This must be the duke's doing, and it merely served to reinforce her reservations. For a horrible moment she thought they were also going to have to ascend to their accommodation via the servants' stairs but Perry guided her to a handsome wooden staircase which was obviously for the family to use.
'We shall come down by the main stairs, sweetheart, but better to slip in unnoticed whilst we are so dishevelled.' He put his arm around her waist and she was somewhat reassured by the connection.
'I thought we were to be living in a separate wing?'
'We are, but obviously that has not been renovated to suit us as nobody knew I would be coming back with a bride – in fact – the family had been told I was probably dead.'
'So where are we going to be living? In a guest apartment?'
'No, of course not. You will have a set of rooms adjacent to mine on the family side of the house.'
Her heart sunk at his words. They were not to share, but to live separately, it could not have been made clearer that she was an unwanted extra in this toplofty family.
'At what time do I have to come down?'
'We are not eating downstairs. I shall go and see my brother, you must have a tray in your sitting room.'
She blinked back her tears at his rejection and shrugged off his arm. She entered the chambers she had been allocated without further comment. She was hoping he would follow her, would call her back, but he strode off and she heard the door shut on his own apartment.
Polly, her new maid, was yet to arrive but a pleasant girl was waiting to attend to her. A hip bath had been filled and was sitting on the floor behind a pretty lacquered screen in the substantial dressing room.
'I shall put on my nightgown and robe, I'm not going down again today.'
'Very well, my lady.'
After her ablutions were completed, her hair brushed thoroughly and plaited, she wandered into the bedchamber. The first thing she noticed was that there was no communicating door. If Perry wished to come to her he would have to walk along the main corridor.
Her bed was large and comfortable, the furnishings were modern and the decoration recent. The sitting room was equally well appointed – there was even a bookcase crammed with the latest novels. She wandered to the window and gazed out. Stretching in front of her were acres and acres of parkland, deer grazed amongst sheep obviously there to keep it looking tidy.
She hoped somewhere there were flowerbeds, parterres, perhaps even a maze, as endless greensward was not to her liking. From this side of the massive building one could not see a lake, that is if they had one.
'I have changed my mind. Put out a promenade gown and a suitable spencer and bonnet. I intend to go for a walk, I have been cooped up for too long in the carriage. Do you wish to accompany me?'
'No, my lady, I have far too much to do.'
Once dressed, Sofia took the back staircase again as she knew it led to the rear of the building. She was less likely to be seen if she remained on this side. Then she straightened her shoulders and marched down the side and eventually around the corner and onto the terrace that ran the entire width of the Court.
Immediately her spirits lifted as she could see there were indeed rose gardens, pretty walks and in the distance a magnificent lake and a maze. Exactly what she wanted to explore. She set off briskly, the grass was dry underfoot, but the sun gave little warmth, unlike it did in Spain. Zorro was at her side almost immediately and she enjoyed his company. He was a connection to her previous life.
The roses were all but over, but there were still plenty of blooms there to stop and sniff. The intricate arrangements of box hedges and flower beds was interesting but what really intrigued her was the maze. She had never been inside one and was determined to do so right now.
The sun was low on the horizon, it would be dark soon so she had better hurry as she had no wish to be outside then. The hedges that made up the maze were at head height, when she was inside she would not be able to see over the top.
There was a container full of wooden flags. Presumably one took one in and then waved it above one's head if unable to find the way out. Excellent – this meant she could go in with impunity. She picked up one of the flags and began to explore the narrow paths. In a short space of time she arrived at the centre where there was a pretty statue and a marble bench.
There was something in her boot and this would be an ideal place to sit and unlace it and investigate. Whilst she was so doing the sun disappeared and immediately the maze seemed less attractive, more menacing.
She was being nonsensical. Good heavens, had she not ridden out with the partisans on many occasions without being frightened? What was there to worry her about a maze?
The stone that had been annoying her was removed and she quickly did up her boot. It had belatedly occurred to her that her dinner would be arriving at any moment and she would not be there to eat it. She had no wish for a hue and cry to be set up so had better leave immediately.
'Zorro, wherever you are I need you to lead me out.'
*
Aubrey had been overjoyed to see him. 'I sensed something was wrong which is why we returned to this country earlier than planned. You look remarkably well considering everything that has transpired over the past few months.'
'As do you. Married life obviously agrees with you.'
