To Marry a Duke (13 page)

Asleep he looked so much younger, the lines around his mouth
and eyes smoothed out, his fine dark hair flopping endearingly over his eyes.
She barely resisted the urge to run across and fling herself into his arms. If
he could be strong, do the right thing, then so could she. She was beginning to
move backwards when he spoke, his eyes still closed.

‘Darling girl, are you well? Do stop dithering in the
doorway in your undergarments. Go away at once. For I swear, if I open my eyes
I’ll not be responsible for my actions.’

With a gasp, half of pleasure, half of fear, she skipped
back inside the safety of the chamber, closing the door firmly behind her. The
noise awoke her guardian.

‘My lady, you must not go out dressed as you are.’

‘I shall not, Abbot. I was at the open door a second or two,
no longer, and Mr Tremayne was still asleep. I needed to know he was outside.’

Abbot shook out her crumpled gown; she had not undressed for
her night vigil. ‘If you’ll excuse me, my lady, I’ll retire to my room and make
myself more presentable. Shall I rouse the kitchen for your chocolate?’

‘No, it is far too early. I shall sit by the window and
listen to the birds singing and watch the sun come up across the park. There is
no need to hurry, I am quite content.’

By the time the Priory was awake Allegra was bathed and
dressed in her favourite morning gown: a simple blue and white sprigged muslin,
with a sash and petticoat that exactly matched her

eyes
. Her
sitting-room was restored and her lover gone. But his message, written on
her own
stationery, had been explicit.

My darling Allegra,

I implore you to meet
me at eight o’clock in the library. Do not be late.

Jago Tremayne.

Her lips curved every time she read it. Even his note was a
mixture of endearment and direction.

Richard was returning later, at ten o’ clock, but before
that she had her assignation. The hands of the ormolu mantel clock refused to
move this morning. Five minutes seemed like fifty.

‘It is time, at last. I am going down, Abbot. I shall be
back to change, I intend to ride out to meet the carriage bringing Lord
Witherton home.’

On light feet she flew downstairs, her radiance, her glow of
happiness, sending more than one young male servant reeling. The library door
was open and she rushed in. Her smile faltered.

‘Jago, what is wrong, why do you look so fierce? Is Richard
worse?’

He ignored her flustered questions and asked one of his own.
‘Do you know what these are?’ He held out two rolls of parchment neatly tied
with red ribbons. The agreements she and Richard had been obliged to sign.

‘Yes, I do.’

‘And these, can you guess what these might be?’ He gestured
to a box filled with flimsy scraps of paper and other official looking items.
She peered at the box.

‘My father’s vowels?
Mortgage
documents perhaps?’

‘They are. Sit down on that chair by the fireplace.’

Intrigued, she sat and waited,
she could do nothing else. Her gaze drifted to the empty grate and she realized
it held kindling. She watched him gather up the papers and tip them on top of
the sticks. He knelt by the chimney breast and picking up the tinderbox, he
struck it against the kindling making several strikes before the sparks caught
fire.

She held her breath as the papers that tied her to Jago
crumbled into ashes. He was setting both Richard and
herself
free: giving them back their inheritance. He loved her so much he was letting
her go. How could he? She did not want to be free - she wanted to be tied to
him for life. Was he so blind he failed to understand how she had changed
towards him?

He watched the papers
disintegrate,
reduce to grey dust, before he moved. Then, still on his knees, he moved to
face Allegra. He lifted his head and gazed into her heart.

‘My love, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife? No,
think about it, don’t answer too quickly. You have your inheritance restored;
you can marry anyone you want.’

‘Jago, you are a nincompoop! The only man I want is you - I
love you. If I cannot have you, I shall have no one.’

With a roar of delight he regained his feet and lifted her
from the chair. When he set her down again they were both breathless.

‘You do comprehend, Jago, my love, that you are now my guest
and I can have you evicted if I so desire?’

‘You can
try,
sweetheart, but I
would not lay wagers on your success.’

Giggling she pretended to push him but her attempt ended
with squeal as he tossed her into the air and, tucking her under one arm like a
parcel, headed for the door. Squirming with embarrassment she was carried
through the corridors to the breakfast parlour, leaving a series of servants
open mouthed with astonishment.

‘That was uncalled for, Jago. You are far larger than I; you
used brute strength to prove a point. If you had used your intellect I should
have been more impressed.’ Rigid with annoyance she stepped up to the
sideboard, groaning under the weight of silver dishes containing food. She
stared at them; for the first time in her life aware just how extravagant her
lifestyle was.

‘There are thirteen of these here and just four of us to eat
the contents. Jago, what have I been thinking of? What a terrible waste, when
so many country folk are going hungry.’

