A Duchess Enraged (12 page)

Allegra flinched
slightly when his skin touched hers, and she barely managed to stop herself
from snatching her hand away. She felt a tingle shoot up her arm, and bit her
lip gently. "Nothing," she said, her voice very small.

Adam watched her
worry her delicate lower lip with her tiny white teeth, and cursed inwardly as
he felt his heart begin to race in reaction to the sight. She was so intensely
desirable, and that desirability was heightened by her apparent unawareness of
it. He fought back the urge to seize her, bear her back onto the blanket and
draw that trembling lip into his own mouth. With a combination of dismay and
stabbing pleasure, he felt himself grow long and hard inside his breeches.

"Don't do
that," he rasped.

Allegra looked
startled. "Don't do what?"

"Look like
that," snapped Adam. His hand tightened on hers, and she winced slightly
at the pressure.

"Look like what?
What's bothering you, Adam?" Allegra was completely bewildered by his
swift change of temper.

Adam cursed softly
under his breath. "I can't believe that you don't know what you're doing
to me. You are the most desired woman in London, after all."

Allegra gaped at him,
her blue eyes astonished. "I'm not doing anything. Why, I'm sitting here
in my oldest dress, with my hair in a tangle. You can hardly find
me...attractive."

Adam felt a laugh
welling up in his chest despite his growing need for her. "Allegra, attractiveness
is not simply a matter clothes and well-coiffed hair," he said gently.
"And right now I find myself wanting you very badly indeed."

Allegra's mouth
dropped open slightly at her husband's words. She wondered dazedly if she had
misunderstood him. Over the four years he had been gone she had imagined him
saying something like that to her, but since his return it had seemed to be an
impossible dream. "What?" she gasped.

"Let me show
you." Adam's hand reached up and laced his fingers around the back of her
neck, caressing it gently as he drew her towards him. She yielded willingly,
still amazed by his words, and leaned towards him, her lips parted.

"That's
right," murmured Adam, and then his lips touched hers, gentle yet firm,
showing her how gentle yet sensual a kiss could be. She made a tiny noise of
surprised delight and his tongue slid into her mouth, ravaging her softness and
sparking her desire until she imitated his actions. Shyly at first, and then
with increasing need her tongue clashed with his, teasing him, urging him
forward.

Adam growled in the
back of his throat, a sound of satisfaction and rising need. He leaned forward,
urging Allegra back onto the blanket, his hand raking up into her already
tangled hair and ripping the pins from it, scattering them across the material
and into the grass. He lowered himself next to her, his lips finding hers again
as he kissed her with flaring passion. Carefully, he told himself, she's not
used to this, but he found it increasingly difficult to rein himself in.
Allegra's response was so innocent, yet so strong, that he felt utterly
bewitched by it.

Adam's lips left
Allegra's and traced a path up her jaw to the delicate skin behind her ear. She
gave a tiny wriggle of pleasure as Adam's body pressed into hers, astonished
that his weight was not uncomfortable, but rather exciting.  She felt as though
her entire body was on fire, and a coil of tension built in her stomach,
causing her breath to come quickly and her heart to pound. Shyly she raised her
own arms to hold him, one hand disappearing in his golden hair, the other arm
reaching across his broad back to hold him closer. Adam made a noise of
encouragement.

"That's right,
darling. God, you're lovely." His lips moved down to her neck, nibbling at
the delicate white skin, and one hand slid between their bodies to toy with the
buttons at the high neck of her riding habit. Allegra stiffened slightly, but
Adam brought his mouth back to hers, and before long she was once again
distracted by his hypnotic kisses. Before she fully realized what he was about
her bodice was open to her waist, and it was only the gentle touch of Adam's
fingers against her lacy undergarments that pulled Allegra back from the
delightful world she had escaped to.

Adam felt the tension
shoot through her, and hastened to soothe her before she could protest.
"Hush, sweetheart. I won't hurt you. You're so beautiful, and I only want
to make you happy. I promise you, this will be wonderful. See?"

Before Allegra's
stunned gaze, Adam gently pushed aside her camisole and bared one tender
breast. His breath caught in his throat at the sight and he barely stifled a
moan. It was white as a pearl, the nipple rosy in the afternoon sunlight,
perfectly shaped and exactly fitted to the palm of his hand. He looked up at
Allegra, but she didn't protest, and slowly his fingers drifted across her
skin, causing spikes of fire to shoot through her body. She gasped.

