He’d always been so honest that she couldn’t believe he was lying now, but a certain wariness remained. “I believe you did think you were dying, but would you have lied to persuade me to marry you?”
“That’s an interesting question. I think of myself as an honest man, but where you’re concerned, I suspect I could be rather deceitful.” He smiled at her with deep affection. “Because I do love you so very much, little owl. You enchant and delight and awe me. Are you at least a little glad I’m not going to die this time?”
Having recovered from her shock and confusion, she felt a rush of joy. “Yes!” She rolled across the bed and hugged him exuberantly.
“Ouch!” he said as he hugged her back. “With the laudanum worn off, that hurt!”
“You deserve it,” she said unfeelingly. She nuzzled her face into his whiskery neck. “Thinking you were about to die tore holes in my heart.” She sighed, some of her exuberance fading. “Part of me adores the idea of being married to you, but I’m still worried about London and society and that whole world that is yours, which never had a place for me.”
“Will you trust me, little owl?” He cupped her head with a large, gentle hand. “My friends will love you because I love you. Together we will find or create a place where we can be happy. Even if that means returning to San Gabriel, where we can both be honored as heroes of the French invasion.”
“Since we’ve made our vows, I must trust that you’re right.” She let go of her fears and allowed herself to rejoice and share his confidence that they could make their marriage work. “If your friends and family accept me, that will be enough. For now, I just want to lie here with you and be happy, even if it wasn’t a very satisfactory wedding night.”
He laughed and hugged her to him. “I’ll make it up to you soon, my dear girl. ‘Till death do we part.’”
Those words were no longer heartbreaking, but a promise of joy. With a sigh of pure pleasure, she settled closer and draped her arm over Will’s waist, careful to avoid any of his bandages. He might be somewhat damaged now, but he was still warm and strong and deliciously male. Her husband.
With any luck, it would be hours before anyone disturbed them.
Chapter 34
Exercising her royal prerogative, Sofia invited Justin to a private breakfast with her in the family room. He arrived to find her cat, Sombra, sitting politely on a third chair, while expressing keen interest in the breakfast food on the table.
He scratched the cat’s furry head and brushed a light kiss on Sofia’s forehead. She looked lovely and composed after the stress of the last days. Her dark hair was shining and she wore mourning black as a mark of respect for those who had died fighting the French. With her fair complexion and delicate coloring, she was beautiful in black.
Resisting his desire to kiss her seriously, he rounded the table to the other side. “This feels wonderfully domestic. Not to mention quiet.”
She smiled up at him. “I could not face the noisy celebrations of the Olivieras, may God bless and keep them.”
“Nor could I.” He seated himself opposite Sofia. The knife wound across his chest still hurt if he wasn’t careful, but he was healing well. His smile faded. “Knowing that Will is dying takes much of the pleasure from the celebration. I suppose we would have heard by now if . . . if he’d passed away during the night.”
“Athena would have told us if his condition had worsened,” Sofia assured him.
Justin’s face eased. “I’m glad Will got to marry Athena. He wanted that so much.”
Sofia poured coffee for them both. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s feeling much better today. Dr. de Ataide tends to take a dire view of what might happen. I think he feels that if he predicts the worst and the patient dies, he won’t be blamed, and if he predicts the worst and the patient recovers, people will say what a fine doctor he is. He did admit that while Will had lost a lot of blood, none of his injuries were critical as long as they didn’t become inflamed.”
Justin’s wave of relief was immediately followed by suspicion. “Did you deliberately make it sound as though Will was dying so Athena would marry him?”
Sofia’s dark eyes were round and guileless. “I may have exaggerated a bit,” she admitted. “I was so very worried and I’m very fond of your major.”
Not fooled, Justin said severely, “That was very bad of you, Princess.”
“Was it? Athena and Will are so perfectly suited, but she was holding back and it was hurting both of them.” Sofia’s wistful gaze caught his. “I thought that at least one couple should be happy, even if we can’t be.”
