The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(15)

They clattered down the stairs together, he called a cheery good morning to the women working in the rear of the house, and unbolted the front door. Now the moment had come to exit she was reluctant to do so. It was all very well saying that she didn't care what folk thought, but she did.

'I should have told Carlos before I came. He will be devastated that I have chosen you when up until your arrival I had had every intention of eventually becoming his wife. In fact, if the priest had come before you did then I would already be married to him.'

'Then thank God he didn't. Don't dither in the doorway, my love, I wish to speak to your mother and make this betrothal official.'

He bundled her out of the door and closed it firmly behind them. Then he put his arm around her waist, making his claim very clear to the two women fetching water from the well in the centre of the square. Se?ora Rodriquez might have shown no disapproval but these two had pursed their lips and she heard them muttering. She was certain they had called her wanton and little better than a light skirt.

His arm tightened. 'Ignore them, darling, their opinion is irrelevant.'

Her face was burning, her joy vanishing with every step she took. She had been foolish to think she could behave in such a scandalous manner, tear her precious reputation to shreds, and still walk proudly around the village as if nothing had happened.

The door opened before they reached it but her mother had retreated to the parlour and was waiting there for them.

'Let me speak to her first, I don't want you to be given a bear-garden jaw for something that wasn't your fault.'

They were now safely inside. 'I came to you, you sent me away but I returned. How could it possibly be anyone's fault but my own?'

'You were an innocent, I am a gentleman. I should have had the strength of character to insist you left and waited until we were married before taking you to my bed.'

She stretched up and kissed him. 'Fiddlesticks to that! I don't regret what happened for a minute. I love you and I know that you return my feelings. Whatever we've heard, it could possibly be years before the priest comes – would you have been prepared to wait that long?'

'I would have preferred it if you had, Sofia, but one cannot unbreak an egg. However, I am mortified that you did not return more discreetly.' Her mother spoke from behind them. 'Perry, I think we need to talk. Daughter, make yourself useful and prepare breakfast.'

'No, darling, I'll not have you sent away as if you are of no account. Madam, I have no wish to converse in the passageway. Shall we repair to the parlour?'

She had never heard him speak so authoritatively. Somehow, knowing that he was an aristocrat had made him more formidable. A flicker of unease ran through her. She had committed the rest of her life to this man and yet she didn't know his true character at all. Had she made a catastrophic error?

'I would prefer it if you spoke to my mother alone.' She stepped away from him and walked away to do her morning chores as usual, as if her life wasn't changed forever.





Chapter Six


Perry didn't speak for a minute, just stood ramrod straight, every inch an aristocrat until the poor woman crumpled beneath his stare.

'I am Lord Peregrine Sheldon; my brother is the Duke of Silchester. I am betrothed to Sofia and we shall be wed as soon as the wretched priest arrives. I hope this meets with your full approval.'

She curtsied and a wave of shame washed over him. He was behaving appallingly. Mrs Appleby had shown nothing but kindness since he arrived – this was no way to repay her.

He bowed formally. 'I most sincerely beg your pardon, ma'am, for speaking to you so rudely. Might I be permitted to sit?'

'Of course, my lord…'

'No, I am Perry to you and always will be.' He smiled warmly. 'I hope you will allow me to call you mama as soon as the knot is tied.'

'I should be honoured. What possessed you to march across the square so boldly announcing to everyone that you have debauched my daughter?'

He bit back an angry retort. 'You are right, ma'am, but the matter was taken from my hands as Se?ora Rodriquez, an inveterate gossip, arrived before we were ready to leave. It was badly done of me. We should have waited until we were married before sharing a bed.'

For the first time she relaxed and returned his smile. 'As my daughter came to you I can hardly blame you. She is a beautiful young lady but, I am sorry to say, since we have been living here she has been riding out with partisans and has become wild and unruly.'

'And I love her for it. I owe her my life and will forever be grateful that my accident brought us together.' He could hear crockery clattering at the rear of the house. Sofia was making sure neither of them forgot about her. 'I am an intelligence officer, I was on my way to a meeting. There is little point in me attempting to complete my journey as matters will have moved on by now.' He supposed he should really have told her he was a wine merchant looking for new supplies but the time for prevarication had gone. She was to be his mother-in-law and there must be complete honesty between them in future.

'I thought as much, you will wish to return to the English army I suppose. The men left last night and should be able to supply you with the whereabouts of Wellington when they return. It will be a great shock to everyone to discover your true identity.'

'I was not travelling alone. My first task is to find my companion, I think he might have been captured. I pray he wasn't shot as a spy if they caught him.'