'This is the first time we have been alone together, Aunt, since last night's festivities and announcement,' the duke spoke up.
'Well, you had best proclaim a date within the week, or else the gossips will be saying that one of you has cried off. I shall not have the match of the decade ruined by idle gossip!' Lady Bellingham said.
'It will be sometime in the autumn,' Allegra responded. 'I plan to spend the summer at Hunter's Lair overseeing the renovations needed. Papa is sending an architect down next week.'
'You are not being married before the season ends? You are not being married in London?' Lady Bellingham was shocked.
'There isn't enough time,' Allegra explained.
'No,' the older woman said thoughtfully. 'I suppose there really isn't, for your wedding must be a glorious and most fashionable event, my dears. Still, Allegra, you cannot marry the Duke of Sedgwick in a country church. You
'October is a beautiful month,' Allegra said slowly when Lady Bellingham had left them alone again. 'Our little church at Morgan Court is especially lovely then.' She sighed. 'But your aunt is right, my lord. Your family is of great importance. We should be married in London.'
He was touched by her care of him, and found himself saying, 'If you truly wish to be married in your own country church, Allegra, then that is where we will wed.'
'No, it shall be as Lady Bellingham has decreed, my lord. I will not have it said that Lord Morgan's daughter had no care for her husband's family reputation. We shall marry with pomp, and only the creme de la creme among the ten thousand shall be invited. Papa's secretary, Charles Trent, will decide along with my aunt. Those who are not included will prefer to be out of town that day.' She chuckled. 'It shall, however, be the last time we are seen in London for quite some while. We have a duty to perform. Our nursery must be filled as promptly as is possible.'
'My dear,' the duke said with a smile, 'you astound me with your practical nature and sensible ways. As you know I do not believe in love, Allegra, but I do think I am going to like you very much.'
'And as long as you allow me my own way, my lord, I shall like you in return,' she replied pertly, a small smile touching her lips.
Quinton Hunter burst out laughing. He did not understand why such good fortune suddenly smiled upon him, but it certainly had. His bride-to-be was a delight despite her less than noble background. He had dreaded coming to London, certain he would not succeed; certain that if he did he would be saddled with some simpering and brainless girl who would be frightened of him and bore him to tears within six months. Allegra was a refreshing surprise. Oh, she was going to have to learn to not say aloud everything that she was thinking; and her habit of involving herself in business ventures would, of course, have to cease. But she had definite possibilities, and with the proper training would make an excellent Duchess of Sedgwick. Her hand on his sleeve brought him back to reality. His gaze followed her direction, and he bowed from the waist to Prinny and Mr. Brummell as they passed by.
'Thank you,' he said to her.
'Just because we are not going to live in London doesn't mean we should give up our social contacts, my lord,' Allegra told him. 'My papa says you never know when you will need a favor,
'Your papa is very wise,' the duke answered her.
'Do you like him? Oh, I hope you will like each other,' Allegra said, suddenly very much the young girl again. 'I love Papa more than anyone else upon this earth, my lord.'
'Your papa and I get on very well, and will continue to do so, I promise you, Allegra. Now, did we not agree earlier that you would address me by my Christian name?'
'Yes, Quinton, we did,' she responded, 'but you are so impressive a gentleman that I sometimes forget I now have that privilege. Ohh, look! Here comes that dreadful Lord Mountiner, and his daughter. Shall we snub them?' Her violet eyes were dancing wickedly, but then she amended, 'Or am I being too awful and not a proper duchess?'
He laughed. 'You are very fierce, my dear, but I am of a mind to indulge you in this particular piece of naughtiness as I dislike the family heartily. They own the London house that once belonged to my family and have left our coat of arms over the door rather than remove it, which they should have. It seems to please them to be able to brag they possess Sedgwick House.'
The landau's horses trotted past the large and rather ornate coach belonging to Lord Mountiner as the duke and Allegra deliberately turned their heads away from the coach's occupants. The two vehicles passed so closely that Lord Mountiner's outrage could be heard even as his daughter said in her high-pitched and nasal voice, 'Oh, Papa, they are snubbing us! How embarrassing! Take me home!'
'That was quite successful,' Allegra said when they had left the other carriage in their wake. 'Let that be a lesson to all who were unkind to both of us this season.'
The rest of their promenade proved uneventful. The landau drove beneath the trees while they bowed and waved to their friends as they passed by. Some were in carriages. Others were riding fine horseflesh. All in all Allegra considered it a most successful outing when they returned to Berkley Square, and the landau drew up before her father's house. A footman hurried to help her out of the vehicle.
'Will you come in and have tea?' she asked the duke.
'Not today, my dear,' he told her. 'Will I see you tonight?'
'There is no event planned,' she said. 'I think I shall take the opportunity to go to bed early.'
'Will you dream of me?' he teased her.
'I rarely, if ever, dream,' Allegra responded, but then she added, 'but if I did dream, Quinton, I am certain it would be of you.'
He laughed. 'Well done, my dear Allegra,' he responded. Then he kissed her hand. 'I shall call upon you tomorrow.'
'Come for luncheon,' she replied.
He bowed, and then the landau was gone off down the street and out of the square, the matched bays with the blond tails trotting quite smartly.
Entering the house she found Sirena and Ocky in the garden salon. 'Lady Bellingham has set our wedding date for October fifth,' she announced to them. 'If you are with child by then, Sirena, you must not show it for I will have no one else but you attending me. Imagine the gossip if I postponed my wedding until you were able to attend me.'
'Ohh, Allegra, you mustn't do such a thing,' Sirena said, sounding genuinely distressed. 'It would be too shocking to even consider.'
Allegra laughed. 'Then be certain you can accommodate me, cousin,' she said with a wicked wink at Viscount Pickford.
'We are going to be neighbors,' Sirena said happily. 'Ocky's home,'-she blushed-'his papa's home, I mean, is in Hereford, near Hunter's Lair. It is called Rose Hall. Isn't that a lovely name, Rose Hall?'
'Have you decided where to go for your wedding trip?' Allegra inquired
