The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride

by Fenella J Miller

  Attending to the call of nature when one was dressed in a gown was relatively simple even when outdoors, however, doing so when in breeches was another thing altogether. It required that she expose a part of her anatomy that was best kept out of sight. She could not possibly empty her bladder when at any moment Smith could return or, even worse, bring with him the man she hoped to marry very soon.

  Soon the matter became so urgent she had no choice. She could hardly do what needed to be done where she was sitting as the wet patch would be immediately obvious; that would be too humiliating – it would also be unpleasant to sit in.

  She had been told to remain where she was and to remain quiet. The horses were presumably in a safe place so it should be permissible for her to go to join them. She slithered down on her bottom not wishing to raise her head any higher than necessary.

  'Keep still, boys, I'll not disturb you much.' She patted both the animals in turn and was then relieved and delighted to find there was a convenient space behind a large rock that she could utilise. Once she was comfortable she quickly tucked her shirt tails between her legs and pulled up her breeches.

  Not a moment too soon as Smith, accompanied by two men from the village, crawled into view. She prayed they would think she had gone down to check on the welfare of the horses and that they wouldn't see her pink cheeks. Keeping in a crouched position, she went to join them.

  'You need to leave, miss, you can take one of these men's horses. They'll use yours when they want to return,' Smith told her.

  'I shall be glad to go, I don't want to be in the middle of a pitched battle. I shall wait for Perry and make sure he comes with me. I've no wish for him to be involved either, he's not fully recovered yet.'

  One of the men remained with Smith and the other accompanied her back to the path where he tossed her into the saddle. The stirrup leathers had already been shortened so she rammed her boots into the irons and was ready to leave.

  'Joseph, where are the rest of the men?'

  He gestured with his head and she saw what she had missed before, that the remaining partisans were stealthily moving through the scrub so they could fire down on the French when the English cavalry arrived and charged them from the front.

  Once they were safely away she reined in determined to remain where she was and wait for her beloved to appear. From her vantage point she could see in all directions without being seen herself. The sun was fully up and it was going to be another baking hot day – unusual for the beginning of autumn.

  'Look, I can see Don Pablo and that must be Perry riding with him. Good Lord, he looks ready for battle, he's wearing a sword around his waist.'

  She stood in her stirrups and waved until she attracted their attention. It would be simpler for them to come to her rather than the other way around as the track in front of her was the most direct one back to the town. He arrived at her side and did not look particularly pleased to see her. She spoke first hoping her good news would soften his mood.

  'Perry, your brother, the duke, has arrived to take you home. There is a French company a mile away and they are carrying chests of gold. Jenkins has gone to fetch the English cavalry and Smith is keeping watch.'

  'And you have been doing exactly what these past few hours?'

  'Smith saved me from blundering into the French camp and I have been hiding with him until it was safe to leave.'

  Her words made him look even grimmer. He had come armed to the teeth in her defence when he should have been resting at home. Her stupidity had ruined what should have been a wonderful day.

  'I am so sorry. I shall fully understand if you no longer wish to marry me this afternoon.'

  He looked at her as if she was speaking in tongues and then stretched out and lifted her bodily from the saddle and placed her in front of him. 'The sooner I marry you the better, my girl, you are running wild at the moment and I intend to put a stop to that.'

  She opened her mouth to protest but he closed it with a kiss that made her forget everything apart from how much she loved him. When he raised his head his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Whatever she did, however badly she behaved, he would always love her even when he was enraged by her outlandish ways.

  'We shall return, I've no wish to join in the fight today or, alas, any other day.' He turned his gelding's head and kicked him into a canter. Sitting sideways on the pommel was extremely uncomfortable and only his arms around her waist kept her in place. There was no point in protesting as she thought he was doing it deliberately. She hoped this would be her only punishment.

  They were only halfway back when she heard the sound of two horses approaching at speed from behind. She peered around Perry's shoulder. 'It's Smith and another man who must be Jenkins. The cavalry has arrived and the French are about to be routed.' She had been obliged to shout but she was pretty sure he heard her although he didn't respond.

  When he reined in at the paddock he tipped her unceremoniously to the ground and she barely kept her feet. 'I shall see you at the church in one hour from now. Do not be late – tardiness is something I cannot abide.'

  She moved swiftly out of his reach before turning. 'And I cannot abide overbearing, arrogant aristocrats but I suppose we must both endure as we have no choice in the matter.'

  The sound of his laughter followed her and she was tempted to turn a cartwheel but thought that might be a step too far.

  'There you are, I knew you would arrive in time to prepare for your wedding.' Mama didn't mention the fact that she had been missing for hours, or that they now not only had a lord, but a duke in their midst.

  Sofia stood in a basin whilst her mother tipped warm water over her and then rubbed her from top to toe in their precious orange blossom soap. 'What about you? You must have time to get ready as well.'

  'I have only to take off this old gown and put on my wedding finery and I am done. I hope you like the gown I sewed for this special day.'

