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.A smile eased across Josie's lips.Dear Aunt Ruewella.Shehad stunned the family by following a debased career as anopera singer.But along the way the woman had wiselyinvested in land all across Europe, and her holdings had beentransformed into a fortune.It was the money Josie hadinherited from Auntie Rue that had allowed her to follow thecontroversial path of becoming a nurse."Auntie Rue," she murmured."You gave me the courage todeclare my convictions and the funds to back up my words.Iwish you had also enlightened me on how to live withloneliness, or how to love a man who clearly seems tocheriesh his freedom above all else."189Lady Gallantby Gini RifkinHer smile turned bittersweet.She was sure Auntie Ruewould have approved of Garrick.He had magic.The kind herAunt would have understood and appreciated.Footsteps echoed in the ward.Hoping it was Garrick, sheturned toward the sound a song in her heart.Unfortunatelyit was Danford who approached and she wished only to run,but there was no where to go.Shoulders squared she stoodher ground.The faded yellow and purple bruise beneath Danford's eyebore witness to his altercation with Garrick.For a man averseto fighting, Mr.Allen seemed rather skilled at fisticuffs."I owe you a profound apology," Danford began, as hereached her side."You don't owe me anything.""I'm here to extend a peace offering," he persisted."Inever meant any harm to come to you."Josie glanced about for Mose and wished for once that hersmitten young orderly would interrupt her privateconversation.He seemed to have no compulsion about doingso when Garrick was around."I don't want anything from you," Josie sidestepped awayfrom him."It's for the men as well as for you."Emotional blackmail again.It wasn't very creative ofDanford to use the same ploy twice running.Not creative, buteffective."What is it?" she reluctantly asked."A case of the finest Russian caviar that money can buy."190Lady Gallantby Gini RifkinCaviar.She nearly laughed in Danford's face.They neededsoup and arrowroot and citrus for the scurvy, not briny fisheggs.Such fare would be far too rich for these half-starvedmen, upsetting their digestion and worsening their debilitatedstate.Leave it to Danford to turn a humane gesture into ashow of affluence.Or was it just another attempt to put herat a disadvantage and in his debt?She opened her mouth intent on throwing his offer back inhis face.Then she saw a potential benefit in the absurd gift.Perhaps she could barter the roe for something morepractical.Not unlike Danford, several of the generals anddoctors found no conflict to living high off the hog while thosearound them starved.It could fetch a good price in trade."On behalf of the men, I thank you," she said."It will beput to the best possible use."Danford's eyes brightened with victory.His triumphant attitude raised her hackles, and she had anurge to tell him that his fancy fish eggs were going to bebartered for chamber pots and linen bandages.Afraidhowever that he might renege on the offer, she swallowedback the castigation.He reached out and skimmed the back of his fingers alongher cheek.Caught by surprise she took a step backward."I wastaught that a gift required no recompense," she said."If thereare strings attached to yours, I'm afraid I must refuse it.""There is no obligation." He lowered his hand and smiled."Can't blame a chap for trying.Your beauty could incite asaint to sinning and a sinner to prayer."191Lady Gallantby Gini Rifkin"And the devil to delivering caviar."He raised a brow as if her reasoning hit too close to home."Do you see me as the devil?""I can see you cast as nothing less.""But the devil was once an angel.""Then more's the pity.""Circumstances can change a being," he said, his eyesnarrowing."We all do what we must to ensure our owncontinuance.""But some proceed with more compassion than others.""Compassion has nothing to do with getting on in theworld.When it comes right down to it, life is simply thebusiness of survival and individuals, companies, and countriesalike, deal exclusively in that commodity.It's all one and thesame logic.""And will you protect your trade policies as fervently asEngland protects hers?""Certainly.Life is also a war.Don't let anyone tell youdifferently.""People die in wars.""So I hear.""That doesn't bother you?""What bothers me is people interfering in my transactions.Everything and everyone has a price and I'm very good atfinding it.""Everything and everyone?""Yes," he said as if he still harbored the idea that he couldbuy her as well."It's always just a matter of time." Hestudied her with a practiced eye just as he had done on the192Lady Gallantby Gini Rifkinfirst day they had met again she felt like a piece of sculptureup for auction.Danford was truly a black-hearted mercenary."I'm spending the Holidays in Greece," he announced, hisvoice a cross between coaxing and taunting
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