Unmoved by her sudden conversion to philanthropy he began
removing the covers. ‘Would you like ham, coddled eggs, scrambled eggs,
buttered mushrooms, porridge…’

‘Stop this at once, Jago. This is no laughing matter.’

‘Sweetheart, what do you think happens to the leftover food
after every meal?’

‘I had not considered.’ Her brow furrowed. ‘I suppose the
staff finish it.’

‘Of course they do. Why do think they are all so healthy and
well fed? If you cut the amount your cook prepares, your staff will fare less
well each day.’

‘I am not convinced that it would not be better to allow
extra funds for their rations and have the food prepared especially for them.’

‘Good God! I’m marrying a radical! I’d no idea you harboured
such revolutionary ideas, my love. Next you will propose we pay pensions to our
staff and keep them free of charge until they die.’

She was unsure if he was teasing. Then she remembered his
threat to turn the Priory old folk off. ‘You are a scoundrel, Jago Tremayne.
You have no right to poke fun at me.’

They passed the time happily bickering and enjoying every
moment of it. This was a novelty for both of them, to have someone they could
laugh and talk with and not need to worry about causing offence.

‘I am going to ride out and meet
Richard; will you come with me, Jago?’

His face sobered. ‘You cannot, my dear. He asked expressly
for me to keep both you and Demelza away until he’s more recovered. I believe
he’s worried about your reaction to his injuries.’

‘He’s worrying unnecessarily on my account. I cannot imagine
for one minute Demelza will be repulsed, not if she truly loves him.’

Jago was not so optimistic. ‘I sincerely hope you’re right,
Allegra. Your brother truly loves her and he has lost so much already.’

‘He has his inheritance back. Maybe that will be enough for
him.’

‘Would it be for you?’

Allegra felt as if she had swallowed a stone. Richard and
she were twins. If he had given his heart then like her, nothing else would
make him happy. No amount of wealth could ever compensate for losing that love.

Chapter
Thirteen

A closed carriage brought Richard
home at the expected time to what must have seemed like a ghost house. Not a
soul inside or out apart from Jago waiting by the door to welcome him.

‘Here, lad, allow me to offer my arm, you still look a
trifle unsteady.’

‘Thank you, sir; I can manage with the assistance of my
man.’ He negotiated the entrance, but was forced to pause to recover his
strength before attempting the stairs. ‘I’m confoundedly weak still. It’s only
my eye I have lost, not a limb, I cannot understand it.’

‘You lost a lot of blood, my boy; such a serious injury
sends the body into shock. You’ll be back to normal in a day or two, I
guarantee it.’

His shoulders slumped. ‘No, sir, I shall not. My face is
ruined. I shall never be the same.’

‘When the swelling and superficial cuts heal you will see
the damage is not so dire. Doctor

Jones suggests you wear a patch;
have you considered doing so?’

‘A patch?’
Richard half smiled. ‘I
could start a new fashion – patches were all the rage not so long ago, although
smaller and worn on the cheeks - but it’s an idea. Thank you, sir.’ He
progressed slowly up the first few stairs, leaning heavily on the arm of his
valet. ‘How’s Demelza taking this?
And Allegra?’

Jago joined him. ‘Allegra’s desperate to see you, she has
news for you. Don’t shut her out, Witherton. You must know her sensibilities
are not so fine she’ll be upset by the consequences of your accident.’ The fact
that he didn’t include Demelza in his speech did not escape Richard.

‘As soon as I’m comfortable I shall send for her, sir.’

Jago watched his future brother-in-law complete his laboured
ascent before returning to the morning room where Allegra waited impatiently
for news. She greeted his appearance with a smile.

‘Well,
Jago,
how is he? Can I go up
and see him?’

‘Yes, my love, you can. He intends to send word as soon as
he’s settled.’

‘I cannot wait to give him the good news. Did he mention
Demelza? Ask to see her as well?’

He shook his head. ‘He asked how she was, but didn’t ask to
see her. I think he’s preparing himself for the worst.’

‘Will Demelza cry off? Break the betrothal?’

‘It’s a distinct possibility, I fear. But I’ll not
interfere. You’re not the only one who has changed, my darling.’

He held out his hand and she took it. Together they strolled
out into the garden redolent with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and summer
jasmine. They settled on a stone bench, warm from the sun.

‘Tell me, Jago, in what way have you changed?’ She saw his
cheeks colour and for a moment he looked like a penitent schoolboy.

‘I decided, when I was refused entry to the homes of the
haut ton,
that if I could not walk
freely in the highest establishments then my grandchildren would certainly do
so.’ She nodded, smiling to encourage him to continue. ‘I began my search for a
suitable match for Demelza three years ago. I noticed your brother then, he was
too young, of course, but so was Demelza. But he had everything I wanted.
Excellent breeding, intelligent, and neither a hard drinker nor a
gambler.
And he was the handsomest man on the marriage market.’

