The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride

by Fenella J Miller

  It would all depend on his brother's finances. He had no money of his own as he had handed it all to the don. He slept lightly, one ear open for trouble and heard Smith returning in the middle of the night. He carefully rolled sideways and then tucked Sofia back inside the rugs before getting to his feet.

  Beau woke as he stepped over him and without being asked he too wriggled out of his cocoon of blankets and came with him to see what news Smith had brought.

  Jenkins had remained alert and on guard and this gave him pause. He was officially still a soldier and should have taken his turn and not been sleeping like a civilian.

  'Have we found them?'

  'Yes, my lord, we have. There are no sentries outside the village but I saw movement at three of the windows in the houses. They have men guarding the approach from the road. It'll be impossible to attack from that direction.'

  'My intention is not to attack at all if we can avoid it, but to somehow get into the place without being detected, find my man and leave.'

  'Don't reckon that's possible, sir, only a mountain goat could get in from any other direction.'

  'Were you able to count the horses and work out how many of them there are?' Beau asked.

  'Couldn't get close enough, but it ain't a big place, no more than a huddle of stone houses. Maybe only a dozen or so – certainly no more.'

  'I can get you in if you will allow me to.' Sofia had woken and spoke quietly from behind them. He was about to tell her that she was not going to be involved, when he thought again. She had spent the best part of two years roaming the hills with the partisans and might well know something they didn't.

  'Go ahead, sweetheart, what do you suggest?'

  'I have something similar to a riding habit that I can put on over these breeches. If I take Marron, he's a faster horse than mine, I can gallop up screaming that I am being pursued by brigands. I shall speak in Spanish, naturally, and they will let me in, not because they wish to help me but because they will be short of women of any sort.'

  'Why would you be wandering around legitimately in this remote part of the hills? They might shoot you on sight as a partisan.'

  'I haven't thought that far, I'm sure between us we can come up with a credible story. We can't be more than an hour from the main route that leads from one village to the next. There are several small towns and villages dotted about, I could easily have come from one of those.'

  'I cannot allow you to put yourself at such risk for a man you've not even met,' Perry said firmly.

  'O'Reilly knows you better than I do, has saved your life more than once so you told me. If Smith and Jenkins position themselves carefully in the hills I'm sure they can protect me if things go badly.'

  Beau had been listening to this with interest. 'I applaud your courage, Sofia, but even if you do get in, how is that going to help us as we would now have two hostages instead of one to rescue?'

  'If this place is as small as Smith says it is, it would not take me long to locate the six prisoners. If I can speak to one of them and tell them that there's a rescue party outside the village, then I'm sure they will make every effort to escape.'

  Perry had heard quite enough of this nonsense. It was pointless to argue as his headstrong young wife would continue to insist she was quite capable of entering the enemy camp and then exiting unharmed along with the six other prisoners.

  'We shall discuss this further in the morning. Smith and Jenkins need to sleep, they have not done so yet. I shall stand guard for the next three hours and then you can relieve me, brother.'

  Nobody questioned his orders and ten minutes later the place settled back to silence leaving him alone with his thoughts and they were not happy ones. His dog joined him and he thought that perhaps there was no need for a guard as the animal would warn him if anyone was close by.

  Chapter Eleven

  Beau tried to make himself more comfortable without disturbing the others. The novelty of sleeping rough had already worn thin and if he were honest he couldn't wait to return to his pampered life of luxury. Presumably his brother would wake him up when it was his turn to stand guard so he didn't have to worry about being late for his duty.

  Sofia's suggestion that she inveigle her way into the French camp was a good one. As far as he could see it was the only way they had the slightest chance of getting in without being killed or captured, and he wasn't sure which would be worse.

  He carried no identification, nor did the others, so how could he convince anyone he was in fact a duke and worth exchanging for a French prisoner, or at the very worst demanding a ransom. The only person who had travelled in these hills with papers was Perry, and they had been false, as they suggested he was a wine merchant. God knows what had happened to those because he certainly didn't have them now.

  He had intended to stay awake and try and come up with a solution to their problem, but a day in the saddle was enough to send him to sleep despite the discomfort of being stretched out on stony ground with only a blanket to roll up in.

  He had barely closed his eyes when he was shaken roughly awake. 'Your turn, Beau, I need to get a few hours' sleep. Wake Jenkins and Smith at dawn but tell them not to light a fire. We shall have to break our fast with yesterday's bread and cheese.'

  'Have you come up with a way of effecting the rescue?'

  'I think I have, I'll discuss it with you all in the morning.'

  This conversation had been conducted in whispers whilst Perry wriggled into the blankets with his wife. He was certain his brother was asleep as soon as his head rested on the saddle bag that was being utilised as a pillow.

  He took his position in a cleft in the rock where he could see up onto the track but not be seen himself. One thing he was certain of, Perry wouldn't agree to leave until O'Reilly was free or dead. Beau rather feared it would be the latter and it wouldn't just be the Irishman who perished.

