The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(13)

The shutters rattled as a gust of wind hit them, this was followed by the patter of rain. He had been going to gently awake his sleeping beauty and then escort her back to her house. They would both be drenched if they did so now so they might as well remain where they were in the comfort of his bed.

He didn't need to be able to see to know she was the most beautiful girl in the world. He entangled his hand in her hair. This was long, silky and had the scent of lemons. He sighed with pleasure. Thank the good Lord he had not tumbled into bed unwashed as he frequently did.

His lips curved as he relived her arrival. Would she still have continued with her plan if he hadn't been naked? He'd better get some sleep. It would be dawn in an hour or two and they must both be dressed to see her mother and explain the situation before she realised her daughter had been elsewhere all night.

As he was drifting off to sleep a series of vivid images filled his head. The first was of a young man who fitted his own description exactly, yet somehow Perry knew it wasn't himself he was looking at. Then a tall, dark, older man smiled at him. He too looked familiar. Then a kaleidoscope of pictures of girls, large houses, and horses flashed through his head.

These were his family. He didn't try to hang onto the visions but allowed himself to drift further into his dream. He heard a voice saying, 'Lieutenant, Lord Peregrine Sheldon, to see you, sir.'

He sat up so abruptly he woke his partner. 'What is it? Do I have to leave now?'

'No, my darling, you will remain with me until morning. Have I told you how much I love you?'

She snuggled closer and kissed his shoulder. 'Many times, my love, but actions speak louder than words.'

Perry forgot what had woken him and a considerable time later finally was able to sleep. He was roused by Zorro barking furiously.

He tumbled out of bed and dragged on his breeches and boots. 'We have overslept, sweetheart, Se?ora Rodriquez and her daughter are trying to get in to make my breakfast. I intended that you would have returned home before this.'

He could hear her quickly dressing on the other side of the bed. 'Are you ashamed of me?' The tone was light, but he detected a slight hesitation in her voice.

'You are my wife as far as I'm concerned and we shall have the matter legitimised when your priest arrives at the village. I know for a certainty that I have never been married so am free to wed you as soon as I can.' The animal was still making a racket to wake the dead.

'I'll go down and calm Zorro – he needs to understand I shall be living here in future and he must also obey me.'

She was gone before he could protest. He moved to the door to overhear what was being said in the kitchen and he laughed. The se?ora was more concerned about the dog than the presence of Sofia in the house.

He cursed as he fumbled for his stockings, and pulled on his spare shirt. Where the devil were his boots? Then he remembered he had tossed them aside last night and they would be somewhere in the courtyard.

Sofia let the dog out and then her light footsteps echoed on the stairs. 'Here are your boots, Perry, do you need assistance putting them on?'

'Absolutely not. I'm glad it's stopped raining and that the sun is out.'

His words hung between them as they both understood the significance. His vision was beginning to return.

She flung herself into his arms and he kissed her fiercely and almost gave into the temptation to tumble her back between the sheets.

'What can you see? I can't believe you might be regaining your sight.'

He blinked a few times and turned his head back and forth. 'I can distinguish light from dark, but little else.' He paused wondering if he should tell her that he now knew who he was. Then she spoke again.

'You don't have to marry me, you know. I told you last night…'

'If you say that again I shall not be responsible for my actions. We are getting married and you will then be Lady Sheldon. I have several siblings and am convinced I have a twin.'

She became rigid in his arms and stepped away from him. 'My lord, I am delighted you have recovered your identity. I shall not marry you. I would never be accepted in your family after the life I have lived out here. My family was on the periphery of society, but I am well aware I am so far beyond the pale even marriage to you could not make me acceptable.'

'That's nonsense, and you know it. You are marrying me. Now, do you wish to breakfast here or shall we go immediately and give your mother the good news?'

*

Beau left the army late afternoon determined to travel as far as possible before being obliged to make camp. Smith was leading the packhorse and Jenkins scouted ahead to make sure they were not going to come face-to-face with a roving French company or any other danger. There were brigands and rogues, as well as both French and English deserters, roaming this land. He was at more risk from attack from these than he was from the French.

The partisans, fighters of a guerrilla war, would hopefully be less likely to murder him. The local population hated the French. These invaders took their food and horses without payment and tortured and killed indiscriminately those that were suspected of helping the English or the Spanish resistance in any way.

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.