The Duchess

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 forthrightness. 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 he 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.