Cassie explained.

“As honoured men can born in poor families. I don’t like prejudices. I like to have my personal opinion”.

"So do I." Sharpe replied, "But especially in the army not many people do, not the high ones anyway,so I was a bit astonished by your reaction, to be honest. I didn't expect that. You surprised me, m'lady."

“And you haven’t see anything yet!” chuckled Taylor, smiling to his Captain.

“Cassandra is full of surprise, sir. And you’ll discover it by yourself”.

"You seem to know her quite well, Taylor." Sharpe stated, returning his attentions to the food, while Harper was suspiciously eyeing the two, especially the young sergeant. "Is there something going on?" he asked the boy in a confidential tone, "Between you two, I mean."

At his words Tom had to suppress a laugh, clearly amused.

“I know her from many years. That’s all. I respect her and she respects me. And we try to help each other. Nothing more”.

"I see." Harper nodded, gnawing pensively at some bread. "I was asking just because Nosey would not be happy about relationships between his soldiers as he always discourages such things, so he does. He doesn't want his men to get distracted, you know. My Major here knows that quite well."

"Shut your gob, Harper!" Sharpe snapped in response, flashing him a grim look and then resuming his eating.

"Sorry sir. Didn't mean to embarrass you, I did not." the irishman replied, trying to hold back the urge to chuckle. To him it was quite clear that his friend was indeed interested in the newly arrived Captain, and just having the chance to tease him about the matter amused him no end. Sharpe, though, didn't seem all that amused.

Tom flashed a quick glance at Cassie, before quietly resuming his eating.

Sharpe was the strangest Major they had ever met, indeed.

Cassie from her side continued to eat, saying almost nothing, studying the situation around her with the outmost interest.

Harper's words had confirmed what she and Tom knew. Sharpe was one that loved women too much.

Once their meal was finished Sharpe stood up, quickly followed by his sergeant. "I will see you at Wellington's tent at four, Captain Nicolls." he said, and then bowed his head before stalking away with Harper at his side.

Quite strangely, Sharpe was in time that afternoon. When he entered the tent Nairn exchanged a quick glance with the Lord, and smirked.

"Did you bother to glance at your watch this time, Richard?"

"I don't have one, sir." Sharpe replied quietly, "I can't afford it."

"Well anyway, I think I may actually have a job for you two." Wellington said then, sensing that it would have been better to change the subject, "Care for a reconnaissance tour this night, Major?"

"Of course, sir."

"Very well." the Lord nodded, and then glanced at Cassandra. "Captain Nicolls, what about you?"

"My men are ready, sir. It's not a problem to me" she nodded, turning her head to look at Sharpe.

He was an enigmatic man, indeed.

But it would be better for her to stay away from him. He meant troubles.

Wellington nodded, and glanced at the man who was standing at his side. "Go on, Nairn."

"We were thinking about a small force" he said, "Like ten men, two officers and eight soldiers. No more. My agents say that the french are planning to take over the fortress, and use it as headquarters before their military forces pour into Spain to attack. And they also say that two french companies are camped a few miles north from here, waiting to attack and take said fortress, so there's where you will go."

"Just to patrol, sir?"

"Yes, Sharpe, just to patrol. They'd outnumber you ten to one."

"If there is actually a french camp" Wellington said then, "you will come back, take your companies and prepare to attack. But don't even try to do such a thing with just ten men Sharpe, is that clear?"

"Very clear, sir."

Cassie looked at him again, sighing softly.

It would be their first work together, and she just hoped that everything could go fine.

"Is that all, sir?"

"Yes, there is nothing else." the Lord nodded, shifting his gaze to Sharpe. "Lead her to the depot, Major, and give her a tent."

"I sure will, sir."

"Good. Dismissed."

Once outside, Taylor approached her, but she turned to Sharpe.

"What men do you want to bring with us, sir?"

"I will bring Harper, Hagman, Harris and Cooper. Pick your best men, madam." Sharpe replied, and then turned his attentions to the young sergeant. "Did they already give you a tent, Taylor?"

"No, sir" the other promptly replied, while Cassie was walking towards her men, choosing three of the best shooters.

Taylor was her forth, he knew that. He was always with her when she needed him.

"Are we planning to stay for the night?"

"We'll be walking tonight. We'll march north, sergeant, for at least five miles." Sharpe replied, raising an eyebrow. "You can sleep once we come back, so you'd better get a tent and set it before we leave."

"Yes sir" he immediately replied, nodding and turning to talk to Cassie.

"We'll bring Bell, Carter and Ramsay. And you, obviously. Make them ready, come on" she ordered, sighing.

"Come, let's get you a tent." Sharpe said then, leading her to the marquee they used as a depository. Once inside he browsed through the shelves, until a few moments later he handed the girl a white bundle, hinting a smile. "There you go. Is there something else you need?"

No thank you" she smiled. "I'll be fine".

Just then she noticed that the tents where over, and looked again at him with a worried frown on her face.

"Are you sure you can give it to me, sir? I can sleep without a tent, that's not a problem".

"You are an officer." Sharpe replied matter-of-factly, staring at her. "And a woman, thus I want to be sure you'll get all the privacy you need. I think you know how soldiers are.."

"I don't need you to worry about me" she promptly replied.

"I can defend myself, and I don't want any privileges just because I'm a woman. I'm not weak, sir. So don't consider me so".

And with that she stalked outside, shacking her head. It was as they had told her.

Sharpe, the great women saviour. Yeah, but not hers.

She needed no one to save her backside.

Sharpe walked out of the marquee too, and sighed. "Captain Nicolls." he called, raising an eyebrow when she turned to look at him. "Full kit in two hours."

"Yes, Sir" she answered, a cold expression on her face.

When she had found a perfect spot, she carefully started to assemble her tent, sensing Sharpe's eyes on her. But she never turned back, or asked his help.

"So tell me the truth, sir.." began Harper confidentially, sitting in front of his friend, "She's quite tough for a woman, isn't she?"

Sharpe looked at him, his features expressing a mix of disbelief and amusement. He knew that Cassie could hear everything they were saying from where she was. And Harper, too, certainly knew that.

"I don't get it, Pat."

"But of course you do, sir. And you know that she's gonna give you a wee bit of a rough time, don't you?"

"What the devil are you talking about?" Sharpe asked then, eyeing the girl somewhat nervously.

"You'd better keep an eye on the Captain." Harper mumbled, "Some of the guys are making kind of.. randy comments about her."

Two hours later, Cassie, Tom, and their men were ready, waiting for Sharpe and his men.

Cassie had heard what Harper had said about being a tough woman, but she didn't mind it.

She had never had any friends apart from Tom, and she could well survive if Sharpe and his men wouldn't accept her.

It was something that usually happened with her.

Sharpe arrived only moments later, followed by his men.

"Captain Nicolls, three of your men will form a rear guard." he said quietly, "You and your sergeant will march ahead of the column with me and Harper, and my men will follow."

"Yes Sir" she answered, turning to look at her men.

"Bell, Carter and Ramsay" she called. "You'll be the rear guard. Keep your eyes open and pay attention, ok? I want you to be very careful".

Her men nodded and walked at the rear, without any words.

Taylor looked at her, smiling.

"They love you, don't they?"

"Can't blame 'em.." Harper commented, flashing an amused glance at his Major, and causing the chosen men to chuckle quietly.

"Rifles, fall in!" Sharpe commanded, trying to cut it short, and nodded when they joined the column. "March!"

