The Duchess (22 page)

And afterward at the wedding breakfast he could scarcely take his eyes off his new wife. If Quinton wasn't in love he had no idea what he was missing,
George decided as he stole another kiss from his bride. And Quinton was a fool not to love Allegra. By day's end his sister-in-law-to-be had the entire district wrapped about her little finger. She was charming and gay, dancing the country dances with verve, refusing no partner. At one point he saw his older brother watching his fiancée. A sly smile touched Lord George Hunter's lips. Whatever he might say, Quint was in love with his betrothed. How the mighty have fallen, he thought, amused. Love was indeed a great leveler. Then he felt sorry for his brother, for it was obvious that Allegra was not in love with Quinton.

“When can we leave?” Melinda whispered to him finally.

“Are you anxious to depart our celebration, Lady Hunter?” He smiled wickedly at her, and she blushed, but shook her head in the affirmative. He took her hand. “I will call for the carriage, sweeting.”

After they had gone with much tah-rah, the howls of Mistress Franklyn still echoing as she bid her
baby
good-bye, the duke turned to Allegra suggesting that they, too, depart, to which she readily agreed.

On the carriage ride home they spoke of how pleasant George and Melinda's wedding had been, although Mistress Franklyn had invited far more people than would be coming to their own wedding.

“She considered my brother quite the catch,” the duke remarked.

“Not until he had his own farm and house,” Allegra said pithily.

“Are you a cynic then, my dear?” he teased gently.

“No, Quinton, I am a realist,” she replied seriously.

“George and Melinda love each other,” he said.

“How fortunate for them, but it would have made no
difference, indeed it did make no difference to Melinda's parents until George had his own holding. Love has nothing to do with the success of a marriage.”

“Your father loves his wife,” the duke persisted.

“At their age they are allowed the luxury of love,” Allegra answered. “And they began as friends. Each knows the other, and there will be no surprises. Surrounded by lovers I wonder if you are having second thoughts, Quinton. Are you?”

“No,” he told her quietly. “Ours is a most practical arrangement, my dear Allegra, and we shall be a most perfect couple.”

“Yes,” she agreed, and then her eyes strayed to Hunter's Lair which lay ahead of them in the late afternoon sunlight. It was even more beautiful now than when she had first seen it. The lawns were manicured by the great staff of gardeners now in their employ. The gardens had been restored to their former glory, and a delightful little marble summer house had been installed only two weeks ago by the lake. As she exited their vehicle Allegra's gaze swept over the wonderful new entry foyer with its pale yellow walls, decorative plaster moldings, and black-and-white marble floors. It was all so wonderful.

“Is it not perfect?” she said to him, looking around.

“Yes, it is, thanks to you,” he told her.

“Honor and I should return to Morgan Court until a few days before the wedding,” Allegra said.

“Why?” he asked. He didn't want her to go. He had grown quite used to having her about.

“The house is finished. The workmen will be gone in a week's time. The architect leaves tomorrow. I have no reason to remain,” she told him.

“When has the appearance of propriety meant anything
to you?” he asked her. “Soon you will be my wife.”

“I have matters to resolve at Morgan Court,” Allegra responded.

“Is Rupert Tanner one of those matters?” he demanded, suddenly angry, and openly jealous.

“
Rupert?
What does he have to do with anything?” Allegra said, genuinely puzzled. “I must look over the wedding gifts that are being sent to us, and arrange to have them transported here. Madame Paul will be coming from London to do the final fitting on my wedding gown and on Sirena's gown. She will be visiting her mama while I am there. We spoke on it at Lord Walworth's wedding. I have little gifts to buy for the servants who have looked after me my entire life. I want to bid them all a proper farewell. And then Papa's secretary and I must list the gifts sent to us, and send thank you notes. I have a great deal to do, Quinton, and I can only do it at Morgan Court. When I have finished, I shall return here before our wedding.” She smiled at him. “I should think you would be glad to be rid of me for a few weeks, Quinton. There will be no one to boss you about and complain because the painters could not get the color quite right. You shall have peace and quiet.
But only until I return,”
she finished with a twinkle, and she smiled up at him.

