Allegra kicked her horse into a canter and rode away from him. She was furious. Yes, she said she wanted to marry Rupert before she had come to London, but only in order to escape a season. Her father had put a firm stop to any such idea. There had been nothing between them at all but a shared childhood. "I shall never speak to Rupert again," she muttered to herself. "How dare he?" He dare, she realized, because they were old friends, and he thought she needed to be saved. How presumptuous of him, especially, as they had grown up together. If anyone should know her it should be Rupert.

The duke let Allegra go. It was obvious she needed to work off her temper. She had a temper. That was a discovery. She was a more interesting girl than he had anticipated.

They stopped that night at an excellent inn. Charles Trent had taken an entire wing of the hostelry for his master's party. He was a day ahead of them. They ate their dinner in a private dining room, although Allegra and the duke seemed to be the only ones with an appetite. And when the meal had been cleared away, her father and stepmother were suddenly filled with yawns and deep sighs.

"How can you be so sleepy after riding in a coach all day?" Allegra demanded of them. "Papa, do you not want to play a game of chess? Now that we are to get back to our regular schedule you cannot forget our nightly chess games!" She smiled at him. "Shall I have the board and pieces brought, Papa?"

"I believe, my child, that the excitement of the season has finally caught up with me, and all this good country air is making me sleepy. I think that your stepmother and I shall retire. We will play chess another night, I promise you." He arose, and held out his hand to his bride.

"Come and kiss me goodnight, Allegra," Lady Morgan said. "Did you enjoy your ride today, dearest?"

"Very much," the young girl replied. She dutifully kissed her father and her stepmother. "Good night."

When they had gone she said to the duke, "They want to make love, don't they?"

"Yes," he said, his silvery gray eyes serious.

"I cannot believe anyone that age is still interested in such things, Quinton," Allegra told him.


"Why not? I am sure he had a mistress tucked discreetly away somewhere near Morgan Court."

Allegra was silent, and then she said, "Do you have a mistress tucked away somewhere, Quinton?"

He chuckled. "My dear, do I hear a tiny bit of jealousy in your tone? No, I could not afford a mistress, but so there is no misunderstanding between us, I have also not been celibate either."

"You have visited whores?" She wasn't really shocked, just curious about that part of his life.

"I have not been able to afford whores either." He chuckled again. He brushed an errant lock of dark hair from his forehead. "Allegra, there are always women willing to give themselves for the pure joy of it. I am no satyr, but when I felt the need for passion, there was always someone to satisfy my urges. Does that answer your questions?"

"No," she said, and she arose from the table to come and stand before him. "I have one last question to ask of you, Quinton."

"And that is, my dear?" She was so serious, and so amusing.

"When are you going to kiss me again?" Allegra queried him.

"Why right now, my dear," he answered her, pulling her into his lap. Taking her chin between his thumb and his forefinger his lips met hers in a rather fierce kiss.

She gasped, surprised. His finger caressed her jawline for a brief moment, and then he kissed her again; this time slowly, slowly until she felt as if her bones were melting away. His eyes looked into hers. Allegra felt a wave of heat wash over her and her heart hammered wildly

"Do you think I kiss well enough for you, my dear?" he asked her wickedly. Actually he had quite enjoyed it himself.

"Quite well enough," she admitted to him. "I will swear that my toes curled, sir."

"You are flattering me, Allegra, and I will quite confess to liking it," he told her. He also liked having her in his lap. She was a delightful armful.

"Kiss me again," she said softly to him, and he complied.

Her pink lips were like two rose petals, soft and yielding. Her breath was just slightly perfumed. He felt her relax against him. He found the softness of her breasts stimulating, and realized with some shock that his innocent wife-to-be was arousing him. Yet he could not stop kissing her, and Allegra in her budding zeal kissed him back with equal enthusiasm. He felt his manhood hardening within his breeches. Quickly he tipped her from his lap lest she sense it. Now was hardly the time for such an introduction.

She looked startled to find herself on her feet. Her sloe eyes and bruised mouth sent the blood pounding in his ears. "Why did you stop?" she demanded of him.

"Kissing," he said, wondering if his voice sounded as hollow to her as it did to him, "leads to other acts of greater intimacy, Allegra. I do not believe, and I must be the judge in such matters, that you are at all ready to meet and taste such delights. Perhaps it is best you retire now, my dear. We have several long days ahead of us." Taking her gently by the shoulders he kissed her upon her forehead. "Good night."

He could see she was slightly bemused as she walked from the little chamber where they had had their meal. He was somewhat confused himself. Going to the sideboard he poured himself a dollop of whiskey, and went to sit down by the fire. What the hell was the matter with him? He had felt lust for Allegra, yes, but there had been something more. They were to marry. He could have seduced her, and what harm would there have been in it? She belonged to him now. Only a few churchly words stood between the legalities of their licit union and the facts. She was innocent, but her girlish kisses told him there was passion in her soul. Treated with tenderness, brought slowly along, she would in time, he suspected, prove to be enjoyable bedsport.

That was it, of course, he decided. He sensed the fire in her that Allegra didn't even know she possessed. Instinctively he realized he had to move carefully with her lest he frighten her off. He wanted to make her bloom with passion, not turn away in fear.