  Draped over the end of her bed was the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. It was in palest green, high-waisted, with a full train of organza and edged with beading. Strictly speaking it was an evening gown, but it was perfect for a wedding too.

  'I love it, I shall look like a real bride wearing that.' She examined it more closely and saw there was a loop of material hidden under the train so she could put this over her wrist and thus keep the train from under her feet.

  'Of course you are a real bride. Good heavens, child, you are marrying the brother of the Duke of Silchester. I should think that Perry must be one of the most eligible bachelors in England and yet here we are about to welcome him to our humble family.'

  'You have met him? What is he like?'

  'He is a dark version of your future husband. He is slightly taller and broader but quite definitely his brother. I have never conversed with someone so toplofty before but found him quite charming and pleasant.'

  'I am rather dreading walking down the aisle on my own, I…'

  'That is not going to happen, my love, Don Pablo will escort you. After all we are to be married tomorrow ourselves so he's almost your papa.'

  'To think that yesterday there were only the two of us in the family and tomorrow I shall have a host of brothers and sisters, a husband, and a new father.'

  Chapter Nine

  Perry unbuckled his sword and rammed it in the scabbard. He would never wear it again. His days of soldiering were done. There were half a dozen women cleaning his house from top to bottom and preparing it for the wedding breakfast to be held in a couple of hours. Where the hell was Beau?

  The wedding gift he'd received from the Don must be returned. It would just be a constant reminder of what he had lost. If the injury had occurred during a battle he would not feel so angry about the damage to his eyes. To be forced to give up what he loved most because of a stupid accident was hard to accept.

  The door to the don's grand house was opened and he could hear his brother's voice inside. He walked in and saw Beau deep
in conversation with his future father-in-law. As he hadn't announced his arrival they were unaware he was observing them.

  His eyes filled. He was a veritable watering pot lately. A servant appeared at his side and he handed him the sword. 'Put this in the armoury.' He'd spoken quietly so he wouldn't be heard on the veranda where the other two were talking.

  He strode forward to greet his brother. 'Beau, how in God's name did you find me? You should never have come, risking your life when you are head of the family was…' He got no further as he was embraced fiercely. His brother's eyes were as moist as his.

  'Perry, I knew you were not dead. I haven't slept comfortably since I heard you were missing back in the summer. Did you know that Giselle is now married to Rushton? Beth has just married her lieutenant – I brought her out with me and left her with the army.'

  'Both pieces of information are new to me. In an hour from now you will be the only one of us not married.'

  'I have told you before that I have no intention of stepping into parson's mousetrap. I have a surfeit of heirs so there's no danger that the family name will not continue after my demise.'

  Perry gripped his shoulders. 'Good God, I'm not suggesting you marry because you have to but because you will be happier sharing your life with a woman that you love.'

  'I am four and thirty, brother, and if I have not fallen in love so far I think it highly unlikely I shall do so in the future. Good God, I've met hundreds of hopeful young ladies, if I was meant to become enamoured then it would have happened already.'

  'In which case your siblings will set about finding you the perfect bride. I shall need something to occupy my time once I am home.'

  He quickly explained why he had to resign his commission and Beau was suitably sympathetic. 'I think it's a shame that your Sofia is not to become a soldier's bride as I think she is far better suited to that position than our cousin Beth.'

  'Have you met her yet?'

  'I have not had the pleasure. If she is as pleasant as her mother then I shall be more than satisfied to have her in the family.'

  'God's teeth! I don't give a damn whether you are satisfied. I remember your reaction when Bennett wanted to marry someone you believed was unsuitable – I thought you had changed, but obviously I am wrong.' Perry immediately regretted his angry outburst. What the hell was wrong with him? In less than an hour he was to marry the girl who would make his life complete, so why wasn't he in high alt?

  'I beg your pardon, Beau, I'm out of sorts today. Excuse me I must change my clothes, I cannot appear at the church in my dirt.'

  'I shall come with you. There are still many things we must talk about and I doubt you will have the time or inclination to do so after the ceremony.'

  'I can't return to England immediately, Beau, I must find my orderly, O'Reilly, who I think has been captured. Will you and your men accompany me on this search?'

  His brother smiled. 'Hardly a romantic wedding trip, but no doubt it will suit the pair of you very well. I should be delighted to accompany you as long as you give me your word that as soon as you have discovered what happened to O'Reilly you will return with me to England?'

  'I have nowhere else to go. Sofia and I will have to stay at Silchester until the tenants leave my estate. I can hardly throw them out when they have been exemplary.'

  They continued the conversation whilst Perry was completing his ablutions in the washroom.

  'I have a suggestion to make. Would you and Sofia consider making your home permanently with me? Aubrey and Mary intend to do so and I have converted the east wing for their use. I could do the same for the west for you and your new bride.'

  Perry didn't hesitate. 'I should like nothing better. Silchester is a vast establishment and will do better having three families living there. If you are not to set up your own nursery then you no doubt will be overrun with nieces and nephews eventually.'

