The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride

by Fenella J Miller

  She opened the front door and he marched away his dog prancing about him yelping and barking in excitement. The animal obviously understood Perry was no longer blind which was a miracle in itself. Having Zorro for company when her husband was on active service would be both a comfort and an entertainment.

  She decided to remain indoors and avoid the speculative and disapproving looks she would encounter if she went out. For all her bravado, she too regretted her impulsive decision to seduce Perry. Everything was happening so quickly. Three days ago he didn't know who he was and had been blind – now he was a lord and could see and she was no longer an innocent.

  Dinner wasn't eaten as early as in England for here nobody sat down until late. This gave her ample time to find something suitable to wear, press it, and also wash her hair. She had been careless of her appearance when he couldn't see her, now everything was different.

  'Mama, upon what have we been living these past months? I cannot believe that papa's funds and the money you have earned from your sewing have been sufficient.'

  'People are generous here, unlike at home. You treat their ailments for nothing and you might not have been aware of it but they repay this kindness with gifts of food and fuel. Also, the fact that you have accompanied them several times when they have been on raids has made you one of them. Nobody goes hungry here whilst there is food to be had.'

  'Mama, will you marry Don Pablo when I leave?'

  'I will indeed, we might not be giddy and heedless like you and Perry but nevertheless we are still deeply attached to each other. I shall have position in the town married to him, will live in comfort, if not luxury. I shall miss you dreadfully of course, but when this dreadful war is over perhaps I shall be able to make an extended stay with you in England.'

  'I shall write to my grandmother telling her I am about to be married to the brother of the Duke of Silchester. That should make her happy.'

  'You will do no such thing, my girl. If you intend to leave with Perry even if you are not married, it's best not to tell her anything.'

  'I shall be guided by you, Mama. I'm going to find something to wear tonight. It is so long since I have worn a gown but I am not sure I have anything the moths haven't eaten.'

  'Come with me, my love, I have something to show you upstairs.'

  Intrigued she followed her parent and was quite overwhelmed by what she was shown. 'How could you possibly know I would be requiring feminine apparel? When did you sew these gowns for me?'

  'I thought at once how it would be with you and Perry so have been working on them for an hour or two every day. Which one will you wear tonight?'

  'Where did you get this lovely material?' She ran the fine green cotton through her fingers. 'This will complement my eyes to perfection. I must hope he will not notice my lack of stockings.'

  'Don Pablo gave me a box filled with cottons, silks and satins. I have been also preparing my own trousseau from these items. I have made you the necessary undergarments, but you are right, you will have bare feet in your slippers.'

  'That is a mere bagatelle, as long as I am looking like the future wife of a lord I shall be content.'

  Night had fallen when they left the house to cross the small square. As always the sound of laughing voices travelled through the darkness as families gathered in their courtyards to chat and drink before eating.

  'Mama, I had forgotten how inconvenient it is to have skirts to trip over,' Sofia said as she held hers up in front of her.

  'You look every inch a lady, my dear daughter, and Perry will be suitably impressed at your transformation I can assure you.'

  'His house is ablaze with candlelight – that in itself is strange. Do you think he has invited anyone else to dine with him?'

  'I have no more idea than you. We shall both find out in a moment.'

  The front door was wide open, there was no need to knock. From the amount of voices drifting out from the veranda at the rear of the building they were not the only guests.

  She dropped her skirt, shook it vigorously to ensure it had no creases, and walked in ahead of her mother. She had half-expected the dog to be the first to greet her but this was not the case.

  'My darling, you look ravissante. If I thought you would obey me, I would insist that you never wear men's attire again.' Perry took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Then he tucked it through his and turned to nod politely to her mother.

  'Welcome, ma'am, as no doubt you can hear there is to be a celebration of more than just family.'

  He led her into the main room where there were half a dozen people milling about, all dressed in their best. She and Mama were the only ladies present who did not have their hair dressed with combs and black lace. The gentlemen were in black, but there the resemblance to English evening dress ceased. Their evening jackets were short-waisted and their trousers tight. They wore high-collared white shirts beneath the jacket, and no neckcloth.

  Her beloved had from somewhere purchased a dark blue topcoat and a new, startlingly white shirt with lace cuffs that emerged from sleeves and almost covered his hands. His neckcloth was tied elaborately, but he was still wearing his everyday breeches and riding boots – although these had been spruced up.

  Don Pablo bowed to Mama and guided her to the far side of the room where they could converse privately.

  Perry squeezed her hand. 'You have nothing to worry about, sweetheart, important people in this small town have decided to ignore our indiscretion, to pretend it didn't happen, and this is the announcement of our betrothal. The fact that I am an aristocrat was enough for them to forgive us.'

  'Are you quite sure? I haven't dared to look directly at any of the guests.'

  'You may do so with impunity, darling girl, all you will receive in return are benevolent smiles.'

  Juan appeared with a tray of champagne and she took a glass. Perry stiffened beside her. She glanced up and smiled sweetly. 'Unlike most young ladies of your acquaintance, my love, I have a head for alcohol. I rarely get the opportunity to drink champagne and do not intend to miss out.'