Taylor was walking alongside to Harper, looking now and them to Cassie and Sharpe that were marching side by side a few meters forward.

"They seem so…awkward, don't they?"

"Oh, dear boy.." Harper grinned, eyeing the couple. "I think they like each other very much, on the quiet. They're just too proud and stubborn to find the courage to admit it and act upon it."

"Oh, well I know that your Major likes all the women…yes, they say he is a heart breaker" he grinned back, knowing that he was right about them.

"And they're absolutely right, you bet. He'd usually.. enjoys himself with anything in a petticoat." Harper nodded, turning to look at the young man. "But see, this time it's different. First, she doesn't wear a petticoat, now does she? And then.. well, he didn't even try to seduce her yet, though it's quite clear he's interested on her. And that's odd."

"Yeah?" Taylor asked, looking at him and then at his Captain.

"I don't know if Cassie would ever accept him seducing her. She's far too…sophisticated…and she's got a sweet heart, even if she seems so tough. I think she's only scared and believes that men would try and threat her as a slave if only they would have the possibility to do that".

"He would never do that" Harper replied decidedly, shaking his head. "I'm sure of that. Sure he may be unfaithful, but he's not that kind of man. A proper bastard, that's what Major Sharpe is."

Chuckling, Tom shook his head.

"Unfaithful? Well if he would like to stay safe he should learn to be faithful, for Cassie would cut off his balls if only she should discover something like this".

At those words Harper bursted into laughter, unable to restrain himself, and caused both Sharpe and Cassie to turn and look at him.

"What's the matter, Pat?"

"Nothing sir" the irishman chuckled, "Sorry sir."

Shaking his head, the Major exchanged a quick glance with the girl before turning to look at the road ahead of them.

They walked for hours, and Cassandra never spoke to Sharpe, for she was sure that he would laugh at her.

Now and then she turned to look at him, trying to convincer herself that she wasn't interested in that kind of man. At all.

Once they had come back, they reported what they had seen, and Cassie went directly to her tent, too tired to speak to anyone.

It was just some hours later that a young soldier that had drank too muck whiskey started to quarrel with one of his friends. (Just for information: whiskey with an 'e' is Irish/American but you'll have a lot of US readers no doubt so I'll shut up here ; ) )

Without even understanding how that had happened, she looked in horror at the tent that was bursting into flames at his side, and he started to scream, trying to wake up the others.

Upon hearing the screams Harper and Ramona peered out of their tent, and Sharpe came hurriedly out of his own while still trying to unbutton his leggings, looking around almost frantically. When he recognized Cassie's tent he rushed there, trying to figure out a way to rescue her, since both the entrance and the right side were burning and the flames were spreading quickly to the back. He drew his sword in order to make a gap in the heavy fabric on the only side still undamaged, and then entered the tent, trying to see Cassie through the heavy, vicious smoke.

She was crouched on the ground, coughing helplessly, trying to shelter her mouth and eyes from the smoke with both hands.

"I bet you didn't plan a barbecue for tonight." Sharpe said, and without thinking twice he unceremoniously grabbed her arm to drag her outside.

“Let her go!” immediately cried out Taylor, in seeing how the man was treating her.

“Cant’ you see that she’s not well? She’s a lady, sir”.

“I’m ok Tom” she murmured between her chocking, trying to calm him.

“No, you aren’t”.

"Sorry if I didn't spread a red carpet to take her out of there, Taylor," Sharpe retorted, flashing the boy a grim look. "but she was about to become a roasted lady and I just didn't have the time to do it."

Then he sighed and looked down at the girl, offering his hand to help her up.

"Come with me" Sharpe said gently, "You need to lay down. Harper, fetch some water!"

Once inside his tent, she turned to face him, sighing softly and still trembling.

“Thank you sir, but Taylor can attend me, I don’t want to give you troubles”.

"Nonsense. I'm just glad you're still alive."

In that moment Harper peered inside the tent, handing the other man a canteen and eyeing the girl who was sitting on the bed. "Here's the water, sir."

"Thanks, Pat."

Once they were alone again Sharpe sat next to her, and poured some of the water onto a piece of cloth in order to clean up her face. Then he gave her the canteen and drew closer, starting to wipe her cheeks with the utmost care and paying attention not to look into her eyes, for he was sure that such a thing would have only embarrassed her further.

“Sir…”she started, hesitating.

“I can do it by myself, you shouldn’t waste your time to do such a thing. You can return to bed…”

It was the first time from when her father had died that a man took care of her, and she was fighting the urge to run away.

She was scared. After almost five years she was scared again.

"Hush." Sharpe smiled, his grey eyes meeting hers. "I'll take a blanket and sleep outside, you'll stay here in my bed. Now stop calling me sir, stop complaining, drink your water and let me take care of business."

“How should I call you?” she asked hesitatingly, her eyes fixed in his.

She was really surprised by his behaviour. Maybe after all she had been unjust to him, from the beginning.

"Sharpe. Richard. Whatever." he replied, shrugging. "Hold still, we're almost done."

He wiped carefully her brow and chin, paying attention not to rub too roughly, and once finished he smiled again.

"There you go. You'll need a bath anyway tomorrow, but at least now you won't be mistaken for a coal miner."

“Thank you…Richard” she told him, smiling.

“You can call me Cassie. You…you saved my life tonight…”

"I'm just glad to have you still here." he repeated softly, placing the palm of his hand upon her cheek and stroking it lightly with the thumb for a moment, his eyes lingering into hers. Then he drew back and stood up, turning around to grab a blanket from the pile of freshly washed linen that Ramona had brought him earlier.

"Rest now." he said, nearing the exit of the tent. "And wake me if you do need anything."

“Yes” she murmured. “Good night”.

After he had gone, Cassie leaned down on the soft bed, sighing softly and closing her eyes, tiredly running an hand on her face.

The events of that day continued to torment her, but over all the face of Richard Sharpe was tormenting her.

She could almost feel his hands on her face, he had been gentle and gallant to leave her his tent.

Even if she was tired and still scared, sleep arrived later that night.

The next morning Cassie was still in bed when Sharpe silently entered the tent, not wanting to wake her. He placed the mug with the hot tea that Harper had prepared for her on the small table, and couldn't help but smile as he glanced at the sleeping girl. She was lying on a side, breathing slowly and steadily, her full lips slightly parted and a stray lock of hair hanging down her forehead, just to end up in a dark streak over the white pillow. The urge to push back said lock of hair was almost unbearable, but then again he didn't want to wake her. Nor he wished to find himself pinned to the ground with a blade pressing against his throat, so he just chuckled quietly and kneeled to rummage into his bag, searching for a clean shirt and trousers.

Once the clothes were found he cautiously glanced at her again. Eyes still closed, breathing still slow and deep. Good.

He turned around, giving her his back, and quickly stripped of his shirt and pants, hurrying to put on the clean leggings. She wouldn't certainly have been all that happy, waking up just to find a stark naked man in front of her. He was just fastening said leggings when he heard a noise coming from the bed, and turned his head to find that Cassie's eyes, now open and bright as ever, were staring at him. He turned around completely, clearing his throat, and inexplicably found that he preferred to look straight into those eyes rather than show her his back, the flogging scars suddenly burning with shame.

Why was he acting like such a spineless fool?

“Good morning” she murmured at him in a sleepy voice, smiling softly.

She had dreamed of him that night, images of his beautiful features still filling her mind.

