To Marry a Duke (17 page)

‘In which case, my love, we can both relax and enjoy
ourselves. I have never cared a fig for their opinion. My only concern is for
you.’

The carriage eventually halted outside the flambeaux-lit
portico of their destination. Two footmen attended their descent and two more
ushered them upstairs.

‘We would have been quicker to walk here, it’s taken over
thirty minutes to travel around the square,’ he commented.

‘Shall we walk back? When Thomas returns with the carriage
he can arrange for an escort to be waiting outside when we leave.’

‘I think in the present circumstances it would be better
not.’

Allegra shivered at the unpleasant reminder that the
mastermind behind the ambush was still at large.

*

The evening, an intimate gathering of
twenty couples, sped by.
Allegra’s friends appeared to be delighted to
see her again and to meet him. She had been away too long and he was amused to
hear her conversing with like-minded people, listening to the latest
on-dits
and discussing the progress of
the war and bemoaning the high price of corn.

At such an event there was not the vapid conversation of
simpering debutantes. Discussions between both ladies and gentlemen were robust
and stimulating. His opinion on matters financial was sought and his views
respected. In all
they
both declared themselves well
satisfied with the evening.

‘Almost dawn, Jago.
It hardly seems
worth the trouble of going to bed.’

He briefly squeezed her hands. ‘You have more stamina than
I, my sweet, I’m exhausted. Go in now, I shall call round in the afternoon, I
have business to attend to this morning. Goodnight, my darling.’

He waited till Allegra and her
maid had vanished inside before striding off to his own house, five minutes’
walk away. High society was less objectionable than he’d anticipated - in fact
he rather thought he might come to enjoy their company. However, his first
priority must be to discover why they had been attacked. He hoped the men he’d
employed would return with sufficient information this morning to start piecing
the puzzle together. So far the only suspect was his ex-mistress, Camille
Oliver. But he knew her to be a pragmatist. She never did anything unless it
would be of direct benefit to her in some way.

The death of either Demelza or Allegra could not come into
that category unless—? He needed to think this through, analyse the situation.
If Allegra was dead would he consider going back to his mistress? If he was
honest he knew he probably would, eventually. He had physical needs and Camille
certainly knew how to satisfy those.

He rubbed his eyes; fatigue was making him over fanciful. Of
course she wasn’t behind the
attacks,
she was a woman,
for God’s sake! How could she possibly be involved with such a heinous crime?
He needed his bed. He wasn’t thinking clearly.

A drowsy footman answered his knock and bowed deeply, and
barely concealing his yawn delivered a message he had been given earlier. ‘Good
evening, sir. I am to tell you Lord Witherton and a guest arrived just after
you left this evening. They have been accommodated in the green suite.’

Jago nodded. He was glad Richard
was here; perhaps together they could make sense of the situation. He assumed
the unidentified guest was Pledger; he wasn’t so sure about his arrival.

*

‘Is Lady Allegra awake yet, Miss Murrell? I’m eager hear
what happened last night. I’ll get up,

I think, and go and see for myself.’

‘Miss Demelza, Lady Allegra didn’t retire until the small
hours so we should not expect to see her before noon. Also Dr Canning gave
instructions that you were to rest for another day.’

‘I’m going mad with boredom cooped up in here. I shall get
dressed and go for walk around the house. I promise I’ll walk slowly.’

Her companion accepted defeat. ‘I’ll accompany you, my dear.
This is a vast establishment.
and
an unwary guest
could easily get themselves lost without directions.’

Demelza was admiring the spacious entrance hall, its walls
lined with gloomy portraits of illustrious Witherton ancestors, when there was
a sharp knock on the front door. It would not do for a visitor to see them
lurking in the hall so Miss Murrell took her arm and began to bustle her
towards a small ante room to the right of the door. They were too late. The
visitors were being ushered inside.

‘Richard! You have come.’ Demelza snatched her arm away and
ran towards him and fell into his embrace. They kissed, to Miss Murrell’s
horror and Captain Pledger’s amusement.