  He winked at her which made her giggle. 'There is nothing about you that is similar to any girl I've ever come in contact with. You are unique and you are mine.' He almost growled this last phrase and heat pooled in a most unexpected place.

  'Behave yourself, my lord, or I shall not be answerable for the consequences.' She had deliberately parroted his words and his expression showed his appreciation of her wit.

  He took her up onto the veranda and then turned to face the dozen people assembled in front of him. 'I should like to thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate my extraordinary good fortune. Not only have I regained my identity and my sight today, I have also become betrothed to Miss Sofia Appleby.' He looked down at her and his eyes blazed. 'I would forego both of the former and happily settled for the latter if I was forced to make a choice.'

  He raised his glass. 'I give you the future Lady Peregrine Sheldon.'

  Everyone repeated his words and drank the toast. Then Don Pablo toasted both of them and they drank again.

  Delicious smells were wafting in from the kitchen and her mouth watered. 'Perry, I have not eaten since breakfast, I hope dinner will not be long.'

  'We have tapas for the first remove, then a selection of local dishes and we shall finish with fruit and nuts.'

  'Please talk of this no more, but lead me to the table. My stomach will rumble so loudly everyone present will hear it if I do not eat immediately.'

  Chapter Seven

  Following the French company without being detected was easy as they left a trail of horse dung and dust. They rode their cavalry horses into the ground and so they also left the smell of suppurating saddle-sores behind them.

  'Smith, when do you think they will look for somewhere to hide for the day?' They were riding boot to boot and he was able to pitch his voice so quietly it was barely audible.

  'I reckon just before dawn. They'll not want to be on the track when the s
un comes up. I ain't surprised they're travelling at night. I'm going ahead, I'll be back before light. We needs to be clear where they are.'

  They continued for another hour and then he noticed that the route ahead was becoming clearer – it would be dawn soon. Beau guided his horses off the route and into a small stony area behind some scrubby trees. The air was full of the scent of herbs and he inhaled appreciatively.

  He pulled the reins over the stallion's head and dropped them. This was sufficient to keep the animal close as he had been trained not to wander off when his reins were trailing. All that was left to do was tether the other animal. He waited behind a tree for his companion to return.

  How long would it take Jenkins to bring a company of English cavalry? It couldn't be infantry, they couldn't be here soon enough even if they marched in double time. He tensed. There was more than one horseman approaching so it couldn't be Smith. He ducked down behind the trees and backed to his horse. 'Quiet, old fellow, don't make a sound.' He snatched the reins and rested his gloved hand on the animal's nose.

  A group of about a dozen mounted men appeared around the corner. It was just light enough to see that Smith wasn't with them, but he was certain they were not French. He was going to let them pass but on closer inspection he was convinced by their fierce appearance and healthy horses that they must be partisans. Of course, not all of the guerrillas fighting the French were prepared to work with the English.

  He stepped into full view and greeted them in Spanish. 'Good morning to you, I am Silchester, I have news that might be of interest to you.' He had their full attention. 'I'm also looking for my brother, Lord Peregrine Sheldon, he has been missing somewhere in these hills since July.'

  Immediately a ripple of something he didn't recognise travelled through the group. They all dismounted and one man, presumably the leader, walked up to him smiling broadly. He replied in the same tongue. 'You are the Duke of Silchester? We have your brother, Lord Peregrine, living with us. It's God's will that we have met you in this extraordinary fashion. I am Carlos, son of Don Pablo, and leader of this band.'

  Beau gripped the man's outstretched hand fiercely and then embraced him. His throat was thick, he blinked furiously to clear his eyes and sent up a prayer to the Almighty for granting him his dearest wish.

  'I knew Perry wasn't dead. Is he badly injured?'

  Carlos laughed, the sound echoing off the cliffs that surrounded them. 'He is healthy, sir, but blind. He doesn't know who he is and will be shocked to discover he's an aristocrat.'

  'Then how did you know it is he that I was looking for?' As soon as he asked he knew the question to be ridiculous. There was hardly likely to be more than one Englishman wandering about the place.

  'The one thing he did know was that his name was Perry – so mystery solved. What was it you wish to tell us?'

  He quickly explained about the French. 'Your man hasn't returned and we didn't any see French on our patrol. Only God Almighty knows where they might be hiding.'

  'If you would kindly direct me to your village, I should like to go there immediately and be reunited with my sibling.'

  'I shall do better than that, I shall take you myself. My men will go in search of the missing company.' He gave his orders briskly and all but one of them remounted and rode off. The remaining partisan was to wait and bring the cavalry to join the others wherever they might be.

  Beau was not a fighting man, although he would do so if the lives of any of his loved ones or himself was at stake. He rather thought he had disappointed Carlos by not insisting on going in search of the French and joining in the attack that would follow.

  'Tell me exactly how my brother came to be with you.' He listened and at the end of the story he knew that he and his family would be forever indebted to this man and his family. He was intrigued by the mention of the English girl and her mother who were apparently living happily in their midst.

