The Duchess

'Of course she would be,' Ocky said. 'She is now no longer her father's heiress. She will have to share with her new sibling, and if it is a boy, her portion will be greatly cut.'

'I don't care,' the duke said, 'but my wife does not believe that. She is now desperate to have an heir. She sees her failure to do so as some sort of flaw on her part. She is quite angry.'

'Tell me about France,' the viscount replied. 'What the hell were you all doing in France?

'Ahh, Ocky, you and Sirena missed a grand adventure. It was quite mad of us. I knew it before we set off, and in retrospect I realize how damned lucky we all were to get back alive.' Then he went on to elucidate to his friend the tale of the Comtesse d'Aumont's plight, and how they had rescued her, her children, the fierce old Therese, and Celine. 'If we had been caught we would have all faced the guillotine. Especially as the old cook murdered the head of the Committee for Public Safety in St. Jean Baptiste, though 1 doubt he'll be missed. The local priest saw to the disposal of his body, and forgave the cook her sin.' He chuckled.

'I would have liked to have been with you,' the viscount said.

'We thought about you the entire time,' the duke teased his best friend.

'The hell you did,' Ocky laughed. 'You were far too busy making certain none of you were caught. Imagine Allegra's little maid taking charge like that, and pulling it off. She's a game gel, Honor is. I was never very good with French, though you certainly are.'

'Is Sirena up to seeing me? And then I must collect my wife, and return home. 1 would imagine Sirena cannot take too much company, and is probably too nice to send Allegra away.'

The Duchess of Sedgwick looked surprised to see her husband as he entered the viscountess's bedchamber. The duke went over to Sirena, kissed her upon the forehead, and said, 'He is an absolutely lovely boy, my dear Sirena. You have done well for yourself, and for Ocky.'

'It was an easy birth,' Sirena admitted.

'So Ocky tells me,' was the reply.

'I think Doctor Thatcher was rather surprised,' Sirena said with a smile, and a little twinkle in her eye. 'Oh, Quinton, I have had such a lovely visit with Allegra.'

'But now you are ready to rest, I am certain, my dear. Allegra also needs her rest, but nothing could prevent her from coming immediately to see you. You will let us know when the baby's christening is to be set? Come, madame, we have a long ride home.'

'I thought I should stay a few days with Sirena,' Allegra responded surlily. 'After all, Quinton, I have not seen my cousin in several months, and we have a great deal to catch up on, sir.'

'Birthing an infant, no matter how quick the process, is difficult, Allegra,' the duke told his wife. 'Sircna needs to rest.' I lc reached out and clamped his hand about her upper arm. 'Come, my darling girl.'

Her look was one of complete outrage, but she obeyed. 'I shall be back,' she told Sirena.

'Eventually,' the duke said, and then led his wile from the room, almost forcibly.

'I should have thought to ask Allegra to remain,' Sirena said. 'Run after them, Ocky, and tell them.'

'No, my dearest, Allegra must go home,' the viscount said to his surprised wife. Then he sat down next to her. 'Let me tell you what your cousin and our friends have been doing.' He then proceeded to regale her with the tale of the Bellinghams' niece and her family. He finished by saying, 'They have just returned I mm France via London. Allegra is exhausted, but refuses to admit it. Quint wants to get her home so she may rest. You can see how washed out she is, sweetheart.'

'But it was so wonderful to see her,' Sirena said, 'especially since Mama has not come. I do not understand it. Do you think something has happened to Mama, and Steppapa doesn't want to tell me for fear of harming our baby? Well, the baby is born and healthy, and I have sent to Mama two days ago and have no answer. You must go to Morgan Court tomorrow, Ocky, and bring my mother back to me.'

'I think that is an excellent idea, sweetheart,' the viscount answered his wife. 'I shall start in the morning.' He kissed her gently. 'Go to sleep now, Sirena.' Then he left her bedchamber, and hurried downstairs, just catching the duke and Allegra. 'Quintan,' he called. 'Sirena wants to see her mama. What am I to do?'

'You told him?' Allegra's voice was icy.

'I thought it necessary,' the duke said.

'Must the entire world know that my ancient stepmother is having a baby, and I am not?' Allegra demanded.

'You had best tell Sirena so she doesn't fret, and you do not have to take the long ride to Morgan Court,' the duke advised.

'No. I shall tell her,' Allegra cried, and dashed back up the stairs to her cousin's bedchamber.

Sirena was just dozing off. She sat up as Allegra slammed into her room. 'Wh… what is it?' she said, startled. 'Oh, Allegra, you have come back, dearest.'

'I just came to tell you that Aunt Mama will not be coming to see you immediately. Quinton and I stopped at Morgan Court on our way back from London. Your mother is expecting a baby in May, Sirena. Isn't it awful? I didn't want you to be as embarrassed as I am over this state of affairs, but I also didn't want you to worry as to why she was not here with you and her grandson, where she should be,' Allegra finished in a self-righteous tone.

'Mama is to have a baby?' Sirena's face shone with a mixture of amazement and delight. 'Ohh, Allegra how wonderful! Now we shall be truly bound not just by our mother's blood, but by our little half sibling. How is she? Is she all right? What incredible news you have brought me, dearest. Ocky! Do you know? Mama is to have a baby.'

'Yes,'' Allegra suddenly burst out bitterly. 'A baby. A child who will take away my inheritance, and make Quinton hate me for not being the richest girl in England. But did our parents consider that when they fornicated like two dogs on the road? No. All they thought about was themselves, and not my happiness. You have a baby, Sirena. Now your mother is to have a baby, but I cannot seem to have a baby!' Then bursting into tears Allegra ran from the room and down the stairs.

Quinton Hunter followed after his wife, watching her as she dashed out the front door of Pickford Hall and mounted her horse. He watched as she kicked the beast into a canter and rode away. The groom holding his mount helped him up, and flipping a coin at the man, the duke followed after his wife. He was torn between the desire to kiss her, to comfort her, and to spank her soundly. She had sounded like nothing more than a spoiled brat, and he was frankly amazed. What had happened to the logical and practical young woman he had married? He encouraged his horse to a (aster gait in order to catch up, or at least keep apace of Allegra.

Sirena had climbed from her bed, and gone to her window to watch her cousin tear off in a temper. 'I did not consider that this might upset her,' she said slowly. 'Lord, I have been thoughtless.'

'I think it is Allegra who has been inconsiderate, and heedless,' the viscount said to his wife.

'No, Ocky, don't say that. You do not understand. Allegra and her brother, James Lucian, were devoted to each other. Until a few years ago she wasn't the richest girl in England, nor did she care if she was. Then her brother was killed in France. It is not the money that disturbs my cousin, but the thought that her lather could replace James Lucian with another son.'