Chapter Twenty-Two
Perry examined himself from every side and declared to his valet that he was satisfied. His measurements had been taken and they had been posted to Weston's in London where he had all his jackets made. They would make up his requirements as speedily as possible and then they would bring the almost completed articles down to him to have a final fitting.
His Hessians were so shiny they reflected the light, his neckcloth was elaborate, his shirt of the finest lawn and his jacket a deep blue that he was told matched his eye colour. He could do nothing more to impress her. His heart was skipping about as if it had become detached. He had faced a regiment of French soldiers calmer than he was feeling now.
The door opened as he approached and he was bowed in by a smart footman. 'My lord, Lady Peregrine will be happy to receive you in the yellow drawing room.'
Perry nodded and strode through the house to the smaller reception chamber that was preferred to the more formal drawing room when there was no company. The door was open and he walked in. He was not the only one who had made an effort with their dress. Sofia had on a stunning confection in pale blue with a darker blue sash and embellishments around the hem and sleeves. She had never looked more beautiful.
He had rehearsed over and over what he was going to say, how he was going to apologise again but all this was forgotten. In two steps he was beside her and she threw herself into his arms.
'I forgive you, Perry, if you will forgive me for being so silly. I agreed to marry you knowing who you were and what that would entail and I have absolutely no right to cavil now.'
'You are the most important person in my life and I will do anything to make you happy. If you want to live in Spain then that is what we shall do.'
'I will reside wherever you are – whether it's here or anywhere else. I love you and will be a better wife in future.' She smiled up at him, her eyes damp, and he was overwhelmed. Then she drew back a little. 'I said I will be a better wife but I cannot promise to be an obedient and conventional one.'
'I don't give a damn what sort of wife you intend to be, as long as you are my wife that is all that matters.'
He pulled her closer and covered her mouth with his. Only the arrival of the refreshments saved them from doing something quite outrageous.
When he told her about the house she was overjoyed. 'That is exactly what I should like. I know it is a long way from here, but we can spend Christmas at Silchester every year and your family can visit during the summer months.'
They spent a delightful two hours together until it was time for him to leave. Mary would not be able to use her sitting room until he did depart. 'Sweetheart, would you consider moving back into...'
'You will discover, my love, that Polly has already transferred my belongings. You will also see that they are in your closet as I do not intend to spend another night sleeping on my own.'
'You will have to change for dinner. Are you doing that here or next door?'
She detected his intention and smiled. 'I am not such a pea-goose as to appear in your bedchamber before it is time to retire. I have my evening gown here. Go now, my love, and I shall see you at dinner.'
He left feeling ten feet tall. He thought he would take Zorro for a long walk and return with an hour to wait before he could change for dinner.
*
Beau stood up, stretched, and tossed his pen into the fire as he had done with it. Finally, the backlog of paperwork was done and he could turn his mind to family matters. He was hopeful, no, confident that Perry and Sofia would soon be back together. He would watch carefully when they were dining tonight and see how they reacted to each other.
Things were in hand for the family house party and Rushton and Giselle would be arriving next week with their daughters as they intended to stay for several weeks. He believed Giselle was finding it hard being so far from her family and he thought that she might convince Perry that moving away would be a mistake.
Of course, he had supported this notion of moving to Derbyshire, he would do anything for any of his siblings. What he would rather they did was remain at Silchester Court. If they moved to the north of England he would be lucky to see them more than once a year, especially if they started to fill their nursery.
There was an hour before he had to change for dinner, it was already dark so too late to ride, so he would find his brother and persuade him to play a game of billiards. There was something he wanted to discuss with him before he mentioned it to the others at dinner.
Perry was reading a journal in the drawing room and was only too happy to abandon it to play a frame or two. 'I have ordered two new jackets, four pairs of breeches, half a dozen shirts...'
'Enough, I have no wish to hear about such mundane things, little brother. There is something I want to talk to you about. I would value your opinion as it was Sofia's suggestion.'
'Go on, I'm intrigued.'
His brother listened with growing incredulity to the idea that the Duke of Silchester intended to remove himself from Silchester and live incognito pretending to compose music.