"You're so
wonderfully sensitive," murmured Adam. "Do you like that?'

Allegra looked away,
embarrassed, but she nodded her head.

"There's more,
you know," whispered Adam. His fingers moved to her nipple, just grazing
it, and he watched in delight as it immediately tightened. Fascinated and
delighted, he lowered his head and took it between his lips, kissing it gently.

"Adam!"
Allegra sounded horrified.

"Just wait.
You'll love this in a moment, and ask me for more," said Adam in a teasing
voice. His lips closed over her again, and he felt her fingers on his head. But
instead of pushing him away as she had intended, she gave into the sudden waves
of heat flowing over her and she pulled him closer, suddenly in desperate need
of his continued ministrations.

Adam obliged her
spiraling desire, kissing her breast until it was rosy and then gently freeing
the other from its confinement and turning his attention to it. Gently his
strong white teeth closed over the already erect nipple, and Allegra groaned as
a powerful current shot through her, seeming to pool in her lower body. She
moved restlessly, arching up towards him in her feverish need.

Adam smiled gently
and circled her aureole with his tongue, bemused by her reaction. His previous
amours had been experienced women, and he had always imagined that a virgin
would be shy and uncomfortable until coaxed out of the state. But while Allegra
seemed surprised by some of his actions, she responded to him with an exquisite
sensitivity and passion that startled and even touched him. She roused in him
not only the need for her body, but also an instinct to protect her from
anything unpleasant. The thought momentarily distracted him, but then Allegra
made a tiny mewing noise and shifted up towards him again. Dismissing his
wayward thoughts as mere fancy, Adam chuckled and kissed her lips, his hands
coming up to cup her breasts, his thumbs plucking at her nipples until they
grew distended and long.

"This is going
to be marvelous," he promised. "Something neither of us will ever
forget."

Allegra heard him
through a haze of sensation, unable to believe what was happening to her. In
one tiny corner of her mind she was appalled by her behavior, but rational
thought was swamped by the overwhelming need she had for Adam to continue what
he was doing. He was so handsome and skilled, she thought dreamily. Truly a
magnificent lover.

The thought fixed in
her mind, and she gave a tiny gasp, this time of horror. Once again the specter
of Lady Manning presented itself to Allegra. The older woman appeared as
Allegra had last seen her, at the masked ball, her dark head turned up to Adam's
bright one as they danced, her hand resting delicately on his shoulder. She had
smiled and laughed, and had not appeared to be a woman who seemed concerned
that her companion was married. Allegra knew he had spent the night with her
immediately before they had come to Gravesmere; only two nights ago. And here
Adam, her husband, Lady Manning's lover, was kissing her with a passion that
bespoke something more than friendly interest. Allegra was inexperienced, but
she was not ignorant of relations between men and women, and her mind told her
that if she continued on this course, Adam would soon be her lover as well as
Lady Manning's.

"Adam," she
said. She pushed on his shoulders, and turned her head, attempting to pull
away.

He tightened his arms
around her and attempted to find her lips again with his.

"Adam,"
Allegra repeated. He paid no attention.

"Adam!" she
said again, but more loudly, and accompanied it with a firm pull on his hair.

Adam loosened his
hold on her, and looked down with surprised eyes. "What is it? Is
something wrong?"

"Is something
wrong?" repeated Allegra. "Look at us! I should say something is
wrong."

Adam laughed.
"Allegra, you are my wife. What could be wrong? Surely you are not unaware
of the nature of marriage?"

"I am not
unaware at all, my lord. Did I not help a mare to birth her foal only
yesterday? But I am not a mare for the taking."

Adam looked
astounded, and somewhat angry. He shifted himself so he lay next to her, his
arm still across her body. Allegra struggled to a sitting position and raised
her hands to her hair.

"Don't fuss with
it," said Adam. "You look adorable, all rosy and wanton from my
love-making. Come Allegra, there's nothing to be worried about."

"Nothing except
that two nights ago you lay with Lady Manning, and now, in her absence, you are
attempting to lay with me," said Allegra sharply.

Adam now looked
distinctly annoyed. "Allegra, this is nonsense. Lady Manning has no
bearing on your position as my wife."

"But she has a
bearing on my dignity. I will not have you coming from her bed to mine,"
said Allegra firmly. She turned to look at Adam and almost softened at the
troubled look in his green eyes.

