The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(12)
Also, if she happened to be seen in the square in anything but her usual garments this would give rise to speculation. So, unglamorous though they might be, a clean shirt, waistcoat and breeches would be what she wore. Her boots were loose-fitting as she had lost weight since she had been living in the village which would make removing them easier.
She snuffed her candle and stretched out on the bed waiting for her mother to be sound asleep. Mama, once in the land of nod, was impossible to wake. There was little chance she would hear her daughter leave the house or return later.
The other problem she had to overcome was that of the dog who would probably bark when she went into the house. This would rouse the neighbours and give Perry time to collect his thoughts and send her away. Then to her delight she saw the animal vanish into the olive grove when darkness fell. With luck he wouldn't return until dawn. It was impossible to tell if Perry had retired as he didn't use candles, his house was always dark unless he was entertaining.
Perry had been celibate since his arrival and from what she had gleaned from eavesdropping on the married women a gentleman who had not laid with a woman for some time was more easily seduced. She crept downstairs and slipped out of the back door. It was a full moon, bright enough for her to see her way across the square. She was tempted to enter via the back door but didn't wish to trip over anything. The route to his bedroom would be simpler if she entered through the front.
Doors in the village were rarely locked and she prayed this was the case tonight. Gently she lifted the latch and began to ease the door open. Moonlight flooded in and to her shock Perry was standing no more than a yard from her. This would not have been a problem if he had not been as naked as a jaybird.
Her eyes widened. She had never seen anything so magnificent. This made things so much easier. Without hesitation she stepped in and closed the door firmly behind her. She heard his sharp intake of breath. He knew she was there.
They were in complete darkness which was a blessing as seeing him the way he was had made her hot all over.
'I can think of only one reason you are here, darling girl, and I give you fair warning that if you don't turn tail and run this minute it will be too late. I might be blind, but my other senses are aroused.'
'I wish to spend the night with you before you go. I shall marry Carlos, he will take me even if I am carrying your child, so you have no need to worry on that score.'
He moved so fast she had little time to react. His arms encircled her and crushed her to him. His heat burnt through the thin stuff of her shirt. Almost roughly he caught her braid and pulled her head back so he could plunder her mouth.
She was dizzy with excitement, pressed herself closer, knew she had made the right decision. Then there was a gust of fresh air and she was sitting on her backside in the dirt outside his house. She heard the bolt slam across making it impossible for her to return unless she went around to the back. This would mean a long trek in the dark.
One could only enter the courtyard at the back of his house via a narrow passageway and then through a small gate in the stone wall that ran along the rear of all the houses on that side of the square. These pretty areas were filled with orange and lemon trees, pots of flowers and had a veranda upon which the occupier could sit and enjoy the evening breeze.
After brushing down her breeches she scrambled up unsure whether to return home or try again. He wouldn't expect her to be so bold as to attempt a second entry after he had so rudely ejected her. In future he would certainly lock both doors so this was her only chance.
As she entered the narrow alleyway she saw that Zorro was ahead of her. She increased her pace, slipping and stumbling in the darkness but the beast had vanished by the time she arrived. She pushed open the gate and found herself face-to-face with a solid obstacle.
'What a determined young lady you are, to be sure. I thought I made it plain just now that I do not intend to seduce you…'
'It is I who wish to seduce you – there can be no objection to that as I am the instigator of this assignation.'
He was still without clothing. Tentatively she reached out and rested her hand on his chest, wanting to touch his skin, if only the once. There was a sprinkling of coarse hair in the centre which intrigued her. Her other hand joined the first and began an intimate exploration of his chest. He wasn't soft like her, but hard. He was holding his breath.
'God dammit to hell! There's only so much a man can take.' He picked her up, kicked the gate shut and strode through the house as if he had perfect vision. He bounded up the stairs and shouldered his way into a bedchamber. Too late to change her mind. He had warned her and she had ignored his words. She should be frightened; she had heard the first time could be painful, but instead she was as eager as he to make love.
Chapter Five
Perry thought that if this was his last day on earth he could die a happy man. He propped his head on his elbow and listened to Sofia's soft breathing beside him. He'd never have made love to her if he thought his previous concerns that he might already be married were still valid. From today he would make no further effort to find out who he was and even if he did recover his memory he had no intention of leaving the woman he loved to distraction.
As far as he was concerned she was his wife, he didn't give a damn for the legalities, for what others might say. When the priest took up his position, he would join the queue of other couples and say his vows. The fact that he didn't know his name might present a problem if he was living in England – but here nobody cared about such things. They judged you on what they could see and not your bloodline.