A Duchess Enraged (24 page)

"Don't be
nonsensical, Adam. As much as I've enjoyed your company, I think you should
accompany your wife home now. I'm sure Lord Gresham will be only too happy to
see to my entertainment. Will you not?"

The last question was
directed to Tristan, who bowed. "With pleasure, ma'am."

"There, you see?
Now, thank you again for driving with me, Adam."

Adam glared at her,
but had no option but to climb down from the carriage. He stepped aside to
allow Tristan to clamber in, just barely restraining the desire to smash the
other man in the face. Caroline smiled widely at him.

"Now, go with
Allegra, Adam. It does my heart good to see a young couple together."

Under his sister's
watchful eye, Adam swung up into Allegra's carriage and seated himself opposite
her. She was gazing down at her reticule as though fascinated by it, and didn't
greet him. Caroline didn't seem to notice the tension in the air.

"There. I will
see both of you soon. And now, we had best move on as my carriage is blocking
the track. Good afternoon to you both." She signaled her coachman, who
pulled away, leaving Allegra and Adam alone together.

A silence fell over
them, as each strove to appear unconcerned. Allegra fought to control her
heartbeat, which she felt Adam could surely hear, while Adam struggled with the
need to pluck her off the opposite seat and take her there on the floor of the
carriage, in full view of the assembled ton. Had it only been two days since he
had been with her? It seemed like weeks, even months, and his night with Louisa
hadn't quenched his desire for his wife.

"I must
apologize for my sister," he finally growled. "She's meddling where
she shouldn't."

"She means
well," murmured Allegra. "She simply doesn't understand that this is
a matter that cannot be resolved."

Adam felt his spirits
sink further. Allegra had said that she felt their estrangement was total. She
must indeed be unwilling to be faithful to him. "Exactly. We are totally
incompatible."

"Totally,"
agreed Allegra, picturing him as she had seen him earlier, riding so
comfortably with Louisa, whereas now he was stiff and uncomfortable. Clearly he
preferred women who could offer him more than she did. For one moment she
considered offering to share him with Louisa, to tell him that if he taught her
what it was that he wanted, she would be glad to oblige him. But then she
banished the thought. It was too humiliating. Adam would probably only laugh at
her.

A long silence fell
between them. Adam thought for a moment of leaving the carriage, but he
couldn't do it. He looked at Allegra's face, still turned down towards her lap,
and longed to change her sorrowful look to a happy one, to see her eyes shine with
the enjoyment and pleasure that he had seen at Gravesmere. Her hold over him
was too powerful. Perhaps there was still some way to find his laughing lover
again.

"Allegra--"
he began, and then broke off. He didn't wish to make a fool of himself, to give
her a chance to laugh at him.

Allegra looked up
quickly. "Yes?"

"Nothing."
Adam looked away, across the park, to where he could see Louisa's carriage
still circling. Allegra followed his gaze, and the hopeful gleam in her eyes
died.

"Perhaps we
should return home," she said, her voice tight with disappointment.

"By all
means." Adam leaned back in his seat as the carriage turned and left the
park, silence blanketing its occupants.

In Caroline's
carriage Tristan was eyeing his companion with a great deal of respect and a
certain amount of alarm. "Allow me to congratulate you, my lady," he
said.

Caroline blinked
innocently. "On what, pray tell?"

"On a maneuver
worthy of a field marshal. Well played, indeed. I'm quite in awe of you."

Caroline waved a hand
airily. "Oh, that. It was nothing, I assure you."

"However did you
pry your brother away from Lady Manning?"

Caroline shrugged.
"I simply told him to get out of her carriage and into mine, which he was
happy enough to do. He doesn't really care for her, you know. He's simply
accustomed to being with her, and wishes to annoy Allegra. I could tell from
his face that he wasn't enjoying himself with her. It's a pity he doesn't
understand his own desires."

"I see you take
the direct approach, ma'am." Tristan leaned back in his seat and stretched
his long legs out in front of him.