  As he huddled into his thick coat he mulled over the idea that Sofia was to be used as a Trojan horse. It could just work if she could somehow smuggle weapons in with her – otherwise he rather thought it was doomed to failure. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach at the thought of what could happen to his sister-in-law at the hands of her captors. He would rather die than have her suffer in that way.

  The hours passed slowly and he was relieved when the first flicker of dawn crept over the horizon. He slid out of his hiding place and went to wake his two men. He warned them about the fire and they nodded. The horses had been hobbled a little further down where there was better grazing and the two men went to fetch them back to the campsite.

  'Perry, Sofia, it is time to rise.'

  His brother was instantly awake and nodded. Beau hastily moved away to allow them a few moments privacy before they had to face the horrors of the day. He rolled up his blanket, collected his possessions and replaced them in the saddle bag, and then picked up the saddle and carried it over to where the horses were now standing patiently. They looked as dejected as he felt.

  Billy, the huge gelding he had brought for Perry, tried to take a lump out of him as he walked past and he smacked him on the nose. Sylvester, his own stallion, greeted him with affection. They were both magnificent beasts and worth a small fortune, especially in Spain where good horseflesh was hard to come by. So many were killed in the battles, and then eaten by the hungry soldiers, that neither side found it possible to supplant them with horses of equal worth.

  The other two arrived at his side with their own saddles and belongings. 'Perry, I have come up with an idea that might work. Do you think we could barter our horses for O'Reilly? I would think that these two must be worth more to this French company than one Irishman.'

  'They might well agree but then would come after us and take the other three as well once they knew we had them. Also, it would mean someone would have to ride double and I think it highly unlikely any of the mounts we would be left with could get us to safety without collapsing first.'

  'Then what do you sugge
st? Last night you said you had come up with a plan.'

  Sofia was busy tearing chunks off the loaf and dividing the cheese into portions. Jenkins had filled an empty wineskin with fresh water which they all shared. Before they left they would all have to refill their own canteens at the stream.

  'We shall eat first and then I'll tell you what we are going to do.'

  Beau had to hide his annoyance at being given orders by his youngest brother. He was used to being the one in charge and was finding it difficult to be the least important member of this group. Even Sofia was better equipped than he was to participate in a daring rescue.

  After their inadequate breakfast they saddled their horses and then Perry deigned to share his thoughts.

  'I hate to say it, but the only way we have the slightest chance of success is to go with Sofia's idea. She has sewn two knives into her petticoats and also has her own stiletto secreted in her boot. Not much against so many opponents, but it might be enough.'

  'I am prepared to take the chance. All I have to do is hand my weapons to the prisoners and leave the rest to them. Remember, Beau, they are not incarcerated, but working as servants and will be free to wander about the place doing their jobs.'

  'For God's sake, both of you, you have not thought this through. Sending a beautiful young woman into a camp full of men will give but one result. They will have only one thing on their mind. The first thing they will see when they toss her onto her back will be the knives hidden in her petticoats.' This was blunt speaking and his brother clenched his fist and he braced himself for the punch. It didn't come. The group was silent and he pressed home his point with even more passion.

  'I must speak what I feel. I do not think that the possibility of sacrificing your wife in order to save your orderly is acceptable. Do you not value her as highly as O'Reilly?'

  Beau's words were heartfelt. He couldn't understand why Perry was so set on retrieving this person at the risk of all their lives.

  The four of them were staring at him as if he had been speaking in tongues but then Jenkins coughed and cleared his throat. 'Forgive me for speaking out of turn, sir, but I reckon his grace is right. O'Reilly won't want to be the cause of hurt to your wife. He'd rather stay where he is. At least he's alive.'

  The matter hung in the balance and then his brother said something extremely impolite and turned to stare into the distance. His stance was rigid. Nobody spoke. They waited for Perry to make his decision.

  It was now full light and their faces were clearly visible, whereas before they had been indistinct. When his brother eventually turned it was as if he had aged ten years. He reached out and pulled Sofia into his arms.

  'What was I thinking? I have been blinded by my own stupidity. Thank God you had the sense to speak what I should have realised for myself. This is a fool's errand. Sofia, my love, will you ever forgive me?'

  She buried her head in his shoulder but didn't answer. Beau gestured to the other two that they move away to allow the young couple some privacy. He sent up a prayer of thankfulness that he had spoken out and not let this mission go any further. Now they could turn around and start making the long journey to Oporto and then back to England and Silchester Court.

  Gallivanting about the place was all very well when the weather was warm. winter came early here and soon the snow would start. They needed to be well away from the hills before that happened. At least on the plains it would be warm and there would be hostelries to stay in overnight. If he never slept on the ground again he would be a happy man.

  *

  Sofia rarely cried, but the relief that Perry had finally seen the folly of this mission was overwhelming. Beau should have spoken up sooner and saved them all a deal of discomfort and worry. The same thing had niggled at the back of her mind, that they shouldn't be risking their lives for someone they didn't know, but she had kept these thoughts at bay until they had been spoken aloud.

