The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(31)

Nobody questioned his orders and ten minutes later the place settled back to silence leaving him alone with his thoughts and they were not happy ones. His dog joined him and he thought that perhaps there was no need for a guard as the animal would warn him if anyone was close by.





Chapter Eleven


Beau tried to make himself more comfortable without disturbing the others. The novelty of sleeping rough had already worn thin and if he were honest he couldn't wait to return to his pampered life of luxury. Presumably his brother would wake him up when it was his turn to stand guard so he didn't have to worry about being late for his duty.

Sofia's suggestion that she inveigle her way into the French camp was a good one. As far as he could see it was the only way they had the slightest chance of getting in without being killed or captured, and he wasn't sure which would be worse.

He carried no identification, nor did the others, so how could he convince anyone he was in fact a duke and worth exchanging for a French prisoner, or at the very worst demanding a ransom. The only person who had travelled in these hills with papers was Perry, and they had been false, as they suggested he was a wine merchant. God knows what had happened to those because he certainly didn't have them now.

He had intended to stay awake and try and come up with a solution to their problem, but a day in the saddle was enough to send him to sleep despite the discomfort of being stretched out on stony ground with only a blanket to roll up in.

He had barely closed his eyes when he was shaken roughly awake. 'Your turn, Beau, I need to get a few hours' sleep. Wake Jenkins and Smith at dawn but tell them not to light a fire. We shall have to break our fast with yesterday's bread and cheese.'

'Have you come up with a way of effecting the rescue?'

'I think I have, I'll discuss it with you all in the morning.'

This conversation had been conducted in whispers whilst Perry wriggled into the blankets with his wife. He was certain his brother was asleep as soon as his head rested on the saddle bag that was being utilised as a pillow.

He took his position in a cleft in the rock where he could see up onto the track but not be seen himself. One thing he was certain of, Perry wouldn't agree to leave until O'Reilly was free or dead. Beau rather feared it would be the latter and it wouldn't just be the Irishman who perished.

As he huddled into his thick coat he mulled over the idea that Sofia was to be used as a Trojan horse. It could just work if she could somehow smuggle weapons in with her – otherwise he rather thought it was doomed to failure. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach at the thought of what could happen to his sister-in-law at the hands of her captors. He would rather die than have her suffer in that way.

The hours passed slowly and he was relieved when the first flicker of dawn crept over the horizon. He slid out of his hiding place and went to wake his two men. He warned them about the fire and they nodded. The horses had been hobbled a little further down where there was better grazing and the two men went to fetch them back to the campsite.

'Perry, Sofia, it is time to rise.'

His brother was instantly awake and nodded. Beau hastily moved away to allow them a few moments privacy before they had to face the horrors of the day. He rolled up his blanket, collected his possessions and replaced them in the saddle bag, and then picked up the saddle and carried it over to where the horses were now standing patiently. They looked as dejected as he felt.

Billy, the huge gelding he had brought for Perry, tried to take a lump out of him as he walked past and he smacked him on the nose. Sylvester, his own stallion, greeted him with affection. They were both magnificent beasts and worth a small fortune, especially in Spain where good horseflesh was hard to come by. So many were killed in the battles, and then eaten by the hungry soldiers, that neither side found it possible to supplant them with horses of equal worth.

The other two arrived at his side with their own saddles and belongings. 'Perry, I have come up with an idea that might work. Do you think we could barter our horses for O'Reilly? I would think that these two must be worth more to this French company than one Irishman.'

'They might well agree but then would come after us and take the other three as well once they knew we had them. Also, it would mean someone would have to ride double and I think it highly unlikely any of the mounts we would be left with could get us to safety without collapsing first.'

'Then what do you suggest? Last night you said you had come up with a plan.'

Sofia was busy tearing chunks off the loaf and dividing the cheese into portions. Jenkins had filled an empty wineskin with fresh water which they all shared. Before they left they would all have to refill their own canteens at the stream.

'We shall eat first and then I'll tell you what we are going to do.'

Beau had to hide his annoyance at being given orders by his youngest brother. He was used to being the one in charge and was finding it difficult to be the least important member of this group. Even Sofia was better equipped than he was to participate in a daring rescue.

After their inadequate breakfast they saddled their horses and then Perry deigned to share his thoughts.

'I hate to say it, but the only way we have the slightest chance of success is to go with Sofia's idea. She has sewn two knives into her petticoats and also has her own stiletto secreted in her boot. Not much against so many opponents, but it might be enough.'