  Juan had put out the blindingly white, overdecorated and ridiculous shirt that his temporary valet insisted was essential for a wedding. There were black trousers to accompany this nonsense that were so tight he feared the slightest movement would rip the seams.

  He refused point-blank to wear the gold embroidered jacket that should complete the outfit. 'I'll wear my new topcoat so you can put that hideous object away.'

  His hair had grown to below collar length so he tied it at the nape of his neck with a strip of black ribbon. Not so many years ago the common soldier had been forced to have a tarred pigtail, and even gentlemen had worn their hair in this way.

  'Don't scowl at me, Beau, I shall have it cut when I get home.'

  His brother was gazing out of the window. 'Your guests are already on their way to the church. If we do not leave now you will be late.'

  'That I must not be as I told Sofia I could not tolerate tardiness.'

  'What was her response to your remark?'

  When he told him they both laughed. If he couldn't be a soldier then he would endeavour to be a good husband and hopefully one day a good parent too. He was about to set out when he noticed the sword he had returned was leaning against the wall just inside the door. It would be churlish to refuse it a second time.

  *

  'Your future husband and his handsome brother have just left for the church. We must depart ourselves in the next few minutes if we are not to be late. In honour of the duke your wedding is the first of four to be held today.'

  'I do hope we don't have to sit through an interminable Mass, Mama. I much prefer the shorter service that we get in our own church. Father Benedict will be there until midnight if everyone has the nuptial Mass. As long as we are legally married I have no wish to prolong the ceremony.' She shook out non-existent creases in her beautiful gown. 'It is a shame they can never ring the church bells for fear that the French would be attracted here.'

  'I understand from Don Pablo that the other couples are being married simultaneously to avoid that problem. For your marriage to be recognised in Spain it must be conducted as it always is. You will have to sit through an even more elaborate ceremony tomorrow morning when it will be my turn.'

  Now was not the time to mention that Perry had said they would leave at dawn to begin the search for his missing comrade. To be honest, she had no desire to see her mother marry the Spaniard as this would mean she might never see her again. Mama should have been able to accompany her back to England to join in her good fortune.

  The small square was deserted, no doubt everyone was in the church. Somehow it didn't seem right to be walking just with her mother, surely the don should have accompanied them? The closer she got the less enthusiastic she felt about the whole thing. Was there still time to run away?

  Then they emerged into the marketplace and instead of remaining at the altar Perry was striding towards her. His smile squashed her doubts. He loved her, she loved him, whatever life threw at them they could deal with it.

  'My darling, I refused to sit in a church full of strangers. I wish we could wait until we could be married at home with my family around us.'

  'As this is to be a Catholic ceremony perhaps we could repeat it in our own religion?'

  The tall, dark gentleman waiting by the door must be the duke. He bowed and his expression was warm. 'I am delighted to meet you, and think your suggestion that you have a second marriage at Silchester to be an excellent one.'

  She curtsied, not something she could remember doing before. She had never had a Season in London where one was forever bobbing up and down. 'I would have known you for Perry's brother, your grace, your colouring is dissimilar but in every other way you are the same.'

  There was still no sign of the gentleman who she was supposed to be walking down the aisle with and she thought this rather odd. The duke offered his arm and she took it. Perry winked and was about to vanish inside to take up his designated position by the altar when the distant crackle of gunfire echoed from the hills. Not an auspicious start to anyone's married life.

  The long elaborat
e service was conducted at a leisurely pace and in Spanish. She responded when prompted and when the gold band slipped over her knuckle she was glad it was done and they could get back into the sunshine. It was dark and cold inside the church as it had not been used for years.

  Then they were obliged to follow the priest to the altar and kneel for another interminable hour. All she could think about was that Don Pablo had not attended and this was most unlike him. Eventually they were allowed to stand and turned to face the congregation.

  Mama was also absent. A sick dread gripped her stomach and she glanced at her husband. He too looked worried. 'Something is wrong, we must go at once and see why my mother and the don did not attend.'

  The duke overheard her whispered comment, nodded at his brother and then strode away ahead of them. They were obliged to stop and accept congratulations all the way down the aisle. When they emerged into the sunshine the firing had stopped. She prayed the English had been successful and that none of the men from the town had been injured.

  'Everyone is following us. We cannot abandon our guests. I hope your brother returns speedily to tell us what is happening.'

  'Like you, sweetheart, I am concerned at their absence. I'm certain your mother would not have missed your wedding unless it was for something serious.'

  There were branches of orange blossom formed into an arch over the doorway. His house was sparkling, the doors to the veranda wide open and in the courtyard a small band of musicians was playing lively music. The wooden steps that led down to the veranda had also been decorated with flowers and blossom. It looked enchanting, she should be happy, but the worry about the missing couple was squashing her joy.

  Cider and wine were flowing, a suckling pig had been roasted on a spit in the yard, and a long trestle set up with appetising salads and accompaniments. Once all the guests were happily circulating she and Perry were able to slip away to the far end of the drawing room where they could talk.