Heavy carved gold candlesticks and a jeweled gold crucifix had been placed atop a white linen runner on the highboard to serve as an altar. There were vases of flowers upon stands set around the temporary altar. The air was sweet with the scent of late pink roses, pink and white lilies, and lavender.

At the appointed hour the small group of guests were seated upon narrow backless oak benches that were a part of the hall's original furnishings. The rest of the hall was filled with the servants, and as many of the duke's tenants as could crowd in. They arrived silently, wiping their muddy boots under Mr. Croft's stern eye before they were allowed into their master's house.

Sirena looked lovely in a simple pale blue silk gown with its puffed sleeves and high waist. Her gown was tied with a narrow pink ribbon sash. She carried a small nosegay of pink roses and lavender. There were pink roses in her short curly coiffure, which was now cut in the latest style. Sirena could not keep herself from smiling. She had so wanted to share this day with her beloved cousin, and Allegra, generous of heart, had made it so.

The bride was pale, and to her surprise, nervous. Her voice was soft. It almost trembled as she spoke her vows. She was very embarrassed, and wondered if anyone, particularly the duke, had noticed. It was childish of her to feel any anxiety. While her blood might be nowhere as blue as the duke's, she was fully confident that she would make Quinton Hunter a perfect duchess. This was what she had wanted, and she knew that she looked absolutely beautiful this morning.

Madame Paul had outdone herself. The wedding gown was an exquisite creation of pure white silk into which had been woven tiny silver stars. High waisted, it had a delicate bouffant overskirt of the sheerest silver net. The bodice had a rounded neckline. The little puffed sleeves were decorated with diminutive silver bows. The duke had given his bride a necklace of large pearls from which dangled a blue-white diamond heart and a pair of diamond and pearl earbobs, which Allegra now wore.

Her thick, long, dark hair was fashioned into a smooth, elegant chignon, atop which had been placed a wreath of white roses holding a long filmy veil of silver netting. Allegra stared hard at the heavy band of Irish red-gold and diamonds that the duke had placed upon her finger. The reality of her situation suddenly slammed into her, even as the vicar spoke the final words of the ceremony.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together, let no man rend asunder." The cleric paused, then said, "You may kiss the bride, Your Grace."

The duke's hands cupped Allegra's face as her startled gaze met his. He kissed her, and for a brief moment Allegra soared. But then he released her, smiling into the confusion in her eyes, saying, "Shall we see to our guests, Your Grace?"

They turned to receive the good wishes of their family, their friends, and all the others in the hall. The musicians in the Minstrel's Gallery began to play a sprightly tune. The servants hurried forth with the wedding breakfast and the wine as the hall emptied of all but the chosen few. The new Duchess of Sedgwick invited them to take their seats, indicating where each should sit. She and the duke sat in the king and queen's chairs in the center of the highboard facing out into the hall.

Allegra stole a look at her new husband. She had always thought him handsome, but today he seemed even more so in his white brocaded satin suit embroidered with gold. His brother, who had been Quinton's witness, had chosen to wear a sky blue satin suit that matched Sirena's gown. Lord George Hunter now arose from the table to make a toast.

"To my brother, Quinton, who had the good sense to marry the most beautiful, and certainly the most generous girl in all of England. May he and Allegra have many happy years together. God bless!"

"Here! Here!" the other guests agreed, raising their crystal goblets of wine and drinking.

Now the duke arose, and raising his glass, looked directly at his new wife, who blushed. "To Allegra, who has brought happiness to my family and given a new life to Hunter's Lair. I thank her for marrying me." Quinton Hunter drank a sip of wine. Then placing his goblet upon the table he took Allegra's hand up and kissed it.

More toasts were offered during the long meal while poached eggs in a cream and Marsala sauce were presented, along with a small pink country ham that was thinly sliced, and rashers of bacon. There were fresh, warm, and dainty rolls; breads, sweet butter, and plum conserves. There were bowls of oatmeal mixed with heavy cream, cooked apples, and cinnamon sugar. There was beefsteak, tiny lamb chops upon a silver platter, creamed cod, sliced salmon that had been poached in white wine and dill and served upon a bed of watercress and sliced lemons. There was a dish of baked apples with clotted cream, and another dish of stewed pears with nutmeg and sherry. Finally there was a wedding cake with its tiny white spun sugar decorations covering the golden fruited confection. It was early afternoon by the time the entire meal had been concluded.

Outside the rain continued to fall. The servants and the estate workers had their own feast moved from the outdoors to the barns. The wedding party and their guests took the opportunity to visit them during a brief respite in the storm. There the bride and groom were toasted again in honest English ale and cider. They danced several country dances with their humbler guests before returning to the house, where Allegra saw the carriages of her guests already drawn up before the front door of Hunter's Lair. She realized that her friends and family would be leaving shortly as they all wanted to reach their various homes before sunset. Even in the country the roads could be dangerous after dark.

"It was a most beautiful wedding," Sirena said. "Do try to be happy, Allegra."

"I am," the bride insisted.

"You know what I mean," Sirena replied meaningfully.

"We shall leave you alone for a week," the young Countess of Aston said, "but after that you will come and visit us." She kissed Allegra on both cheeks. "Good-bye, darling!" Then Eunice and her husband were gone out the door.

"You must come to London this winter," Lady Bellingham insisted, giving the bride a warm hug. "It has been a most delightful time, dear girl." There were more kisses. Then Lady Bellingham and her quiet husband departed.