Touched, he reached across the table and took her hand. “You make it very hard to argue with you!”
“I prefer not to manipulate people,” she said seriously, “but to be raised royal is to have a certain pragmatism. Athena will not regret marrying Will, and I will not regret encouraging them in that direction.”
“You’re dangerous!” he said feelingly.
She bit her lip. “Are you angry with me for deceiving your friends?”
He thought, then shook his head. “Not really. I agree that they’re perfect for each other, but Athena’s background made it hard for her to accept him. Now that they’re married, her new husband will make sure she has no regrets.” He fixed Sofia with a stern glance. “But do not ever do such a thing to me!”
“I don’t think I’ll have the opportunity, Justin. Besides, you see through me,” she said candidly. After several bites of baked egg, she paused with her fork in the air. “I just realized I haven’t seen Jean Marie since yesterday. Has he been with you?”
“No, he said something about going outside to help. I thought he meant helping with the wounded being brought into the courtyard.” Justin frowned. “Do you think he took the opportunity to escape and return to his French comrades?”
Sofia shook her head, bewildered. “If so, he can’t have warned them of the ambush because they walked right into it.”
“Perhaps when he said he wanted to help, he meant to go up to the battlefield? He’d be able to translate for the wounded French, since he’s been picking up the Gabrileño dialect very quickly.”
“I thought he meant the oath of loyalty he swore.” Sofia bit her lip. “I suppose we’ll find out whether he meant it if he returns.”
“If he doesn’t . . .” Justin shrugged eloquently. “At least he didn’t betray Will’s plans to Baudin.”
In the silence that followed, distant music could be heard. Sofia stiffened and set her cup down so hard the coffee splashed. “That’s the Gabrileño army marching song! It must be Colonel da Silva!” She dashed to the window and looked out. “Yes, our troops are marching up the road to the castle!”
She tore out the door like a five-year-old rather than a royal princess. Justin followed more slowly, not just because he hadn’t fully recovered. Greeting the returning veterans was Sofia’s job and he’d only be in the way.
The army’s return was bittersweet for him. Now life in San Gabriel would return to normal, or rather, a new normal based on how the world had changed in the last years. But high on the country’s agenda would be finding a suitable husband for the royal princess, and that did not include a Scottish wine shipper.
* * *
Sofia reached the courtyard as the gates opened. The marching music was booming now, triumphant pipes and drums echoing from the stone walls.
Most of the people who had sheltered within the castle walls had gone home now that it was safe, but every Gabrileño within hearing had gathered to watch. Some jumped with joy; others wept with equal joy.
Leading the procession were two men on horseback with huge grins on their faces as they waved to their countrymen. The Army of San Gabriel had returned, all banners flying. Sofia was too short to see the colonel clearly, so she ruthlessly shoved her way through the gathering crowd.
She reached the front, then stopped dead in her tracks, hardly able to breathe as she recognized the men leadin
g the march. She closed her eyes for a moment, wondering if she was hallucinating, but when she opened them again, the vision hadn’t changed. She shrieked, “Papá! Alexandre!” as she raced to the horsemen.
His Royal Majesty King Carlos Miguel Emmanuel de la Alcantara leaped from his mount and swept her up in his arms, tears running down his face. “My little Sofi! God in heaven, how you’ve grown!”
Her brother was only an instant behind and he joined in the three-way hug. “No, she hasn’t,” Alexandre said with a laugh. “She’s still tiny, but she looks much bossier.”
Sofia stepped back, studying their beloved faces. They looked thin but otherwise healthy enough. “What happened? There was no word, no report of any kind. We were all sure you were dead!”
“It’s a long story, but the short version is that your brother was so obnoxious and difficult that General Baudin slammed us into a French dungeon under false names, told the keepers to allow no outside contact of any sort, and left us to rot,” her father explained. “The blasted jailor was incorruptible, so we couldn’t get any messages out.”
