The Duchess (15 page)

The bride shortly afterward slipped from the dining room, followed by her cousin. Upstairs her maid, Damaris, was waiting to help her from her wedding
clothes, and into her traveling outfit, although Sirena was traveling no farther than her father-in-law's town house today.

“Mama and Uncle have not yet announced their surprise,” Sirena said to her cousin. “You don't think they have changed their minds?”

Allegra shook her head. “Papa said they would make the announcement before you leave.”

“I can't wait to see the look on Charlotte's face,” Sirena replied with a giggle. “She will be torn between relief and horror that Mama should remarry at
her time of life,
which is how she will put it, I am quite certain.”

“How old is Aunt Mama?” Allegra asked her cousin.

“She is surely past forty,” Sirena said. “She married Papa at fifteen, and had my brother when she was sixteen. Gussie is twenty-five, I know, so Mama must be past forty.”

“She is forty-one,” Allegra said with a smile. Sirena had never been particularly good with her sums.

“There, my ladies, you're ready,” Damaris said to her mistress. Then she began to weep. “I can't believe yer a married woman,” she sniffled, wiping her eyes with her apron. “It just seems like yesterday you come out of the nursery a young lass put in my care.”

“Now, Damaris.” Sirena hugged her maid. “You'll still be with me, and I've seen the looks you and Ocky's valet have been giving each other. You'll soon be a married lady yourself, and what shall I ever do if you leave me?”

“No man could take me away from you, my lady!” Damaris declared stoutly. “Now, you and Miss Allegra run back downstairs to yer guests. I'll be waiting for you at Pickford House.” She curtsied.

Sirena, looking enchanting in a white muslin gown decorated with pink silk ribbons and a charming straw
bonnet, also with pink ribbons, set over her blond curls, gave her maid a smile. Then hand in hand with Allegra she descended the stairs of the house into its circular central foyer where her husband and her guests were assembled waiting for her. She went immediately to her mother and her uncle.

Hugging them Sirena whispered, “Tell them now,
please.”

Putting his arm about both Allegra and Sirena, Lord Morgan said in a loud voice, “This has been a most wonderful day for us all. I have seen my dearest niece successfully married off. My beloved daughter will marry her duke on October fifth. Tomorrow, however, shall be an equally happy day, for tomorrow I will marry the woman who has done me the honor of agreeing to become my wife, Lady Olympia Abbott. As you have all wished Sirena and Ocky happy, I hope you will wish us the same as well,” Lord Morgan concluded.

“Well, I'll be damned,” the Marquess of Rowley said, totally and utterly surprised by his uncle's declaration. Then he reached out, and shook Lord Morgan's hand. “You have my blessing, sir, although you certainly don't need it.” Grinning, he kissed his mother heartily. “And you, madame, have my best wishes. Just when I thought you could no longer surprise me, Mama, you have gone and done it.”

“Then you do not mind, Gussie?” she said, a trifle nervously.

“No, Mama, I do not mind in the least,” he responded, smiling even more broadly.

The other guests crowded about the couple offering their congratulations and good wishes. It was at that very moment in the crush that Sirena and Viscount Pickford chose to make their escape. Hand in hand, they left through the open door of the house, down the
marble steps, and into their carriage. When their absence was finally realized, there was much good-natured laughter, and the guests were invited into the main salon of the house to partake of another champagne toast, this one to the next soon-to-be-married pair.

“And another family wedding tomorrow!” Lady Bellingham exclaimed. “My dear Olympia, what a naughty puss you have been keeping such a wonderful secret.” She tapped Lady Abbott with her fan, giving her an arch look. “Of course it is the perfect match for you. I imagine your son and daughter-in-law are delighted for you.” She turned her gaze to Allegra. “And you, miss, what think you of this turn of events?”

“Sirena and I have been trying to get Papa and Aunt Mama together ever since she came out of mourning,” Allegra announced candidly.

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Have you indeed, my gel? Well, good for you!” Lady Bellingham said. “Not a selfish bone in her body, Quinton. You have chosen a fine gel to wife. I shall certainly look forward to returning to London in the autumn for your wedding. Even Bellingham has agreed to give up a few days of his hunting for such an event, haven't you, husband?”

“Indeed, yes, m'dear,” Lord Bellingham agreed with a broad wink at the assembled company. “If it pleases you, it pleases me.” He took a long sip of his champagne.

“Well I for one am completely astounded that dear Mama would marry again at her time of life,” Charlotte said. “Gussie and I have suddenly become quite bereft of family, I fear.” She sipped her champagne.