Demelza raised her head to gaze at Richard. ‘Your poor face;
does it hurt very much, my love?’ Her fingers traced the lines of red that led up
to the rakish black patch that covered his mangled eye.

‘Hardly at all, my darling.
And
your
shoulder,
how is that?’

‘A little sore, but it’s healing well. We’re both scarred
now. I said right from the outset we would be a perfect match.’

‘Demelza, I must introduce you to good friend of mine. He
rode through the night to fetch me to your side.’ His arm still about her waist
he swung around. ‘This is Captain Gideon Pledger-

Gideon, this is Miss Demelza
Tremayne.’

She curtsied, he bowed, and Richard guided them to the main
salon, on the first floor, to continue their conversation. Miss Murrell
followed obviously determined to see the proprieties were observed.

*

Allegra, on hearing her brother had arrived, flew through
her
toilette
and hastened to the
salon to greet him. As a she walked in she saw Richard and Demelza were
joyfully reunited, their mutual fears unfounded. ‘Richard, I am so glad to see
you here, and both of you so happy.’

She embraced him warmly. ‘I was worried unnecessarily; we
both were. As soon as she’s fully restored I wish to escort her to a party or
two, there are still some left to attend, I hope, Allegra?’

‘There are, Richard, my dear. We shall go together. Jago and
I went to meet the Dowager Duchess of Avondale last evening and he has her
stamp of approval. I am certain Demelza will be equally well received.’

She turned to Captain Pledger. ‘Thank you, sir, for fetching
my brother so promptly.’

‘My pleasure, my lady.’
He bowed
and gestured that she join him. She could hardly refuse, although she still
didn’t trust him despite his smiling countenance and air of joviality.

*

Jago walked in and found them together, Allegra laughing and
happy in the company of the man she professed to dislike, her reservations
quite obviously evaporated. His face was grim as he watched her rise and come
towards him.

‘Welcome, Jago. I do not believe you have been introduced to
Richard’s friend, Captain Pledger?’

He continued to stare, his eyes granite hard, his enmity plain,
but did not answer or acknowledge the Captain’s bow. Eventually the captain got
the message and half- bowing nervously to Allegra mumbled an unintelligible
farewell and disappeared through the door.

‘I wish to speak to you in private, Allegra.’

She was startled by his tone and she stepped away. ‘Of
course, shall we go to the small sitting room?’

Once inside Jago closed the door and stood with his back to
it. He saw her expression change to one of unease.

‘What is it, Jago? What have I done to offend you?’

‘Perhaps you should tell me, Lady Allegra? What is that man
to you? I believe there is a history between you that you have not dared share
with me.’

‘We have no history. He is a friend of Richard’s. He was
never a friend of
mine,
I can assure you of that.’

Jago stepped away from the door, his expression deadly.
‘It’s all over town. That he was your lover whilst he lived in your house. Is
everything you’ve told me a lie? Are you not the innocent you purport to be?
Why else would you be closeted alone with him at the White Hart the other
night?’

Allegra did not dignify his accusation with an answer.
Instead she calmly looked around for something to throw. Her fingers curled
around a bronze statue and her arm went back, and she flung it across the room.
Her aim was as accurate as it had been two days before.

Jago receiving the object full in the chest reeled back, the
breath squeezed from his lungs, and gasping like a landed fish, crashed to the
floor. She stepped over him as if he wasn’t there, and vanished, apparently
unmoved, from the room.

Chapter Seventeen

‘Abbot, where are you? I am going
out. I need your assistance immediately,’ Allegra called as she ran into her
bedroom. Strangely her fury at Jago’s unjust accusation was no longer uppermost
in her mind. She wanted to know who had started these vicious rumours and the
person who could tell her was Captain Pledger himself.

Five minutes after arriving in her chamber she left, by the
backstairs, her maid close behind. Allegra had explained to Abbot what had
happened, and why they were going out, as they descended the narrow, uncarpeted
stairs.

