The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(4)

They had used her mount, which was sensible, as she intended to walk beside the patient. He remained comatose and she was becoming concerned for him. The sooner he was back and attended to the happier she would be.





Chapter Two


Portugal September 1813



'Godspeed, your grace,' the ship's captain said and bowed.

Beau thought the man was glad to see the back of him and his charges. Beth, Miss Elizabeth Freemantle, his cousin, had proved an indifferent traveller and had spent the entire journey confined to her cabin complaining bitterly about the seasickness. Being the Duke of Silchester had given him a decent berth but not much else.

The four horses he had brought with him had also proved problematical as they had also travelled reluctantly. He had purchased these animals especially for his rescue mission to find his younger brother, Peregrine, who had been listed as missing somewhere in the no man's land between Portugal and France.

Once Beth and her long-suffering maidservant had disembarked, along with their numerous trunks and boxes, he sent his groom to hire a carriage to convey the two of them to Vitoria where she was to marry her betrothed, an officer in Wellington's army.

He had persuaded his brother-in-law, Lord Carshalton, to part with two of his employees for the duration of this visit. Jenkins and Smith were former soldiers and had served on the Peninsular and would be essential if he was to find Perry behind enemy lines. They might be long in the tooth but they were fit and exactly what he needed.

'Cousin Beau, please do not ask me to travel anywhere today. I must have at least one night on dry land to recover after that appalling experience on board ship.'

'Beth, my dear, it has already taken me far longer than I'd hoped to get here. I'm not prepared to delay any longer. Therefore, resign yourself to continuing your journey in a carriage today. We shall overnight at the first decent village we come across so will not be travelling for more than an hour or two. Surely you wish to get to young Sullivan as soon as possible?'

Mentioning the young man she was to marry was sufficient to change her frown to a sunny smile. 'You are quite right, I cannot wait to see him and become his wife. How long do you think it will take us to travel from Oporto to this place where he is?'

'It is at least two hundred miles so I imagine over the kind of roads we must travel it is going to take us ten days at least.'

She sighed theatrically and mopped her brow. 'Is it going to be so unpleasantly hot all the time?'

He laughed. 'My dear girl, I did warn you that here is much hotter than it is in England but you would insist on coming. I am sure you will become acclimatised in time. I should dispense with such elaborate gowns and wear something light and simple in future.'

He turned away as Jenkins approached on the rangy chestnut gelding. 'Your grace, Smith's found something I reckon will do nicely. He's just giving it a bit of a spruce up before the ladies get in. He'll be along in half an hour.' The man grinned. 'Got a decent enough coachman to agree to come with us. I reckon he was eager to get away from his nagging missus.'

Beau had had the foresight to have the luggage carried to a less crowded part of the docks where they could wait in relative comfort and shade. He was holding the reins of his own mount, Sylvester, a giant black stallion, and the one he had brought over for Perry. This animal, almost as big, was a bay and went by the name of Billy. Both horses had been fed and watered once they were on dry land and now seemed comparatively calm.

'Excellent. When we are on our way you need to ride ahead and find us somewhere to stay tonight.'

Jenkins touched his forehead politely and guided his horse in a tight circle and trotted off in the direction from which he had come.



Eventually they were on their way, trunks tied securely to the rear of the carriage, his own belongings in the saddle bags. Billy was being used as a temporary packhorse. It was damnably hot and he had not been riding for more than an hour before he discarded his topcoat. God knows how the soldiers managed sweltering as they were in their thick serge uniforms and carrying practically their own weight in equipment.

The route they were travelling was busy with carts and the troops that had just arrived on the same ship they had. The soldiers had been disembarked first, which was only right as they were about to fight for King and Country, and so had several hours start on them.

Despite the baking heat the men they saw marching seemed cheerful enough and stepped aside to allow them to pass when necessary. Smith was leading Billy and Jenkins rode with his friend. Neither of the men seemed inclined to speak to him unless forced to and he wasn't sure if this was because they were in awe of his title or because they didn't much care for him. Possibly they resented having been dragged away from their comfortable life with Carshalton and hadn't volunteered, as he'd been told, but been ordered to accompany him.

Whatever the reasons, it was of little importance to him. As long as they did their job, which was to guide and protect him when they started searching for Perry, he would be content. He had no wish to socialise with his servants – not a good idea for a man in his position.

The inn where Jenkins had reserved rooms for them was adequate, clean and relatively comfortable. The food was well-cooked and even Beth didn't complain.

'We shall be starting at dawn, Beth, so I suggest you retire now.'

'I intend to do so, I am quite fatigued. Good night, Cousin, and thank you again for allowing me to travel with you.'