'Devil take it! I thought it was I that had bats in the attic, Beau. You would hate it. You have spent your entire life being treated like a demigod, everyone bowing and scraping, being a commoner would just not suit you.'
'I was not intending to live in a hovel, Perry. The estate where I intend to live is small but profitable. I have been studying the accounts this afternoon. Elveden Hall has six bedrooms, four reception rooms and the usual servants' offices. There is also sufficient stabling for my needs and a reasonable park surrounding it.'
'You do realise, Beau, that would mean you were living in half the space that Aubrey and Mary have? A fraction of what you are used to here. I doubt it is even the most prestigious estate in the neighbourhood and you would have to allow others to have precedence when you socialised.'
'You think I could not do it for six months without scampering back here to be fêted and lauded?'
'I bet you will not last six weeks, let alone six months. Surely you are not serious with this suggestion?'
Until his brother had been so dismissive Beau had not come to a firm decision about his venture. However, he could never resist a challenge. 'I take your wager. I shall leave when the house party breaks up. As Bennett is busy with Parliamentary business I am relying on you and Aubrey to run the estate together – you will have Carstairs to assist, naturally.'
Perry slapped him on the back. 'Our house will not be finished until the summer so we must remain here anyway. Do I have your permission to move into your master suite in your absence?'
He was about to refuse but then thought better of it. 'Certainly, I wish you and Sofia to be happy here.' The sound of the gong echoed down the passageway – there was a large static one in the hall but a smaller one was always rung outside the billiard room as they would not hear the other from here.
'At last, the afternoon has dragged by...'
'Thank you for suggesting that I am less than satisfactory as a companion, little brother,' he said with a wry smile.
His valet went about his business and Beau let his thoughts drift. If this deception was to work he would have to leave his man behind, he could not involve any of his employees. He would find himself another manservant once he was established.
In six weeks' time he would be leaving his luxurious existence for something less exalted and he was excited at the prospect. Perry knew that he was loved for himself and not his pedigree, he envied him that. Not that he was looking for love himself – far from it – the real reason he was eager to go was to escape from the cloying atmosphere. His entire family were moonstruck with their partners and he would be glad to be away from it all for a few months.
The small estate had been well managed by the tenant, a gentleman called Richard Silverstone. It was unfortunate the man had died so suddenly, but serendipitous for him. The house was fully staffed and ready for occupation – all he had to do was send word of his coming. He would write the letter before he retired tonight.
*
'There, my lady, I am done.' Polly did not sound overly pleased with her efforts.
'I know wearing an evening gown to a family dinner is perhaps making me overdressed, but this ensemble has a particular significance for myself and Lord Peregrine.'
The girl dipped. 'Will you be requiring me later, my lady?'
'No, you may have the rest of the evening off. I shall ring in the morning when I require your services.'
'Thank you, my lady. Once I have tidied here, I shall make sure that everything is ready in your apartment next door.'
Sofia had no need to pinch her cheeks or bite her lips to bring colour to them. She had never looked better. Her eyes glowed with anticipation, her hair was glossy and her gown perfect. She had intended to wear her wedding dress for the second ceremony but had changed her mind. This event no longer had the same significance, tonight would be the renewal of their commitment to each other.
Mary called from outside the door. 'Are you ready, my dear? Aubrey is impatient to depart as he has heard the carriages arriving. We shall wait for you by the terrace doors.'
She carefully hooked the loop of material sewn to the end of the demi-train over her wrist. She was then ready to depart. 'I'm coming. I apologise if I have kept you waiting.'
Aubrey was pacing the drawing room but his expression changed from impatient to admiration when she appeared. 'You look beautiful, Sofia, that is a particularly lovely gown.'
'Is this the one you were married in? It is quite spectacular. I am thankful that we both dressed to impress tonight or we should be put in the shade by your magnificence.' Mary gave her a brief kiss and then they dashed the short distance across the terrace and into the drawing room of Silchester Court.