When she had opened her eyes he was dressing up, and she had admired his wonderful pale bottom, but she suddenly had felt ashamed of herself.

Then she had noticed the scars on his back, white stripes on his tanned skin, and she had felt the unbearable urge to go and caress them one by one, to assure herself that they didn’t hurt him anymore.

But she said nothing to him about them. The look on his face had spoken enough for her.

"Mornin', Cassie." Sharpe said then, smiling back at her as he leaned to grab the white shirt. He slipped it on and retrieved the dirty clothes from the ground before he stood again, holding the small bundle tight under his arm. His eyes lingered into hers for a long moment and he found that to see her like that, just awoken and lying in bed, was one of the most enticing sights he'd ever seen.

"I brought you some tea."

“Thank you” she smiled again, sitting and passing an hand into her long hair to put them in place.

“I’ll never thank you enough for what you did for me last night. This morning I’ll go and search for another tent, so you’ll have yours back. I don’t want you to sleep outside your own tent because of me”.

"I'm used to sleeping in the open." Sharpe replied plainly, shrugging. "Such cool air's a nostrum for one's health, you know. Keeps you young." he chuckled then, nearing the exit and still holding the bundle of clothes under his arm. "I must give these to Ramona. Get dressed and drink your tea, I'll ask Harper to get you something to eat."

“Ok” she shrugged, taking the mug into both hands and quietly sipping the hot tea, thinking to what to do about her tent.

Just a moment later, Tom peered into the tent, smiling when he saw her.

“You scared me to death, Cassie. Don’t ever try and do it again!”

“Oh, yes, Taylor. Don’t worry, I’ll never purposely almost die again” she chuckled, shaking her head.

“”How do you feel?” Tom asked after a while, sitting at her side. “Was he good to you last night? Because if he tried something I’ll go and beat the hell out of him!”

“Hey!” she snapped, immediately defending Sharpe, without even noticing it. “Be quiet! He saved my life, and gave me his tent and bed, so please, don’t talk this way about him, ok?”

“Ok, ok” he sighed. “What do you intend to do now?”

“I don’t know, yet. I have to find another tent, but yesterday I saw there was just one left” she sighed, raising her head when Harper entered the tent.

"Mornin' miss" the sergeant greeted Cassie, smiling, and then handed her a plate on which had been carefully arranged some cookies and an inviting piece of cake.

"Ramona sends this for you, she was quite worried about your well being after what happened the last night." Harper said, smiling somewhat proudly, and then added with a smirk: "Oh, and Major Sharpe needs you... to arrange the supplies that have just arrived from England."

“Thank you, Harper. And to Ramona, too” she smiled politely. “I’m sure they will be delicious. And…please, could you say to Sharpe that I’ll be there in ten minutes?” she then asked, biting the cake and smiling.

“Oh, God! Ramona is a great cook!”

"Thank you, miss. I know." Harper chuckled, patting his belly in a quite eloquent way, before walking out.

When Cassie stepped out of the tent Sharpe was sitting at a small table with Hagman, and both were engrossed studying a map. The rifleman was the first to notice her presence. "Good morning, Captain." he greeted her, causing Sharpe to raise his head from the map and turn to look at her.

“Good morning” she greeted him, turning then her attention to the other man.

“Did you ask for my presence, Major?”

Sharpe nodded, standing, and then pointed at the two wagons parked next to the depot. "Those supplies arrived this very morning from England. There are blankets, food, uniforms, soap and such things, we'll have to sort anything out and then arrange it in the depository. Most of the soldiers are out of the camp, so Wellington decided that we must take care of that. Harper and Hagman will think about the food." he explained, and then darted an amused glance at his sergeant. "And that does not mean that you'll have to store it in your belly, Pat."

"Me, sir?" Harper asked, feigning offence. "I could never do such a thing. Not since I've already had a quite abundant breakfast this morning. I'd dig some brandy, though. Is there any?"

"Of course there is. For the officers." Sharpe grinned wickedly, and then shifted his gaze to Cassie. "Shall we?"

“Why not…” she grinned back, sitting on the table and looking at them.

Without another word Sharpe disappeared into his tent, and came out some moments later holding a dark bottle triumphantly in his hands. Then he glanced at Harper and took off the cork with a smirk.

"Just for the officers, Pat." he repeated teasingly upon seeing the longing look in the irishman's eyes, and then drank a generous amount of brandy directly from the bottle before handing it over to the girl.

"What do you think, Captain?" he asked then, smiling. "Should we offer some of our brandy to these poor soldiers?"

The girl sipped some liquor from the bottle, pretending to be thinking, then chuckled and handed it to Harper.

“You deserved it. I’ve never seen no one that was so devoted to his superior” she smiled, eyeing Sharpe.

“Maybe just Tom…”

"Right you are, miss!" Harper nodded with some pride, smiling at her and then eyeing Sharpe. "He's changed a whole lot since I'm taking care of him. I took him and put him straight on the right path, so I did. Isn't it, sir?"

"Drink your brandy before I decide to take the bottle back." Sharpe warned him, trying to assume a surly appearance and to hold back a smile at the same time. But he suddenly frowned when he noticed that Collett, on the other side of the camp and apparently utterly disgusted by their informal behaviour, was staring intently at them. To say the truth he was staring mostly at Cassie, and such a discovery didn't please Sharpe at all.

When he followed his gaze Harper grimaced in response, and shook his head.

"A right bastard, that Collett." the irishman commented, taking another swig of brandy. "I wonder why on earth did they make him Major."

"He has friends at court, it seems."

"He claims to be your friend as well, sir."

"Mine?" Sharpe asked, his voice dripping sarcasm. "Of course. With friends like that, who needs enemies? At this rate we'll be dining with the french next."

Cassie looked at the Major they where indicating, a disgusted expression on her face.

“He asked me to marry him some years ago. When I refused…well, I have made myself another enemy…”

Sharpe raised an eyebrow at her words, and flashed another grim glance at said man before switching his gaze to Harper.

"Enough brandy for today, Pat, we'd better get a move on." he said, sighing. "Come, Captain."

They entered the tent that was used as a deposit, and Cassie turned to look at him.

“About tonight…I don’t like you to sleep outside, Richard. We are both adult, so it’s not a problem for me we sleep inside…W-what do you think?”

He seemed to think about the proposal for a while, until he eventually nodded, shrugging faintly. "I will sleep inside the tent with you then" he agreed, "On one condition: you'll get the bed, and I'll be the one who'll sleep on the ground. Agreed?"

“But it’s your bed!” she protested, shaking her head.

“I don’t want to steal your bed, come on! I’m a soldier, too, I can sleep on the ground, it will not be the first time!”

"Didn't you hear me, Captain?" Sharpe asked then, folding his arms across the chest and raising an eyebrow. "Isn't wise to question your superiors' decisions, so you'd better agree to get that bloody bed without complaining." he chuckled, "Agreed, then?"

“You should not challenge me, Major” she just answered.

“For you don’t know that I’m very stubborn. And I almost always question my superior’s decision, mr Sharpe” she grinned wickedly, before to walk out, to the supplies wagons.

The man merely shook his head with amusement and followed the girl, helping her to take crates and sacks out of the wagon and unload them in front of the depot. He could still feel Collett's eyes on them, and he was pretty sure that the bugger was still following their every move, but he didn't even bother to look in his direction.

As if she had read his thoughts, Cassie merely sighed, glancing at the man.

“He’s quite enjoying himself, isn't he?”

