The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride

by Fenella J Miller

  Wellington insisted that his men paid for what they took and only stole from the enemy. This meant that they were tolerated, sometimes applauded, but not detested. England had previously been at war with Spain for years, disliked the catholic church, and it seemed strange to now be allies with previous enemies. He supposed Spain and England were united in their hatred of France which would be enough for the moment.

  Jenkins cantered back to join them. 'There's a clearing a mile ahead, your grace, off the main route, with fresh water and grass. I don't reckon we'll find anything better tonight.'

  'In which case, make camp there. Will it be safe to light a fire?'

  'It'll be safe enough today. No Frenchies would be stupid enough to come so close to the English army. Tomorrow it'll be different.'

  The weather was clement during the day but the temperature fell rapidly at night now it was September. Sleeping under the stars was a novel experience for him but one he was coming to enjoy. As long as he found his brother and was able to bring him home again he would never regret this expedition. He had not journeyed in so remote a place before, although he had visited Italy, Greece and France when he had been little more than a green boy travelling with his tutor to broaden his mind.

  He was deeply asleep when Jenkins hissed in his ear. 'It ain't safe to stay here, your grace, there's a troop coming. Smith was keeping watch and saw them no more than a mile away.'

  Beau was well aware that the slightest sound travelled miles in the dark. There was a full moon, but it was obscured by cloud which must make travelling hazardous. The fact that the French company was doing so meant they must be on urgent business – he prayed it wasn't him they were hunting.

  In a matter of minutes they were mounted. 'Down here, it's going to be safer where we can't be seen.'

  He urged his stallion to follow Jenkins and the spare mount, thanking God that his men had had the sense to douse the fire once they had eaten. Even if the smoke wasn't seen, the smell would have drifted to the road and revealed their presence.

  The horses slithered down the slope until it became too steep to remain in the saddle. On foot he led Sylvester the remainder of the way and was breathing heavily by the time they found safety in a copse of trees.

  'Here, I'll take the beasts, your grace, best they can't see or hear the soldiers as they might call out to their horses.' Smith vanished into the darkness with the four animals leaving him with Jenkins.

  'I'd like to see who goes past, will we be safe if we climb that tree?'

  'I reckon if we stay flat behind the trunks we'll be safe enough. For Gawd's sake, sir, don't let them see your face, it'll shine like a beacon in the dark.'

  They had been only been in place for a few minutes when they heard in the distance the sound of horses approaching, the jangle of bits, the clank of metal-shod hooves as they hit the stones, but strangely no voices or human sounds.

  He held his breath, didn't dare to put his spyglass to his eye in case the flash of the glass was visible to those above. Then the clouds cleared and the track was silvered by moonlight. A single horse jogged into sight. The cavalry officer was definitely French – that much was obvious from his uniform. The scout vanished from sight and then the road was filled with his compatriots.

  There were not as many as he'd expected, possibly no more than twenty, but enough to kill or capture his small party if they discovered them. The officer in charge rode at the head of the band. It was obvious he was the senior member of the company from the ostentatious amount of silver that adorned his uniform.

  The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he saw why they were taking the risk of travelling at night. In the centre of the group were two pack animals each carrying two small wooden chests. They were transporting gold and did not wish to be ambushed by the partisans.

  He climbed down the tree, making sure not to alert the passing soldiers. Jenkins followed suit. Once they were safely out of earshot he gave his orders.

  'Smith, you are the better horseman, gallop back to the camp and tell them what we've seen. Jenkins and I will follow the French. They will hole up somewhere during the day which should make them an easy target.'

  They didn't argue. This wasn't because he was a duke, or that he was their paymaster, it was because they were ex-soldiers and knew what he said made perfect sense. By capturing the French gold, the English could make life difficult for the enemy who would be waiting for the money in order to pay their men. Sullen soldiers didn't fight well. Without being requested to do so he took over the task of leading the horse they had brought with them for his brother.

  *

  Sofia was glowing all over. Until today she had not known what true happiness was. Of course she wanted to marry Perry, but had tried to dissuade him for his own sake, not hers. He said they would remain in Spain, but she doubted that would be the case. His family would want him home and eventually this simple life would pall and he would wish to be living in his own environment.

  They had been so late getting up the village was astir and they would be seen returning to her house together. Even Mama would be down and wondering where her daughter was. He was pulling on his boots with as much precision as a man who could see perfectly well.

  'Do I pass muster? Should I shave before we go? After all, I am suddenly elevated to the aristocracy and have no wish to let the side down.' His smile made her toes curl.

  'You, my lord, are a ninny. We have been looking at you for the past ten weeks and care less about your appearance than you apparently do. Hurry up, or I shall go without you.'

  'I heard you let the dog out – I need to wait for him to return as I want to make sure he knows he must be at my side whenever I am out of the house.'

  'You won't need him very soon as you will be able to see again. I'm confident that as your memory returns so will your eyesight.'

  They clattered down the stairs together, he called a cheery good morning to the women working in the rear of the house, and unbolted the front door. Now the moment had come to exit she was reluctant to do so. It was all very well saying that she didn't care what folk thought, but she did.

