The Duchess

'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.

'But no one will know until my ball that we are to be wed,' Allegra sighed. 'I don't want to tell anyone so Sirena may have her day in the sun with Ocky. We both know any mention of our betrothal would overshadow them greatly, and I don't think that's fair.'

'I agree,' the duke replied, thinking that this girl for all her pride and wealth had a kind heart. He felt strangely relieved by the knowledge. They would, he decided, get on very well. 'When will you come to Hunter's Lair?' he asked.

'I must go home first, but I should be able to come in early July. As I realize you will hardly be ready to host guests, I shall come with only my maid, Honor. There will be a certain amount of gossip about it, I am sure, but as our engagement will have already been announced and our wedding date set, I will not mind, if you do not.'

'You are a sensible girl,' he complimented her. Then taking her hand in his he looked into the violet eyes. 'As I have your father's permission, Allegra, now I ask yours. Will you marry me?'

'Yes, Quinton, I will,' she responded quietly, happy he could not know how quickly her heart was beating. 'I will be honored to be your wife.'

Chapter 4

On the night of the thirty-first of May every tree in Berkley Square was festooned with paper lanterns that glittered and lit up the area, making it a fairyland. Carriage after carriage slowly entered the square from the side streets, each waiting its turn to disembark its passengers before Lord Septimius Morgan's house. Once at their destination Lord Morgan's guests were greeted and helped from their vehicles by a seemingly endless stream of black and silver liveried footmen. A stately butler welcomed them at the door to the house as they entered. More footmen ushered them to the second floor where the ladies were invited to freshen themselves in a large windowed cloakroom with several screened necessaries, while the gentlemen in their separate facility did the same. There was much approval of this disposition for usually the sanitary arrangements were set in the corners of the ballroom behind their painted screens, and by evening's end the chamber stank.

Exiting the cloakrooms the guests were guided to the ballroom. They greeted their host and his daughter at its entrance, and were then announced to the company by a barrel-chested majordomo whose stentorian voice echoed throughout the entire area. Moving down two steps they entered Lord Morgan's ballroom into a crowd of London's most fashionable denizens.

No one had refused the invitation to Miss Morgan's ball. Prinny was coming, and just a few days ago a fascinating rumor had begun making the rounds that Miss Morgan's betrothal would be announced tonight, although to whom, no one had the faintest idea. She was always seen in the company of her cousin, Lady Sirena Abbott, Viscount Pickford, and their friends. She certainly hadn't seemed to have favored any one gentleman. It was a mystery, if indeed the rumor was even true.

Lady Bellingham sat smugly in her most fashionable silver and midnight blue ballgown. She and her husband had been the only invited guests to the dinner that preceded the ball. Of course the Dowager Marchioness of Rowley, her daughter, Viscount Pickford, the Marquess of Rowley, and his silly wife were there, but they were family. And then there had been the Duke of Sedgwick. Her interest was immediately engaged for she, too, had heard the rumors swirling about Allegra Morgan.

'Septimius?' she demanded questioningly. Her look went to Quinton Hunter, and then back again to her host.

'You will be the first to know, Clarice,' he said softly, a twinkle in his eye. 'Not even the family has been told yet. This dinner is for that purpose. Are you pleased?'

'Indeed I am,' Lady Bellingham said. 'Quinton's mother was my cousin, Vanessa Tarleton. She was the eldest daughter of the Marquess of Rufford. Had a dowry that would have embarrassed a farmer's gel, but of course Charles Hunter fell in love with her. She was a lovely creature. Died when Quinton was eleven, and his brother, George, six. She gave birth to a tiny girl, and then gave up the ghost. The child died several hours later. It was buried in her arms. A great tragedy. Charles drank himself to death after he had gambled away what little he had left. Old Rufford saw his grandsons were educated, but it was a strain on his finances, and most of his own estate was entailed upon his eldest son and heir. My mother was Rufford's younger sister. Quinton is a very proud man, but he is honorable, Septimius.'

'So I have gathered by his conduct towards Allegra, Clarice. He has behaved with the utmost delicacy and kindness. Allegra would never admit to it, of course, but she is very concerned about doing the right thing once she is the Duchess of Sedgwick.'

'Nothing the matter with your gel, Septimius. She will do very well, and I can promise you she is going to be an outstanding duchess,' Lady Bellingham said with a reassuring smile. 'What a coup, Septimius! All of London will be talking about it come tomorrow.' She chuckled.

Clarice Bellingham smiled a smugly satisfied smile as she looked out over the ballroom. Oh yes, they would all be mightily surprised by Miss Morgan's catch. There would be some, of course, who would sneer that it was her money, and indeed it was. Her money, and his title. But Allegra Morgan would be a duchess. Wife to the man with the bluest blood in all of England. Without much hope Quinton had come to London seeking a wife; and by God he had landed the prize of this or any other season. And his friends had not done so badly either. Young Pickford and sweet Sirena. The Earl of Aston who had found a wife in the current Marquess of Rufford's middle daughter, Eunice; and Lord Walworth, who to his surprise, had been snapped up by her own niece, Caroline Bellingham. Oh, yes, it had indeed been a most successful season!

The orchestra on its dais suddenly struck up a ruffle and flourish. Escorted by his host, Prinny entered the room, followed by Allegra. Lord Morgan nodded to the musicians, and the strains of the minuet began. The prince bowed to Allegra, who curtsied beautifully, and together they danced most gracefully. When they had finished the ballroom was filled with the thunder of clapping. Prince George, better known as Prinny, was a handsome man of thirty, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a pink complexion. He and Allegra had made a most attractive couple. Escorting her back to her father, he bowed to them both.

'Thank you, Your Highness,' Allegra said, and she curtsied again.

'If Your Highness will allow me,' Lord Morgan said, 'I have an announcement to make.'

'Is it her betrothal?' Prinny said excitedly.

Lord Morgan nodded with a smile. The prince was a bit childish and loved secrets. 'To the Duke of Sedgwick,' he told Prinny softly, satisfying his overweening curiosity.

'I say!' the prince replied. 'A fine catch for you, Miss Morgan, and an even better one for Sedgwick. You both have my congratulations. Sedgwick,' he spoke to the duke who had now joined them, 'you really ought to gamble for you seem to have the damndest good fortune. Not only a beautiful gel, but a rich one as well!' He chuckled, well pleased, as if he had been responsible for the whole situation. 'Well, Morgan, make your announcement so I can go and gamble,' Prinny said with another chuckle.

Lord Morgan nodded again to the musicians who played an elegant tah- rah. Stepping up upon the dais he said, 'My lords, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor, and the pleasure to announce my daughter, Allegra's, betrothal to Quinton Hunter, the Duke of Sedgwick.'

A burst of excited applause broke out, but before the couple might be overwhelmed by congratulations, the musicians began to play a country reel. The guests were forced to begin