"He'll better find himself something else to do, if he doesn't want to get a tanned arse." Sharpe replied, almost growling, while unloading the crates now with great fervour as if to give some vent to his pent-up anger.

He had seen Collett's face, back when they were drinking at his tent. He had seen it properly, and of all the available feelings the way the bugger was looking at Cassie had aroused in Sharpe the very least expected one. Jealousy.

When they had almost finished, Cassie sat up near to him, sighing softly and looking at the camp.

“So, how did you managed to become Major?”

"I was sergeant in the 95th Rifles" Sharpe began quietly, eyeying the girl. "I've been raised to lieutenant by Wellington after I did him a.. favour, and then I merely did my duty, nothing more. And what about you? How did you convince them to accept a young lady in the army?"

“My father was a Major” she explained, turning to look at him.

“And a damned good one, too. He died with honour in battle and after his death…well they felt as if they owed everything to me. But the only thing I wanted was to be treated as a man. I like to be independent, to have my own money, to think with my head. This could never be possible if I would find myself a man”.

"And why not?" Sharpe asked curiously, and tilted his head as he stared attentively at her for some moments, as if actually searching for an answer into her eyes.

"There are also some worthy men out there, not just rogues like me." he continued, shrugging, and hinted a smile. "Men who would be honoured to make you as happy as you deserve."

“I don’t want any man” she just answered.

“But I’m not here to talk about my motivations, for I’m sure I would bore you to death” she chuckled. “Beside this, I don’t think you’re a rogue”.

Sharpe smiled in response, shaking his head, and then sighed. "I don't mind being one" he grinned, "But the others usually do, and I know that here at the camp some of the officers are quite upset to know that your company has been assigned to me.. primarily because you are of the blood, and a lady should never spend this much time with what used to be a common soldier."

“Oh, c’mon Richard!” she sighed. “I’ve already told you that I don’t mind what they say but…what I feel. You saved my life and gave me your bed. I’m more than sure that no one of the others would have done this for me. They like to name theirselves gentlemen, but the only one I’ve seen here it’s you. And it’s not a matter of blood”.

"Alright then." Sharpe smiled, watching the girl closely for some moments and then leaning towards her. "I'm glad to know that you don't mind what they say" he said without averting his gaze. "But what do you feel?"

“And what do you feel?” she asked back, not wanting to tell him before to try and understand if he would laugh at her.

"Awe." he replied after a few moments, still looking intently into Cassie's eyes. "I've never met such a proud and valiant woman before. You have my regards, madam."

“Thank you, m’lord” she chuckled. “I’ve never met such a gentleman before. Never. You are…charismatic. Your men adore you. And…you’re brave. Possibly the bravest man I’ve ever met”.

At her words Sharpe lowered his gaze and smiled, a little embarrassed and clearly not used to such compliments. "Thank you." he said simply, looking at her one more time before he stood. "Lunch time."

She hadn’t time to answer, for Tom was approaching her.

“Cassie…you should stay in bed!”

“I’m fine. And I’m just doing my job” she answered, shaking her head, clearly amused by his behaviour.

“Well, so would you like to have lunch with your men? They were so worried about you…I think that to see that you’re ok will help them” Tom asked her after a while, glancing at Sharpe.

“It’ll be a pleasure” she chuckled, taking hold of his arm and walking away, after a last look at Richard.

When they entered the marquee where the soldiers were having lunch, Sharpe couldn't help but looking around in search of Cassie, surprising even himself with such behaviour. On his part Harper couldn't help but chuckle, as he walked next to him to reach the table where the other chosen men were already eating.

"She's lunching outside, sir, with her men."

"Who?" Sharpe asked curiously, even though in fact he already knew the answer.

Damn it. Was it really that obvious?

"Captain Nicolls, sir."

"Good to hear that she gets along well with her soldiers, then."

"Oh yes sir, she does indeed. And she seems to be getting along well with her superiors, too."

"Does she?"

Harper merely rolled his eyes in response, and shook his head as he watched him join the others at the table.

Sharpe wasn't the only one to notice Cassie's absence, for Major Collet was looking around to see if she would have joined him.

Just when his stomach couldn't bear another minute without eating, he sighed deeply, swallowing his wine and started to talk to his men.

"You know, that Captain Nicolls is really, really a slut" he started, causing them to laugh at his words.

"I am more than sure that she would cry out loudly, begging me for more, if only I could have her for an hour".

"She would beg me to have it harder and faster, I'm sure of that!"

Sharpe was trying hard to restrain a fit of rage, his hands clenched into tight fists, but he just couldn't stomach any more of that. When he heard Collett laugh mockingly he got up abruptly and stalked towards his table, followed by a quite worried Harper.

Once he had reached Collett, Sharpe unceremoniously grabbed him by the collar, forcing the man to stand up and face him.

"You should be ashamed of yourself." he hissed, looking at him with disgust. The bewildered officer had no time to reply, for a moment later he was dragged roughly out of the marquee just to end up flat in the dirt, with Sharpe on top of him, punching and brawling angrily.

Cassie saw them, advised by one of the men, and ran to stop Sharpe, seeing his face stained with dirt and blood.

Tom and two other men stopped Collett, taking him away.

The girl took hold of Sharpe’s hand, guided him to their tent, asking for some water and a piece of cloth.

Once they were alone, she sat in front of him, taking his chin and gently forcing him to look at her.

“What has gotten into you?”

"He insulted you out loud in the middle of the refectory." he said quietly, as if his reaction had been almost a natural consequence of Collett's deplorable behaviour.

“You…” she managed to whisper, looking at him with wide eyes, not knowing what to do.

When she was somewhat sure to have regained her control, she sighed softly, gently caressing his chin with her thumb.

“You did it…for me?”

Sharpe said nothing in response, but wiped away a streak of trickling blood from his cheek with the sleeve of his shirt, all the while staring deeply into Cassie's eyes. He spoke only a few moments later, the tone of his voice strangely soft and low. "I couldn't stand such an affront to your virtue."

“Oh, God” she whispered, gently caressing his cheek, and smiling softly.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you”.

Yes, she had told him.

Aware that maybe it was the wrong thing to do, she just started to wipe his cheeks with the utmost care, trying not to hurt him even more.

He stopped her almost immediately, laying a hand over hers and then drawing it away from his face, his gaze still fixed steadily on her eyes. He didn't let go of Cassie's hand, holding it into his, and reached to caress her face with the other.

"What's happening, Cassie?" he whispered, tracing a light path from her cheek to her lips with a finger. "Are you frightened?"

“Yes” she admitted, wetting her lips nervously.

“I’ve allowed no man to come close to me from when my father had died and…I think I’m just scared. Scared to lose my freedom, to be used and then pushed aside…”

"I am scared, too" Sharpe acknowledged quietly, still caressing her cheek with all the tenderness he could muster. "Scared by the way you make me feel, and.. scared because I didn't dare to hope that you could return such feelings, and now I'm not sure I deserve it.."

After a deep sigh he drew her closer by placing a hand behind her neck and brushed his lips tenderly over hers, retreating to study her reaction before the kiss could get more intimate.

Smiling softly, the girl gently caressed his hair, closing her eyes and caressing his lips with hers, relaxing under his touch.

In no time Cassie was enveloped in the warmest of embraces, and he was worshipping her lips with utmost reverence, sweet kiss after sweet kiss. He drew back just for a moment, just to look into her eyes, before resuming the kissing business, this time gently nibbling at her lower lip and then brushing it with the tip of his tongue, a contented sigh escaping from him as he closed his eyes again.