"Allegra, you
can't mean this. When you kissed me I could tell that you enjoyed it. Surely
you want to be truly my wife, to have babes..."

"I want to be
able to respect you and myself as well, Adam, and I cannot believe myself able
to do so in this situation."

Adam now moved his
arm and sat up next to her. His thigh rested again Allegra's, and she found it
disturbing. She stood up, appalled to see that her breast was still protruding
from her undergarments, and hastily buttoned her riding habit.

"Now you are
being missish," said Adam. "That is something I hadn't expected of
you. Surely you don't mean to deny me your bed simply because I have had other
women?"

"Is this other
woman then in the past?" asked Allegra.

Adam flushed and
looked away.

"Of course not!
I will not be treated so!" Allegra spoke very firmly.

"Allegra, you
are behaving foolishly," said Adam. "For you to even discuss Lady
Manning with me is reprehensible; for you to make demands on me is even more
vulgar."

Allegra could take no
more. She had come to think more highly of her husband over the past day or so,
and now he was chastising her for being unwilling to share him with his
mistress. Her anger rose.

"I will not stay
here to discuss this with you. Help me to mount my horse instantly!" she
demanded. She marched over to her horse and stood by it.

Adam began to laugh.
"Allegra, surely you cannot think that I will let you run from me."

"I am not
running, my lord. I am going back to the house. Help me to mount!"

Adam reached her side
and stood looking down on her. "To help you mount, I must touch you."

Allegra stamped her
foot. "Help me to mount immediately," she said fiercely.

Adam threw her into
the saddle, watching her troubled eyes and the soft mouth now set in an
extremely firm line. She no longer seemed so kissable. Allegra took the reins
and turned her horse, heading back to Gravesmere House at a gallop.

A Cat with Cream

Adam followed her at
a distance, pondering the vagaries of his wife. Her preoccupation with his
mistress he could only feel was most inappropriate. Surely, as long as he did
not publicly embarrass her, it was none of her business. But when he thought of
Louisa, he was surprised that the warm rush of emotion he was used to feeling
did not appear; instead, there was a strange sense of regret and even
discomfort. He shook his head. Louisa was his love; Allegra his wife. He found
his wife desirable because she was beautiful and he also needed to beget an
heir with her, but surely Louisa was the woman he put above all others?

That evening was
strained. Allegra appeared at dinner much subdued. As always, she looked
beautiful, but her eyes were puffy, as though she had been crying. Adam,
likewise, had little to say. His thoughts apparently ran quite differently than
the conversation, and more than once he answered a question from his mother
seemingly at random. Emily teased the two for having worn themselves out on
their afternoon's ride; this sally brought a blush from Allegra and a worried
shake of his head from Adam. The Dowager subsided into silence, and the meal
was completed in that state. Immediately afterwards Allegra fled upstairs,
pleading a headache.

Emily turned to her
son with a worried expression. "What's the matter with Allegra?"

Adam turned a bland
face to her. "I believe she said she had a headache."

"Don't be
foolish, Adam," said Emily. "You and I are both aware that Allegra
never has headaches unless she is unhappy about something. This is very
distressing; I had hoped after yesterday that the two of you had come to some
sort of an understanding. What did you do to upset her this afternoon?"

"I did nothing
to upset her, Mama," said Adam, anger creeping into his voice. "Why
do you presume that this is my fault, when you are as aware as I am that
Allegra is annoyingly flighty?"

"Allegra is not
flighty, Adam. She has high spirits and a great deal of pride, but she does
become testy without cause. Now tell me what happened between you."

Adam paced up and
down the carpet. It had been trying enough to discuss Louisa with his wife that
afternoon; it would be utterly insupportable to have to discuss her with his
mother.

"Nothing
happened, Mother. She simply became annoyed with me for no reason. I cannot
fathom the workings of her mind."

"This is about
that woman you brought back from the Continent, isn't it?"

Adam gaped at her.
Not only were Allegra and all London privy to his secret, but it seemed his mother
was as well.

"Mother! I
cannot imagine what you are talking about."

"Well really,
Adam, did you think me a fool?" said Emily tartly. "I have known
about her for ages. Did you think Reverend Fitch was blind or that your father
and I were not informed of your doings? Your father found the whole thing quite
amusing, and I did not mind while you were on the Continent, but I really had
hoped you would have had the sense to leave her there."

"Mother, I
cannot discuss this with you," said Adam. "It isn't as though she has
anything to do with you."

