The Duchess (9 page)

“I'll make you proud soon enough,” Allegra promised her maid.

They left for Almack's Assembly Rooms in King Street just before ten o'clock that evening. As Allegra had noted earlier the rooms were not particularly distinguished, but Almack's was considered
the place
to be and be seen in London society. Founded in 1765 by Mr. McCall, exclusivity was its trademark. Balls were held each Wednesday during the season. Low-level gambling was allowed.

One did not simply go to Almack's. Its patronesses issued vouchers to the chosen, and that voucher allowed one to purchase a ticket into the social heaven. Rank and wealth were important, but not a guarantee of acceptance by the patronesses, of whom Lady Bellingham was currently one.

It was at the Bellingham ball that the season's crop of young ladies were observed by the patronesses. They then met to decide who would be allowed into Almack's that season and who would not. It was a near thing for Allegra despite her father's wealth, for the patronesses had noted she danced only one dance.
The last dance.
Gaining their sworn agreement that they would not tell the tale, Lady Bellingham explained that the Duke of Sedgwick had been the first to ask Allegra for a dance, and shy, she had said her card was full, when indeed it was not. The duke, however, had seen the empty card, and played a wicked trick on poor Miss Morgan, for he had taken umbrage at her refusal.

“Poor child,” Lady Markham, one of the other patronesses said sympathetically. “Sedgwick is as handsome as the devil himself, but overproud. Of course an inexperienced girl would have been terrified.”

The other ladies murmured in agreement as Lady Bellingham continued her story. And when she had finished they all assented that dear Miss Morgan must certainly be issued a voucher, along with her pretty little cousin, Lady Sirena Abbott. Olympia Abbott knew that it was thanks to her friend that both her daughter and her niece were admitted to the sacred circle that Almack's was acknowledged to be. She was quite deeply in Lady Bellingham's debt now.

The dances deemed acceptable by the patronesses of Almack's were English country dances, Scotch reels, the contredanse, the écossaise, the cotillion, and the minuet.
While the popularity of the minuet had waned in France with the revolution, each ball at Almack's opened and closed with one. And after each dance, the young lady was promptly returned to her mama or her chaperone by her gentleman, who bowed politely to the older lady; and if interested, or encouraged, remained to chat.

After her first disastrous ball Allegra found herself most popular, to her amusement. She knew it was her fortune that attracted the gentlemen to her like flies to a honeypot. Some were genuinely pleasant young men, and several she grew to like for their clever repartee and quick wit. Others were outright fortune hunters, and not at all subtle about it. After all, a girl with a rich father and a barely new title should be delighted that men of family and background were paying attention to her. Allegra was not. Her suitors were at first confused, then horrified, and at last insulted when Allegra, who had little patience with pretensions, cheerfully sent them packing.

They arrived at the King Street assembly rooms and were admitted by the concierge, who greeted them by name, bowing as he did so. Once inside they found seats, and sat waiting for the ball to begin. Lord Morgan hurried off to find the gambling. The Marquess of Rowley and his wife arrived, and approached Lady Abbott.

“Sirena, darling! Such wonderful news!” Charlotte gushed. “Have you decided upon a date?”

“Lower your voice, Charlotte,” Lady Abbott said angrily. “There has not yet been a formal announcement. You will embarrass us all.”

“I have not yet thought about a wedding date,” Sirena said softly. “I suppose Ocky and I should discuss it as we have his father's approval.”

“June!” Charlotte enthused. “You will make the most
divine June bride, Sirena. At St. George's in Hanover Square, of course. Gussie and I will host a wedding breakfast at the house for you afterward.”

“If
Sirena decides upon June,” Lady Abbott said, “I am certain Septimius will have the wedding breakfast. After all, dear, his home is better suited to such an affair than your
tiny
house.”

The smile disappeared from Charlotte's face. She turned to Allegra. “Still no luck, Miss Morgan?” she murmured with false sympathy. “Well, they do say that money cannot buy everything.”

Allegra laughed. “Do not be ridiculous, Lady Charlotte. Of course it can. By season's end I quite expect to be betrothed.” She smiled sweetly at her cousin's wife.