  'I should have told Carlos before I came. He will be devastated that I have chosen you when up until your arrival I had had every intention of eventually becoming his wife. In fact, if the priest had come before you did then I would already be married to him.'

  'Then thank God he didn't. Don't dither in the doorway, my love, I wish to speak to your mother and make this betrothal official.'

  He bundled her out of the door and closed it firmly behind them. Then he put his arm around her waist, making his claim very clear to the two women fetching water from the well in the centre of the square. Señora Rodriquez might have shown no disapproval but these two had pursed their lips and she heard them muttering. She was certain they had called her wanton and little better than a light skirt.

  His arm tightened. 'Ignore them, darling, their opinion is irrelevant.'

  Her face was burning, her joy vanishing with every step she took. She had been foolish to think she could behave in such a scandalous manner, tear her precious reputation to shreds, and still walk proudly around the village as if nothing had happened.

  The door opened before they reached it but her mother had retreated to the parlour and was waiting there for them.

  'Let me speak to her first, I don't want you to be given a bear-garden jaw for something that wasn't your fault.'

  They were now safely inside. 'I came to you, you sent me away but I returned. How could it possibly be anyone's fault but my own?'

  'You were an innocent, I am a gentleman. I should have had the strength of character to insist you left and waited until we were married before taking you to my bed.'

  She stretched up and kissed him. 'Fiddlesticks to that! I don't regret what happened for a minute. I love you and I know that you return my feelings. Whatever we've heard, it could possibly be years before the priest comes – would you have been prepared to wai
t that long?'

  'I would have preferred it if you had, Sofia, but one cannot unbreak an egg. However, I am mortified that you did not return more discreetly.' Her mother spoke from behind them. 'Perry, I think we need to talk. Daughter, make yourself useful and prepare breakfast.'

  'No, darling, I'll not have you sent away as if you are of no account. Madam, I have no wish to converse in the passageway. Shall we repair to the parlour?'

  She had never heard him speak so authoritatively. Somehow, knowing that he was an aristocrat had made him more formidable. A flicker of unease ran through her. She had committed the rest of her life to this man and yet she didn't know his true character at all. Had she made a catastrophic error?

  'I would prefer it if you spoke to my mother alone.' She stepped away from him and walked away to do her morning chores as usual, as if her life wasn't changed forever.

  Chapter Six

  Perry didn't speak for a minute, just stood ramrod straight, every inch an aristocrat until the poor woman crumpled beneath his stare.

  'I am Lord Peregrine Sheldon; my brother is the Duke of Silchester. I am betrothed to Sofia and we shall be wed as soon as the wretched priest arrives. I hope this meets with your full approval.'

  She curtsied and a wave of shame washed over him. He was behaving appallingly. Mrs Appleby had shown nothing but kindness since he arrived – this was no way to repay her.

  He bowed formally. 'I most sincerely beg your pardon, ma'am, for speaking to you so rudely. Might I be permitted to sit?'

  'Of course, my lord…'

  'No, I am Perry to you and always will be.' He smiled warmly. 'I hope you will allow me to call you mama as soon as the knot is tied.'

  'I should be honoured. What possessed you to march across the square so boldly announcing to everyone that you have debauched my daughter?'

  He bit back an angry retort. 'You are right, ma'am, but the matter was taken from my hands as Señora Rodriquez, an inveterate gossip, arrived before we were ready to leave. It was badly done of me. We should have waited until we were married before sharing a bed.'

  For the first time she relaxed and returned his smile. 'As my daughter came to you I can hardly blame you. She is a beautiful young lady but, I am sorry to say, since we have been living here she has been riding out with partisans and has become wild and unruly.'

  'And I love her for it. I owe her my life and will forever be grateful that my accident brought us together.' He could hear crockery clattering at the rear of the house. Sofia was making sure neither of them forgot about her. 'I am an intelligence officer, I was on my way to a meeting. There is little point in me attempting to complete my journey as matters will have moved on by now.' He supposed he should really have told her he was a wine merchant looking for new supplies but the time for prevarication had gone. She was to be his mother-in-law and there must be complete honesty between them in future.

  'I thought as much, you will wish to return to the English army I suppose. The men left last night and should be able to supply you with the whereabouts of Wellington when they return. It will be a great shock to everyone to discover your true identity.'

  'I was not travelling alone. My first task is to find my companion, I think he might have been captured. I pray he wasn't shot as a spy if they caught him.'

  The door slammed back and Sofia stood there glaring at him. 'I could not help but overhear what you said. Have you completely lost your senses? It has been many weeks since you were separated from your comrade. What makes you think you can find him after all this time without getting captured or killed yourself?'

  'Why don't you come in, my love, one never hears good news if one is listening outside doors.'

  She was holding a large skillet in her hand and for a moment he thought she might throw it at him. Then wisely she thought better of it. 'Please, Perry, don't go. It is far too dangerous. At least wait until we are married.'

