The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(14)

Jenkins cantered back to join them. 'There's a clearing a mile ahead, your grace, off the main route, with fresh water and grass. I don't reckon we'll find anything better tonight.'

'In which case, make camp there. Will it be safe to light a fire?'

'It'll be safe enough today. No Frenchies would be stupid enough to come so close to the English army. Tomorrow it'll be different.'

The weather was clement during the day but the temperature fell rapidly at night now it was September. Sleeping under the stars was a novel experience for him but one he was coming to enjoy. As long as he found his brother and was able to bring him home again he would never regret this expedition. He had not journeyed in so remote a place before, although he had visited Italy, Greece and France when he had been little more than a green boy travelling with his tutor to broaden his mind.

He was deeply asleep when Jenkins hissed in his ear. 'It ain't safe to stay here, your grace, there's a troop coming. Smith was keeping watch and saw them no more than a mile away.'

Beau was well aware that the slightest sound travelled miles in the dark. There was a full moon, but it was obscured by cloud which must make travelling hazardous. The fact that the French company was doing so meant they must be on urgent business – he prayed it wasn't him they were hunting.

In a matter of minutes they were mounted. 'Down here, it's going to be safer where we can't be seen.'

He urged his stallion to follow Jenkins and the spare mount, thanking God that his men had had the sense to douse the fire once they had eaten. Even if the smoke wasn't seen, the smell would have drifted to the road and revealed their presence.

The horses slithered down the slope until it became too steep to remain in the saddle. On foot he led Sylvester the remainder of the way and was breathing heavily by the time they found safety in a copse of trees.

'Here, I'll take the beasts, your grace, best they can't see or hear the soldiers as they might call out to their horses.' Smith vanished into the darkness with the four animals leaving him with Jenkins.

'I'd like to see who goes past, will we be safe if we climb that tree?'

'I reckon if we stay flat behind the trunks we'll be safe enough. For Gawd's sake, sir, don't let them see your face, it'll shine like a beacon in the dark.'

They had been only been in place for a few minutes when they heard in the distance the sound of horses approaching, the jangle of bits, the clank of metal-shod hooves as they hit the stones, but strangely no voices or human sounds.

He held his breath, didn't dare to put his spyglass to his eye in case the flash of the glass was visible to those above. Then the clouds cleared and the track was silvered by moonlight. A single horse jogged into sight. The cavalry officer was definitely French – that much was obvious from his uniform. The scout vanished from sight and then the road was filled with his compatriots.

There were not as many as he'd expected, possibly no more than twenty, but enough to kill or capture his small party if they discovered them. The officer in charge rode at the head of the band. It was obvious he was the senior member of the company from the ostentatious amount of silver that adorned his uniform.

The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he saw why they were taking the risk of travelling at night. In the centre of the group were two pack animals each carrying two small wooden chests. They were transporting gold and did not wish to be ambushed by the partisans.

He climbed down the tree, making sure not to alert the passing soldiers. Jenkins followed suit. Once they were safely out of earshot he gave his orders.

'Smith, you are the better horseman, gallop back to the camp and tell them what we've seen. Jenkins and I will follow the French. They will hole up somewhere during the day which should make them an easy target.'

They didn't argue. This wasn't because he was a duke, or that he was their paymaster, it was because they were ex-soldiers and knew what he said made perfect sense. By capturing the French gold, the English could make life difficult for the enemy who would be waiting for the money in order to pay their men. Sullen soldiers didn't fight well. Without being requested to do so he took over the task of leading the horse they had brought with them for his brother.

*

Sofia was glowing all over. Until today she had not known what true happiness was. Of course she wanted to marry Perry, but had tried to dissuade him for his own sake, not hers. He said they would remain in Spain, but she doubted that would be the case. His family would want him home and eventually this simple life would pall and he would wish to be living in his own environment.

They had been so late getting up the village was astir and they would be seen returning to her house together. Even Mama would be down and wondering where her daughter was. He was pulling on his boots with as much precision as a man who could see perfectly well.

'Do I pass muster? Should I shave before we go? After all, I am suddenly elevated to the aristocracy and have no wish to let the side down.' His smile made her toes curl.

'You, my lord, are a ninny. We have been looking at you for the past ten weeks and care less about your appearance than you apparently do. Hurry up, or I shall go without you.'

'I heard you let the dog out – I need to wait for him to return as I want to make sure he knows he must be at my side whenever I am out of the house.'

'You won't need him very soon as you will be able to see again. I'm confident that as your memory returns so will your eyesight.'