To Marry a Duke (4 page)

Allegra forced her mouth to curve. ‘I should not bother. He
will have attached himself to someone else by then and those garments will have
been replaced.’

‘I hope you let him down kindly, Allegra. He has long held a
tendre
for
you.’

She swallowed. ‘Any refusal is a dent for a man’s pride,
Richard, but I am sure he will recover soon enough.’

From her station by the window Miss Murrell exclaimed. ‘Oh
my, I can see the carriage. It’s drawn by three pairs of black horses. What a
splendid
equipage
!’

Richard tugged the bell; the signal for Yardley to assemble
all the indoor staff who could be spared from their duties and for the heavy
front door to be opened. He took her arm and
frowned
.‘
This
will not be so bad. Good God
,
 
Allegra
, you’re trembling. The man
cannot be a monster. After all he has allowed us nine months grace at his
expense.’

‘He is a usurper, a man of no
breeding, and he now has your birth right. How can you be so sanguine?’

She positioned herself carefully so she could observe but
remain hidden in the darkness of the house, Richard stood next to her. The
carriage drew up in a scrunch of gravel and dust. Six grooms leapt forward
whilst footmen opened the door and let down the steps.

A tall man, with chiselled features, weather-beaten
complexion and cropped black hair, emerged from the carriage first. He was, she
noticed, dressed to perfection, no expense spared, every item proclaiming him
top of the trees.

Her teeth clenched as he turned to assist a much younger
woman, in fact no more than a girl, from the carriage. This young woman was
like a drab country mouse compared to the magnificence beside her. Her bonnet
was plain straw with a single blue ribbon, her pelisse dark, of indeterminate
colour, and quite definitely years behind fashion.

How could Tremayne dress himself so well and have his
daughter, for she was far too young to be his spouse, dress like a governess?
He was a millionaire! Why would he allow a member of his family to walk around
like this? Had the man no idea how to behave? Did he not understand what was
expected from an owner of the Priory? That poor child must be mortified.

Rigid with indignation she waited beside her brother for the
Tremaynes to come in to take possession of their new home. She already held the
impeccably dressed gentleman in dislike, his

callous
treatment of his daughter merely reinforced her disapproval.

Chapter Four

‘Where are we going to live,
Papa? Tell me again, please.’ Demelza asked, eyes shining with excitement.

‘We’re going to live at a place called St Osyth’s Priory, a
magnificent old building that, in parts, harks back to the 13th century or even
earlier.’

 
‘Please don’t misunderstand
me, you know I love the house you have built for us at Pencarrow, it has every
modern convenience and is neither too large nor too small, but it’s not old.’

Jago chuckled. ‘No, my love, that’s quite true, but then
neither is the main part of the Priory.’

‘Oh, don’t laugh at me. You know what I mean.’
 
She giggled. She was more relaxed in his
company today than since she had joined him in London three weeks ago. ‘Is it
far from Colchester, this Priory?’

‘No, we should be there soon. Watch the scenery, Demelza,
it’s very—’

‘Scenic?’ She enquired, still laughing.

His eyes narrowed and he stared at his daughter. Had he been
mistaken? Her heart shaped face and thick black ringlets dominated by eyes of a
hue close to violet, was the image of her dead mother, but the intelligence and
humour she was demonstrating could not have come from her. He smiled.

‘Baggage!
I can see the demure face
you’ve been showing me is but a
facade
.
You’re more like me then I realized.’

She nodded understanding his comment was a compliment. ‘At
school I was expected to set a good example to the younger girls but now I’m
released I can express my opinions freely.’

He had a moments misgiving. He had learnt more about his
daughter in the short journey than he had in the past weeks. He hoped Sam
Perkins wasn’t right; that Demelza would not cavil at his plan to marry her to
the Duke of Colchester.

The coach, manufactured to his specifications in London, was
as comfortable as any vehicle could be on the rutted country lanes. Two grooms
travelled on the step at the rear. They were armed and prepared to defend their
employer and his daughter to the death from any footpads or highwayman lurking
in empty stretches of heath land.

A little after one o’clock the carriage bowled up a gentle
slope in the lane and turned in through an impressive gate. The gatekeeper and
his wife bowed and smiled as they rumbled past.

He sat forward. ‘We’ll soon be there, Demelza. This drive
takes us through the park- you will see the lake on your right.’

‘May I lower the window, Papa, so I can lean out?’

‘Certainly not; we shall be visible in a mile or so and I
don’t wish you to be seen at the window when we arrive.’

She had to content herself with gazing out of the window,
catching glimpses of the extensive grounds in between the branches of the
avenue of trees they were travelling down. The carriage slowed as it reached
the turning circle in front of the north side of the Priory.

He waited for his daughter’s
reaction. He was not disappointed. ‘Oh, Papa, look! There’s
atower
and ruins. It’s like something from a fairy tale.’