Everything felt so right and perfect, and some moments later Cassie parted her lips to grant his tongue access, hugging him back, stroking lightly his back, forgetting of everything else but that man. Richard Sharpe. The man that had stolen her heart and soul with his bravery, his gentlessness, his way of life.

He was everything she had ever dreamed of. It was almost unbelievable to have him in her arms.

Sharpe eventually drew back only due to lack of air. He was sure that otherwise he could have kissed her like that even forever, and he couldn't suppress a little smile at the thought. Her body seemed to fit so perfectly against his, and she felt so good that when they had parted he had regretted at once the warmth of her skin, her luscious scent and the sweet taste of her mouth. And she was beautiful.

Let the Frogs attack, let them loot and burn up the camp. I don't care. Not as long as I'm with her.

"Are you still frightened?" he whispered with a smile, cupping her face with both hands.

“No” she whispered back, smiling sweetly and gently kissing his lips again.

“But now…would you let me take care of your face? I’m sure it burns like hell, so don’t even try and tell me that it’s all right…”

"You're right" he confirmed with a smirk, nodding. "It actually burns like hell, though my face is the very last of all my thoughts right now."

Said that he leaned towards her, still holding her face gently into his hands, and gave her another lingering, sweet kiss. "I could kiss you forever."

“You should do it, you know?” she chuckled, kissing him back, and brushing the tip of her noise against his.

After that kiss she poured some water on the cloth and started to take care of his wounds, gently wiping away the mud and dirt.

“I am sorry but I think it will hurt a little bit…”

"It can't be worse than taking a bullet off your leg without any sort of anesthetic, now can it?" he chuckled, doing his best not to draw back every time she touched a particularly sore area. He didn't complain, though, even if the dull, throbbing ache on his left cheek was telling him quite clearly that it would have ended up in a black eye the day after. There were worse things, after all.

“You’re an amazing creature” she whispered, shacking her head, giving him a sweet kiss on his lips everytime she felt him tremble in pain.

Just when she had finished, she put everything aside, gently caressing his hair, and then, recollecting her courage, she decided to speak.

“It is true that there can’t be relationship between soldiers here?”

"Well" Sharpe began, struggling to hold back a chuckle and to keep a straight face, "Counting that the soldiers are usually men I'd say that Wellington doesn't ehrm.. encourage such things. But I don't know what he would say in this very case, I only know that he doesn't want us to get distracted or.. overtired."

Grinning in response, Cassie hugged him again, nuzzling his throat playfully.

“Well, so I’ll pay attention not to overtire you. I promise that solemnly”.

"Oh, do you?" he teased, winding his arms around Cassie's slim waist to hold her tight. " Anyway I can assure you that I'd be more than happy to get overtired because of you, m'lady. It'd be quite a honor to me, in fact."

Before she could answer, someone approached the tent, and she immediately drew back.

“Cassie?” Tom asked from outside. “Are you in there?”

“Yes, I am” she answered, trying to regain her control.

When she was sure that everything was in the right place, she told him to enter.

Taylor looked at the two of them, noticing that Cassie was particularly strange towards Sharpe.

“How do you feel, Major?” he asked then. “And why in the name of God did you punch him?”

"Insult to a woman, Taylor." Sharpe replied, flashing a quick glance at Cassie. Then he reached to pick up his sword, absentmindedly abandoned on the bed when the girl had led him there to tend to his wounds.

"Oh" Tom just answered, glancing at the two, feeling that there was something unusual there.

"You are both invited to a dinner with the other officers this evening".

"We'll be there" Cassie answered, flashing a quick glance to Sharpe.

"Very well. But now why don't you come to our men?" Tom asked her, smiling and taking hold of her arm.

"You know they like it when you talk to them".

"All right. I'm coming with you" Cassie nodded, turning to face Sharpe for a moment.

"See you tonight, Richard. And please…try to stay away from trouble …"

"I'll try." he agreed, gazing deeply into her eyes for a moment, before Thomas literally dragged her away.

Harper was sitting outside with Hagman and Harris. They looked in his direction almost simultaneously when he stepped out of his tent, and shared a knowing glance before resuming their conversation. Sharpe merely sighed at the sight, without even daring to imagine what they were saying behind his back since Cassie had arrived at the camp, and had been assigned to his command by Wellington himself.

He definitely wasn't in the mood to join his men's drinking and gossiping, so he sat down outside his tent and pretended to be attending the upkeep of his rifle, glancing at Cassie now and then. She was sitting with her men at some distance, engrossed in what seemed a pleasant talk and smiling, smiling brightly. He couldn't help but smile too, at the sight.

"Already done for, eh sir?" Harper grinned then, causing the other two to chuckle helplessly and look at him. Sharpe merely darted them a grim glance and shook his head, before resuming his upkeep business.

That evening, Cassie entered Sharpe's tent to take some clean clothes from her bag.

To her surprise, the man was inside, clearly changing his shirt.

"Hey" she smiled at him.

"I think I'll have a bath. Taylor promised me to watch the door, so I'll have some privacy. I'm feeling sick of all this dirt".

At her words Sharpe's eyebrow raised almost of its own volition. Taylor, mh? Dangerous.

"Let the boy have some rest" he said nonchalantly after a moment, smiling. "I'll ask Harper to watch the door while you bathe."

“Harper?” she asked, taking her clothes and walking towards him.

“Do you think I can trust him?”

"Of course, you can trust Pat." the man nodded, grabbing Cassie by the waist and dragging her closer. "He knows quite well that I'll tan his arse if he tries anything."

“Are you jealous?” she teased him, chuckling, amused by his behaviour.

But before he could answer, her lips where pressed on his, and she gently caressed his hair, deepening the kiss after a while.

He returned the kiss eagerly, pressing his body against Cassie's, and couldn't suppress a chuckle when she drew back, obviously taken aback by his enthusiasm.

"Get your clothes" he said then, still smiling, while he neared the exit. "I'll tell Pat to watch your door in the meantime."

Unable to speak, Cassie just nodded, taking some clean underwear, a shirt, and her uniform.

Once she was ready, she told Tom that he could rest and eat, for Pat Harper was going to watch her door.

Taylor wasn’t happy, at all, but he said nothing, just whishing her a good evening and walking to his tent.

Outside the tent that was used as a bathroom from the officers, the Captain waited for Harper to arrive, noticing with a smile that Collet was now looking at his feet instead of following her every move.

A grinning Harper arrived only moments later. Armed. "At your service, miss" he said solemnly, "Sir said that no one must get too close to the tent while you bathe and no one will, my word. I'll show them my rifle if they'll try."

“Oh” she grinned back. “I trust you, Harper. And I’m sure no one will come to spy me”.

With that, she entered the tent where one of the women had put the hot water into the tub, and after she had undressed she entered it, sighing softly when the hot water touched her skin.

An half hour later, she was ready for the dinner. Her hair was clean, and she smelled in of jasmine.

“”Where’s the Major?” she asked to Pat, looking around to see if Sharpe was waiting for her.

"Here" said Sharpe's voice from behind her back. He smiled when both Harper and Cassie turned around to look at him, and added: "I was wandering about while waiting."

"She had a safe bath sir, so she did."

"I'm sure of that, Pat. Thank you."

“Thank you Pat” Cassie smiled at the other man, while approaching Sharpe.

“Are you ready for that dinner?” she asked, looking at the tent where the other officers were drinking and eating.