  'Why have they not returned to England?'

  'They have nothing to go back to. They prefer to make their life with us and they are now part of our town. The Señora Appleby is to marry my father, Don Pablo.' He hesitated and when he spoke again there was sadness in his voice. 'I had hoped to marry Sofia, but she has set her sights on your brother and has no time for me.'

  This was not good news. For Perry to have become entangled with someone who might be totally unsuitable could be a problem – but he was sure the matter could be smoothed over if sufficient money was involved.

  *

  Sofia scarcely knew what she had eaten that night, but all of it was delicious. She had drifted, always with Perry at her side, from one group to the next and everyone had congratulated her and wished her well.

  He insisted on walking her home although she was quite capable of completing the journey without his assistance. She rather feared this was his nature, that by marrying him she would spend the rest of her life being taken care of, protected from the slightest injury, and not allowed to make decisions for herself.

  'Perry, this is happening too fast. It's entirely my fault but could I ask you if we could postpone our nuptials for a while until we have had time to adjust to the new circumstances?'

  'Absolutely not. You could be carrying my child – we shall be married at the earliest possible opportunity and I'll brook no disagreement on this matter.'

  They had now reached her front door. 'Then I must just pray our priest does not arrive for several weeks as by then it will be clear if I am in the family way. If I am not then there is no necessity for us to marry at all. Good night, my lord.'

  She skipped inside before he could react to her inflammatory statement and quickly slid the bolt across so he could not barge his way in. She stood quivering behind the door waiting for his assault. To her chagrin she could definitely hear him whistling as he walked away.

  He was infuriating but she wouldn't be coerced into becoming his wife unless she chose to marry him. She unbolted the door as her mother would have to come in at some point, and turned to dash up the stairs forgetting she was wearing a gown. Her foot went through the hem and she stumbled to her knees. She turned the air blue with her language.

  'Sofia Appleby, do not use such words in this house. In fact, my girl, do not use them at all. I can assure you that your future husband will not tolerate such behaviour.'

  Her mother had come in and overheard her tirade. Sofia carefully extracted her slipper from the rent in her pretty gown and pushed herself upright. 'I apologise, Mama, as you see I have ruined this dress.'

  'It's not spoilt, I can repair it easily enough. It will be dawn in an hour or two so we had better retire and try and get some sleep.'

  She couldn't sleep, she tossed and turned and eventually abandoned the attempt. She quickly dressed in her usual masculine garments and quietly let herself out into the square. Perry's house was in darkness, he was having no difficulty sleeping.

  There was sufficient light for her to find her way to the coral and call for her gelding. She didn't bother to tack him up, she often rode him bareback and without even a halter to guide him. They were cantering across the vineyard when a grey shape arrived at her side.

  'Good morning, Zorro, I should be glad of your company.'

  She had been warned by Carlos several times not to go out alone at night – not every Spaniard could be trusted and the French certainly couldn't. No one could object to her riding at dawn now she had this enormous dog at her side.

  She guided the horse with her knees and a hand on his neck. They hopped over the stone wall at the end of the vineyard and into the olive groves. Here she had to crouch over his neck in order to avoid being swept from his back. The terraces that surrounded the village were fertile and grew all the food they needed. These had been painstakingly built centuries ago but the retaining walls were still sound.

  She spent an enjoyable hour or so wandering around the terraces and was now a considerable distance from the town. 'We shall go through here and then onto that track up th
ere. It will be light enough to travel safely through the hills soon.'

  Her mouth curved as she finished speaking. As if either animal would understand a word she said – but talking to them was how you built up a bond even if they didn't know exactly what you were saying.

  The light was beginning to creep up the hills and soon they would be bathed in early morning sunlight. Perhaps she would be wiser to turn around and go home before the town was awake and her mother realised she had gone out. A faint flicker of unease ran through her as she thought there was someone else who might disapprove more strongly of her behaviour and possibly take stern action to prevent her doing so again.

  Just ahead the track split, one half led up to the town and the other down towards the villages a few hours away in which the French had taken up residence. They had fortified them and the partisans no longer attempted to raid in that direction as it was too dangerous.

  The English army would have to remove these clusters of French soldiers if they ever hoped to push on and into France itself. She was lost in her thoughts, not taking notice of her surroundings when suddenly Zorro snarled.

  Too late she understood the danger. She wasn't alone as she had thought and it was too late to turn the horse and escape.

  *

  Perry was still smiling when he returned to his own home. Life with his darling girl was certainly not going to be dull and he would not have it any other way. He hoped for her sake she wasn't increasing as having a baby arrive several weeks before it's due date caused unpleasant speculation.

  He'd told his staff to douse all the candles and lamps as he was comfortable walking around in the dark. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. He might as well turn in, it was going to be a busy day tomorrow as he had heard from the Don that the priest would be arriving that afternoon. There were already three other weddings planned and his had been added to the list. The wedding breakfast would be held here, then he would set out in search of his missing friend and comrade, O'Reilly.