Chapter Five
Perry thought that if this was his last day on earth he could die a happy man. He propped his head on his elbow and listened to Sofia's soft breathing beside him. He'd never have made love to her if he thought his previous concerns that he might already be married were still valid. From today he would make no further effort to find out who he was and even if he did recover his memory he had no intention of leaving the woman he loved to distraction.
As far as he was concerned she was his wife, he didn't give a damn for the legalities, for what others might say. When the priest took up his position, he would join the queue of other couples and say his vows. The fact that he didn't know his name might present a problem if he was living in England – but here nobody cared about such things. They judged you on what they could see and not your bloodline.
The shutters rattled as a gust of wind hit them, this was followed by the patter of rain. He had been going to gently awake his sleeping beauty and then escort her back to her house. They would both be drenched if they did so now so they might as well remain where they were in the comfort of his bed.
He didn't need to be able to see to know she was the most beautiful girl in the world. He entangled his hand in her hair. This was long, silky and had the scent of lemons. He sighed with pleasure. Thank the good Lord he had not tumbled into bed unwashed as he frequently did.
His lips curved as he relived her arrival. Would she still have continued with her plan if he hadn't been naked? He'd better get some sleep. It would be dawn in an hour or two and they must both be dressed to see her mother and explain the situation before she realised her daughter had been elsewhere all night.
As he was drifting off to sleep a series of vivid images filled his head. The first was of a young man who fitted his own description exactly, yet somehow Perry knew it wasn't himself he was looking at. Then a tall, dark, older man smiled at him. He too looked familiar. Then a kaleidoscope of pictures of girls, large houses, and horses flashed through his head.
These were his family. He didn't try to hang onto the visions but allowed himself to drift further into his dream. He heard a voice saying, 'Lieutenant, Lord Peregrine Sheldon, to see you, sir.'
He sat up so abruptly he woke his partner. 'What is it? Do I have to leave now?'
'No, my darling, you will remain with me until morning. Have I told you how much I love you?'
She snuggled closer and kissed his shoulder. 'Many times, my love, but actions speak louder than words.'
Perry forgot what had woken him and a considerable time later finally was able to sleep. He was roused by Zorro barking furiously.
He tumbled out of bed and dragged on his breeches and boots. 'We have overslept, sweetheart, Señora Rodriquez and her daughter are trying to get in to make my breakfast. I intended that you would have returned home before this.'
He could hear her quickly dressing on the other side of the bed. 'Are you ashamed of me?' The tone was light, but he detected a slight hesitation in her voice.
'You are my wife as far as I'm concerned and we shall have the matter legitimised when your priest arrives at the village. I know for a certainty that I have never been married so am free to wed you as soon as I can.' The animal was still making a racket to wake the dead.
'I'll go down and calm Zorro – he needs to understand I shall be living here in future and he must also obey me.'
She was gone before he could protest. He moved to the door to overhear what was being said in the kitchen and he laughed. The señora was more concerned about the dog than the presence of Sofia in the house.
He cursed as he fumbled for his stockings, and pulled on his spare shirt. Where the devil were his boots? Then he remembered he had tossed them aside last night and they would be somewhere in the courtyard.
Sofia let the dog out and then her light footsteps echoed on the stairs. 'Here are your boots, Perry, do you need assistance putting them on?'
'Absolutely not. I'm glad it's stopped raining and that the sun is out.'
His words hung between them as they both understood the significance. His vision was beginning to return.
She flung herself into his arms and he kissed her fiercely and almost gave into the temptation to tumble her back between the sheets.
'What can you see? I can't believe you might be regaining your sight.'
He blinked a few times and turned his head back and forth. 'I can distinguish light from dark, but little else.' He paused wondering if he should tell her that he now knew who he was. Then she spoke again.
'You don't have to marry me, you know. I told you last night…'
'If you say that again I shall not be responsible for my actions. We are getting married and you will then be Lady Sheldon. I have several siblings and am convinced I have a twin.'