“Be fair, sir!” Alexi protested. “You were every bit as obnoxious.”
Sofia supposed that both of them had infuriated Baudin—it was an Alcantara talent—but no doubt the general was too cautious to kill royal prisoners outright, since they might prove valuable later. “Were you freed when the emperor abdicated?”
“Not right away.” Her father waved at a man sitting quietly on a horse behind him. “This British colonel, Duval, came looking for us. A very persistent man. With Napoleon off the throne, he was eventually able to bully the truth out of enough people to locate us.”
Duval inclined his head in acknowledgment. “I expect you would have been released eventually, but sooner is better than later.”
Alexi gave an elaborate shudder. “An understatement! I also give thanks that you were able to bring us to Colonel da Silva for the journey across Spain. The colonel is well, Sofi, but he went directly home once we reached the town. He has been talking about his wife and daughter for the last hundred miles.”
“Of course,” Sofia said. “No need for him to waste a moment before returning to them.” All around her, other reunions were taking place as the returning soldiers were hugged by friends and family. The happiness was contagious, and it also created privacy for Sofia and her family.
Her father said, “I’d like to know more about the fleeing French soldiers we met as we headed up the road to San Gabriel. They were exhausted and demoralized and not inclined to talk, and I didn’t want to wait for them to become more communicative.”
“General Baudin collected six hundred or so French soldiers and promised them a sweet life if they helped him conquer San Gabriel,” Sofia said succinctly. “He planned to force me into marriage and take the crown for himself.”
Her father, brother, and Duval all stared at her with horror. Duval recovered first. “Obviously, they didn’t succeed. What happened? Baudin wasn’t with the men.”
“He’s dead and his invasion was repelled by ambushing his men in the sunken section of the road into San Gabriel. It was led by your Major Masterson, Colonel Duval, and thank God for him!” Sofia explained. “What did you do with the French soldiers?”
“We captured and disarmed them and left a company of Gabrileños to guard the captives until we decide what to do,” Duval said. “As renegades, they could be shot, but we were all inclined to think that enough blood has been shed.”
“If Baudin had been with his men, I’d have cut his liver out with a dull razor!” her father exclaimed, his eyes still furious. “To think he wanted to force you into marriage to gain control of San Gabriel! He died too quickly.”
“He is gone, and we can’t spare enough food to feed so many captives,” Sofia said after a moment’s thought. “Escort them back to France and say that they were misled by their renegade leader, General Baudin, and thought they were still fighting under orders.”
“See, she’s become much bossier,” Alexi said. “But it’s a good plan.”
“I agree,” her father said. “Colonel Duval, will you be able to arrange that after you’ve had a chance to rest?”
“Of course. As you say, it’s a good plan,” Duval agreed. “Where is my Major Masterson? Surely, he hasn’t left for Porto already?”
“He personally took down Baudin and was gravely wounded in the act, but he’s now recovering here in the castle,” Sofia said. “In fact, he got married last night.”
Her father’s brows arched. “He fell in love with a local girl?”
“Not exactly. His bride is Athena Markham, and they shall suit very well,” Sofia assured him. Thinking that the general spirit of celebration was a good time to ask for favors, Sofia stated, “She has been a treasure beyond price this year, Papá. I don’t know how San Gabriel would have managed without her. Will you make her a contessa?”
He blinked. “I suppose I could. She has been a great blessing to San Gabriel and the Alcantaras. I’ll draw up the formal paperwork when things have settled down a bit.”
“Thank you!” Now for the really great favor. Sofia glanced over her shoulder and saw Justin, quietly waiting with a warm smile for her happiness. She beckoned him forward and took his hand. “Now I would like you to meet my affianced husband, Justin Ballard of Scotland and Porto.”
Her father’s expression turned briefly thunderous. Then curiosity displaced anger. “Ballard Port?”
“Yes, your highness.” Justin bowed respectfully. “I brought supplies up from Porto at Major Masterson’s request. While here, we did a survey along the river valley, and I believe we have found a way to transport your superb wines to Porto for export.”
