Marguerite Kaye - The Soldier's Dark Secret

COMRADES IN ARMS War heroes, heartbreakers … husbands?

The close friendship between Lieutenant Colonel Jack Trestain and Major Finlay Urquhart was forged in the heat of Waterloo’s battlefield.

Famed for their daring and courage, these are Wellington’s most elite soldiers, but now they’re facing their biggest challenge yet—falling in love!

If you enjoy

The Soldier’s Dark Secret

you won’t want to miss the second instalment of this fabulously intense and dramatic duet from Marguerite Kaye!

Look out for Finlay’s story

Coming soon

Praise for Marguerite Kaye Praise for Marguerite Kaye Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Epilogue Historical Note Extract Copyright

‘A poignant, sensual historical romance that kept me reading late into the night.’

—Romance Junkies on Rumours that Ruined a Lady

‘Kaye offers up another sexy romp … with characters who stay with fans long after the last page.’

—RT Book Reviews on Unwed and Unrepentant

‘Each novella is a passionate love story in its own right; each a testament that love can survive everything—even war.’

— RT Book Reviews on Never Forget Me

‘Daring. Dangerous. Delightful. Kaye’s new Regency romance is a riveting and thrilling adventure.’

— RT Book Reviews on Outrageous Confessions of Lady Deborah

The Soldier’s Dark Secret

Marguerite Kaye

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Born and educated in Scotland, MARGUERITE KAYEoriginally qualified as a lawyer but chose not to practise. Instead she carved out a career in IT and studied history part-time, gaining first-class honours and a master’s degree. A few decades after winning a children’s national poetry competition she decided to pursue her lifelong ambition to write, and submitted her first historical romance to Mills & Boon ®. They accepted it, and she’s been writing ever since. You can contact Marguerite through her website at: www.margueritekaye.com

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Contents

Cover

Introduction COMRADES IN ARMS War heroes, heartbreakers … husbands? The close friendship between Lieutenant Colonel Jack Trestain and Major Finlay Urquhart was forged in the heat of Waterloo’s battlefield. Famed for their daring and courage, these are Wellington’s most elite soldiers, but now they’re facing their biggest challenge yet—falling in love! If you enjoy The Soldier’s Dark Secret you won’t want to miss the second instalment of this fabulously intense and dramatic duet from Marguerite Kaye! Look out for Finlay’s story Coming soon

Praise for Marguerite Kaye Praise for Marguerite Kaye Praise for Marguerite Kaye Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Epilogue Historical Note Extract Copyright ‘A poignant, sensual historical romance that kept me reading late into the night.’ —Romance Junkies on Rumours that Ruined a Lady ‘Kaye offers up another sexy romp … with characters who stay with fans long after the last page.’ —RT Book Reviews on Unwed and Unrepentant ‘Each novella is a passionate love story in its own right; each a testament that love can survive everything—even war.’ — RT Book Reviews on Never Forget Me ‘Daring. Dangerous. Delightful. Kaye’s new Regency romance is a riveting and thrilling adventure.’ — RT Book Reviews on Outrageous Confessions of Lady Deborah

Title Page The Soldier’s Dark Secret Marguerite Kaye www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author Born and educated in Scotland, MARGUERITE KAYE originally qualified as a lawyer but chose not to practise. Instead she carved out a career in IT and studied history part-time, gaining first-class honours and a master’s degree. A few decades after winning a children’s national poetry competition she decided to pursue her lifelong ambition to write, and submitted her first historical romance to Mills & Boon ® . They accepted it, and she’s been writing ever since. You can contact Marguerite through her website at: www.margueritekaye.com

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Historical Note

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

England —August 1815

T he small huddle of women and the bedraggled children who clung to their skirts stared at him as one, wide-eyed and unblinking, struck dumb and motionless with fear. Only the compulsive clutching of their mother’s protective fingers around the children’s shoulders betrayed the full extent of their terror. He was accustomed to death in combat, but this was a village, not a battlefield. He was accustomed to seeing enemy causalities, but these were civilians, women and young children...

Jack Trestain’s breathing became rapid and shallow as he tossed and turned in the throes of his recurring nightmare. He thrashed around on the sweat-soaked sheets. He knew he was dreaming, but he couldn’t wake from it. He knew what was coming next, but he couldn’t prevent it unfolding in all its horror.

His boots crunched on the rough sun-dried track as he walked, stunned, around the small village, his brain numb, unable to make sense of what his eyes were telling him. The sun burned the back of his neck. He had lost his hat. A scrawny chicken squawked loudly, running across his path, making him stumble. How had the mission turned into such a debacle? How could his information, his precious, carefully gathered knowledge of the enemy’s movements, have been so wrong?

It was not possible. Not possible. Not possible. The words rang in his head over and over. He was aware of his comrades’ voices, of orders being barked, but he felt utterly alone.

The cooking fires were still burning. From a large smoke-blackened cauldron the appetising aroma of a herb-filled stew rose in the still, unnaturally silent air. He had not eaten since yesterday. He was suddenly ravenous.

As his stomach growled, he became aware of another, all-pervading smell. Ferrous. The unmistakable odour of dried blood. And another. The sickly-sweet stench of charred flesh.

As the noxious combination seared the back of his throat, Jack retched violently, spilling his guts like a raw recruit in a nearby ditch. Spasm after spasm shook him, until he had to clutch at the scorched trunk of a splintered tree to support himself. Shivering, shaking, he had no idea how long the girl had been looming over him...

It was the fall that woke him. He was on the floor of his bedchamber, clutching a pillow. He had banged his head on the nightstand. The ewer had toppled over and smashed. The chambermaid would think him one of the clumsiest guests she’d ever encountered. His nightshirt was drenched, the contents of the jug adding to his fevered sweat. His head was thumping, his jaw aching, and his wrists too, from clenching his fists. Wearily, Jack dragged himself to his feet and, opening the curtains, checking the hour on his pocket watch. It was just after five. He’d managed to sleep for a total of two hours.