She became rigid in his arms and stepped away from him. 'My lord, I am delighted you have recovered your identity. I shall not marry you. I would never be accepted in your family after the life I have lived out here. My family was on the periphery of society, but I am well aware I am so far beyond the pale even marriage to you could not make me acceptable.'
'That's nonsense, and you know it. You are marrying me. Now, do you wish to breakfast here or shall we go immediately and give your mother the good news?'
*
Beau left the army late afternoon determined to travel as far as possible before being obliged to make camp. Smith was leading the packhorse and Jenkins scouted ahead to make sure they were not going to come face-to-face with a roving French company or any other danger. There were brigands and rogues, as well as both French and English deserters, roaming this land. He was at more risk from attack from these than he was from the French.
The partisans, fighters of a guerrilla war, would hopefully be less likely to murder him. The local population hated the French. These invaders took their food and horses without payment and tortured and killed indiscriminately those that were suspected of helping the English or the Spanish resistance in any way.
Wellington insisted that his men paid for what they took and only stole from the enemy. This meant that they were tolerated, sometimes applauded, but not detested. England had previously been at war with Spain for years, disliked the catholic church, and it seemed strange to now be allies with previous enemies. He supposed Spain and England were united in their hatred of France which would be enough for the moment.
Jenkins cantered back to join them. 'There's a clearing a mile ahead, your grace, off the main route, with fresh water and grass. I don't reckon we'll find anything better tonight.'
'In which case, make camp there. Will it be safe to light a fire?'
'It'll be safe enough today. No Frenchies would be stupid enough to come so close to the English army. Tomorrow it'll be different.'
The weather was clement during the day but the temperature fell rapidly at night now it was September. Sleeping under the stars was a novel experience for him but one he was coming to enjoy. As long as he found his brother and was able to bring him home again he would never regret this expedition. He had not journeyed in so remote a place before, although he had visited Italy, Greece and France when he had been little more than a green boy travelling with his tutor to broaden his mind.
He was deeply asleep when Jenkins hissed in his ear. 'It ain't safe to stay here, your grace, there's a troop coming. Smith was keeping watch and saw them no more than a mile away.'
Beau was well aware that the slightest sound travelled miles in the dark. There was a full moon, but it was obscured by cloud which must make travelling hazardous. The fact that the French company was doing so meant they must be on urgent business – he prayed it wasn't him they were hunting.
In a matter of minutes they were mounted. 'Down here, it's going to be safer where we can't be seen.'
He urged his stallion to follow Jenkins and the spare mount, thanking God that his men had had the sense to douse the fire once they had eaten. Even if the smoke wasn't seen, the smell would have drifted to the road and revealed their presence.
The horses slithered down the slope until it became too steep to remain in the saddle. On foot he led Sylvester the remainder of the way and was breathing heavily by the time they found safety in a copse of trees.
'Here, I'll take the beasts, your grace, best they can't see or hear the soldiers as they might call out to their horses.' Smith vanished into the darkness with the four animals leaving him with Jenkins.
'I'd like to see who goes past, will we be safe if we climb that tree?'
'I reckon if we stay flat behind the trunks we'll be safe enough. For Gawd's sake, sir, don't let them see your face, it'll shine like a beacon in the dark.'
They had been only been in place for a few minutes when they heard in the distance the sound of horses approaching, the jangle of bits, the clank of metal-shod hooves as they hit the stones, but strangely no voices or human sounds.
He held his breath, didn't dare to put his spyglass to his eye in case the flash of the glass was visible to those above. Then the clouds cleared and the track was silvered by moonlight. A single horse jogged into sight. The cavalry officer was definitely French – that much was obvious from his uniform. The scout vanished from sight and then the road was filled with his compatriots.
There were not as many as he'd expected, possibly no more than twenty, but enough to kill or capture his small party if they discovered them. The officer in charge rode at the head of the band. It was obvious he was the senior member of the company from the ostentatious amount of silver that adorned his uniform.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he saw why they were taking the risk of travelling at night. In the centre of the group were two pack animals each carrying two small wooden chests. They were transporting gold and did not wish to be ambushed by the partisans.