‘I can hardly credit you have been planning this for so
long. That you knew about Richard, about me, before I knew of your existence.’

He ignored her interruption. ‘Your brother was perfect. But
he had no reason, at that time, to wish to tie himself to the daughter of cit.’
He gave her a quizzical look. She flushed at this reminder of her earlier
incivility.

‘So when my father appeared and started gambling away our
home and wealth, you stepped in?’

‘Exactly.
I can assure you I didn’t
instigate his ruin; he did that by himself. I merely brought up his scripts,
made sure my banker offered him mortgages when he ran out of funds.’

‘And when did I feature in your schemes?’

His arms tightened round her waist and with his freehand he
tilted her face. ‘When I saw you on the morning I first arrived here.’

He swallowed her startled exclamation with a swift kiss.
When he lifted his head she was in no doubt what had prompted his sudden
decision to make her his bride.

‘I can hardly believe you had that document drawn up so
quickly. I would not have thought a man with your reputation could be so
impulsive.’

He chuckled. ‘When I see something I want, sweetheart, I
take it. And I wanted you.’

She stiffened in his embrace,
remembering his cruel words on this very subject. ‘My darling, I will apologize
again for my cruelty when we were at Great Bentley Hall. I’ll admit it was
desire prompted me at first, but that changed, almost immediately, to love.’

‘And I continued to treat you so callously. I too must beg
your pardon; I deeply regret my behaviour.’ She rubbed her face against his
shoulder. ‘I am sorry to tell you, my love, I only recognized my love for you
two days ago. It is strange how blind I was to my feelings.’

‘Have you ever fancied yourself in love before?’

Startled, she sat up.
‘No, of course not!
How can you suggest such a thing?’

‘If you had, you would have acknowledged the emotion sooner.
Anyway I don’t give a damn when you discovered it, as long as you’re certain of
your feelings now.’

‘Of course I am. But, Jago, my dear, please refrain from
using such bad language. My ears are permanently burning from your
profanities.’

In answer he scooped her onto his lap. ‘I shall endeavour
not to swear, if you promise to kiss me whenever I want you to.’

A polite cough from the door broke the embrace. Richard’s
valet had come to tell them his master was ready for visitors. She scrambled to
her feet. ‘I’ll come at once.’ She forgot to bid Jago goodbye in her eagerness
to see her brother.

Richard’s room was darkened, the shutters and curtains
drawn. For a moment she could not see him in the gloom. ‘Please do not hide
from me. I love you; your injuries do not bother me.’

Reluctantly he moved towards her and she ran into his fond
embrace. She stepped away and still gripping his hand pulled back the curtain.
In the dappled sunlight that filtered through the shutters she examined him.

‘You are no longer the most handsome man in the country, but
even with one eye you will still be devastating.’

‘I’m disfigured, Allegra, don’t pretend it is otherwise.’

‘But I have come to tell you that you have regained your
birthright.’ She explained all that had taken place in the library that
morning. When she had concluded her tale he was dumbstruck.

‘I can hardly believe what I’ve heard. My home, my wealth
restored? I no longer need to marry to maintain the Priory?’

She nodded; pleased her news had animated him. ‘Does this
news make a difference to your relationship with Demelza?’

He threw back the shutters with a bang. ‘It does indeed. If
I’m not obliged to marry then I do not have to hide away in case I scare her
away. She can see me, make up her own mind. I’ll not hold her to her promise.
If she wishes to break the engagement so be it.’

‘You would give her up so easily? I thought you loved her?’

His smile was sad. ‘I do, that’s why I must let her go if
that’s what she wants. Take her to London; there must still be a few
soirees
and
musicals
to attend. Give her a brief taste of society. When you are
her mama you can give her a proper season. Obtain vouchers for
Almack’s
, maybe present her?’

Allegra was quiet for a moment. ‘I shall do as you suggest,
Richard and take Demelza to Town. I would also like to introduce Jago to my friends
and acquaintances. They will not dare refuse him now.’

‘Then the matter’s settled. Shall I send for Demelza, speak
to her as well?’

‘I suggest you leave it until we return. Either she will
come back determined that she is in love with you or ask to break the
connection. Then you will know it was not your injury that sent her away, but
that her affections were not truly engaged.’ She hugged him a second time. ‘Go
to bed Richard, you look fagged to death. I shall speak to Jago and then make
the necessary arrangements

to
open
Witherton House.’

