The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(25)

'You have met him? What is he like?'

'He is a dark version of your future husband. He is slightly taller and broader but quite definitely his brother. I have never conversed with someone so toplofty before but found him quite charming and pleasant.'

'I am rather dreading walking down the aisle on my own, I…'

'That is not going to happen, my love, Don Pablo will escort you. After all we are to be married tomorrow ourselves so he's almost your papa.'

'To think that yesterday there were only the two of us in the family and tomorrow I shall have a host of brothers and sisters, a husband, and a new father.'





Chapter Nine


Perry unbuckled his sword and rammed it in the scabbard. He would never wear it again. His days of soldiering were done. There were half a dozen women cleaning his house from top to bottom and preparing it for the wedding breakfast to be held in a couple of hours. Where the hell was Beau?

The wedding gift he'd received from the Don must be returned. It would just be a constant reminder of what he had lost. If the injury had occurred during a battle he would not feel so angry about the damage to his eyes. To be forced to give up what he loved most because of a stupid accident was hard to accept.

The door to the don's grand house was opened and he could hear his brother's voice inside. He walked in and saw Beau deep in conversation with his future father-in-law. As he hadn't announced his arrival they were unaware he was observing them.

His eyes filled. He was a veritable watering pot lately. A servant appeared at his side and he handed him the sword. 'Put this in the armoury.' He'd spoken quietly so he wouldn't be heard on the veranda where the other two were talking.

He strode forward to greet his brother. 'Beau, how in God's name did you find me? You should never have come, risking your life when you are head of the family was…' He got no further as he was embraced fiercely. His brother's eyes were as moist as his.

'Perry, I knew you were not dead. I haven't slept comfortably since I heard you were missing back in the summer. Did you know that Giselle is now married to Rushton? Beth has just married her lieutenant – I brought her out with me and left her with the army.'

'Both pieces of information are new to me. In an hour from now you will be the only one of us not married.'

'I have told you before that I have no intention of stepping into parson's mousetrap. I have a surfeit of heirs so there's no danger that the family name will not continue after my demise.'

Perry gripped his shoulders. 'Good God, I'm not suggesting you marry because you have to but because you will be happier sharing your life with a woman that you love.'

'I am four and thirty, brother, and if I have not fallen in love so far I think it highly unlikely I shall do so in the future. Good God, I've met hundreds of hopeful young ladies, if I was meant to become enamoured then it would have happened already.'

'In which case your siblings will set about finding you the perfect bride. I shall need something to occupy my time once I am home.'

He quickly explained why he had to resign his commission and Beau was suitably sympathetic. 'I think it's a shame that your Sofia is not to become a soldier's bride as I think she is far better suited to that position than our cousin Beth.'

'Have you met her yet?'

'I have not had the pleasure. If she is as pleasant as her mother then I shall be more than satisfied to have her in the family.'

'God's teeth! I don't give a damn whether you are satisfied. I remember your reaction when Bennett wanted to marry someone you believed was unsuitable – I thought you had changed, but obviously I am wrong.' Perry immediately regretted his angry outburst. What the hell was wrong with him? In less than an hour he was to marry the girl who would make his life complete, so why wasn't he in high alt?

'I beg your pardon, Beau, I'm out of sorts today. Excuse me I must change my clothes, I cannot appear at the church in my dirt.'

'I shall come with you. There are still many things we must talk about and I doubt you will have the time or inclination to do so after the ceremony.'

'I can't return to England immediately, Beau, I must find my orderly, O'Reilly, who I think has been captured. Will you and your men accompany me on this search?'

His brother smiled. 'Hardly a romantic wedding trip, but no doubt it will suit the pair of you very well. I should be delighted to accompany you as long as you give me your word that as soon as you have discovered what happened to O'Reilly you will return with me to England?'

'I have nowhere else to go. Sofia and I will have to stay at Silchester until the tenants leave my estate. I can hardly throw them out when they have been exemplary.'

They continued the conversation whilst Perry was completing his ablutions in the washroom.

'I have a suggestion to make. Would you and Sofia consider making your home permanently with me? Aubrey and Mary intend to do so and I have converted the east wing for their use. I could do the same for the west for you and your new bride.'

Perry didn't hesitate. 'I should like nothing better. Silchester is a vast establishment and will do better having three families living there. If you are not to set up your own nursery then you no doubt will be overrun with nieces and nephews eventually.'

Juan had put out the blindingly white, overdecorated and ridiculous shirt that his temporary valet insisted was essential for a wedding. There were black trousers to accompany this nonsense that were so tight he feared the slightest movement would rip the seams.