"Of course. I've
found that overly intricate plots lead to disaster. I'm sure you've discovered
the same yourself."

Tristan assumed a
look of injured innocence. "Me, my lady? What leads you to believe I'm in
the habit of plotting?"

"It's just a
suspicion," answered Caroline. She bowed politely to an elderly matron who
was waving at her.

Tristan watched her
appreciatively for a moment. Despite her lack of pretension, she was undeniably
eye-catching, her large green eyes glowing above her fine cheekbones, her
elegant figure swaying gracefully with the rhythm of the coach.

"Aren't you
afraid that your reputation will suffer for being seen with me?" he asked
casually. "The respectable Lady Eskmaine is usually not in the company of
someone so disreputable as I."

"Nonsense. You
come of excellent stock and are accepted in the best homes. It is you, Lord
Gresham, who seem to have some sort of chip on your shoulder. My reputation
will suffer not one whit, and I wouldn't care if I did. I choose my own
friends."

"Are you calling
me your friend?" Tristan leaned forward and watched her closely.

Caroline shook her
head indulgently. "Hardly. Though we could be, perhaps, if you weren't
plotting against my family. I think it a pity that a man so clearly intelligent
as you should be wasting your time in this childish manner."

Tristan's expression
grew dark. "If I were plotting against your brother, don't you imagine I
would have a good reason?"

"There is no
good reason for attempting to ruin the lives of others, particularly when
innocents like Allegra are involved," said Caroline severely. "You
are self-indulgent, my lord, a quality I don't particularly care for."

Tristan stared at
her, stung. He had been called many uncomplimentary names in the course of his
life, but most of them had implied a degree of fear. Caroline, on the other
hand, seemed to find him amusingly contemptible.

"You have no
notion of my motivations," he snapped.

"No, but I'm
sure that all this is only because you're nursing some sort of ridiculous
grudge. What did my brother do to you? Beat you at cards? Or perhaps he bought
a horse you wanted. Maybe he insulted the cut of your coat. Really, it's too
ridiculous. I don't know why you can't just let it be."

Caroline's tone was
cutting, and Tristan grimaced. "I don't care to discuss this with
you."

"Because a woman
can't understand honor?" asked Caroline. "If this sort of silliness
is honor, I'm glad we don't understand it." She shut her parasol with a
snap and leaned forward. "Unfortunately, we still have to suffer for it.
And believe me, Allegra is suffering."

Tristan struggled to
regain his composure. He was used to dealing in innuendo and intrigue, and
Caroline's calm directness was unnerving. And why should he care what she
thought of him anyway? Once this matter was concluded he would never have to
deal with her again.

"It seems to me
it's your brother who is causing her unhappiness," he said lightly.
"Perhaps you should berate him rather than me."

"Oh, I have, to
be sure," answered Caroline cheerfully.

"I almost pity
him."

Caroline smiled
sunnily. "Don't waste your sympathy. You will need all of it for yourself
shortly."

Tristan looked
around. It wasn't too late to perhaps intercept Allegra's carriage and cause
more mischief. "I'm sure you find my company tedious, Lady Eskmaine.
Perhaps we would both be more comfortable if you allowed me to alight."

"If you wish to
leave this carriage you will have to leap from it while it's moving. I have no
intention of allowing you your freedom until I'm sure Allegra and Adam are
safely out of the park. Between you and that wretched Lady Manning, enough
damage has been done today."

"So I'm not the
only villain in the piece."

"Not at all. And
if I were forced to choose, I would have to admit that I prefer you."

"I'm
honored."

"Don't be. Your
behavior is still reprehensible, but at least you aren't vulgar. That woman
actually tried to flatter me earlier! I've never been more appalled in my life.
And I'm sure she's behind this latest split between Adam and Allegra--one that
you, my lord, are taking advantage of."

Tristan bowed.
"I seize opportunities when offered."