“Have you now!” Carlos’s eyes gleamed. “Speaking of which, I must have some Gabrileño wine instantly. Only then will I know I am really home. Mr. Ballard, we must talk later at greater length. Now, let us go inside. I am anxious to see my home and Uncle Alfonso. Is he still among us, Sofia?”
“Yes, he never believed that you were dead.” Sofia took Justin’s arm and prepared to climb the steps that led into the castle.
She paused as a different note sounded in the crowd. “She’s here! She’s here!” a woman cried ecstatically. “The Queen of Heaven has returned!” Other voices took up the cry. “The Queen of Heaven has returned!”
“I beg your pardon?” Alexi said, bemused. “A divine visitation? I didn’t think the Blessed Mother was that interested in our return!”
“The sacred statue was stolen from the church by Baudin’s men,” Sofia explained as she climbed up two steps to get a better view of what was happening. “Yes, yes! The statue is brought through the gates in a donkey cart!”
She plunged back into the crowd. People were falling on their knees and crossing themselves as the ancient, beloved statue approached. And to Sofia’s bemusement, the cart was being driven by Jean Marie Paget and another man, who wore what looked like a French uniform with the distinctive blue coat removed.
Justin was right behind Sofia. When the cart stopped, he said, “I’m glad to see you, Jean Marie! How did you find the statue?”
“It was a miracle,” the Frenchman explained as he and his companion climbed from the cart and then carefully lifted the statue to the ground.
“A miracle indeed,” Sofia said reverently as she crossed herself. Others in the crowd approached to touch the statue, their expressions awed.
Carved of wood and hundreds of years old, the graceful image of the Holy Mother was almost six feet tall and she wore an expression of serene love and compassion. Her jeweled gold crown had been stolen, but otherwise the holy image was undamaged. The crown could be replaced.
Interested in more worldly details, Justin asked, “How did you find the statue? Surely, Baudin’s men haven’t carried her clear across Spain twice!”
“I went up to the site of the battle to help translate for the injured and serve in whatever other way I could,” Jean Marie explained.
“One of the prisoners was my friend Claude Fontaine, who had been knocked unconscious but was not badly hurt.” He gestured to the other young man, who bowed deeply.
“Your royal highness, sir,” Claude said nervously. “I was part of Baudin’s force that came through your country last year. The statue was stolen because of the jewels, but halfway over the mountains, the general said it was too heavy, he would take the jewels and burn the statue.”
When Sofia gasped in horror, Claude continued, “I am a good Catholic and felt the same way, your highness. To burn the Blessed Mother would have been sacrilege! So I and another man hid her in a cave not far from the road. Ever since, I have been troubled by the knowledge that she was there alone, stolen from those who love her. So when I saw Jean Marie, I told him of the statue and begged that he rescue her so she could come home.”
Taking up the story, Jean Marie said, “I found Captain Oliviera and asked him for permission to release Claude so he could lead me to the cave where Our Lady waited. He agreed and even gave us a cart to bring the statue back.”
“You have done a great service for San Gabriel, Jean Marie,” Sofia said warmly.
Jean Marie glanced at his friend. “Claude would like to ask for the same sanctuary you offered me, your highness.”
Claude bobbed his head. “Your country is very beautiful and I feel that the Blessed Mother led me back here.”
Sofia smiled. “Then welcome to your new home, Claude Fontaine.” She took Justin’s arm, thinking that truly, it was a day of miracles.
As they followed her father, brother, and Colonel Duval into the castle, Justin said under his breath, “I’m your affianced husband?”
Suddenly worried, she said, “Are you not? We had discussed marriage. Do you not wish that anymore?”
“Of course I do!” Justin grinned. “But I think we need to make sure our stories match before your father interrogates me. I’m hoping that he will consider an alliance with the Ballard shipping empire to be worthy of his only daughter.”