Bertrice Small - The Duchess

"Oh, no," Allegra told him. "I have been interested in Papa's businesses ever since I was a little girl. James Lucian and I used to compete to see who could manage the most successful ventures. We were fairly evenly matched, although I think I probably had the cooler head. My brother always allowed his emotions to carry him away. To his own detriment in the end," she finished.

"When will you come to Hunter's Lair?" he asked, changing the subject lest she begin to cry again.

"When Papa's architect and his builder say my apartments are habitable. From all reports so far, however, I think I will be with you in just a few weeks. Do your friends live far?"

"No," he told her. "Aston's estate is just an hour away, and Dree's home, a charming little holding, less than an hour. It will please me to escort you to both weddings."

"There will be a certain amount of gossip, I fear, when I come to live at Hunter's Lair before our wedding. Will you mind?"

He laughed. "No. Will you?"

"No," she replied, and her violet eyes looked directly at him.

"We are well matched," he replied with a small smile.

"So it would appear," Allegra agreed, and then she boldly leaned over and kissed his cheek. "So it would appear, Quinton."

The morning after Sirena's wedding dawned as beautiful as had the day before. Lord Morgan's wedding to Lady Abbott would take place in the main salon of his house at nine o'clock in the morning. Then, after a small repast, the family would depart for home although they had originally planned to remain for another day. The duke would come with them most of the way before turning off the main road for Hunter's Lair. Allegra was glad her father had made the decision to leave London immediately. She was anxious to get home, although it would be lonely now without Sirena to keep her company.

There was something different about Sirena this morning. She and Ocky had arrived at quarter to the hour. Her cousin had been radiant with open happiness. She and her new husband kept touching one another with both their looks and their hands. She had little time for anyone other than Ocky. Allegra found it rather disturbing, and not just a little embarrassing. She was also hurt that Sirena had so few words for her.

The minister arrived at five to the hour. Augustus Abbott escorted his mama into the salon. She was wearing a sky blue brocaded gown. Her dark blond hair was piled upon her head and a single curl fell over her left shoulder. There was a tiny pouf of lace netting atop her head. She carried a nosegay of pink roses tied with blue and silver ribbons. Her look was one of complete happiness as she was led up to join Lord Morgan, who was quite elegant in a dark blue coat and breeches. The ceremony began.

Allegra looked about her. The guests were few: Lord and Lady Bellingham, who would sign the marriage register as witnesses, Sirena and Ocky, Lady Charlotte and Gussie, and the duke. Again she thought her cousin looked so very happy. Aunt Mama looked happy, too, as did their gentlemen. They loved one another. Even Charlotte Abbott had a soft smile upon her face, her gloved hand tucked into her husband's, as she watched her mother-in-law taking a second husband. Allegra would have sworn that Lady Bellingham had a tear in her eye, for she kept dabbing at it with her lawn handkerchief. What was the matter with them? Surely they weren't all in love? Love was such a nebulous emotion, and not at all reliable. Certainly Papa of all people knew that.

The ceremony concluded. To Allegra's surprise her father took his new wife into his arms, kissing her soundly. The new Lady Morgan blushed most becomingly as her guests clapped their approval. Allegra quickly stepped up to the newlyweds, and kissed her stepmother first and then her father.

"You know I wish you both happy," she said sincerely.

"Ohh, my dear," Olympia Morgan said, "I have always thought of you as my own child, and now you are!" She kissed Allegra back.

They repaired to the dining room where the chef had set out a lovely wedding breakfast. This morning he offered them pieces of chicken in a wine and cream sauce that he wrapped in very thin rounds of cooked dough he called crepes. There were shirred eggs, a country ham, rashers of bacon, a platter with thin slices of trout sprinkled lavishly with fresh dill and slices of lemon. There were new baby lettuces, raw, which Allegra found most tasty, as well as breads warm from the ovens. When all of this had been cleared away, strawberries with clotted cream brought up from Devon were served along with a small wedding cake iced in sugar and butter and filled with dried fruits. Only champagne was served during the entire breakfast.

After the meal with its toasts to Lord and Lady Morgan, the guests departed-Sirena and Ocky upon their wedding trip, Lord and Lady Bellingham to their country house in Oxford. The Marquess and Marchioness of Rowley left for their estate. Now it was their turn. Allegra chose not to ride in the coach with her father and stepmother.

"They are so embarrassing, very like Sirena and Ocky," she murmured to the duke. "I feel very much the third wheel."

"You are," he told her. "Your father and his wife are in love, as are Sirena and Ocky."

"Love!" Allegra scoffed. "I cannot believe such a thing of Papa. Surely my mama cured him of that foolish emotion."

"I think not," Quinton Hunter said.

"Then it is fortunate I am coming to Hunter's Lair shortly," Allegra said. "I do not believe I could bear a summer of their billing and cooing. Neither of them is in the first flush of youth, sir."

He laughed. "Love, I have been told, makes no exceptions for age or infirmity, my dear," the duke answered her. "Your father and his new wife have the best of love, for they were friends first. And then, too, your stepmother is a woman of character. She would never have even considered the path your mama took. Nor would you" he concluded.