The servants exit at the rear of the house was deserted and
they were able to slip out unobserved. ‘Mr Tremayne’s house is but a few
minutes’ walk. We do not need to attract attention to ourselves by haste. We
will not be pursued, at least not yet.’

Her mouth curved as she recalled the look of stupefaction on
the face of her beloved as he clutched his chest and toppled to the floor. It
served him right. He deserved to suffer for allowing his jealousy to overcome
his innate common sense. She intended to forgive him, eventually, but he would
have to do a vast amount of grovelling before that time came.

‘It is the next house, the one with a double front and the navy
painted door,’ she told her
abigail
. At the bottom of
the steps she paused, not sure how to proceed. She had never been in quite this
situation before. Whenever she went visiting a footman accompanied her and was
there to do demand entry on her behalf.

‘I think you had better go up, Abbot. I shall wait here.’

Her maid marched up the stone flight and banged the brass
knocker loudly. The door swung open instantly. ‘Lady Allegra Humphry wishes to
speak to Captain Pledger who is residing here as

a
guest.’

The footman covered his surprise at such odd goings-on and
bowed. ‘Please come in, your ladyship. I shall send for the housekeeper to
attend you immediately.’

Allegra looked around with interest - after all this would
soon be her house as well. The building was of the same age and style as
Witherton House but there the similarities ended. For this abode was
immaculate, the most expensive and luxurious appointments she had ever seen.
She rather thought the livery of the footman could have cost more than her own
gown.

‘If you would care to wait in the
morning-room, my lady?’
The footman ushered her into a nearby chamber.
This was furnished in the latest fashion. The elegant furniture, some in
satinwood, other items of mahogany, would have been made especially for the
house by someone as prestigious as Thomas Chippendale or Hope. She much admired
the rattan chair seats and their lacquer decorations.

She had not imagined Jago to be a man much influenced by
fashion, but if this house was anything to go by he certainly liked to be
up-to-date. Allegra wandered across the expanse of carpet feeling her boots
sink pleasantly into the deep pile. The pale green-striped damask wall covering
was repeated in the heavy curtains and swags at the windows, but she was no longer
interested in furnishings. She was staring out of the window, watching the
pedestrians, hoping she would have time enough to complete her mission before
either Jago or Richard appeared to interfere.

She patted her reticule, her fingers pressing the hard shape
of her pistol. She had come prepared. ‘Abbot, could you go and see what is
keeping Captain Pledger; if he does not come down then I shall go in search of
him.’

‘You must not, my lady. I’ll go, if you wait here, I shall
be but a moment.’
 
Her maid hurried out
to pass on the urgent message. Allegra followed her to the open door and
spotted her quarry coming downstairs his carpetbag in his hand. He was leaving.
She would not allow that to happen.

Without thought to the consequences
she rushed out, blocking his exit.

‘Captain Pledger, I wish to speak with you.’

He tried to step around her but she moved too fast. ‘I’m
pressed for time, Lady Allegra. I beg your pardon, but I’ve urgent business
elsewhere.’

‘You are going nowhere until you have answered my questions,
sir.’

He must believe she would not dare to speak of anything
contentious for he half bowed, a sneer curling his lips. ‘Then I am your
servant, my lady. Please ask what you will.’

She pulled herself up to her full height, not much shorter
than his, and narrow eyed raked him from head to toe. He flushed under her
bitter scrutiny. ‘Are you the fabricator of the malicious gossip that his
racing around town?’

‘What gossip would that be?’

‘That you and I were lovers, sir. That is the gossip I refer
to.’ He recoiled slightly at her tone.

‘Now why should I wish to spread such tales? I’ve nothing to
gain from it; my reputation is as besmirched as yours.’

That had
a certain
logic. Was she,
like Jago, being too quick to judge? ‘Then who, Captain Pledger, if it was not
you?’

