Sofia skidded to a halt in front of a startled footman. 'Where is my husband?'
'His grace and Lord Aubrey took him out for a bit of fresh air, my lady.'
*
Beau was pumping the handle of the well in the centre of the stable yard whilst Aubrey held Perry's head under the stream of icy-cold water. Brutal, but effective.
'I think he has had enough. Any more and we might drown him.'
'Perry, are you sober yet?' Beau had not finished with his brother. Once he was in his right mind he would understand the error of his ways.
'Devil take it, I'm half-drowned. Let me stand up, for God's sake.'
'Excellent, we are going for a brisk walk. I think the boathouse would be ideal, Aubrey.'
He stepped in and gripped his brother's arm hard enough to make him flinch. Perry looked from one to the other and he saw resignation and shame in Perry's face.
'I shall come without argument. I am a disgrace to my name and my regiment. If I had a pistol I would put an end to it right now.'
Before Beau could respond to this statement they were interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Perry's wife. She ran towards him and punched him hard. He staggered back clutching his injured nose and attempting to stem the copious flow of blood.
Aubrey had immediately released his hold on his brother before he too could be punched.
'How dare you both interfere in our business? Perry is my husband first and your brother second. I shall take care of things now. You are dismissed.'
Perry was looking as bemused as he was and Beau was relieved to see a flicker of amusement cross his face. Beau had never been told he was dismissed and hoped he would never be so again.
He nodded and tried to look formidable, but doubted he succeeded when holding a blood-soaked handkerchief to the end of his nose. 'You would do well to remember, madam, that you are a guest under my roof. An hour ago you were asking for my assistance...'
'No, sir, I was not. It was you that offered it.' She turned to Perry. 'You had better get into something dry, my lord, before you catch a morbid sore throat.'
Perry reached out to take her hand but she moved away. Things were not resolved, but at least he could leave the two of them to take things forward from this point. He waited until she was level with him before speaking again.
'Exactly what did you think we intended to do to our brother?'
'Lady Mary said something about a horsewhip.'
'Did you really think we are such brutes?' She looked from one to the other of them and he saw doubt creeping in. 'We intended to explain in short and pithy sentences exactly what we thought of his behaviour. Believe me, my dear, that would be more than enough to put him straight.'
She looked towards the distant boathouse. 'Then why were you taking him there?'
'It would not do for us to be overheard by the staff when we are having a family debate.'
Perry made a sound, somewhere between a laugh and a groan. 'I shall come with you, I think it will be educational.'
'You will do no such thing, Lord Peregrine, I'm quite capable of telling you exactly what I think of your reprehensible behaviour. In fact, I rather think there is no necessity for anyone to say anything further on the subject as you are well aware of what you said and did.' Sofia curtsied to each of them as if they were strangers.
'I beg your pardon for punching you, your grace, but I believe that your nose will recover far sooner than my fist.'
Only then did he notice she was nursing her hand. She vanished as speedily as she had arrived, leaving the three of them alone.
He turned to his brother. 'Is she right, Perry? Do we have to explain it to you?'
'Sofia is usually right. I am a cretin. I am too ashamed to tell you what caused this abhorrent behaviour. However, once I am dry, I would dearly like to talk to both of you. Despite what has just happened, I fear I have destroyed my marriage.'
*
Perry was quite prepared to remain in his drenched garments to talk to his brothers. He deserved to suffer for behaving so badly.