  He couldn't prevent his laughter. 'If I didn't know you better, sweetheart, I would think you had an avaricious motive for suggesting that. Or is it that you just wish to be elevated to the aristocracy and inherit my fortune on my demise?' These remarks had been said in jest but were taken as truth.

  Her expression changed. She raked him from top to toe with a disdainful glare. 'I don't give a fig for your money or your title. I was just thinking that if I'm carrying your child you might prefer it not to be a bastard.' Her arm swung back. She was going to throw the pan at him.

  He was on his feet and at her side before she was able to do so. 'Throwing things at me…' He couldn't finish the sentence, his knees buckled and only her quick thinking stopped him from collapsing on the floor. Until that moment he hadn't taken in the fact that he could now see – not perfectly – but he was no longer blind.

  Between them they manoeuvred him onto the sofa and she sat next to him, holding his hands in hers.

  'When did your vision clear? How long have you been able to see me?'

  He rested his clammy forehead against her shoulder and took several steadying breaths before he was able to speak coherently. 'I'm not sure exactly. I think it has been clearing since we got up but I was so full of my own importance this miracle passed unnoticed.' He pushed himself upright in order to see her clearly for the first time.

  'You are even more lovely than I imagined, sweetheart, my brothers and sisters will love you as much as I do.'

  'I hope them loving me was not dependent on the fact that I was pretty.' Her eyes were sparkling, he had never seen anything so beautiful.

  'Strangely enough all my family have married partners that are equally as personable as they are. My twin, Aubrey, was married in the summer but unfortunately, I could not be there. Now we are to be married and I shall have none of my family present.'

  'Then we should postpone our nuptials until you can return to England.'

  'We shall do no such thing. I am a serving soldier, albeit an intelligence officer rather than a fighting one, but I cannot resign my commission until the war is over. I shall no longer act as a spy, but return to my company and fight alongside them when necessary.'

  'Then I shall follow the drum, I think I will enjoy being a soldier's bride.'

  He picked her up and put her securely on his lap. 'I must discover what happened to O'Reilly. It is my duty as an officer not to abandon him.'

  'I do understand, and I apologise for almost throwing…' She stopped and looked around in bewilderment. 'Where is the wretched thing? In fact, where is my mama?'

  'She will have taken it out of harm's way and left us to celebrate together. I can hardly credit that my memory and sight have returned so suddenly. One would have thought there would have been some signs before yesterday.'

  'We shall put it down to the hand of God, and thank him for it.' She scrambled off his lap. 'If you are going in search of your compatriot then I shall come with you. I know these hills, I am able to use a pistol and a knife if necessary.'

  He was about to tell her in no uncertain terms to do nothing of the kind but then reconsidered. 'Very well, you may accompany me.' He fixed her with the stare he used on his subordinates. 'You will be under my command and follow my orders to the letter. Is that understood?'

  She giggled and saluted – well, made a passable attempt at one. 'Yes, sir. Breakfast should be ready by now and I am sharp-set.' She paused as the most hideous noise interrupted them. 'What on earth is that?'

  'I think it's Zorro announcing his return. Would your mother object if I let him in?'

  'As long as he stops howling she won't care where he goes.'

  *

  Both Perry and her mother refused to allow Sofia to spend another night across the square. 'I can't see that it makes any difference. I am a fallen woman and my reputation is non-existent. Isn't this like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted?'

  Her future husband exchanged a knowing look with her parent before answering. 'I should never have allowed you to stay in the first place – I shall not
make the same mistake again. Another thing, do you have any gowns you might wear? I had not understood just how unseemly breeches and boots are for a young lady.'

  She poked her tongue out at him and he laughed. 'I shall have a rummage about in my closet and see what I might find, but I am not promising anything. I shall wear a dress for our wedding ceremony. I insist that you have something new as well.'

  'God knows where I shall find garments that fit me in this town. Now I can see I shall venture around the place and look for a tailor. I shall have to purchase everything on credit.'

  'You have not visited the marketplace, the church, or any of the shops. Your knowledge of this place has been limited by your disability. We have everything we need here and what we don't we buy from the next town.'

  'Now that they know they have an aristocrat in their midst I can assure you they will be only too happy to sell you things with or without payment.'

  'I must go. I thank you for the delicious breakfast, ma'am, and would like you both to dine with me tonight.'

  'Thank you, that would be delightful. Sofia will be dressed appropriately for the occasion.'

  Sofia followed him to the front door but was pushed aside by the dog when she tried to embrace him. 'I can see how it's going to be in future. Zorro is a jealous guardian. Shall we be taking him back with us to England when we eventually go?'

  'More to the point, sweetheart, is whether I shall be allowed to keep him when I'm back with my regiment.'

  'He will have to make do with me when you are busy fighting for King and Country.' She embraced the dog and he licked her face which was not a pleasant experience. 'Enough of that, I've no wish to be slobbered over by an animal who has just been eating raw rabbit for his breakfast.'

  The dog wasn't wearing the harness and she wondered if he was aware that his master could now see and didn't need to be led about the place. Perry cupped her face and kissed her hard and she regretted the fact that they were not to spend another night together until they were married.