“I cannot imagine to whom,” Charlotte said softly.

“Good evening, Lady Abbott, Lady Sirena, Miss Morgan,” the Duke of Sedgwick said. “Gussie, Lady Charlotte.” He bowed elegantly.

“Good evening, Your Grace,” they all chorused but Allegra. She was far too busy really looking for the first time at the man she was to marry. Impressive, she decided silently, but a snob.

“I understand from my friend, Viscount Pickford, that congratulations are in order, Lady Sirena.”

Sirena blushed becomingly and half whispered, “Yes, Your Grace.” She looked about. “Is not Ocky with you?”

“But a few steps behind, Lady Sirena,” the duke assured her. Then he turned to Allegra. “Miss Morgan, if you will allow me.” He took her dance card from her, and wrote his name in the first and last slots with the tiny quill provided. “And you will, of course, allow me to escort you into supper afterward.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Allegra replied meekly, and she curtsied.

He looked sharply at her, and seeing the deviltry in
her violet eyes, laughed. Taking her hand up he kissed it, then bowed, and walked away.

“Well,” Charlotte said meanly, “I'm not surprised that a man like
that
would be paying Miss Morgan attention.” She sniffed audibly.

“Like what, madame?”
Allegra responded in icy tones.

“Well, my dear Miss Morgan, the man hasn't a ha'penny to his name. Everyone knows that. He only pays you court because of your father's wealth. Surely you harbor no girlish illusions about him. For all his pretensions I think him rather rough looking. Not at all handsome or refined. They say he lives in one room, for the rest of his house is falling down about him.”

“But a rich wife would certainly correct that situation for him, don't you think, madame?” Allegra said sweetly.

“He would marry you for your wealth, if indeed he could even bring himself to make such an alliance,” Charlotte went on.

“And I will marry for the grandest title I can obtain in exchange for my father's wealth,” Allegra replied.

“To say such a thing is most indelicate and ungenteel,” Charlotte responded, shocked by Allegra's frankness.

“Nonsense, madame! Did you not marry my cousin Gussie for his title? After all, a marquess certainly outranks your papa. As the Marchioness of Rowley you outrank your mama, your sister-in-law, and your sisters. What a coup your marriage was for you. Why should I not contract an alliance offering me similar advantages?” Allegra smiled.

Sirena stared openmouthed at her cousin's forthright-ness. Lady Abbott was considering swooning. Charlotte had finally been rendered speechless, and the Marquess of Rowley burst out laughing.

“What is so funny?” Viscount Pickford inquired as he joined them.

“Allegra has just given my wife a most proper dressing-down,” Gussie answered him plainly. “Too confusing to explain. Ahh, the musicians are tuning up. We'll be dancing soon enough. Congratulations, my dear Ocky, and you most certainly have my blessings. My little sister will make you a splendid wife. You'll be good to her, I know.”

“I will, Gussie,” Viscount Pickford assured his future brother-in-law. “I will.”

The strains of the minuet began, and the Duke of Sedgwick was suddenly there, taking Allegra's hand to lead her off into the figure. They danced well together, but silently. Charlotte was wrong, Allegra considered to herself. Quinton Hunter was extremely handsome, and then realizing he was looking at her, she lowered her gaze. Wealth and beauty, he thought to himself as they danced. It was certainly a better fate than he had anticipated.
And he would be able to buy his horses back.

As he led her back to her aunt, he said softly, “Your father has spoken to you, Miss Morgan?”

“He has, and under the circumstances I think you are permitted to call me by my Christian name,” Allegra responded.

“I shall come for you at supper,
Allegra,”
he told her. Then he bowed, and turned away.

She danced with a succession of young men, most of whom mouthed inanities at her in an effort to gain her favor. She smiled at some, ignored others. She was suddenly impatient to know more about this man she was suddenly told she was to marry. She almost cheered when the midnight interval came and the Duke of Sedgwick returned to claim her company. “I want nothing
more than a lemonade,” she told him. “The lemonade is passable.”

“The wine is not,” he replied dryly, “but we drink it anyhow.”

The refreshments obtained, they repaired to a secluded bench in a small alcove. Seated, Allegra took the silver cup of lemonade from his hand, and invited him to sit also. They each sipped their cups in relative silence, and then he finally spoke.