‘It’s said to be the finest example of its kind in the
country,’ he told her proudly.

He picked up his beaver and put it under his arm. Demelza
straightened her bonnet which had slipped somewhat askew over the twelve mile
journey.

The carriage had halted adjacent to an ancient edifice which
immediately caught his daughter’s attention. He waited until a footman lowered
the steps.

He turned to assist his daughter. ‘Come along, my dear, it’s
time to introduce ourselves.’ He pulled her arm through his and strolled
towards the open front door. He narrowed his eyes but could see nothing in the
darkness of the hall. He knew, of course, what the duke looked like. He was
tall, of slender build, but a young Adonis guaranteed to make his daughter’s
heart beat faster.

Lady Allegra he had never seen. She had had her two seasons
sometime before he purchased his townhouse and started frequenting the haunts
of the
haut ton
. However her beauty
was legendary. She had collected and refused a dozen offers from a variety of
eligible bachelors. Rumour had it none of them had come up to her high
standards; only a duke would do. Then the duchess had been taken grievously ill
and Lady Allegra had not appeared in town again.

For her sake he had allowed them to keep the king’s ransom
in jewellery. He did not wish to see her dowerless. With these as her
settlement she could still attract a nobleman whose birth matched her own.

He smiled, if she was as lovely as her reputation, fortune
or not, she would find herself a husband soon enough. As soon as Demelza was
safely shackled to the duke he would encourage Lady Allegra to find herself a
husband. His daughter would never be accepted as the duchess if Lady Allegra
was still in residence.

He felt the fingers on his arm tighten and he patted them.
‘You’re anyone’s equal, my dear. Remember what I’ve always told you: it’s
what’s inside a man that counts. A long pedigree doesn’t make you better than
your peers; it merely makes you think you are.’

The butler stepped forward and bowed low, then introduced
himself and the housekeeper. The black garbed gentleman ushered them into a
blue corridor, past ranks of smartly dressed staff bowing and curtseying.

‘Good grief! This place is cold as a tomb - have you no
fires lit?’ He sensed disapproval wafting towards him from the matching pair
standing in the centre of the room waiting for him to introduce himself.

He strode forward, his features perfectly controlled,
determined to get this difficult five minutes completed. Then he could take
possession of his property and state his requirements to the young man watching
him warily from half closed, pale blue eyes. Jago bowed to the duke.

‘Lord Witherton, Jago Tremayne, at your service.’ He turned
to the tall, pale girl standing silently beside the earl.
‘Your
servant, Lady Allegra.’
He bowed again and for the first time really saw
the young woman. His eyes widened in appreciation.

*

Allegra saw desire flair in the eyes of the man who had come
to steal away her heritage and knew the balance of power had changed. She had
seen the look many times before. She had found that men were drawn to her
coolness; all thought themselves to be the one Prince Charming who could win
her for themselves.

They all believed, quite erroneously, that her remoteness
held a fiery centre. It did not. She was as she
seemed,
a lovely, reserved aristocrat. This had been her reason for refusing all the
offers. She could not bear the thought of exposing her most intimate self to
another and for him to find her wanting. She did not want to watch a husband to
turn away in disgust and return to his mistress for his pleasure. She had seen
her mother live a life hidden away in the shadows for that very reason.

The duchess had tried to convince Allegra the arrangement
was quite acceptable, that her life was more comfortable that way. But Allegra
knew how much her poor father had loved her undemonstrative mother. A true
relationship between a man and his wife should include the marriage bed.

She watched unmoved as Tremayne banked down the fire and
schooled his features. She
nodded,
she did not curtsy,
and waited for him to introduce the girl.

‘Lady Allegra, may I introduce my daughter, Miss Demelza
Tremayne.’

The girl sunk into a graceful curtsy keeping her eyes
demurely to the floor. Allegra noted the neat figure disguised under the
hideous garments, and decided the young lady would definitely dress to
advantage. She could not allow the daughter of the new owners to look like a
governess not when there was something she could do to rectify matters.

Richard bowed and Demelza curtsied and he reached out to
take her hand and raise her to her feet. Instead of a whey-faced, solemn
schoolgirl he met the eyes of an enchanting Cornish pixie and he smiled down at
her.

‘I’m delighted to meet you, Miss Tremayne. I hope you’ll be
as happy here as we have been.’

‘Thank you, your grace. It’s such a beautiful place, I’m
sure that I’ll love it.’

‘Allow me to show you around when you have recovered from
your journey.’

Her gurgle of laughter broadened his smile. ‘Good heavens,
my lord, we have only travelled from Colchester, not Cornwall.’

Allegra decided to intervene. She could not allow Richard to
behave in his usual charming, flirtatious manner. Miss Tremayne did not deserve
to be treated so casually. ‘Miss Tremayne, White is waiting to escort you to
your apartments. Please inform her if there is anything you find lacking.’