“I’m sure that it will be incredibly boring as usual”.

"Oh it will, no doubt." he sighed, shrugging, and then flashed her a quick glance. "But we could leave early, I'm pretty sure that they will hardly notice our absence anyway. They'll be too busy drinking and chattering to pay us any attention."

“I would be more than happy to leave as early as we can…” she chuckled, walking to the tent and greeting the other officers in a polite way.

Then when she turned back, Cassie noticed that almost no one had greated Sharpe, and so, smiling to herself, she sat in front of him, at the end of the long table, more than sure that they were going to make him pay for the fact that she had been assigned to him.

When the food was served Sharpe began to eat in silence, raising his head to look at Cassie now and then. He was well aware that some of the officers were occasionally glancing at them, muttering and chuckling, but he chose to simply ignore them and say nothing. He just hoped that Cassie wouldn't take it personally, for they weren't even worth her attention.

The girl was quietly sipping her soup, her eyes fixed on her food, smiling at herself.

They could talk as much as they wanted, but she wasn’t even hearing them. When her father had died Cassie had been treated even worse, and she had always walked with honour.

“So, Major” she began, smiling softly at him. Letting him understand that she was proud to be his friend and lover.

“Why don’t you tell me how did you manage to catch that French eagle? You’re famous for that…”

Sharpe stared at her for some moments, slightly taken aback by the question, until he smiled in response.

"I fought. I had to take it, no matter how badly I was injured. I'd promised that to a valiant man when he was dying and I couldn't draw back, I didn't want to draw back. And as you can see I'm still alive, after all, so it's probably been worth it."

“Yes. I’m sure of that” she smiled, resuming her eating.

She had done what she wanted. The other officers were attentively looking at Sharpe, slightly surprised by his revelation.

When the dinner was finished, the others were still chuckling and talking to each other, but Cassie was absently playing with the food in her plate, bored to death.

Sharpe was faring no better. He was leaning back on his chair and sipping some wine, looking around once in a while and listening to the officers' conversation. He was sure that he would have fallen asleep right there on his chair within minutes. He then reached for Cassie's legs under the table with his foot, and gave her a light tap in order to gain her attention. When she looked at him Sharpe smiled mischievously and nodded towards the exit, whitout a word, his gaze locked with Cassie's.

Smiling, the girl stood up, discovering that almost all the other officers were drunk and this was better for them, because no one would have noticed their departure.

Then she finally exited, waiting for Sharpe and walking at his side towards their tent.

Their soldiers where nowhere to be seen.

Good.

Cassie was sure that they would have laughed at them to see that they were acting as a real couple.

"Pat's probably with Ramona" Sharpe said quietly as they were walking side by side, as if reading her thoughts. "The others should be out drinking somewhere, and that's indeed a good thing. Especially since my men have already began to.. investigate about us."

He entered the tent after Cassie, and once inside he waited but a moment before to wind his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Do you think it's really that obvious, that I'm already mad about you?" he whispered, so close to Cassie that their lips were almost brushing against each other, making him shiver with anticipation of what was about to come.

“Oh, I don’t know that, Sharpe” she chuckled. “For I know that you act like this everytime you met a woman, so maybe it’s an habit for you…”

"I don't act like this everytime I meet a woman!" he playfully protested, pinching her cheek. "I just try to be.. polite, usually. But trust me if I say that I really, really like you, an awful lot. I'm not just being polite right now.."

“They say you’re an heartbreaker…” she whispered against his lips, gently caressing his back without averting her eyes.

"They also say I'm a rogue" he whispered in return, slowly sliding his hands down to her buttocks. "Yet you think I'm not, so it's probably just a matter of.. points of view. Don't you think?"

“Yes” she just managed to whisper, before to catch his lips in a passionate kiss, entwining her fingers into his golden hair, closing her eyes and moaning softly.

Soon the belt that held Cassie's sword was removed, and Sharpe was dragging her towards the small bed. He left her lips just to kiss and nibble her chin and neck now and then, while hurriedly unbuttoning her shirt to take it off, unable to wait further.

"I've probably wanted this since I first saw you" he whispered in between heated kisses and soft pants, yanking off her shirt and then hurling it to the side.

Cassie sighed softly in response, taking off his shirt and then removing his trousers, all the while sensually caressing his tanned skin, gently kissing his chest now and then.

Just a moment later, she lay on the bed, with Sharpe on the top.

Every coherent thought had vanished in the right moment he had removed her leggings, and the only sound was their frantic breathing and panting.

Though he would have taken her right there and then Sharpe imposed himself to slow down. He didn't want it to be a mere physical act, it wasn't just lust. He wanted to taste her, smell her, feel her, he wanted to learn every single curve of the glorious body lying beneath him. With excruciating slowness he slid down, kissing his way to her neck and then to her shoulders while caressing her breast and teasing tiny, rosy nipples to full erectness, soft gasps and ragged pants the only sounds coming from him.

The only sound that escaped Cassie’s lips was a trembling ‘God’ when he started to pay attention to her breasts.

She had never experienced something so overwhelming and at that point she was lost into those wonderful sensations.

They were both trembling with desire when he stopped his ministrations, just to climb up and lock their mouths together again. Without breaking the kiss he placed both hands on her buttocks in order to spread her legs wider, and pushed himself inside with a fluid motion and a muffled moan.

Wrapping her long legs around his waist, Cassie started to nibble and kiss his neck, matching his movements as best as she could, her body trembling against his.

Her head was spinning and she felt almost dizzy when he quickened his pace.

Within minutes the whole world around them disappeared. There were just the two of them, their entwined limbs, heat, sweat, soft pants and moans. Sharpe was managing to restrain himself from groaning out loud only with great effort, knowing that Pat and Ramona were in the nent next to theirs and might have heard something. Something unmistakable indeed, it wasn't certainly a good idea.

Some moments later, Cassie kissed him almost roughly, tring to muffle her moaning when he sent her over the edge, her back arched against his body, her limbs trembling.

Sharpe had to bite down on her shoulder to suppress a loud groan when Cassie's orgasm triggered his own, making his whole body quake helplessly and twitch violently, leaving him panting and spent moments later. He collapsed on top of her, nuzzling his face against her neck, savoring the moment in silence.

Without even noting it, the girl had enveloped him in a warm embrace, cuddling him sweetly, and kissing his head now and then.

She felt spent and tired, but also totally satisfied. It had been something special, she had never felt such powerful emotions, and it was almost unreal to her.

"Please don't wake me" he muttered after a while, chuckling, and tightening the hug. He raised his head to look into her eyes and then kissed her tenderly, a small smile curving his lips.

“Not planning to…” she muttered, kissing the tip of his nose and gently stroking his shoulders.

Slowly, her hands went further down, onto his back, and met his scars.

At that contact, her smile faded, and she felt pain inside to what they had done to him.

“Why?” she asked then, still caressing his scars, knowing that he would have understood what was she talking about.

"I was charged for something I never did. In India." he replied quietly, and then rested his head between her neck and shoulder, closing his eyes. Secretly grateful beyond reason for that comfort, though he'd would have never said it out loud. "It doesn't hurt anymore now."

“Those bastards…” she muttered, tightening the embrace.

“They always threat you horribly because you’re not of blood, and you’re not as rich as they are…that’s…disgusting…”

"You get used to it after a while." he smiled, and then began to caress her shapely arms slowly, almost instinctively, his eyes still closed. "Things got better when Wellington made me an officer, though. And they're even better now that I'm with you. I don't mind what the others say."