“Are you content to be the Duchess of Sedgwick, Allegra?”

“If you are content to have me be,” she replied.

“You are practical,” he said. Or was she cold, he wondered?

Allegra sighed. “My father loved my mother. She wed him only for his money, and then one day she did fall in love. She ran away, leaving him, my brother, and me. I do not remember her, although my brother did. He said she was very beautiful, but cold. It was from my father I learned about love, but his love is that of a parent for his child. I know nothing of the love a man and a woman share. I have been told my whole life that while my mother's behavior was shocking and quite unforgivable, it was out of the ordinary. I have been told that marriages are arranged between families for the purpose of bettering each family involved.

“In our case you will marry me for my money, and the great inheritance my father will bequeath upon me one day. I will marry you because you will elevate me socially. The reasoning behind our match is sensible and pragmatic. Unlike my mother, I like children, and shall be happy to bear them for you. I will respect you as my husband, and be faithful always. Deceit is not in my nature, Your Grace.”

He was astounded by her candid words. She had been honest with him to a fault, and he could be no less so with her. “I come,” he said, “from a family of romantic men and women. My father, my grandfather, my antecedents before them, all married for love, and were very happy. Sadly, however, the men in my family were also unrepentant gamblers. Worse, when they lost the women they loved through death, they drank. I have one of the oldest names in England, and certainly it is said of me, the bluest blood. But, Allegra, I haven't a shilling to my name. I am taking a wife to restore my family's fortunes. I had to sell two of my best breeding mares in order to afford my sortie into London this season. I am indeed marrying you for your wealth, but I promise you that I will be a good husband to you. I am no tyrant.”

“Then, Your Grace, we understand each other perfectly,” Allegra replied. She took a sip of her lemonade for her throat was dry with a nervousness she hid well.

“My name is Quinton,” he said quietly.

“Quinton,”
she responded softly.

A shiver rippled down his back, at once both startling and confusing.

“I thought,” Allegra continued, “that we might be married in the autumn; but with your permission I shall come to Hunter's Lair this summer to oversee its renovations. If we are wed in early October, we can be prepared to host your friends in November at a hunt.”

“How do you know we hunt?” he asked her.

“Everyone knows that Hunter's Lair, despite being in Hereford, is famous for its hunting. I do not hunt, however. I dislike killing animals, Quinton, so while I will see to our guests and their other entertainments, I will not go careening about the countryside chasing after some poor fox or deer, while clinging to a horse in a voluminous
skirt. When I ride, I do so in breeches. I hope you are not shocked. Aunt Olympia claims that gentlemen are shocked by ladies astride.”

“Do you have pretty legs, Allegra?” he asked teasingly.

“You shall be the judge of that eventually, Quinton,” she answered pertly, “but whether I do or not, I will still ride astride.”

He was forced to laugh. “You are very forthright,” he told her.

“I do not know how to be any other way,” she said.

“Good,” he replied. “Then we shall have no secrets from each other, Allegra. Tell me about Rupert Tanner.”

“We grew up together,” she responded, surprised by the question.

“He says he wants to marry you,” the duke said.

“Oh, that is his papa's idea,” Allegra told the duke with a small smile. “He is a second son. When my papa said I had to come to London to find a husband, Rupert and I decided we would tell Papa we wanted to wed. That way I should be married to someone I knew, and wouldn't have to leave my home. Of course his papa was delighted by such a suggestion, while mine was not. I do not love Rupert, nor does he love me. There was no arrangement between us, formal, or informal,” Allegra finished.

“Then your father may announce our betrothal at your ball in two weeks' time. You are to be presented at court next week, I am told,” the duke said to her.

“Yes. I have to wear that awful dress with its huge hoop, and that absurd headdress. I shall be decked out in diamonds and other magnificent jewels like some pagan idol, I fear. I don't dare eat or drink a thing for hours before. It is, I have been told, impossible to use the necessary in such a garment. Is the old king really worth such effort, Quinton?”

“Your cousin will be with you, and as my future wife it is most important you make your debut before King George and Queen Charlotte,” the duke responded quietly