They had not bothered with heavy outerwear even though the temperature had fallen and the flagstones were frost-covered. Aubrey had no protection at all and she and Mary both wore an evening cloak. The vast chamber was empty but she could hear voices in the grand hall. Perry and Beau were greeting the Sheldons and Carshaltons.
As she hesitated Aubrey put his arm around her waist and whisked her out to join the others. Perry sensed she had arrived and turned. He abandoned his brother-in-law and strode across to her.
What he should have done is take her hand and perhaps gently press his lips to her knuckles. Instead he swept her up, crushed her close, and then his kiss was passionate and left no one in any doubt as to his views on her appearance.
'I cannot tell you how glad I am to have you back, my darling girl. You have worn that gown, it will always be my favourite.'
'Perry, everyone has gone into the drawing room. We have embarrassed them by our display of...of passion.'
He chuckled and was unrepentant. 'I can assure you, sweetheart, that all my siblings, apart from Beau, will fully understand our behaviour and even applaud it.'
'I know I am appallingly overdressed for a family dinner.'
'Come with me, I did not give you time to speak to the others.'
When he paused at the double doors she caught her breath. 'Madeline, Grace and Mary have all put on formal wear. How did they know to do so?'
The duke, resplendent in his evening black, spoke from beside them. 'Mary enquired from your maid what you were wearing and word was sent to the others. Might I be permitted to say that you look lovely.'
'Thank you. I shall never forget tonight and shall think of this as the true start of my marriage. Until today I was unsure, but now I know I made the right choice.'
Perry drew her closer so she was pressed hard against him. 'As do I, from this moment forward we shall be moving in the same direction and not pulling apart.'
After a glass of champagne Peebles announced that dinner was served. Tonight the main dining room was used despite the fact there were so few of them. Everywhere she looked there were flowers, silverware and candles.
She scarcely noticed what she ate. The conversation sparkled, toasts were drunk and then instead of the gentlemen remaining to drink port they all moved together.
Beau remained standing and waited until they were comfortably settled. He then made an announcement that came as no surprise to her, or apparently to her husband. However, the others were astounded.
'Perry and I will be honoured to take care of things in your absence, big brother, but permit me to say that I doubt your experiment will be successful.'
Bennett looked thoughtful. 'Are we to know exactly where this estate is situated? I notice you failed to mention exactly where you would be living.'
'Carstairs is the one person who will know where I am. Only in the direst of emergencies will he contact me. Now, to demonstrate that I shall not be wasting my time, I intend to entertain on the piano for the remainder of the evening.'
If before the company had been startled now they were dumbfounded. Perry whispered to her as the duke took his place at the keyboard. 'I have never heard him play, I am at a loss to know how he can be competent if none of us was aware of it.'
Then the room was filled with music, nothing she had heard before, but lyrical and moving. Beau played for an hour without recourse to music sheets and when the final notes died away everyone was on their feet and applauding loudly.
The remainder of the evening passed too slowly and both she and Perry were delighted when the others took their leave. She was scarcely given time to say good night to Beau before Perry whisked her upstairs and into his bedchamber – not his anymore, but hers as well from tonight.
It didn't matter how this marriage started, what was important was how it continued and she knew without a shadow of doubt that she could not be any happier.
'I am wondering whether it's necessary to have another ceremony after all. What do you think, my love?'
'I should like to have our union blessed in our own chapel with all my family present, but I shall do whatever you want.'
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. 'You do not have to oblige me. In future, I shall behave as I ought and be obedient to your every wish.'
His shout of laughter echoed around the chamber. 'I love you, but even I, besotted as I am, am not fool enough to believe you will be a meek and subservient wife.'
*
Before Sofia could disagree, Lord Peregrine tossed her onto the bed. It was fortunate that their favourite gown had been displayed for a second time for it did not survive the night.
THE END
The sixth and final book in this series, The Duke's Bride, will be published in autumn 2018. I hope you enjoyed this instalment and will want to read what happens to Beau and how he finds his happy ever after ending. If you have time, and the inclination, a short review on Amazon would be very helpful. Thank you.
Fenella J Miller
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