The Duchess

although frankly I do not know why, but there it is. How do you do, Olympia? It has been four years since you brought a daughter to London.' Lady Bellingham plunked her ample frame onto a marble bench, looking about her as she did so. 'Septimius has the finest gardener in all of London. I don't know anyone else's garden that looks so beautiful.' She stopped speaking for a moment to catch her breath and gaze sharply at the two young girls in her view.

'I-it is good to see you, Clarice,' Lady Abbott said, regaining her composure. 'No, 1 haven't been up to London since Amanda made her bow. I am a countrywoman at heart, I fear. And then, too, London is not the same without my dear husband. Marker, tea, please.'

'I suppose I should miss Bellingham if he went and died on me,' Lady Bellingham remarked dryly. 'I shouldn't like to take a backseat to that featherbrain my son is married to, but fortunately my good husband seems to be in grand health, praise God! How are Augustus and his Charlotte? That marriage was executed quickly, and we were all quite certain…' She paused, and then continued, 'Well, you know what everyone was thinking, Olympia. Yet here it is several years later, and she has not produced.'

'We continue to hope, and pray,' Lady Abbott said weakly. She had forgotten what a whirlwind Clarice Bellingham could be.

'Now introduce me to these two fetching young creatures. Who is the outspoken one, and who is the gentle one, as if I didn't already know,' she chuckled.

'This is Miss Allegra Morgan, my niece.'

Allegra curtsied politely, although her cheeks were still warm from having been overheard; and now to be called outspoken was most embarrassing.

'Not Pandora's gel? Well, she's certainly a rare beauty. I suppose as her father's heiress we can expect she will be a great success,' Lady Bellingham pronounced quite candidly. 'How d'do, Miss Morgan.'

'How do you do, madame,' Allegra replied as another rush of heat suffused her face. Lady Bellingham had called her Pandora's girl. Did they all have such sharp memories'? She supposed so. It was interesting that they could remember her mother when she could not.

'And this is my youngest, Lady Sirena Abbott.'

Sirena made her curtsy to Lady Bellingham, giving her a shy smile as she did so.

'How d'do, my dear,' the formidable lady said. Then she turned to Lady Abbott. 'She will certainly be an Incomparable, Olympia. She is the loveliest of your three gels,' and then seeing Sirena flush with pleasure, Lady Bellingham said, 'Why, child, has no one ever told you that?'

'No, madame,' Sirena replied.

'Well, you are, and I have seen both Caroline and Amanda. The elder has shoulders a bit too broad, and the other's nose was a bit too retrousse, I fear. Still, they did well in the husband hunt, but you, I suspect, will do better.' She turned her attention back to Lady Abbott. 'She has a respectable dowry? I know how selfish Charlotte is, and how she must begrudge this lovely child.'

'Fortunately Arthur left monies in his will for both Sirena's season and her dowry. It is identical to that of my two elder daughters, and more than adequate,' Lady Abbott said proudly.

'And being in the company of her cousin won't hurt either,' the redoubtable lady replied. 'I assume Septimius is giving them both a ball? What a house this is for entertaining! What a pity it is only used by Lord Morgan when he is in town managing his many affairs.'

'My father does not cheesepare, madame,' Allegra spoke up boldly. 'Of course he will give a ball for both of us. Sirena's will be at the beginning of May, and mine at the end of that month. If you wish to know the dates, I can call Mr. Trent. He keeps track of such matters for us.'

'Allegra!' Lady Abbott's voice was anguished.

'Bless me, the gel is hardly shy,' Lady Bellingham chuckled. 'Don't scold her, Olympia. I like her. She is not the usual simpering miss I meet each season.' Her gaze swung about to Allegra. 'Have Charles Trent check with me regarding the dates of your balls, my dear. You don't want to find out when it is too late that there is a more important event those nights. And you will want Prinny at your balls. Nothing adds the stamp of success to a gel's own ball than having Prinny there.'

'Tea, m'lady?' Marker asked, prepared to pour from the silver pot.

'Gracious, yes!' Lady Bellingham replied. 'Septimius keeps the best store of tea in town, I am told.' She sniffed the steam arising from the cup that Marker had handed her. 'Ohh, yes!' she approved and, spilling some into her deep saucer, sipped. 'Ah, indeed!'

Lady Abbott felt weak with relief. Clarice Bellingham had approved both of the girls despite Allegra's quick tongue. Their entry into society was therefore assured. She sipped her own tea, and once fortified said, 'It is so nice of you to call on us, Clarice. I cannot take the girls out until their new wardrobes are ready. We must not make a bad impression, or give rise to jealous gossip from the other mamas.'

'Rightly so!' Lady Bellingham responded. 'When Miss Allegra and Lady Sirena first appear, they must be seen as the height of fashion. I assume Madame Paul is doing the gowns.'

'She sent her assistant down to Morgan Court to measure,' Lady Abbott divulged proudly. 'A footman has already been sent to her shop to inform her we are here, and ready for fittings.'

Lady Bellingham nodded. 'Have you obtained a date for your gels to be presented at court yet?'

'Clarice! We are just arrived several hours ago,' Lady Abbott protested, half laughing.

'I will have Bellingham arrange it for them immediately. They should be presented in the first wave of young ladies. Make certain that Madame Paul has their court gowns ready first. I will send to you when a date has been obtained.'

'Are court gowns different from the others, madame?' Allegra asked the older woman.

'Indeed they are, my dear. Hooped skirts are still required at court, not to mention elaborate wigs with ridiculous decor atop them.'

'I have never worn a wig,' Allegra told her.

Lady Bellingham smiled. 'And you are unlikely to after you have been presented at court. It is such a needless yet necessary expense, for it is required, although I do not know why.'

'Gracious! I have forgotten the wig maker!' Lady Abbott cried.

'Have Mr. Trent make an appointment with Monsieur Dupont, and say that I recommended you to him. Charles knows how to handle it,' Lady Bellingham replied with a smile.

'Your faith in me is deeply appreciated,' Mr. Trent said as he came into the garden. Taking Lady Bellingham's hand up, he kissed it, smiling. “You are as magnificent as ever, madame,' he told her.

Lady Bellingham chuckled. It was a deep, rich sound. 'What a pity you are the youngest, Charles,' she said. 'You have the bearing of an earl, but you are still a rogue. Since your father yet survives, it is to be hoped that your eldest brother will either gain some sense before his demise, or die himself from the drink so your brother out in India can inherit. He probably will one day, anyway,' she finished frankly.

A shadow of a smile passed over Charles Trent's face. Then he said, 'The first of May for Lady Sirena, and the thirtieth of the month for Miss Allegra?'

Lady Bellingham thought a moment. 'Yes,' she finally said. 'There are some unimportant events being given by some unimportant people those nights. Get your invitations out immediately, Charles.'

'They are already written,' he replied, now smiling openly.