He climbed down the tree, making sure not to alert the passing soldiers. Jenkins followed suit. Once they were safely out of earshot he gave his orders.
'Smith, you are the better horseman, gallop back to the camp and tell them what we've seen. Jenkins and I will follow the French. They will hole up somewhere during the day which should make them an easy target.'
They didn't argue. This wasn't because he was a duke, or that he was their paymaster, it was because they were ex-soldiers and knew what he said made perfect sense. By capturing the French gold, the English could make life difficult for the enemy who would be waiting for the money in order to pay their men. Sullen soldiers didn't fight well. Without being requested to do so he took over the task of leading the horse they had brought with them for his brother.
*
Sofia was glowing all over. Until today she had not known what true happiness was. Of course she wanted to marry Perry, but had tried to dissuade him for his own sake, not hers. He said they would remain in Spain, but she doubted that would be the case. His family would want him home and eventually this simple life would pall and he would wish to be living in his own environment.
They had been so late getting up the village was astir and they would be seen returning to her house together. Even Mama would be down and wondering where her daughter was. He was pulling on his boots with as much precision as a man who could see perfectly well.
'Do I pass muster? Should I shave before we go? After all, I am suddenly elevated to the aristocracy and have no wish to let the side down.' His smile made her toes curl.
'You, my lord, are a ninny. We have been looking at you for the past ten weeks and care less about your appearance than you apparently do. Hurry up, or I shall go without you.'
'I heard you let the dog out – I need to wait for him to return as I want to make sure he knows he must be at my side whenever I am out of the house.'
'You won't need him very soon as you will be able to see again. I'm confident that as your memory returns so will your eyesight.'
They clattered down the stairs together, he called a cheery good morning to the women working in the rear of the house, and unbolted the front door. Now the moment had come to exit she was reluctant to do so. It was all very well saying that she didn't care what folk thought, but she did.
'I should have told Carlos before I came. He will be devastated that I have chosen you when up until your arrival I had had every intention of eventually becoming his wife. In fact, if the priest had come before you did then I would already be married to him.'
'Then thank God he didn't. Don't dither in the doorway, my love, I wish to speak to your mother and make this betrothal official.'
He bundled her out of the door and closed it firmly behind them. Then he put his arm around her waist, making his claim very clear to the two women fetching water from the well in the centre of the square. Señora Rodriquez might have shown no disapproval but these two had pursed their lips and she heard them muttering. She was certain they had called her wanton and little better than a light skirt.
His arm tightened. 'Ignore them, darling, their opinion is irrelevant.'
Her face was burning, her joy vanishing with every step she took. She had been foolish to think she could behave in such a scandalous manner, tear her precious reputation to shreds, and still walk proudly around the village as if nothing had happened.
The door opened before they reached it but her mother had retreated to the parlour and was waiting there for them.
'Let me speak to her first, I don't want you to be given a bear-garden jaw for something that wasn't your fault.'
They were now safely inside. 'I came to you, you sent me away but I returned. How could it possibly be anyone's fault but my own?'
'You were an innocent, I am a gentleman. I should have had the strength of character to insist you left and waited until we were married before taking you to my bed.'
She stretched up and kissed him. 'Fiddlesticks to that! I don't regret what happened for a minute. I love you and I know that you return my feelings. Whatever we've heard, it could possibly be years before the priest comes – would you have been prepared to wait that long?'
'I would have preferred it if you had, Sofia, but one cannot unbreak an egg. However, I am mortified that you did not return more discreetly.' Her mother spoke from behind them. 'Perry, I think we need to talk. Daughter, make yourself useful and prepare breakfast.'
'No, darling, I'll not have you sent away as if you are of no account. Madam, I have no wish to converse in the passageway. Shall we repair to the parlour?'
She had never heard him speak so authoritatively. Somehow, knowing that he was an aristocrat had made him more formidable. A flicker of unease ran through her. She had committed the rest of her life to this man and yet she didn't know his true character at all. Had she made a catastrophic error?
'I would prefer it if you spoke to my mother alone.' She stepped away from him and walked away to do her morning chores as usual, as if her life wasn't changed forever.