“I shall miss you,” he admitted. “I have become used to your presence. I have even grown to like your company.”

“Have you? How nice,” Allegra replied.

He wanted to strangle her where she stood. Could she not see that he was in love with her? Did she see him at all except as the Duke of Sedgwick? Had she no emotions? No feelings? My God, he thought, I am behaving
like my brother, or Ocky. But at least their wives reciprocated their affections. Allegra is as cold as a marble statue. No. When I touched her body she melted like ice in the summer's sun. I can make her love me in spite of herself. If I have fallen in love, then surely she can fall in love, too.

“I shall look forward to your return with much anticipation, my dear,” he told her. “And I shall look forward to our wedding day … and night even more.”

She had the grace to blush, then said, “Honor and I will depart tomorrow, sir, the sooner to return.”

Home at Morgan Court again Allegra was horrified at the number of wedding gifts that had already arrived. “But the wedding is to be held at Hunter's Lair and will be most private,” she said to her father's secretary, Charles Trent. “Must we keep them? Or can they be returned, Charles?”

“I fear you must keep them, Miss Allegra, even the ones in questionable taste. Remember that the duke's family is an ancient and revered one. Now that he is to have the power and prestige that being wealthy again will bring him, there are those who will want to keep, or gain his favor. I have listed everything that has arrived so far, along with the names of the donors. The thank you notes are written. You have but to sign your name to each one.”

“It is astounding,” Allegra said, shaking her head. “Neither the duke nor I intend joining London society. We are both agreed that we prefer the country life. We can be of little influence for anyone.”

“Ahh, but who is to know that, Miss Allegra?” Charles Trent said with a small smile. “I'm certain Hunter's Lair has storage rooms where much of this may be put away from the light of day.”

“Gracious! What are these?” she demanded, pointing.

Mr. Trent chuckled. “They are from a gentleman nabob who does business with your papa. I believe the elephant with his trunk upraised is a symbol of good fortune, Miss Allegra. The pair are a third life-size, overlaid with gold leaf, and decorated with semiprecious gemstones. Their tusks are genuine ivory. Perhaps if the duke would consider it, they could be installed outside his library doors.”

“Never!”
Allegra said emphatically. “Our home is both classic and elegant, but certainly not gaudy. What could this man have been thinking?”

“Most likely of impressing your papa with his generosity. It is a most expensive gift,” Mr. Trent said dryly. “These nabobs, Miss Allegra, have great wealth, but many are self-made men of little or no background.”

Sirena came shortly after Allegra had arrived home. The cousins greeted each other happily. Octavian Baird saluted his wife's relation warmly.

“How did you leave Quint?” he asked her.

“Strangely not happy to be left alone, although I thought he should enjoy a bit of peace and quiet after the uproar of the last few months. The house is finished at last.”

“I shall pay him a visit then while Sirena stays with you,” Viscount Pickford said.

“Not fair,” Sirena cried. “Then you shall get to see the improvements to Hunter's Lair before I do.”

“As you have never been to Hunter's Lair, it should make no difference at all,” her husband said sensibly. “Enjoy your visit with Allegra and your parents, my darling.”

The two young women had been placed back in their girlhood bedchamber. Allegra suddenly found the room
old-fashioned after her beautiful and spacious apartment at Hunter's Lair, but she and Sirena were soon gossiping away as if they had never been parted.

“I see what you mean about Mama and Steppapa,” Sirena told her cousin. “They are behaving quite like April and May.”

“More like September and October,” Allegra replied. “I had hoped that after a few months away they would have become more dignified again, but they are worse than ever.”

“They are in love,” Sirena said softly. “Is it not wonderful that your papa and my mama were able to find love again at their time of life? I am so happy for them.”

“You sound like Charlotte,” Allegra teased Sirena.

“Ohh, speaking of my sister-in-law,” Sirena said, “she is at last with child! Gussie is over the moon and nothing is too good for his darling girl. About time she produced for the line. Why Ocky and I were married in June, and I shall have my baby in March. Charlotte and Gussie have been married forever.”

“Tell me about
it,”
Allegra begged her cousin. “What is it like when your husband … makes love to you?”

