A Duchess Enraged (10 page)

Unexpected Depth and
Talents

The luxurious
traveling carriage rocked along the rutted road, and Allegra took a moment to
be thankful that it was well sprung. However, her gratitude for the deep blue
velvet upholstery and the gentle ride was insufficient to make up for her
annoyance. Her mood was composed of equal parts anger at Adam's behavior the
previous night, frustration at driving rather than riding, and unacknowledged
jealousy of the mistress to whose arms Adam had returned to after his mother's
dictum had been issued. Her stormy humor lurked in her eyes, and in the
strained lines of her face, but for Emily's sake she did her best to conceal it
under a complacent smile. Outside the coach, Adam was nowhere to be seen. He
had ridden on ahead of their party, and this irked Allegra still more, for
although she had no reason to wish for his company, she felt that he should
have ridden alongside them. Finally Allegra napped, soothed by the swaying of
the chaise and encouraged by her own lack of sleep the previous night.

She awoke with a
start when the carriage slowed sharply before a turn. She looked out the window
just in time to see a half-timbered gatehouse and long, well-tended drive
bordered by a manicured lawn. Flowers bloomed along the way, nodding sleepily
in the breeze. Emily was smiling softly and Allegra needed only to inquire,
"Gravesmere?" Her companion nodded. A few moments later the grand old
house loomed into view. It drowsed in the late afternoon sun, at that peculiar
time of day when the low angle of the light lends a preternatural sharpness to
outdoor scenes. The golden sandstone of its walls seemed to be warm with an
inner life, and the central hall, embraced by the lower wings of the building,
beckoned.

"I had no idea
that Gravesmere was so beautiful, Mama," exclaimed Allegra.

Emily seemed almost
on the verge of tears. "It looked just like this the afternoon that Adam's
father first brought me here. It was our wedding day though, and all the staff
was here to greet us. He carried me across the threshold, and they all cheered,
and drank a toast to our long life and happiness. I still believe that the good
wishes of all of those good people were a part of the joy that we knew
together."

Allegra took her
mother-in law's hand and held it tightly in silence, not knowing how to
respond, when her own relationship with the current Duke was in such disarray.

The carriage drew up
before the huge oaken door, and Allegra, leaning out the window in a distinctly
unladylike fashion, could see that Adam had already dismounted and one of the
grooms was at his horse's head. Adam lounged in the drive, conversing with the
servant, an older man, who, to judge by the casual nature of their interaction,
might well have been the man who put the Duke on his first pony as a child.
Adam’s golden head glowed in the last rays of the dying sun, and the width of
his shoulders and narrowness of his hips were set off by his riding coat and
breeches. Allegra drew in her breath sharply as a strange sensation, now
becoming almost familiar, shot through her. Why did she always feel so
uncomfortable around her own husband, she wondered.

When the carriage
door opened, Adam straightened and strode over to help Allegra and his mother
disembark. As he did so the great doors of Gravesmere House opened, and a
stately figure issued forth, followed by an army of servants, their livery
starched and pressed. Emily smiled.

When the servants
were lined up before the Duke and Duchess, the butler bowed and cleared his
throat
stentoriously
.

"It is a great
honor to see Your Grace and the Duchess here," he proclaimed. "There
are a great many firsts for us to observe today. It is the first time that we
have seen Your Grace here since you ascended to your father's (God rest his
soul) honors. It is the first visit of Her Grace the new Duchess to Gravesmere,
and it is the first time that we have seen Your Grace and the Duchess here at
your ancestral home together since you were wed. I think that I am within my
rights to state that the entire staff is delighted to be here to witness such a
remarkable moment in the history of Gravesmere, a history that is long and
honorable and brings credit to our great country. Your health, Your Grace, and
the health of your lady, and your mother. May your marriage be long and happy
and may you be blessed with many healthy children. Three cheers for the new
Duke and Duchess."