"I should hope
not," said Emily. "As though I would have anything to do with a
low-born hussy of that sort. Women of Lady Manning's stamp are precisely the
reason we married you to Allegra before you left. I suppose you fancy yourself
in love with this woman?"

Adam frowned at his
mother. He was appalled by the turn of the conversation, but her attitude bore
in on him the differences between Allegra and Louisa. Clearly, his mother was
utterly unwilling to accept someone like Louisa; it now seemed faintly
ludicrous to him that he had ever considered her to be suitable as a wife.
Somehow he couldn't see her having tea with his mother and her friends. Louisa,
despite her obvious charms, had none of the style or cultivated manners of his
mother. Or Allegra, he admitted reluctantly.

"Of course you
do," continued Emily. "But you are too embarrassed to discuss this
with me. People today have no stomach for bluntness. Well, I will be
straightforward. Allegra is your wife, and she is beautiful, charming, and well
bred. It is far more important to deal well with your wife than with a casual
love. I suggest you consider well the value of each woman and make the rational
decision. And now, Adam, I too am going to bed."

Emily swept out of
the room in a flurry of satin skirts, leaving Adam standing in the middle of
the room, feeling rather foolish. He poured himself a brandy and flung himself
into a chair. He had a great deal to think about.

An hour later Allegra
sat in her room, watching the candles burn down. She had dismissed her maid and
undressed herself, but now found herself unable to sleep. She suffered from a
combination of annoyance and embarrassment; annoyance that Adam would presume
she would come so willingly to him, and embarrassment that she had spoken to
him so frankly about a woman of whose very existence she was supposed to remain
politely ignorant. He would doubtless consider her very forward now, if he had
not done so already.

What was it that had
made her so contrary that afternoon? After all, it was not her place to worry
about Adam's activities, as long as she was treated with respect. But somehow
she could not feel she was respected as long as her husband expected her to
share him without a murmur or complaint. She sighed. Why did it matter to her
what Adam thought of her? Surely she had enough adulation from her many
admirers? But somehow, that was not what she wanted. She wanted to be valued
for herself, to be cherished by someone she could value in return.

She jumped when there
was a gentle knock on her door. She was even further alarmed to realize that
the sound came from the door connecting her room to Adam's. She stared at the
door in trepidation. She could pretend to be asleep, she realized, but the
situation would still have faced eventually. The knock came again.

"Come in,"
said Allegra, with a quick glance in the mirror to make sure she looked tidy. A
fearful face ringed with tumbled curls peered back at her.

The door opened and
Adam entered. He wore a dark silk robe that tied at the waist, and the sleek
muscles of his chest were clearly visible at the vee of the neck. Allegra tore
her eyes from his exposed skin and looked up at his face. She was relieved to
see no anger in his green eyes. Instead, he looked almost nervous.

"Adam," she
said, her voice unexpectedly high. "What a surprise."

Adam stood awkwardly
by the door. He was taken aback by how lovely Allegra looked in her peignoir.
Its simple lines showed very clearly her delicate curves, and she shone like a
candle flame in the dim light. He found suddenly that his thoughts to be less
organized than he had originally believed.

"Good evening,
Allegra," he said. "I came to see if you were feeling better."

"What? Oh! My
headache! Yes, my lord, I'm feeling better. I'm sorry if I worried you."
Allegra pulled the bedclothes up to her chin.

"Not at
all." Adam shifted his weight uncomfortably. He was accustomed to knowing
precisely what to do in a lady's bedroom. "I merely wished to be certain
that you didn't wish for anything."

"No, I'm quite
content. But I thank you for your concern."

The two of them
looked at each other for a moment in silence. Adam took a step towards her.

"Allegra, we
could deal together much better than this," he said.

"My lord, I am
sorry if you think me very forward," said Allegra. "I didn't mean to
offend you this afternoon. It is just that I..." her voice trailed off.
She didn't know how to properly express her feelings, as she didn't quite know
what they were.

"You do not need
to concern yourself with Lady Manning," said Adam. "I will take care
of that."

Allegra's eyes met
his, surprise and a touch of hope dawning at the back of them. "How will
you take care of it?

dam sighed.
"Really, Allegra, your interest in this matter is almost unseemly. I will
tell Lady Manning that her services are no longer required."