“Haven't you and the duke …,” Sirena began. “Well, I thought with your being at Hunter's Lair all summer you might have …” Her voice trailed off. “Didn't you even consider it?
Not even once?
Lord, Allegra, you must be a saint. He is so handsome!”

“Do you think so?” Allegra asked.

“Don't you?”
Sirena responded.

“We do kiss,” Allegra said.

“And?”
Sirena demanded.

“I have let him touch my breasts,” Allegra admitted.

“Nothing more?”
Sirena was disappointed. “You really are a backward child, I fear, cousin. Why before I
met Ocky I had been kissed and cuddled by half a dozen young men.” She sighed. “You do know what a manhood looks like, don't you?”

“Of course!” Allegra said. “They are long and thin appendages that dangle between a man's legs, though for the life of me I do not understand how they can enter a woman's belly.”

Sirena giggled. “Women have an opening in the secret place,” she explained. “That's where they put it.”

“How can that be, Sirena? That floppy thing?” Allegra was most disbelieving.

“It doesn't stay floppy, or thin,” Sirena told her cousin. “They get hard and thick. It hurts the first time and you'll bleed, but after that …” Sirena's eyes grew dreamy.

“After what?”
Allegra demanded impatiently.

“After the first time, it's just wonderful! Sometimes I even think I'm flying among the stars,” Sirena admitted. “Of course now with the baby coming we must be very careful, and eventually Ocky and I will not be able to do it, but until then, it's wonderful. Marvelous!”

“But how do you do it?”
Allegra wanted to know.

“Oh, the duke will tell you,” Sirena said.

“No!
You will tell me, Sirena. You cannot leave me in abject ignorance. I need to know what to expect,” Allegra said.

“Mama will kill me if she learns I have told you,” Sirena fretted.

“I will kill you if you don't. Besides, Aunt Mama will not tell me what I need to know. She will make some pronouncement about yielding myself, despite my delicate sensibilities, to my husband's wishes.”

Sirena giggled. “Yes,” she agreed, “that is exactly the kind of twaddle she will utter despite the fact that she
and your papa have been fucking like rabbits ever since they were wed. …”

“Sirena!”
Allegra half shrieked.

“Well they have, and you know it,” Sirena said. “Why do you think you have been so uncomfortable around them. It is horrifying to think of one's parents behaving with such abandon, although now that I know what fun it is, I cannot say that I blame them.”

“Tell me what I have to do,” Allegra said.

“You'll be on your back,” Sirena said. “The duke will lie atop you. He will want you to open your legs. Wait until he asks else you look like a wanton. Then he will put his manhood into your entry. That's all there is to it.”

“There must be more,” Allegra determined.

“There is,” her cousin agreed, “but that is the part you must find out for yourself because, Ocky says, it is different with each partner. You will be in excellent hands. Ocky says the duke is considered an excellent lover. Men know about these things, as they certainly should.”

“Well,” Allegra said, “I suppose I must content myself with what you have told me. I hope I do not prove a perfect fool on my wedding night, Sirena. You know how I dislike being ignorant.”

“You are a virgin, Allegra,” Sirena said, suddenly sounding very wise. “Virgins are supposed to be unschooled and backward. Men like it that way. Ocky never knew, nor will he ever know of the boys I kissed and cuddled with before I came to London.” She giggled. “He thinks he was my very first kiss. I hope he never runs into Jeremy Carstairs.”

“Best to hope Jeremy Carstairs remains a gentleman,” Allegra laughed. “You make yourself sound so
worldly-wise, Sirena, but you were as big a virgin then as I am now.”

Sirena nodded. “Of course I was,” she agreed with a smile. “I love Ocky so much that I could not deceive him that way, and I didn't.”

“What is it like to be
in love?”
Allegra asked her cousin.

“Are you in love with the duke?” came the question.

“I don't know,” Allegra said. “I like him except when he becomes pompous; and I actually find that I miss him now that I am back at Morgan's Court. I have never thought I should fall in love, whatever that may be, but I should like to know what it is like. It would seem to me that the emotion called love isn't very practicable, or particularly sensible. I shall not expound my views as you have heard them often enough, but I am still curious.”