The Duchess

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?'