The bedchamber door opened and he strolled in. Apart from a clean shirt and freshly tied neckcloth, he looked no different than he had before. He still had on his riding clothes. She was about to comment but then understood he had nothing else as their limited luggage had been given over to her.
'My love, there are servants who can take messages. There is no necessity for you to yell in order to bring me to your side.'
'Fiddlesticks to that! I was going to have my hair arranged elaborately but I don't think I will bother.' She spoke rapidly to the girl and it took just a few moments for her long plait to be curled around her head and pinned in place.
'There, I am ready. I cannot wait to explore this beautiful city, we have ample time as dinner will not be served until nine o'clock.'
He took her hand and kissed her knuckle. 'Dinner will be served at whatever time we decide is convenient to us.'
'Then we are eating before we go out?'
'No, my brother and I have decided we rather like eating late so today at least we shall dine in the dark. Come along, sweetheart, I want to show you around this grand house before we promenade around the square.'
There were some further half a dozen bedchambers on this floor, and servants' quarters and the nursery floors above. Everywhere was immaculate, a little ornate for her taste, but one had to admire the abundance of gold on everything.
'This is the most impressive room, my love, and I wish to keep it until last,' Perry said as he pushed open huge double doors with a flourish.
'A ballroom – it's absolutely stunning. See how high the ceilings are? Look at the murals, the marble pillars, I've never seen anything quite so beautiful.' She ran from one delight to the next exclaiming in amazement.
She turned to see her husband and brother-in-law watching her, their smiles were indulgent as if she were a child at a party and not a woman grown. Her pleasure trickled away to be replaced by annoyance. If they thought her childish then she would behave as they expected.
She clapped her hands as if she were a silly debutante. 'We must have a ball here before we leave. I can wear my wedding gown. You must both arrange for evening dress, as well as the other things you need, to be made for you.' She smiled brightly and the two men exchanged glances.
'There is nothing I should like better, my love, than to hold a ball here so we can celebrate our marriage in style. However, as we have only just arrived and know no one to invite, I think…'
'We have the Duke of Silchester in our party, I am certain that his name on an invitation will bring all the prestigious families flocking to meet you. The Spaniards love a party, and especially a spontaneous one.'
She tilted her head in what she hoped was a coquettish way. She was rather enjoying this playacting as both gentlemen were looking more and more bewildered by her behaviour.
'I shall understand, your grace, if it is because of the cost of such an event that you hesitate. I know that my husband has no funds, and I certainly brought none to this marriage.'
It wasn't done to speak of such a vulgar thing as money, as she very well knew, and to suggest that her husband was totally dependent on his brother for everything would put the cat amongst the pigeons.
'If you are determined on this, my dear, then I shall be delighted to set things in motion,' Beau said through gritted teeth. Perry was staring at her through narrowed eyes and she wished she had not started this masquerade.
She picked up her skirt and curtsied as if to the King himself. Then laughed at their expressions. 'I was jesting, I am not such a ninnyhammer as to demand such a thing. I do apologise if you thought me serious.'
The duke laughed. 'I'm glad to hear that, Sofia, I was beginning to think that the sun had addled your wits.'
Perry took her arm and his grip was firm enough to make his anger clear. 'Forgive me, brother, I need to speak to my wife in private. We shall join you shortly.'
She wanted to call Beau back but his long strides took him from the ballroom before she had time to do so.
'Let go of my arm, Perry, you are hurting me.'
Instantly she was released but he did not apologise. 'You will not put on such a display again – is that quite clear? You might have thought you were jesting, but you embarrassed both of us by your poor taste.'
She poked her tongue out at him. 'If you treat me as a child then you can expect childish behaviour. Now, is that all or do you have further things to say to me?'
He tugged her elbows and tumbled her into his arms. 'You are a baggage, but I love you anyway.'
It was sometime before they left the ballroom and joined the duke who one might have expected to be irritated, but he was wandering about examining the murals and paintings as if they hadn't been an unconscionable time.