"We will see you at Eunice's," Caroline, Lady Walworth, said before she left with her husband in tow.

"George said you were the most beautiful and generous girl in all of England," Melinda Hunter said shyly. Then she grew bolder, continuing, "and I know why, Allegra." Lady Hunter kissed her sister-in-law. "Thank you. Without your kindness and generosity I should not be so happy. I wish you the same joy with the duke as I have had with his brother."

Allegra flushed. "Families are supposed to help one another," she said in reply.

"I echo my wife's thanks," George Hunter said quietly. Then he kissed his brother's bride, and Lord and Lady Hunter were gone.

"What did you do?" Sirena wanted to know.

"Another time, dear heart," Allegra told her softly.

Sirena nodded. "Very well, I shall contain my curiosity." Then with a wave, she and her husband were off.

"Well, my dear," Lord Morgan said, "I shall bid you farewell for now. Be a good wife to your husband." He kissed her on the forehead.

"Yes, Papa," Allegra responded dutifully.

"God bless you, my darling child," Lady Morgan said. Then she departed with her husband. There was nothing left she needed to say to her stepdaughter. It had all, thank goodness, been said.

They stood alone in the round foyer. Allegra wasn't certain what was to happen next. It was much too early to retire, she thought, as the tall clock struck half after two o'clock. The servants were bustling back and forth clearing away the remnants of the wedding feast.

"Would you like to ride?" the duke suddenly asked her.

"In the rain?" Allegra thought her voice sounded rather hollow.

"It is only drizzling right now," he answered.

"Perhaps a game of chess," she suggested.

"Ahh," he agreed. "The very thing."

"I shall have it set up in the family salon," Allegra said. "Perkins," she called to the passing footman. "Set up the game table in the family drawing room, and bring the chess pieces, please."

As the footman hurried off, the duke said to his new wife, "You looked… look," he corrected himself, "very beautiful today, my dear. Every inch a Duchess of Sedgwick, if I may say so."

"You may," she replied, "and if I may return the compliment, sir, you are most handsome in that satin suit."

He actually flushed with her praise, then took her by the hand. "Come along, Allegra. We have not played chess in some weeks, and I am anxious to see if you have improved."

"You are anxious to see if I have gotten any worse," she mocked him with a smile. "Prepare yourself for a drubbing, my lord. I have been playing with Papa these last few days, and he is a brilliant player."

Their family drawing room was decorated in pale blue, buff, and cream color. It held a mixture of old oak furniture and new maple pieces from London. Perkins set up the game table between the two wing chairs by the fireplace. When Allegra had seated herself he handed her the ebony and ivory box banded in silver that held the playing pieces.

She opened the box. "With your permission, sir, I shall take the white pieces, and give you the ebony."

He nodded in agreement, and set up the board so they might begin their play. For several hours the duke and his new duchess vied with each other over the chessboard. They played several games, and were, Quinton Hunter had to admit to himself, equally matched. He won two games and she won two. Outside the storm continued to rage about them. A footman came into the room to make certain the fire was still burning. He trimmed the lamp and candlewicks, even as a fifth game ended in a draw. It had grown dark outside.

"I have set up a supper in the dining room, my lord," Crofts said as he entered the drawing room. The clock on the mantel struck six o'clock.

"Gracious!" Allegra exclaimed. "How the time has flown."

There was capon, ham, and a venison pie on the sideboard in the dining room along with a bowl of green beans, fresh bread, butter, and cheese. When they had eaten all they could, Crofts appeared with a dish of fresh pineapple from the greenhouse and some sugar wafers. Allegra loved the tart-sweet fruit and was almost childlike in her greediness for it.

The duke could not help but smile, but when she had finished he said quietly, "You will want to go upstairs now, my dear. I shall join you in an hour or so." He raised his wine glass and sipped slowly at the fragrant wine.

Allegra paled for a brief moment, but then she arose, curtsied, and without a word walked sedately from the dining room. Her heart had begun to beat furiously. Soon! Soon she was going to know what all the fuss was about. Did she really want to know? Did she have a choice? She was Quinton Hunter's wife, and subject to his will by English law, and by God. She ran lightly up the staircase to her apartment where she found Honor awaiting her with a scented tub.

"Good evening, Your Grace," her servant said with a small smile, and a quick curtsey. "Let me take your things, and get you ready for bed." Honor was behaving as if it were any other night… Swiftly and efficiently, she helped her mistress undress herself, and then helped her into the tub. Allegra had already pinned her hair up as she always did. Then Honor bustled about the apartment putting garments away, or setting them aside to take to the laundress as Allegra washed herself. Finally she helped the new duchess from her tub.

Allegra sat down upon her dressing table bench as Honor dried between each of her toes. "Do you remember," she said, "when I was a little girl how you told me my toes would fall off if I didn't dry between them? I cannot tell you how long I believed you."

"No proper lady would have wet toes," Honor said. "At least that's what me ma always said." She paused a moment then told her young mistress, "I'm leaving a basin of warm water and some cloths by the fire."

"What on earth for?" Allegra asked her maid.

"You'll understand later," Honor said, getting up quickly. "Now, come and get into your night garb, m'lady." She held out a white silk garment that she slipped over Allegra's head, carefully tying a single white ribbon at the neckline. "There, now into bed with you.