"How can you be certain?" she asked him. She had worried silently to herself that something like that might happen to her one day.

"Because, Allegra, you are also a woman of character," the duke told her. "I should not take you for my wife, fortune or no, did I believe otherwise. My family has never in its history had any scandal attached to their name. Nor would I bring shame upon them. Your wealth was the primary factor in my decision to make you my wife; but your reputation was equally important to me. Despite your friendship with young Tanner, I know you to be a virgin of good repute."

They had just left the city behind. Her gelding shied as a cart passed too close, but Allegra held him firm even as she felt her cheeks grow warm. He had made her feel almost like an item to be inspected and bought, which was after all what the duke had done. A tiny curl of resentment brushed at her, but she pushed it away. She had made the perfect alliance, and had departed London in triumph. Hers was the match of the season. The match of the decade, or so Lady Bellingham had crowed to her.

"You are uncomfortable with my blunt speech," he said, noting her expression.

"A bit," she admitted. "Frankness does not disturb me, Quinton, but I have never before found myself the subject of such talk."

He was amused, but held his peace. She was candid, but at the same time she was quite prudish. He had thought he wouldn't care, but now he realized a girl as young and as innocent as Allegra was going to find the conjugal act quite a surprise, possibly even repellent if she were not properly prepared. While their children might not come from a grand passion, he did want Allegra to at least enjoy the sweet lust between a man and his wife. Neither of them could be so detached or indifferent to it if their marriage was to be a success. But how could he explain such things to her? He suddenly saw the wisdom in waiting several months before they married, and his future father-in-law's cunning in sending Allegra to Hunter's Lair to oversee its renovations. Lord Morgan obviously hoped that as they came to know each other a loving sentiment might grow between them, thus rendering their marital relations happy ones. It was the best any good father could hope for, the duke realized.

They stopped at midday beside a stream that paralleled the road. A picnic lunch packed by the London staff was now spread upon the grass by the servants, who traveled in their own coach. There was a roasted chicken, ham, bread, cheese, wine, and a large bunch of fat green grapes. They ate, and then the ladies sought privacy to relieve themselves while the gentlemen went in another direction. When they met again by the traveling coach the new Lady Morgan invited Allegra to join them, but the young girl declined.

"Thank you, Aunt Mama, but I dislike coach travel, and avoid it when I can. The day is fair and Quinton most delightful company."

They moved on again.

"You have not told me before that I am delightful company," the duke teased Allegra. "It came as quite a surprise to hear you say it."

"I will not ride in that vehicle with them," Allegra said. "Do you see the looks they gave one another all during our picnic? It was so embarrassing, and is worse now than it was this morning at the house."

He laughed. "Why does it disturb you that your father and your stepmother love each other?"

"It does not disturb me," Allegra denied.

"It does," he countered. "And you know why, my dear. You suddenly see your papa as a man with desires and feelings that have nothing to do with you. He is in love again, and is eager to bed his wife."

She blushed scarlet. "How can you say such a thing?" she demanded of him. "They are so old! Why, Sirena told me her mother is forty-one, and I know my papa is well past fifty."

He laughed again. "Both are past the age of indiscretion, my dear, and ready for some fun. There is no crime in it."

"You speak quite knowledgeably," she accused.

"And you prate from your innocence, Allegra," he told her. "Those marital relations between your father and his wife, between any lawfully wed couple, should be pleasant, enjoyable ones even if the marriage has been arranged for other reasons. Passion can be shared, and pleasurable between friends."

"You are no longer speaking about Papa and Aunt Mama, are you, Quinton?" Allegra said softly.

"No, I am not," he admitted. "In a few months' time you and I will share those relations, Allegra. I want such passion between us to be happy for you. I do not want you resenting the children that you will bear me. Can you understand that?"

"You have not kissed me since the night of my ball," she replied. She could feel the heat in her cheeks, and wondered if she looked like a boiled beef at this point.

"Did you like being kissed?" he asked.

"You didn't do it enough for me to form an opinion," she said.

"I thought you quite opinionated on the subject the night of your ball," he reminded her. "As I recall you wanted to know if I was considered expert in such matters, and asked for references."

"I most certainly did not ask for testimonials on the subject," she huffed. "I just asked if you were considered good at kissing. It was a perfectly reasonable question considering I had never before been kissed. I don't understand why you are so put out about it."

"You mean not even the saintly Rupert Tanner kissed you, Allegra? I find that hard to believe," he said.

"Why would Rupert want to kiss me? We are friends, and why do you call him saintly?” she countered.

"Because I understand he is taking holy orders, and will have a living from his father's village church when the old vicar there retires," came the reply.

"How do you know that?" she demanded.

"Because he told me. Remember he was at Pickford House with us during the season. He implied that you had an informal understanding," the duke said, and there was just the hint of anger in his voice.

"What?" The surprise in Allegra's voice was palpable. "How dare Rupert say such a thing! It most certainly is not true."

"Then he obviously said it in an attempt to drive me off," the duke observed, his good humor restored. "And he must be a saint to have never kissed you, my dear."