The Duke's Alliance: A Soldier's Bride(8)

Juan had led him around the house a couple of times until Perry was certain he could make his way without accident. Here he was confident, it was outside the problems arose.

'Perry, I have a gift for you. I think this will make things easier for you to move about the village without falling flat on your face every five minutes.'

They conversed in Spanish, of course, but he was slowly teaching his friend to speak English as he thought it might well come in useful.

'A gift? How exciting – I am agog.'

There was something different about the smell of the house. He could hear someone else, or something else, breathing in the rear of the house where the kitchen was.

He snapped his fingers. 'Come here, boy, I wish to meet my new canine companion.' Immediately, a cold, damp nose was pushed into his outstretched hand. He fondled the dog's head and then ran his hands along his back, down his hindquarters and then back to his head.

'God's teeth! You are enormous. Does he have a name?'

Juan laughed. 'Zorro de Plata, but we call him Zorro.'

Silver Fox was an excellent name and it must mean the animal was grey in colour. 'Well, Zorro, are you a wolfhound or something similar?' The dog licked his hand and pressed his considerable bulk against his leg.

'He is something similar to that, a Spanish version, but he is an intelligent animal. We thought he could be your eyes.'

'Guide me? That is a novel idea, but I'm prepared to give it a go. I cannot see it working as dogs are more interested in chasing rats and rabbits than anything else.'

'Here, put this on him. I had it made especially. I have experimented and Zorro didn't allow me to fall over anything.'

Perry laughed. 'You didn't fall because you could see where you were going.'

'I kept my eyes closed…'

'This might be an intelligent animal, my friend, but I hardly think he would know the difference. However, I am delighted with my gift. I love dogs and we always had several at home.' He couldn't prevent his yell of triumph. 'My memory is coming back. That's the first thing I've remembered about my past. I had worked out that I am from a wealthy family, but only from my diction and garments. Those were deductions not memories.'

Zorro instead of running away which one might have expected had pressed himself tighter against Perry. 'Good boy, I think we are going to be firm friends.'

His yell had attracted the attention of those in the square near enough to hear. They didn't knock before entering, the front door was always ajar. They asked for permission to come in and he immediately gave it.

'Is there something wrong? We heard you shout and thought you injured,' someone enquired. He recognised the voice as belonging to an elderly matron, the village gossip.

'I am perfectly well, ma'am, my shout was because I believe I am starting to recover my memory.'

'That's all very well, young man, but until you recover your sight you're less use to us than a donkey.' She stomped off muttering to herself. His initial happiness had been crushed by her casual remark. She was right, without sight he was an unnecessary burden. Sofia had insisted the coin he had carried was more than enough to pay his way for years, but he doubted that was the case.

Juan muttered something under his breath but was careful not to say anything derogatory that could be overheard by the old lady who was no doubt lurking outside the door at this very minute.

'Don't listen to her, my friend, we're in no hurry to get rid of you as you would insist on taking your fortune away and the don is reluctant to part with it.'

'In which case, I shall remain until you change your mind. Shall we see how Zorro performs as my guide?'

He slipped the leather harness over the dog's head and fumbled with the buckles until he had it snugly fitted. 'Do I have this on correctly?'

'Perfect. You hold onto the loop between the animal's shoulders. Can you find it?'

'I have it. An ingenious contraption – let's hope it works. I can see only one snag in this experiment, as I have no idea where anything is how can I direct him? He can hardly decide for me.'

'I shall walk with you initially and ensure you don't come to grief. Where would you like to go first?'

'The tavern.'

Zorro remained with his shoulder pressed against Perry's thigh. 'In which direction must we go, Juan?'

'Across the square, then it's the third building on the right.'

He was pretty sure there was a well in the middle of the square which Juan made no mention of. He was either going to go head first into it or the hound would lead him around safely. A good test to see if this bizarre scheme worked.

At first his steps were tentative, then he lengthened his stride as he became more confident. The animal changed direction and he followed his lead. Juan slapped him on the back with rather too much enthusiasm making him stumble.

Zorro spun, snarling ferociously, and for a horrible moment he thought the dog was going to attack. 'No, boy, I don't need protecting from him.' Instantly the hackles went down and Zorro reached around and licked his hand. 'I take it we negotiated the well.'

'I truly think this is going to work. That beast understands you can't see – don't know how that can be – but he's yours now and no mistake.'

The small beerhouse, only the front room of a cottage really, served wine from their own vines which was perfectly drinkable. It was more a place for the men to congregate than somewhere to get drunk.