The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(43)

When he got within hailing distance he called out. 'Sofia, raise the flag and then I can come in and find you.'

He was now no more than a yard or two from the entrance and expected her to reply with relief that he had come to her aid. Instead she spoke from right behind him.

'I no longer have the flag, I returned it to the receptacle. What made you think I needed your assistance in exiting the maze?'

He was not best pleased at her behaviour. 'Mary did not see you come out and was concerned for your well-being. How the devil are you out here?'

'I had Zorro, he found me a gap in the hedge to wriggle through.'

He scrutinised her more carefully and could see no evidence that she had done such a thing. There was not a single bit of greenery attached to her gown. Her bonnet, however, was askew.

'Here, let me straighten your headgear.' She remained still whilst he did so but didn't seem especially pleased by his intervention.

'I intended to dine with my brother, why don't you come with me and meet him and my sister-in-law?'

'Was I invited?'

'You will be very welcome, you do not need a formal invitation. He is my twin – my mirror image – he cannot wait to meet the woman I have fallen in love with.'

The tension between them lessened somewhat at his words. 'I should very much like to meet them both, but not tonight. My dinner will be arriving at any moment in my apartment and my maid will send out a search party if I am not there to eat it.'

Then she was out of his reach and running lightly across the grass without even a fond farewell. He had a deal of fence-mending to do before things were put right between them. What had upset her so much she did not even say goodbye?

Devil take it! This wouldn't do. He raced after her and caught her up easily before she reached the side entrance. He positioned himself between her and the door. The dog thought this was a grand game and barked beside them. 'Quiet, go to your bed.' He was astonished that the animal immediately was silent and loped off into the dark leaving him to speak to Sofia in peace.

'Sweetheart, what's wrong? What I done to hurt you so badly?'

She hesitated but then said what was in her heart. 'If you love me why have you banished me from your bed? You could not have made it plainer that you do not wish to have me at your side by putting me in an apartment that does not connect to yours.'

'That is easily solved, my love, there are a dozen other chambers we can use. I apologise, but I did not stay long enough in my room to notice. Come, we shall find something that suits us together.'





Chapter Fifteen


What the servants would think of Perry's suggestion she had no idea, and cared less. 'I thought you had rejected me…'

His expression changed to astonishment. The next thing she knew she was in his arms and being thoroughly kissed and her reservations about being his wife vanished under the heat of their passion.

'We cannot remain out here, darling, it is a matter of urgency that we find a suitable bedchamber.'

Instead of going in search of new accommodation they tumbled into his bed and by the time they emerged her dinner was quite cold and uneatable.

'I must eat, Perry, but it is far too late to send down to the kitchen as they will have retired long ago.'

'Then we shall go down and find ourselves something. Stay where you are, sweetheart, I'll go next door and bring you something to wear.'

'Perry,' she called urgently, 'you cannot wander about the place in your birthday suit. Put on a robe at the very least.'

'If you insist.'

He found the necessary article and then went in search of something similar for herself. She was glowing all over and no longer had doubts about her marriage. However grim – no that was doing it too brown – however difficult living at Silchester might be, as long as they shared a bed each night she would be content.

He returned and tossed her a nightgown and robe. 'These will be adequate, we are hardly likely to bump into anyone at this time of night.'

She scrambled into the garments and was about to ask where the slippers were but then decided she could manage perfectly well in bare feet this once. 'If there are eggs I can make us an omelette.'

'And I shall brew us some coffee. A feast fit for kings.'

Again, it was easier to use the secondary staircase; she was relieved that there was the occasional wall sconce still burning. 'Are these left on all night?'

'They are, it would not do for a Sheldon to be obliged to carry a candlestick about the place.'

'I wish we could live somewhere else, Perry, I don't think I shall ever be comfortable in such a grand establishment as this. Have you not a smaller estate we could remove to?'

'I have, but I wish to be close to my twin. You will soon get used to the grandeur. Anyway, next spring we shall have a separate residence and you may arrange things how you like.'

What she would like to be was away from his close-knit family where she would always be the outsider, but she could hardly tell him that. He was happy, delighted to be home and she had no intention of ruining things for him by making a fuss.

It was quite possible he was going to find it equally difficult to adjust after living such an exciting life for the past few years.

The kitchen was vast, and delightfully warm after the chilly passageway. The flagstone floor was unpleasant underfoot, but she had no option but to walk on it if she was to prepare them something to eat.