He barred his teeth in a false smile. ‘Lady Oliver, your
betrothed’s mistress. It is she who will gain if Tremayne leaves you. He’ll
return to her and she wants him back at any price.’ He leaned closer and lowered
his voice. ‘She’s a woman who knows how to please a man. She is not a cold
bitch like you. Tremayne will return to her warm bed, never doubt it, my lady.
Camille Oliver can give him something you are not capable of.’

Allegra, during this shocking speech, had covertly slipped
her hand into her reticule and gripped the butt of her pistol. Slowly, not
wishing to alarm him, she withdrew her gun and with
itconcealed
behind her back, took two steps back. With calm deliberation she raised it and
watched his expression change from triumph to abject fear. ‘You are a hair’s
breadth from eternity, sir. I suggest you leave this house and this vicinity
before I change my mind and pull the trigger.’

This scenario was being watched by the housekeeper, the
butler, two footmen and a parlour-maid. Pledger did not have to be told twice
but turned and fled across the marble floor, his portmanteau swinging wildly in
his hand. A footman reacted swiftly and politely bowed him out but, in his
astonishment, neglected to close the door.

Allegra replaced the unloaded gun in her bag well satisfied
with the outcome of her encounter. She had the information she required; she
knew who had been behind the attempted assassination. She could not wait to see
the expression on the face of her beloved when she mentioned the name

of
his
mistress, Lady Camille Oliver, to him.

She smiled sunnily at the housekeeper. ‘Is there a garden
room where I can wait?

‘Yes, my lady. I shall conduct you there.’

Allegra turned to the butler. ‘I am expecting Mr Tremayne
and Lord Witherton to arrive at any moment. Please inform them of my
whereabouts.’

‘Would you like some refreshments sent in, my lady?’ The
housekeeper’s voice was a trifle unsteady.

‘No, thank you, not now. Please send in the brandy decanter
and glasses when the gentlemen arrive.’

Allegra found herself a comfortable chair close to the
French doors and sat down. ‘Abbot, I have an errand for you. I shall be quite
safe sitting here so you need not look so disapproving.’

*

The sound of Tremayne’s fall had been clearly audible
throughout the adjacent rooms as he took a side table and its ornaments down
with him. Richard was the first to arrive but found
himself
unable to slide through the small gap from which Allegra had exited. The door
wouldn’t budge. He put his shoulder to it and pushed.

‘What’s that strange gurgling noise, Richard and why can’t
you open the door?’

‘I’ve no idea, Demelza. Are you able to slide through that
gap, do you think, without further damaging your shoulder?’

She eyed it dubiously. ‘I shall try. But you must push hard
as I do so.’

Richard gripped the door edge and threw his weight forward;
the door moved a fraction, giving sufficient space for her to slip into the
room. She stared in dismay at her father, sprawled on the floor, clutching his
chest.

‘Papa, whatever is wrong? Are you unwell?’ Her immediate
consideration was that he was suffering from apoplexy. ‘Richard, my father’s
taken very ill, he is behind the door, blocking your entrance.’

Richard renewed his efforts but the door wouldn’t shift. He
needed more weight. ‘You two, get over here and assist me,’ he shouted at the
watching footmen. Willingly the young men added their bulk and slowly the door
began to move. ‘Stop, that’s enough to get through.’

He squeezed through the gap and
dropped to his knees beside Demelza, who was holding Tremayne’s hand.

Richard feared the worst. It was tragic to see a man in his
prime struck down in this way. He took the other hand. He realized there was
little even a physician could do to help Tremayne. They must offer what comfort
they could in his final minutes.

‘My darling, you must be brave, I believe he hasn’t long to
live.’

She nodded, her tears dripping unheeded onto her
father’ s
crisp white neck-cloth. ‘Papa, can you speak to
me? Is there anything you want to say?’

Tremayne finally recovered his voice and the ability to
move. He snatched his hands away and pushed himself up to seated position. ‘For
God’s sake, I’m not about to kick the bucket, I was temporarily winded, not dying.’