To the intense
embarrassment of both Allegra and Adam, the butler raised a glass high, and
suddenly the entire staff was cheering, and a demand rose from several dozen
throats that the Duke carry the Duchess across the threshold of her new home,
as the footmen circulated among the staff, filling glasses so that they might
drink a toast. Adam looked clearly harassed, Allegra felt nervous and
distressed. However, it soon became clear to both of them that the only way
through the situation was to make the best of it. Adam advanced on Allegra with
a suddenly wicked grin and swept her up in his arms.

"Relax, my lady,
I won't bite," he murmured.

"You had best
not," she snapped. "I might bite back."

Her sober blue
traveling dress tipped to reveal a foam of white petticoats and frivolous little
satin shoes, covering white silk stockings with absurd pink clocks. Despite the
awkwardness of the situation, Adam felt a bubble of laughter deep within at the
sight. He ran lightly up the steps two at a time, and paused at the doorstep to
toss Allegra up in the air.

"My lady and I
thank you for your generous thoughts," he announced as he caught her again
and held her firmly against his chest. "We are pleased to be here at
Gravesmere, which is our home and our mainstay. I know that my lovely bride and
I will spend many happy days here, and that we will provide you with many heirs
to continue our tradition."

He gave Allegra a
laughing look, and she colored. How dare he tease her so, when things were so
uncomfortable between them?

Adam then swept
across the threshold with a flurry of the full skirts of his riding coats and
his ruffled cuffs, to set her down in the hall. He swept off his hat, made her
a most elegant leg, and then kissed her heartily in full view of the staff.
More cheering ensued. Allegra blushed desperately. There was an air of
expectation around the great doors, and Allegra realized that she too was
expected to say something to the assemblage.  Feeling rather like a hunted doe,
the cynosure of all eyes, she stepped forward to face the situation.

"Every woman
dreams of being as lucky as I," she said in a soft voice. Silence fell
over the servants as they listened to her. "To have a gallant husband, a
beautiful home and a mama-in-law that I love. I hope that I will be a credit to
the noble women who have preceded me and that I can be the wife to the current
Duke which he deserves."

Prolonged cheering
followed and Allegra felt that she had passed an important test. She shot Adam
a glance to see if he had understood the gentle reprimand she had delivered to
him in her speech, and was surprised to see him eyeing her appreciatively.

"You did very
well, Allegra," he said. "This must have been quite an unexpected
event. I thank you for rising to the occasion so nobly."

"I am not the
paltry creature you apparently think me," answered Allegra. "My
family, after all, is nearly as venerable as yours, and I have been
well-trained in my duties as your wife."

"I see that you
have been. My apologies for doubting you." Adam raised her hand to his
lips and dropped a light kiss on it. Allegra's eyes widened at the gesture and
Adam looked down into her face, a question in his own eyes.

Emily joined them at
that moment. "Fie, Adam, for keeping poor Allegra standing about in the
hall. She must be exhausted after the journey. As am I, I assure you!"

Adam blinked and then
turned to summon servants to conduct his wife and mother to their chambers.
Allegra felt almost sorry to leave him, but she followed the butler upstairs
and through a seemingly endless corridor to her room. It adjoined Adam's and,
as always, she saw the closed door between the two suites and worried about
what the future held. Emily had very nice taste in furnishings, and Allegra was
delighted with the modern and charming decor of her chamber. The aquamarine and
white color scheme could have been selected specifically to set off her
coloring, and the hangings, carpets and furnishings appeared to be almost new.
She threw herself on the bed to gather her strength for an evening in Adam's
bewildering company and soon was fast asleep.

The entrance of her
maid woke Allegra, and soon she was standing docilely to be dressed for dinner.
Despite the fact that there was no one to impress except her mother-in-law and
husband, she found herself taking exceptional pains with her appearance.
Merriwether waited patiently as Allegra hesitated between the blue satin and
the green silk dress and fretted over whether her hair should be powdered or
not, elaborately dressed, or casually curled. Her maid managed to send her down
to dinner only a little late, charmingly dressed in a pale yellow gown that
brought out the warm highlights in her skin and hair.