Demelza dipped politely. ‘Thank you, Lady Allegra. Will I
see you before dinner, Papa?’

‘It is possible, but I have urgent business to attend to.’
He nodded at Richard and Allegra. ‘I would like to meet with you both, let us
say two hours from now, for there are matters of business we have to discuss.’

As soon as they were alone Allegra’s breathing returned to
normal. ‘What an obnoxious mushroom. I cannot wait to leave here. It is
unbearable to consider our ancestral home is now in the possession of that
person.’

‘My dear, he’s not so bad. At least he looks the part, which
is more than I can say for his daughter. If she’s not careful Miss Tremayne
will be mistaken for a maidservant.’

‘That is something I intend to take care of. Pray excuse me,
Richard. Shall we meet here later, and go together to hear what is in store for
us? No doubt, not content with ruining our father and taking our birth right
from us, he now wishes to humiliate us further.’

She didn’t wait to hear his reply but swept away, up the
plain oak staircase and along the passage way to her apartments. Even with log
fires burning in both rooms the air was not warm.

‘Abbot,’ she called as she entered. Her dresser instantly
appeared. ‘Do I still have the gowns from my come-out season?’

Abbot’s brow creased. ‘Why, yes, my lady, I believe they’re
in a trunk somewhere in the attic.’

‘Excellent. Have them sent to Miss Tremayne’s apartment.
Also I wish to speak to Miss Murrell, Jenny must fetch her.’

Miss Murrell appeared a trifle breathless. ‘How can I be of
assistance, my dear? You know I’ll help you, if I can, to endure these
difficult days.’

‘That is as may be. I did not send for you to discuss my
problems but those of Miss Tremayne.’

‘Miss Tremayne? I’m not sure that I follow, my dear.’

‘I would like you to take her in hand, Miss Murrell. As I am
now firmly on the shelf, I have no need of a companion, but Miss Tremayne is
seventeen and would greatly benefit from your advice.’

Miss Murrell’s eyes filled. ‘Are you dismissing me, Lady
Allegra?’

Allegra hurried across and awkwardly hugged the older lady.
‘No, no; but you will do better here, my dear Miss Murrell. I will make sure
that they double what I have been giving you. You will get to visit Town,
attend balls and
soirees
again,
instead of mouldering away in the country with a spinster like me.’

‘You’re not old enough to live without a companion, my dear.
Tongues will wag. Five and twenty does not make you unmarriageable, you know.’

‘Let them gossip, I care not. I do not intend to go about in
society again. I shall sell some jewellery and buy myself a small house
somewhere where I am not known and become an eccentric. Richard shall have the
rest and make a new life himself somewhere without me hanging on his
coat-tails.’

Miss Murrell was about to protest but she forestalled her.
‘I have asked for my debutante wardrobe to be sent to Miss Tremayne. She is
slightly shorter than I but her figure is similar to mine at that age. I
believe all the gowns will require is taking up at the hem.’ She smiled sadly.
‘It seems so long ago now. They were lovely, and although styles have changed
over the past seven years I doubt anyone will notice they are not completely
a la mode
.’

Miss Murrell smiled. ‘The sleeves are more pointed and the
hems a little wider but I do believe you’re quite correct. Your old gowns will
be perfect for Miss Tremayne. It’s so obliging of you to think of her at a time
like this.’

‘Richard says she might be mistaken for a servant as she is.
I cannot let that happen when I have dresses to spare. Do you not find it
extraordinary that her father is parading like a peacock in his finery whilst
his only daughter dresses like a pauper? What sort of parent is he?’

‘It’s not my place to comment on that, my dear. But he did
appear to speak kindly to her. White tells me Miss Tremayne has but recently
left a seminary for young ladies in Surrey. Perhaps she’s still wearing an
outfit from that establishment?’

‘Very likely.
I am sure she will be
glad of your expertise with a needle, Miss Murrell. Please devote to your time
to her in future. I expect I shall see you at dinner. I have arranged for it to
be served an hour later, at six, this should give you time enough to help to
alter a suitable gown for Miss Tremayne.’

She needed to think, to find a way to use Tremayne’s obvious
desire for her to their advantage. Subterfuge was alien to her nature but when
so much was at stake she was prepared to try anything. Perhaps she could fool
him into believing she would accept a
carte
blanche
; then he would lavish expensive gifts on her which she could sell
and add to her nest egg.

She frowned. What was she thinking of? Such behaviour would
make her no better than a light skirt. Could she use her influence to extract
promises from him that he would take care of the Priory? That he would honour
the family commitment to the long-term well-being of their staff. Staff! What
about the dozen or so pensioners living in the whitewashed cottages? Would he
continue to take care of old people he had never met and had no connection with
him?