‘You are not having an apoplexy?’ She sounded almost
disappointed. ‘Then why were you gobbling like a turkey and unable to move?’

‘Allegra threw a bronze figure at me and it caught me full
in the chest. Here, lad, give me your arm, I don’t wish to languish on the
floor a moment longer.’

Richard heaved and Tremayne, his back against the door,
slowly shuffled his feet until he was upright. Demelza, dry eyed, faced him.

‘Exactly what did you say to Allegra, Papa?’

Tremayne flushed and couldn’t meet her gaze. ‘I asked her if
Pledger had been her lover.’ A shocked silence greeted this statement.

‘How could you say such a dreadful thing? It’s no wonder
Allegra threw something at you. You’re a disgrace. I am ashamed to call you my
father.’ With those damning words she rushed from the room determined to find,
and comfort, her dear friend.

Richard glared at his future
father-in-law and his fists bunched. ‘Sir, if Allegra had not already felled
you, I would do so myself.’

Tremayne raised his hands, palms upward. ‘Please do so, if
it will make you feel any better. I deserve to be horse whipped for saying such
a thing.’

Richard lowered his fists. ‘Then why did you say it? What
prompted you to accuse her of such base behaviour?’

‘I need to sit down, lad. I still feel a little shaky.’ He
raised a warning hand. ‘No, I can manage.’
Once seated he
dropped his head into his hands with a groan of despair.
‘I’m famous for
my clear thinking; indeed I have built my business around my ability to
recognize false dealings, not to be taken in by a dissembler. I cannot imagine
what maggot got into my brain today.’ He was silent, his ragged breathing the
only sound in the room. ‘I’ve no excuse - none at all. If I have lost Allegra’s
love then I’ve only myself to blame.’

‘Tell me, why did you do it? If you can explain your motives
satisfactorily to me, then
it’s
possible Allegra will
understand also.’

Tremayne sat up. ‘I went to Whites and found myself greeted
by strange looks and sympathetic pats on the back. Eventually I persuaded someone
to explain.’

‘Go on, sir.’

‘It’s all over town; everyone’s saying Allegra and Pledger
were lovers whilst he lived at the Priory. That he was so overcome by grief
when she dismissed him he departed leaving half his belongings behind. That she
met with him alone in her parlour at the White Hart to make arrangements to
renew the relationship after our marriage.’ He stopped to gauge his listener’s
reaction. ‘There’s some truth in this, is there not?’

Richard
nodded,
his expression
grave.
‘Enough to give the story credence.
I must hear
the rest, pray continue, sir.’

‘The gossip has it she decided she would set her cap at me,
having sent Pledger packing before I arrived. It seemed to fit so well. I came
round here, not to accuse her, you understand, but to sift the truth from the
lies. When I walked in to find Allegra cosying up to the man she had told me
she disliked above all others, I was insane with jealousy.’

Richard could see why Tremayne might have reacted as he did.
He might have done so himself

in
similar
circumstances. ‘You were blinded by your suspicion and spoke without thought.’

‘I did. I knew I was making a catastrophic error even as the
words were passing my lips. Allegra’s face told me all I needed to know.’ He
grinned, his expression rueful. ‘She was not upset, not the slightest bit
embarrassed, but angry. I consider myself lucky she didn’t have a pistol to
hand or my injuries could have proved fatal.’

‘Poor Allegra.
She is of
unassailable purity; she has never flirted, never so much as held the hand of a
gentleman, apart from myself and our father. To accuse her of something so base
was mistaking her character in such a way it’s hardly surprising she reacted
with violence.’

Richard chuckled. ‘It’s extraordinary - my sister has always
been the calm, sensible twin. I cannot imagine what has caused her to change so
radically.’

‘Love can do strange things to a person unused to the
emotion. Good God! Look at me – I’ve become as irrational and muddleheaded as
she is.’ He winced when he laughed. ‘I think I might have broken a rib. But I
shall not complain. It’s my just desserts. How long you think it will take for
her to forgive me?’