Dinner was surprising
for its lack of formality or fireworks. Adam and Allegra, to their own and
Emily's surprise, made it to the end of the meal without a single disagreement.
The ladies retired to the drawing room after dinner, but Adam did not linger
long over his port. He soon joined Allegra and his mother in the sitting room,
and they engaged in a few hands of whist.

Allegra excused
herself early, pleading weariness from the trip. As she prepared to leave the
room, Adam touched her arm.

"If you would
care to, I would be delighted to show you the estate on horseback in the
morning," he said, his tone formal.

Allegra looked up,
surprised, but saw nothing in his eyes except sincerity. "Thank you, Adam.
That sounds delightful." She couldn't resist teasing him. "You know
how I enjoy riding."

The remark only
brought a smile to Adam's face. "Indeed, I do. I'll await your summons in
the morning."

Adam held the door
for Allegra as she exited the room. Perhaps, she reflected as an unbidden
glimmer of hope flared in her breast, this visit to the country would not be so
unpleasant after all.

The couple's meeting
in the morning was polite, if formal. With grooms hovering in attendance they
spent some time selecting Allegra's mount, and if Adam thought the horse she
chose a trifle strong for a woman, he held his tongue. It had occurred to him
over the last day that Allegra perhaps had some depth to her character that he
had not previously perceived; certainly, she had a strong will and great
control, and he had seen for himself how capable she was of handling a horse.
He was prepared to humor her to some extent, at least here in the country where
her actions would not reflect so strongly on him.

They rode out of the
stable yard side-by-side, and turned their horses down a rutted lane. At first
they spoke little, rather uncertain of what to say to one another, but when
Allegra ventured a complimentary remark on the neatness of the estate, she was
amazed to draw forth a long and enthusiastic response on the problems and joys
of managing such a large land-holding. Adam, she was surprised to discover, was
deeply involved in the day-to-day affairs of his estate, and took the welfare
of his tenants to heart. Although little acquainted with such matters,
Allegra's intelligent questions and her evident appreciation of the beauty of
the countryside drew Adam out, and soon the two were chatting like old friends.
Almost before they realized it, several hours had passed, and they realized
that they were due back at the house for tea. As they turned their horses,
Allegra looked at Adam with a wistful expression.

"You have been
so kind to me, my lord. Perhaps you will indulge me in one small wish?"

"And what might
your small wish be?"

"I see you must
hear it before you promise. You are truly a cautious man," laughed
Allegra.

"I fear that
with you I need to be cautious," said Adam, but a rueful smile softened
the words.

"Oh,
unkind!" replied Allegra. "Nonetheless, I will ask anyway. May we
perhaps gallop? I believe my mount would appreciate the chance to stretch his
legs."

"And you, of
course, will derive no pleasure from this gallop," responded Adam.

"None at
all," replied Allegra meekly. "I think only of my horse."

"In light of the
needs of your mount, I can only say yes," said Adam gravely. "I
wouldn't want so magnificent an animal to suffer."

Allegra's dimples
appeared. "Thank you, my lord. You spoil me."

She urged her horse
to an easy canter, as she took the measure of his gait, and then with a tiny
kick pushed him into a full gallop. Adam, who hadn’t expected the rapid
transition, had a fine view of her very straight and steady back and the gold
lace ribbon floating from her hat before his horse too broke into a gallop. He
deliberately lagged behind for some distance, watching the stability of
Allegra’s seat and the steadiness of her hands. Then he urged his gelding
forward, and began to gain on her. As Allegra heard the hooves behind her
drawing near, she tapped her horse’s side gently with the stick and he answered
her call with additional speed, opening the gap between them once more.
Surprised, Adam considered a race, but even as he began to dig in his heels,
Allegra further demonstrated her horsemanship, by smoothly slowing her horse to
a canter so he could draw up next to her.