Allegra giggled behind her hand, but when Charlotte glared at her she said bluntly, “Sirena said you would say that, madame. As for being
bereft,
I suspect you are more relieved to have Aunt Mama and my cousin gone
from Rowley. You will have Gussie all to yourself now.” She smiled sweetly at the Marchioness of Rowley.

“Allegra,” her cousin the marquess said chidingly, but his mouth twitched with amusement. “You must behave yourself, and practice more tact now that you are to become a duchess.”

“Oh, Gussie, I fear I shall never become
that
proper, and poor Quinton knows it. Do you not, my lord?” She looked to him.

“It will take time, I see, but I believe that eventually I can persuade Allegra to the advantages of diplomacy, sir,” he said to the Marquess of Rowley.

“That will be a battle worth observing,” Lady Bellingham murmured softly, and her husband chuckled at her words.

The remainder of the guests made their farewells. It had been a most satisfying and exciting morning to have been party to, and privy to, they all agreed. The Earl of Aston and Lord Walworth had both asked the duke to stand up with them during their upcoming nuptials. Now both of their fiancées made certain to speak with Allegra before they left.

“You will come to the wedding with the duke?” both young ladies asked. “Mama will see you receive an invitation.”

“I shall be pleased to accept,” Allegra responded as she waved them both off. How odd to have friends who were girls, she thought. The only girl who had ever been her friend was Sirena. What was more, she liked Lady Eunice Tarleton and Caroline Bellingham. I really am growing up, she considered to herself.

“We will take the air in the garden,” the duke said. They were now alone. Her father and Lady Abbott had disappeared.

Allegra slipped her hand through his arm. “The poor
old house feels quite sad,” she sagely noted. “Everything is coming to an end. The season is over. Sirena and Ocky are married. Our friends are all gone from London. Nothing will ever be the same again, will it?”

“No,” he agreed, “but that is life, Allegra. The world changes about us constantly for good, or for ill.”

They moved out into the garden. The afternoon was warm for June. The roses perfumed the air, and there was barely the hint of a breeze.

“Perhaps the world does change with each passing minute,” Allegra said, “but I have never before felt it as strongly as I do today.” She sighed a long, and wistful sigh. “My life has, despite my mother's absence, charted a steady course, and has not deviated. I was raised and educated at Morgan Court. My best, my only friend until a few months ago, was my cousin, Sirena. The years have been a round of passing seasons marked by holidays, family, and schooling. It has always been the same.”

“What of your brother?” he asked her. She had never really spoken of her elder sibling.

A look of sorrow passed over Allegra's beautiful face. “Ahh, yes,” she said. “My world did change then, didn't it? I had put it from my mind for it is too painful to speak on, Quinton.”

“What happened?” he gently probed as he drew her down in the shade of an apple tree to a marble bench. “I only know that he is dead.”

“James Lucian—we never for some reason called him anything other than his whole name—died in France. He was affianced to the daughter of the Comte d'Au-mont. Because of the political situation it was decided he would marry immediately and bring his bride back to England,” Allegra explained. “While he was there the family was arrested, betrayed by someone before
James Lucian could wed his sweetheart. He would not leave Célestine. The authorities, if you can call that rabble in France by such a name, offered my brother his freedom as he stood upon the scaffold with her. She begged him to go, but he would not. James Lucian, it was said, knelt before his affianced, speaking gently to her of their eternal life together even as the guillotine fell. Her head rolled into the basket before him; and he was spattered with her blood. He then arose, and without assistance, knelt for his own execution.” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Shocked by her recitation the duke said, “He was a very brave man, your brother.” His arm went about her to comfort her.

Allegra shook off the arm. “My brother was a fool!” she cried, and now the tears ran down her face. “He wasted his life for what?
For love!
You say, my lord, that you shall never love me, for you would not commit the mistakes of your antecedents. Well, I shall not love you either, for love brings nothing to anyone but pain. But we shall have a good marriage for it shall be based upon sensible principles. Respect for one another and enough wealth to sustain us. And whatever love either of us can muster we shall lavish upon our children. The love of a parent for its child seems to be the only love that does not hurt.”

He wiped her tears away with his own linen handkerchief, but said nothing more. What could he possibly say that would comfort her? It was obvious that she had loved her brother greatly, and his death, three years before, had hurt her terribly. Finally he spoke. “Is the loss of your brother the reason you learned how to manage your own funds?”

“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.”

T
he 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.