“I’ll always be at your side” she told him resolutely. “And they will never come against me, for I’m of blood. I’ve got the money they need so much, so they’ll never dare to contradict me”.

"So let's see.." he whispered mischievously then, lifting his head to look at her. "I've gained a lover, a friend, a Captain, and also a bodyguard. I've been lucky indeed to know you. You are a wonderful person, Cassie, the more I know you and the more I become aware of that."

“I think you’re wonderful, too” she smiled, averting her gaze. “But I don’t consider you a mere lover”.

With that, she settled her body on a side of the bed, closing her eyes.

“But it’s late, now. You should sleep. Rest well”.

Sharpe stared blankly at her back for some moments, leaning on his elbow, and sighed.

Ruined everything already, Major?

He snuggled closer to her, cautiously, fearing that Cassie would have pushed him away, but she didn't. A little encouraged by her reaction he wrapped his arms around her, his chest leaning against her back, and placed a kiss on her shoulder before closing his eyes.

The past week had been fairly uneventful.

Cassandra had barely spoken to Sharpe, but every night they shared those wonderful sensations and emotions, forgetting of everything except theirselves.

They had never talked of what they were doing. Cassie was more than sure that he was just having fun, and that he considered it a matter of simple physical need.

But yet she couldn’t believe that the considerate, tender and sweet lover that shared her bed was just another rogue that was using her.

Even if she was scared again, knowing that this situation would have hurt her, the girl had never asked him what was he thinking about their relationship.

Where they a couple or mere lovers?

That particular day, Cassandra and Thomas had been called from Wellington, and were now waiting for him to speak.

Sharpe was there, too, but as usual the girl almost didn’t look at him, for they had to keep secret their bond.

"Captain Nicolls." Wellington greeted her, while Nairn hinted a smile and bowed his head. Sharpe said nothing, nor did he turn to look at Cassie, he was merely waiting for the Lord's orders. Which came only moments later.

"I have a job for you, Captain" Wellington began, propping himself on his elbows over the desk and looking at her. "Do you feel like riding headlong to the fort to bring a letter, even if the way is scattered with french camps?"

"I can go, sir."

"No, Sharpe, you can't. You have a whole lot of jobs waiting for you here at the camp. So, Captain?"

“I can go, sir” she nodded resolutely.

“I could accompany her, sir” immediately added Taylor, having a step forward, silently praying Wellington to send him with her.

“She would be outnumbered, but in two we will have more possibilities, sir”.

Sharpe merely glared at the young sergeant, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Damn. Damn Taylor, damn Wellington, damn Nairn, damn the whole bloody army. He should have been the one to accompany Cassie, if not going on his own to deliver the damned letter.

"You can go, Taylor, but keep in mind that you absolutely need to arrive at the fort unnoticed by the french" the Lord said then, "And the same goes for the return."

“It will be done, sir” he nodded, trying to suppress a smile.

He could go with her. He would have been there to protect her, for this was a suicide mission.

The French were too many, and they would have to be very very sly to pass unnoticed, or they would kill him, and rape, torture and kill Cassie.

French loved English women. But they would not lay a hand on Cassie.

“When will we go?”

"You'll leave after sunset." said Nairn, "You'll need the covering of the dark. I'll come to you to give you a map later, I'll mark the safest route so that you should not stumble upon frenchies along the way."

"Dismissed."

A moment later, Cassie and Tom were walking to their tents, for they had to prepare all the necessary things for the travel.

Once inside, the girl sighed deeply. The mission wasn’t easy, it would have taken at least a week, trying to hide themselves from the French.

That last days had been a nightmare to Sharpe. He was taking care of both his 95th and Cassie's 60th Rifles without the barest hint of enthusiasm, at the point that Pat was starting to worry about him. Every night after dinner he sat out of his tent, alone, trying to gather his thoughts, just like that day. It had been a week since she was gone, and during that week he had barely slept. He just couldn't sleep without her to keep him warm.

What was Wellington thinking that day, when he had summoned them in his tent to assign such a task? Crossing miles and miles of french occupied territory just to deliver a bloody letter, and who had he sent? Cassie. His Cassie, with that even-too-zealous sergeant Taylor.

He had to suppress a chuckle when he realized that he had no rights at all to call her his Cassie, they'd never talked about their relationship and in fact it was nothing more than sex they shared. Wasn't it?

Technically, it was. Out of the bed they barely spoke to each other, but then why was he so upset to know that she was out there amidst the french and in company of another man?

An overtired Cassandra arrived to the camp some days later, followed by Taylor.

They were dirty and barely recognizable, their clothes covered in mud.

Her soldiers ran to welcome her, and Cassie climbed down, trying to smile, even if her face was still sore from a bad fight they had had with a group of French scouts.

One of her men took hold of their horses, and the girl entered Wellington’s tent, followed by Tom.

After they had completely related their mission to the lord, they were finally dismissed.

“I need a bath” Cassie sighed, walking to her tent.

“And I need a bed…everything else can wait…I’m too tired even to eat” Tom told her, tiredly passing an hand over his face.

Eat. She was starving. It was almost two days that they hadn’t eaten. Her stomach softly rumbled at that mere thinking, and with a nod to the other man, she entered her tent, immediately laying on the bed, that seemed so soft after all those nights on the cold floor.

"Cassie?" Sharpe called, peering inside the tent and then entering to sit on the edge of the small bed. "You are back." he stated quietly, trying hard to hide the fact that he was maybe too happy to see her again, when most probably she just wanted to sleep and be left alone, without a bugger asking her about the trip and if she had missed him at least a small bit.

“Hey” she smiled, standing on a sitting position and immediately hugging him, closing her eyes at that contact that she had dreamed about from the day she had left him.

“I’ve missed you so much…” she whispered after a while, lightly yawning, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I've missed you too" he smiled, stroking her back and hair in a quite affectionate way and holding her tight. "Did.. everything go well?"

How could he ask her about Taylor's behaviour without sounding like a jealous and vexed lover?

“The French are such…bastards…” she mumbled, her voice muffled in his chest.

“They attacked us two or three times. We were wounded, but we made it to the fort, where some doctors took care of us. But when we were coming back…they took us. They tried to rape me, but Tom fought and while they were distracted…I killed two…I’m still sore. And I’m feeling dirty, I would like a bath, for I still feel his hands on me. We haven’t eaten for almost two days…”

"Oh, damn it." he muttered under his breath, drawing back to look at her. "They tried.. to rape you? Wellington's been a bloody fool to send you, I should have been going.." He took her again into her arms, cradling her tenderly, and took a deep breath as he tried to drive away from his mind the images of the french bastards assaulting his Cassie.

"I will get you something to eat. And I'll have Pat arrange a bath for you."

“They didn’t touch me, Richard” she murmured, as if she hadn’t listened to him.

“Two of them were holding my arms, and another one was trying to rip off my clothes. But Tom has been quick. Nothing has happened. And it…occurred to me other times before. To be a woman among so many soldiers is not easy…”

"I don't want you to leave the camp without me from now on" he said decidedly, "Should I say anything to Wellington, I won't allow him to risk your life and well being like that. And that's a promise."

“I’m a soldier, Richard” Cassie smiled softly, gently caressing his hair.