  'Hush, sweetheart, I can't bear to hear you cry. I should be horsewhipped for bringing you into danger. I should have been taking you on your honeymoon, spoiling you, not asking you to risk being violated in the worst possible way – and why? Your life is far more precious to me than his ever could be and it took my brother to bring me to my senses.'

  She sniffed and wiped her nose on his jacket before looking up at him. 'My love, until last night you had no idea any of us would be in such danger. You would have come to the same conclusion…'

  'I don't think that I would, that is what terrifies me. Good God, I helped you to sew the knives in your skirt. I should have understood the enormity of what I was asking you to do then, and not have had to be told by my brother.'

  'It doesn't matter now, I shan't hold it against you. The French will be driven from the hills very soon and I'm sure that your man will find a way to escape when that happens.'

  'I should never have come here, we should have set out straightaway for England.'

  'Actually, the longer we are wandering about the countryside the better I shall like it. I am rather dreading having to become Lady Peregrine. I don't feel that I shall be very good at it.'

  He kissed her fiercely and she responded. His horse prevented things from progressing by attempting to sink his teeth into her husband's shoulder. Perry swore at the animal and Billy put his ears back and had another go, equally unsuccessfully.

  With a light heart she was tossed into the saddle and the four of them began the long, slow journey to her new life. It wasn't until they stopped for luncheon that she had another opportunity to speak to him.

  'Darling girl, we shall be remaining in Salamanca for a few weeks. It is a beautiful city and was liberated from the French some months ago and should now be recovering from the occupation. Neither of us have sufficient garments, we shall have fresh ones made when we get there. I intend to take you to the grandest ball I can find and you must wear your wedding dress for me.'

  'I think that your brother wishes to return as speedily as possible…'

  'He will be perfectly content to remain in Salamanca if we can find luxurious accommodation for our stay. I shall also hire a carriage so you can travel in style. If we are to have a trunk full of new clothes then we can hardly continue on horseback.' He pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. 'I intend to be the best husband I can, I shall spoil you, give into your most extravagant demands. I love you, sweetheart.'

  Somehow she hid her dismay; he believed he was giving her something she really wanted. The thought of being obliged to travel several hundred miles in a closed carriage filled her with horror. She was equally unhappy about the thought of being pampered and spoilt – she just wasn't that sort of girl. 'And I shall be the best wife that I can. I love you too and cannot wait to reach Salamanca so I can be your true wife.'

  It took them almost two weeks to reach this city. Zorro and herself were the only members of the group that were disappointed to see it. She would have liked the journey to continue for several weeks more but everyone else in their small party, including the equines, seemed relieved to be there. Jenkins had gone ahead the day before to find them the best lodgings he could.

  He met them at the city gates. 'I've rented a grand house for you, your grace, cost a fair bit, mind, but I reckon it's worth every penny. Follow me and I'll take you there.'

  Everywhere Sofia looked there was another wonder to behold. The magnificent buildings glowed orange in the sunlight, the ravages of the battles that had taken place a few months ago had mostly been removed.

  Elegant women in dark gowns and lace headdresses glided about the place followed by their servants carrying baskets full of interesting items. The gentlemen, their black hair oiled back, walked together in their black suits and snowy white shirts.

  'The Plaza Mayor is no more than a hundred yards from the house that I rented, my lord. I've never seen the like, and I've travelled most places on the continent,' Jenkins said.

  The house proved to be everything he had said and more. The occupiers had perished in
the battle and the owners were delighted to have rich English aristocracy stay there at an exorbitant rent. It was fully staffed and was the most luxurious building she had ever set foot in.

  The major-domo conducted them to their apartments. Beau had been given the most palatial, as was only right as he was the Duke of Silchester, but the accommodation she and Perry had was almost as wonderful.

  'The first thing I want is a bath. I shall send for hot water immediately.'

  'No need to do that, sweetheart, see here, we have a joint sitting room and matching bedchambers and dressing rooms. There is already a bath ready and waiting for each of us.'

  He kissed her hard and her pulse skittered. Would he suggest they tumble into bed before they went downstairs? She had thought she could stay away from him, possibly have the marriage annulled, but that was foolish thinking. He was her husband and she his wife, they had promised they would be the best they could be and she, for one, would not go back on her word.

  Her ability to converse in their native tongue with the two maids allocated to her made things so much easier. Whilst she luxuriated in the rose-scented water the girls had unpacked the saddle bags and one of them had run off to press her three gowns.

  Her fingers were wrinkled by the time she stepped out into the waiting, warmed towels. She could hear male voices from the sitting room so guessed that Beau had joined her husband. She was tardy, but had no intention of hurrying, she was far too relaxed after her long immersion in the water.

  Her hair still had to be redressed and that would take some time as there was so much of it. Without thinking she raised her voice. 'Perry, I shall be another half an hour, I will join you downstairs when I am ready.'

  The bedchamber door opened and he strolled in. Apart from a clean shirt and freshly tied neckcloth, he looked no different than he had before. He still had on his riding clothes. She was about to comment but then understood he had nothing else as their limited luggage had been given over to her.