The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(49)

'I have written this to you in a letter, but I am glad that I can tell you in person what is going to happen next.' He explained and she listened in silence.

'I see. You are right to go away on your own as when we are together we would have been unable to stay away from each other. I am disappointed that you did not trust me enough to tell me yourself.' She stood up, and looked at him almost as if she was assessing his worth.

'I think you and your brother have bats in your attic. Did you honestly think that I would wish to return to Spain, to live as your estranged wife in straightened circumstances? The marriage could not be set aside as it has been consummated. Neither of us would ever be able to marry again.

'You cannot get rid of me so easily however much of an embarrassment I am. I am your wife. If I am with child then you must hope it will be a son as there will be no more.' She nodded and was like a stranger to him. 'I assume that you are intending to take a mistress. I have no objection to that as long as you are discrete.'

Her words were like a slap across his face. Not only was she someone he did not recognise, she was someone he could not like. Was this her true character? For a second he thought he had been deceived but then enlightenment dawned.

He would play along with this if it would make things easier for her. A few weeks apart would do both of them no harm and when he returned, if she was not increasing, then he would do everything in his power to get her back into his bed. He couldn't prevent his smile. Even if she was with child he could see no reason why they should remain apart.

He was jerked back to the present by a sharp kick in the shins. Sofia was standing with her hands on her hips glaring at him like an enraged fishwife.

'I have just told you I have no wish to share your bed, intend to live at your expense a life of luxury whilst giving you nothing in return – and yet you smile?'

'I was, of course, eagerly anticipating being able to sample more interesting wares. I do beg your pardon if I gave you an erroneous impression.' He turned his back on her. 'If you are thinking of attacking me, I should reconsider, my dear.' He heard a sharp intake of breath and braced himself but she heeded his words and remained where she was.

He wanted to turn, to snatch her up and kiss her breathless, to tell her that he loved her and would never be unfaithful to her, but if he was to win her back he must remain aloof and let her come to the conclusion herself that they were meant to be together.

*

Sofia watched him walk away taking her heart with him. What had possessed her to say such stupid things? To behave in such a cruel and beastly way? She loved him but had driven him away. What he had intended to do was the kindest, bravest thing any man could do and she had thrown it back in his face.

Then to her horror he untethered Billy, vaulted into Sultan's saddle and cantered away leaving her to walk home. It was no more than she deserved and she wasn't going to call him back. Fortunately, her boots were comfortable and she enjoyed walking.

'Zorro, we had better follow as I believe I heard an ominous roll of thunder in the distance. We don't want to get soaked, now do we?'

The dog wagged his tail and pressed himself against her side. He might not understand the meaning of her words but he knew she was distressed.

They were still a mile away when the rain started and when they eventually arrived she was drenched and Zorro's coat was flat against his skin. He seemed unbothered by this, whereas she was cold and miserable.

A groom appeared. 'I'll take the dog, my lady, I'll see he's nice and dry.'

She stopped at the side door to remove her boots. When she upended them water trickled out. The door opened and she was enveloped in a large blanket.

'Oh, my lady, I have a hot bath waiting for you. You must be wet through.' Her maid was stating the obvious but she was too dispirited to respond.

An hour later she was snug in bed with hot bricks at her feet. 'I do not require anything else today. I have a headache and intend to sleep. Kindly draw the bed curtains and close the shutters before you go.'

No one came to see her, no tray of tasty morsels was brought to her, she was left to wallow in her misery and had no one to blame but herself.





Chapter Seventeen


Perry hated leaving Sofia when they were at daggers drawn, but he had to be strong if he wanted his marriage to survive. He trusted Beau to spend time with her in his absence and for the rest of his family to rally round and make her feel she was one of them and not an outsider.

He had mentioned to her that his eyesight had not improved, but he had been economical with the truth as he had not told her he was sure it was deteriorating. He wanted her to come to him from love and not from pity. If he was honest, if he thought he was losing her, then he would use whatever he had at his disposal to convince her to stay.

He arrived in good time for his rearranged appointment and was waiting in the drawing room when the doctor was announced. The man was far younger than he'd expected, his brother's age, of medium height, sandy hair and intelligent expression.

He asked pertinent questions, listened to the replies and made notes before doing an examination. 'I need you to be in direct light, my lord, so would you bring a chair to the window?'

Perry did so willingly as to fetch a servant would have taken so much longer. 'You must be truthful, sir, nothing less will do whatever you discover.'

He was asked to turn his eyes this way and that, look up and down, but that was all.