The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(24)

Not a moment too soon as Smith, accompanied by two men from the village, crawled into view. She prayed they would think she had gone down to check on the welfare of the horses and that they wouldn't see her pink cheeks. Keeping in a crouched position, she went to join them.

'You need to leave, miss, you can take one of these men's horses. They'll use yours when they want to return,' Smith told her.

'I shall be glad to go, I don't want to be in the middle of a pitched battle. I shall wait for Perry and make sure he comes with me. I've no wish for him to be involved either, he's not fully recovered yet.'

One of the men remained with Smith and the other accompanied her back to the path where he tossed her into the saddle. The stirrup leathers had already been shortened so she rammed her boots into the irons and was ready to leave.

'Joseph, where are the rest of the men?'

He gestured with his head and she saw what she had missed before, that the remaining partisans were stealthily moving through the scrub so they could fire down on the French when the English cavalry arrived and charged them from the front.

Once they were safely away she reined in determined to remain where she was and wait for her beloved to appear. From her vantage point she could see in all directions without being seen herself. The sun was fully up and it was going to be another baking hot day – unusual for the beginning of autumn.

'Look, I can see Don Pablo and that must be Perry riding with him. Good Lord, he looks ready for battle, he's wearing a sword around his waist.'

She stood in her stirrups and waved until she attracted their attention. It would be simpler for them to come to her rather than the other way around as the track in front of her was the most direct one back to the town. He arrived at her side and did not look particularly pleased to see her. She spoke first hoping her good news would soften his mood.

'Perry, your brother, the duke, has arrived to take you home. There is a French company a mile away and they are carrying chests of gold. Jenkins has gone to fetch the English cavalry and Smith is keeping watch.'

'And you have been doing exactly what these past few hours?'

'Smith saved me from blundering into the French camp and I have been hiding with him until it was safe to leave.'

Her words made him look even grimmer. He had come armed to the teeth in her defence when he should have been resting at home. Her stupidity had ruined what should have been a wonderful day.

'I am so sorry. I shall fully understand if you no longer wish to marry me this afternoon.'

He looked at her as if she was speaking in tongues and then stretched out and lifted her bodily from the saddle and placed her in front of him. 'The sooner I marry you the better, my girl, you are running wild at the moment and I intend to put a stop to that.'

She opened her mouth to protest but he closed it with a kiss that made her forget everything apart from how much she loved him. When he raised his head his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Whatever she did, however badly she behaved, he would always love her even when he was enraged by her outlandish ways.

'We shall return, I've no wish to join in the fight today or, alas, any other day.' He turned his gelding's head and kicked him into a canter. Sitting sideways on the pommel was extremely uncomfortable and only his arms around her waist kept her in place. There was no point in protesting as she thought he was doing it deliberately. She hoped this would be her only punishment.

They were only halfway back when she heard the sound of two horses approaching at speed from behind. She peered around Perry's shoulder. 'It's Smith and another man who must be Jenkins. The cavalry has arrived and the French are about to be routed.' She had been obliged to shout but she was pretty sure he heard her although he didn't respond.

When he reined in at the paddock he tipped her unceremoniously to the ground and she barely kept her feet. 'I shall see you at the church in one hour from now. Do not be late – tardiness is something I cannot abide.'

She moved swiftly out of his reach before turning. 'And I cannot abide overbearing, arrogant aristocrats but I suppose we must both endure as we have no choice in the matter.'

The sound of his laughter followed her and she was tempted to turn a cartwheel but thought that might be a step too far.

'There you are, I knew you would arrive in time to prepare for your wedding.' Mama didn't mention the fact that she had been missing for hours, or that they now not only had a lord, but a duke in their midst.

Sofia stood in a basin whilst her mother tipped warm water over her and then rubbed her from top to toe in their precious orange blossom soap. 'What about you? You must have time to get ready as well.'

'I have only to take off this old gown and put on my wedding finery and I am done. I hope you like the gown I sewed for this special day.'

Draped over the end of her bed was the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. It was in palest green, high-waisted, with a full train of organza and edged with beading. Strictly speaking it was an evening gown, but it was perfect for a wedding too.

'I love it, I shall look like a real bride wearing that.' She examined it more closely and saw there was a loop of material hidden under the train so she could put this over her wrist and thus keep the train from under her feet.

'Of course you are a real bride. Good heavens, child, you are marrying the brother of the Duke of Silchester. I should think that Perry must be one of the most eligible bachelors in England and yet here we are about to welcome him to our humble family.'