Before dawn, two days later, Abbot, Jago’s man, Sam Perkins,
and Demelza’s maid set off. It had been agreed that both their town houses were
to be opened. As the Tremayne establishment was also in Brook Street Allegra
deemed it more appropriate he resided there.

At a little before nine o’clock the travelling carriage, the
height of modernity and with every imaginable luxury, waited outside. Three
pairs of matched blacks stood chomping at their bits. Thomas was driving, John,
an under-groom, an expert with a blunderbuss, was to sit beside him. Two
further grooms were travelling on the rear step, cudgels tied securely to their
waists. Jago had his pistols primed and ready, tucked into the pockets in the
door of the coach. He had no intention of taking chances with his precious
cargo.

‘We are to break our journey at Chelmsford, at the Saracen’s
Head. I have bespoke rooms for us. The baggage cart will meet up with us
there,’ he told the ladies as the
caoch
trundled down
the drive.

‘Shall we get to London by tomorrow night, Papa?’

‘I sincerely hope so. However, in order to do so, we must
depart before seven o’clock. Do you think you can be ready by then?’

Demelza grinned. ‘I can rise early if I wish to. I’m so
looking forward to visiting Town. In my last letter from Lucy she told me that
she was intending to visit at the end of May, so she should be in London
already. Her parents have taken rooms at
an
hotel,
Grillons
, I think it’s called.’

‘They are just making a short visit?’

‘Yes, Lady Allegra, Lucy wants to see the Tower and the
menagerie, and go to watch the fireworks at Vauxhall Gardens and to the theatre
to see a play by Will Shakespeare—’

Her father halted her in mid-sentence. ‘Then we must ensure
you and Miss Carstairs meet up and you can make your visits together.’

Delighted with his suggestion Demelza turned her attention
to Miss Murrell, sitting opposite, and they deliberated at length on such
important matters as gowns and
fal-lalls
. Allegra smiled
at her intended. He responded by stretching out his booted feet catching her
own within them. They had no need to chatter of inconsequential things, they
were content to sit in silence. Eventually even Demelza ran out of words and,
like a small child, curled up her feet and prepared to place her head in her
father’s lap.

Allegra leant forward and untied the ribbon that secured
Demelza’s
bonnet
.‘
There
, you
will be far more comfortable now, my dear.’

‘Thank you, Mama.’

A quiet giggle followed this remark and her father stroked
his daughter’s glossy black hair. He glanced up at Allegra and his loving smile
sent waves of heat coursing round her body. She had made the right choice. He
was the one man who could make her happy.

She relaxed into the well upholstered squabs and her eyelids
drooped. It had been more than three years since she had paraded in the salons
of the
haut ton
. She was known as
being very high in the instep, a real stickler for protocol. How would these
acquaintances react to her betrothal to exactly the sort of man she had
recently despised? Jago wanted to be part of all walks of society, not just
accepted by the gentlemen in their clubs but by the ladies in their drawing
rooms. She frowned as she considered how best to tackle this problem.

‘What is it, sweetheart? Is something worrying you?’

Her eyes flickered open and she saw the concern etched on
his dear face.
‘Nothing, my love; at least nothing that need
bother you.
I was considering which invitations to accept, indeed who
might still be holding parties so late in the season.’

The night spent in Chelmsford passed pleasantly enough. The
rooms, although a trifle cramped, were well kept and the bed linen crisp and
clean. Jenny was more than adequate to attend to their needs. The early start
was not to Demelza’s liking and she promptly fell asleep again immediately the
carriage was on the move. Very soon all four occupants were dozing, all
bareheaded, their hats neatly stowed under the seats in the compartments
provided for that purpose.

The day was warm and even stopping twice for refreshments
failed to relieve the tedium of the journey. Jago spoke to Thomas before they
resumed.

‘We’re somewhat later than I’d hoped to be, Thomas. This
means we’ll be obliged to cross the heath and run through Feathers Wood at
dusk. Those places are notorious for footpads and highwayman. Have your weapons
prepared, make sure they’re loaded and give two to the boys on the step.’

‘Yes, sir.
We’ll keep our eyes
peeled. If we’re accosted, what do you want me to do, whip them up or brazen it
out?

‘Use your initiative, Thomas. Do what feels safest. But I’m certain
all this preparation
isunnecessary
, we shall, like
the majority of travellers, reach our destination unscathed. The landlord told
me the local militia flushed out all the riffraff last week; there have been no
attacks since then.’

‘But you’re right to be alert, sir, that way we all know
what to do.’

Allegra poked her head from the open window curious to know
what the delay was. ‘It is unbearably hot in here, Jago, we are in the sun. If
you are going to be much longer can the carriage be moved into the shade until
we are ready to depart?’