“A soldier as you. I’ve told what they’d tried to do, just because I trust you. But you should tell it to no one…promise it to me. Please” . Her voice was now almost pleading him. “They would send me away and I don’t want to go…away from you…I couldn’t do it…”

Sharpe faltered a little, as if trying to make up his mind about the best thing to do. The only thing really clear was that he didn't want to lose her.

"I don't want you to go, either" he murmured, without averting his gaze. "I promise, I won't say anything about that.. but you must promise me that you won't agree to leave the camp without me, from now on. Promise me, Cassie."

“I’ll try” she just whispered, kissing his lips as tenderly as she could.

“But now I would like a bath and maybe something to eat. And…I think I’m going to die if you’ll not agree to cuddle me all night long…”

His response was a sweet, lingering kiss. "I could never let you die" he whispered when he drew back, and smiled before standing up. "Pick some clean clothes, Ramona washed everything while you were away. I'll ask her to prepare something to eat for you while you bathe."

An hour later, Cassie was sitting on the bed, all cleaned and satisfied.

She had eaten and rested her sore muscles into the hot water, and now she was feeling as if she had been reborn.

“Why don’t you come and sit at my side?” she asked to Sharpe, that was now entering the tent.

“I would like to…have a little talk to you, if you don’t mind”

"I don't mind." he agreed, removing his sword and placing it on the nearby table, then turning to look at Cassie again.

"What's the matter?" he asked, sitting down on the bed and eyeing her curiously.

“Well…I was thinking at you in those days” she started, awkwardly, fighting with herself to don’t avert her gaze.

“I just couldn’t stop. And…I’ve been wondering.”

Now she had to stop and sigh deeply. What would he say?

She had figured out that right moment almost a million of times in her head, and now that it was really happening it seemed so difficult to speak.

“Richard…I need to know…what…what are we now? Do you consider us a couple? Or…” she stared blankly at the ground, unable to look up at him. “Or do you think we’re just having sex?”

"I.. don't know, Cassie" he mumbled after a moment, gently lifting her face by placing a finger under her chin. "I've been meaning to ask you the same question, but then I can tell you how I do see the two of us." said that he smiled, and sighed pensively. "I see us.. as a quite perfect couple, to say the truth. And I don't like being forced to hide our relationship, for I'm indeed quite proud to have you by my side."

“Do you?” she smiled, hugging him again, unable to hide her happiness.

“I don’t like it, too. But I thought that you were happy about that, for maybe you wasn’t interested in me, but just my body”.

His confession had made her heart a whole lot lighter, and she felt almost free of all the doubts that had assaulted her in those days they had spent apart.

“But…what do you think to cuddle me, now? I’ve dreamed of that all the nights we were forced apart…”

"All night long, remember? I've made a promise." Sharpe smiled, slipping off his boots and then standing to yank off his shirt. Once he had only his underwear left he got under the covers with Cassie, taking her into his arms at once.

"I've missed you. My nights have been very cold and lonely without you here, to take care of me and warm me up."

“Mine, too” she whispered against his lips.

“There was Tom, there, who sat opposite to me. And it felt…wrong to me. I want you with me, not Taylor, even if he’s like a brother to me. It’s you who I need. I’ll try and stay always there to warm your nights. It’s a promise.”

"You'd better keep it, then" he smirked, tightening the embrace. "I can't stand broken promises, you know. Or staying in bed with the beautiful woman that I happen to adore beyond any reason without getting at least a breathtaking kiss."

“As you command, Major” she whispered, catching his lips in a heated kiss, putting one hand at the base of his neck to deepen the contact. Her body seemed almost glued to his.

Sharpe kissed her fervently in response, his hands firmly settled on her backside, until he had to draw back. And chuckle. Close as their bodies were, he was more than sure that she could feel by herself just how upset he was in that right moment.

"As I was saying.." he grinned, "I've missed you."

“I can feel it” she chuckled, feeling his thick erection pressed on her belly.

She had missed him, too. And quite badly.

"You are cruel indeed if you're planning to leave me like this" he chuckled in response, raising an eyebrow. "Have you no heart?"

“Yes I’ve got one…and a big one, too…” she murmured, smiling.

Then she started to kiss and nibble at his neck and earlobe, slowly caressing his broad shoulders and chest, not fretting things for she was relishing the taste of his skin.

Sharpe couldn't help but moan softly and close his eyes, clinging tightly to her. He had missed her indeed, he realized, and not just physically. He had missed her very presence, the way she made him feel, the warmth of her hugs and the sweet scent of her skin. He found himself whispering her name as her kisses grew more and more passionate, her caresses more urgent.

Slowly, the girl undressed herself, looking longingly into those grey eyes, clouded in passion.

When she had finished, she settled herself at his side, gently tugging at his underwear, caressing his bulge now and then just to tease him.

Said underwear was soon hastily removed by its owner, and then abandoned carelessly on the floor.

The moment later Sharpe was already climbing on top of her to kiss her roughly, deciding that he'd already had enough teasing for one day.

Cassie willingly surrendered to him, wrapping her legs around his waist and trying to match his kisses with the same intensity, almost clinging to him.

A moment later, when he entered her, she had to bite his shoulder to avoid groaning out loudly at that wonderful friction that was sending her into oblivion.

He had to hold his breath at the combination of pain and pleasure, the urge to moan his approval almost unbearable. He instinctively increased the pace and mentally cursed that damn lack of privacy, the fact that anyone in the camp could in fact hear them by simply passing by their tent. The thick fabric might be sheltering them from the view, but concealed very little when it came to hearing.

Cassie’s hands began to travel all over his body, moving south from his powerful shoulders, feeling the muscles moving under her hands, and roaming all over his back, until they reached his buttocks, squeezing them almost roughly in an attempt to draw him even more nearer.

The girl was trying hard not to scream at that wonderful sensations, muffling her sounds in his neck, panting and hissing softly in pleasure.

Cassie's fervour only ignited Sharpe further. By that time he had set a relentless pace, panting hard in time with every vigorous thrust, shuddering helplessly and whispering sweet nonsense and soft moans into her ear now and then.

Just some moments later, Cassie violently arched her back, shuddering and trembling, and almost clinging to him, biting her tongue to avoid to scream out loudly.

On his part Sharpe could do little more than shudder fiercely and clench his teeth, a muffled moan the only sound coming from him as his orgasm hit him hard. As soon as he'd regained a little control he climbed down to lay at her side, eyes closed, still trembling faintly in the aftermaths of their lovemaking.

"Dear God."

Without thinking twice, Cassie immediately hugged him fiercely, sighing softly and covering his face with tiny little kisses.

She was trying to hide the fact that she had come to love him.

The tough Captain had fallen for her Major. That time everything had been different. The emotion they had shared were clear and simple. They were in love.

"Cassie.." he whispered, hugging her tight in return, a little surprised and utterly pleased by that unusual emotional outburst. Everything was really feeling right, he suddenly realized, for the first time it was like they were a real couple, and an awfully happy one.

He closed his eyes, smiling, shivering for the intensity of the moment, clinging to her.

"I love you.. I love you." he said in a barely audible whisper, the words escaping his lips before he could even realize that he was actually saying it, and fearing a little her reaction.

"I love you too" she whispered back, incredibly happy of his revelation.

She almost started to cry for the emotion was too much for her, and she restrained herself just by kissing him on the mouth, trembling and smiling.

"You're the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me." he murmured when they parted, smiling helplessly.

Before that day, he had never known such happiness.

Smiling back, the girl just hugged him tightly again, settling the covers on both and closing her eyes, sighing softly, with a satisfied expression on her face.