***

Allegra rode with him each day of their journey. Each night she curled herself in his lap, and, as she quaintly put it, practiced her kissing. "Am I getting better?" she asked him one evening.

"With each passing day," he assured her.

She nodded. "Kissing is very pleasant, but rather repetitive, isn't it?" she said to him.

"There are variations," he told her.

"Show me," she whispered against his mouth.

His tongue slipped between her parted lips, and fervently caressed her. Allegra almost swooned in his arms.

"Ohhh," she gasped. Her heart was hammering erratically, and a frisson of pleasure raced down her backbone. "Oh my, Quinton, that was quite exciting! Are there other forms of kissing? I must know!"

"Yes," he said, "but they are much too advanced for you to be taught now. They involve caressing."

"Caressing what?" she asked him innocently.

"You," he answered with a small smile.

"Me? What do you mean?" Allegra queried him.

"Your breasts, and other more intimate parts," he told her.

"Do you want to caress me, Quinton?" she asked hesitantly.

"Oh, yes, my dear, I do, but I do not think the time is right for you now. I want you to know me better. I want to know you better before we become closer, Allegra."

"You are considerate of me," she said. "I hope we are not separated for too long," she remarked. "I really am anxious to come to Hunter's Lair. Even if my rooms aren't ready, couldn't we set up a tented pavilion upon your lawns for me? Papa and Aunt Mama are so involved with each other. It is as if I do not exist for them, Quinton. I think I shall be quite uncomfortable in my childhood home now. I am beginning to see that I do not belong there any longer. Morgan Court is theirs."

He stroked her dark hair. It was very soft, and fragrant with lilacs. "I expect you will spend little time there, Allegra. I think that your new rooms will be ready for you quickly, and if they are not, I shall see that they are." He suddenly realized he did not like the idea of being parted from her either for he enjoyed her company. How odd, he thought to himself. He could not remember ever before having enjoyed female company. He was not misogynistic in the least, but other than his late grandmother, whom he had admired and respected, and the women who had soothed his carnal desires, Quinton Hunter had little knowledge of women.

They parted the following day. The Duke of Sedgwick rode west into Hereford while Lord Morgan and his family turned off the highway following a smaller, local road to Morgan Court. Reaching home that evening Allegra found herself alone. Honor had begged permission to visit her parents as she had not seen them in several months. As for Lord Morgan and his wife, they had hurried upstairs once the evening meal had been cleared away. It was midsummer, and the twilight was long now. Allegra wandered out to the stables to visit her gelding.

The horse greeted her with a welcoming nicker, obviously pleased to be back home after their journey from London. Allegra saw that the beast had been thoroughly brushed, fed, and watered. She rubbed its velvet muzzle, and then left the stables to walk through her father's garden. The marble summer house by the lake beckoned her. She climbed the three broad, wide steps, and entering the little pavilion, sat down. She already missed the duke. His company had been more than pleasant if she were willing to admit it. She liked being kissed as well.

"I thought I should find you here," a voice said.

"Rupert! How kind of you to come and welcome me home," Allegra replied. "Come, and sit with me. It is such a glorious evening. Do you hear the nightingale singing in the woods? There is no place as beautiful as Morgan Court."

"Then why leave it, Allegra?" he asked her. Rupert Tanner was a pleasant-looking young man with light brown hair and pale blue eyes. "You don't have to marry that duke. Your father is not so cruel as to make you marry a man you don't love."

"But I do want to marry Quinton," Allegra told him.

"Do you love him?" Rupert queried her. "Does he love you?"

"Of course we do not love each other." Allegra laughed. "We haven't known each other long enough to even know if we really like each other, but I think that we do. We get on very well."

"But I love you, Allegra!" Rupert cried. "I have loved you ever since we were children. Even if you did not love me, I should love you. A woman should be loved."

"Rupert, I can never think of you as a husband. You have been my brother, my best friend next to Sirena," Allegra responded. "Now stop being so foolish. My wedding date is set for October fifth in London at St. George's. The king, the queen, and Prinny are coming. Lady Bellingham says it will be the wedding of the year. Madame Paul has already begun making my wedding gown. It is to be white and silver. Quite fashionable, I am told," she finished with a smile.

"You are so young," he replied. "You cannot know what you want. You do not see past the excitement and the glamour of it all. You have never even been kissed!"

"Of course I've been kissed," Allegra snapped, now becoming irritated by this cow-eyed young man. "The duke and I have kissed many times. I quite like it, Rupert."

He suddenly stood, pulling her up with him. Then he kissed her. His mouth mashed against her; his tongue tried to push into her mouth; and he smelled of onions. "Allegra, Allegra, I love you! Marry me, my darling girl. I realize a country churchman's life cannot match the excitement of a duke's, but I adore you. Tell me you will send this duke packing, and be mine."

Allegra struggled from his embrace. She smacked him hard upon his cheek. "How dare you, Rupert Tanner? I was almost ready to forgive you for telling the duke that you and I had an informal agreement; but now I shall not. I am marrying Quinton Hunter because I want to marry him. No one is forcing me to it. It is my duty as my father's daughter to make the best marriage possible. As Papa's heiress a duke is just the right husband for me. Now go away. I do not want to see you again!"