"Oh."
Allegra bit her lip and Adam watched her, remembering the kisses they had
shared that afternoon and felt himself grow immediately hard. He had to have
her, he thought wildly. If he didn't, he would surely lose his mind.

"You won't cast
her off without any money, will you?"

Adam started. While
Allegra had been pondering, his mind had long since undressed her and spread
her out on the satin coverlet, his hands stroking her body and seeking the
warmth between her legs. "What?" he demanded impatiently.

Allegra gave him a
curious look. "I only meant that while I cannot like her, she doesn't
deserve to be left penniless. Surely you will make certain that she's
comfortable?"

Adam laughed
reluctantly. Only Allegra would demand that he cast off his mistress and then
fret over whether or not she had been properly provided for. "She will
want for nothing," he promised.

"Good."
Allegra smiled up at him sunnily. "Thank you, Adam. I know you think I'm
very silly, but I couldn't be comfortable as long as she was a part of your
life. I'll sleep much better now." She slid down under the lacy sheets and
nestled into her pillow.

"What are you
doing?" demanded Adam.

Allegra jumped.
"Going to sleep. You've made my mind much easier now. Thank you
again."

"Going to
sleep?" Adam roared the words in an outraged tone, forgetting his
nervousness, and strode over to the bedside. "What the hell do you mean,
you're going to sleep?"

Allegra's eyes opened
very wide, surprise and alarm reflected in them. "It's long after
midnight, Adam. I promised to visit the foal again the morning. I thought I
would sleep now."

"You're not
going anywhere in the morning until I say you can," Adam declared.
"And you're not going to get much sleep tonight." He sat down on the
bed and reached across, grabbing Allegra's wrist in his big hand. "Do you
understand me?"

"Adam, what's
the matter? Did I do something wrong?" Allegra looked down at his hand in
surprise, and he quickly relaxed his grip.

"No, you're not
doing anything wrong. As a matter of fact, everything looks just about right.
But if you think I'm going to go back to my room and let you get your beauty
rest, you're sadly mistaken."

Allegra looked up
into his face, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Oh, you mean...you
want...do you think that's wise, Adam? Just a few days ago we were at each
other's throats. Shouldn't we...well, wait a little while?" Her voice
trailed off at the expression of stark desire that came over his face.

"No, I don't
think that would be wise," he ground out. "I think I will be a raving
madman if I have to wait for you much longer. Do you have any idea what you do
to me?"

Allegra blinked.
"Well, I always feel quite strange when I'm around you. Almost as though I
can't catch my breath and the ground is falling away from my feet. Is that what
you mean?"

"Something like
that," muttered Adam, fighting back the urge to seize the neckline of her
negligee and rip it open. "Here, let me show you."

Before Allegra could
say another word he snatched her up in his arms, pulling her from under the
cover of the bedclothes and crushing her against his chest. She felt the
hardness of his chest against her soft breasts, their skin separated only by
two thin layers of linen and silk, and she let out a tiny sound.

"This is what I
was trying to say, Allegra," said Adam, and his lips closed over hers, not
gently this time at all, but fiercely, demanding a response. For one wild
moment Allegra felt panicked, as though she was drowning in the strange
sensations Adam aroused in her, and then she capitulated, her body growing
pliant, her hands sliding slowly up his body until her arms encircled his neck
and she pulled him towards her. The lessons he had taught her that afternoon
had been well learned, and she returned his kisses with an intensity that both
charmed and alarmed him. Her bewitching passion was a marvelous surprise in an
innocent woman, but he feared he would be swept away by it, and it was
important that this first time bring her pleasure as well. He took a ragged
breath.

"Is something
wrong?" asked Allegra, her eyes already heavy with passion. Overcome by
unexplained needs, she pushed at his robe, slipping it off his shoulders and
running a gentle fingertip over his bare skin.

"No,
nothing." Adam seized her hand and held it. Where she had touched him he
felt a trail of fire. "But we have to slow down."

Allegra pouted.
"Why?"

"You'll
see." Adam scooped her up into his arms and deposited her against the embroidered
pillows piled against the headboard of the bed. He stood up, pulling his robe
off hastily, and then turned back to the bed. Allegra rested against the white
linen like a sinful angel, her dainty gown hiked up past her knees, her tousled
curls forming a halo around her piquant face. He could see through the delicate
lace of her bodice that her nipples were already hard, and he drew a shuddering
breath. Then he saw that she was watching him, her blue eyes full of interest
and a touch of alarm.