Caroline's eyes
narrowed as she watched him. "It seems rather odd that you would both be
here this afternoon. Lady Manning isn't given to appearing in the Park at this
hour, and I don't remember seeing you often here in the past. It all becomes
clear now. To think that I didn't see it before! You're working with that
trollop, aren't you?"

A look of injured
innocence covered Tristan's face. "I have no idea what you're talking
about."

"Don't try to
gammon me," ordered Caroline. "I can't imagine why I didn't see this
before. Lady Manning is precisely the sort of woman you would be acquainted
with, and she isn't clever enough to cause this sort of mischief on her own.
No, I see it all now. The pair of you are operating in concert. Shame on you,
Lord Gresham. I'd thought you the sort of gentleman who fought his battles
alone."

Tristan looked
wounded. "I'm unacquainted with Lady Manning. I have no idea what you're
talking about."

"Nonsense. I'm
sure you're old friends. I'll have to look into the matter." Caroline
scanned the park, her sharp eyes attempting to search out Allegra's carriage.
"I believe that all is well. I have to thank you for your company, Lord
Gresham. It's been most enlightening." She signaled to her coachman to stop,
and she waited patiently for Tristan to disembark.

"Lady Eskmaine,
I must assure you that I'm not conniving with Lady Manning," said Tristan.
"Your suspicions are completely unfounded."

"You'll have to
forgive me if I don't believe you, my lord. And now, if you don't mind, I have
other matters to attend to." She glanced impatiently at the carriage door.

Tristan sighed and
climbed down from the carriage. "Thank you for the interesting visit, my
lady," he said, bowing low.

Caroline smiled. "Certainly. I'm sure
you'll see a great deal of me in the days to come, unless you're so wise as to
abandon your plans. Until later, Lord Gresham."

A Devil's Redemption

A week passed with a
stony silence between Allegra and Adam. One evening Adam left his room
reluctantly, his feet slowly measuring the distance to the front hall. He was
only going to this ball to appease his mother, he told himself. He had no
desire to be anywhere near Allegra, to have to look into her piquant face, to
have to smell her delicate scent, to imagine the pleasures that had been his so
very recently. It was hell, he thought angrily. Why was he unable to control
his need for her? Nothing, not nights of debauchery with Louisa, or gambling
drunkenly with his friends, could erase the pain he felt whenever he pictured
his wife in another man’s arms.

He cursed under his
breath, and then froze when he heard a light step at the top of the stairs.
Unwillingly he looked up, and saw Allegra poised to descend, one white hand
resting delicately on the carved wooden rail, the other holding a delicately
painted fan. Diamonds shone in her hair and hung heavily from her ears and on
her wrists, but her eyes outshone them, sparkling in her white face. Adam drew
in his breath as he watched her, fighting the instant tightening of his loins
as his gaze swept over the swell of her breasts and the tiny span of her waist.
He looked again at her face, and paused for a moment, drawing in his breath. It
seemed to him that he saw a hint of sadness there, a touch of entreaty, as
though she too was unhappy. He hesitated, confused, wondering if he should say
something, if the wall that had come between them might be breached. But then
the icy look he had become accustomed to in the past days shrouded her eyes,
and she flipped open her fan, holding it before her like a shield. She placed
one dainty silk-shod foot on the top step and came towards him in a rustle of
aquamarine silk.

“Good evening, Adam,”
she said, her voice cool and detached. “You look very fine tonight.”

“As do you.” Adam
bowed slightly.

She waved a hand
dismissively. “I’m sure you don’t notice. You needn’t pay me empty compliments.
Save your breath for Lady Manning. I’m sure she puts it to good use.”

“You little witch!”

Adam reached out
before he could form a coherent thought and grabbed her naked shoulders where
they rose out of the foaming lace of her décolletage. Her skin felt warm and
smooth under his touch, like flower petals, and he gripped her more tightly,
both welcoming and hating the wave of lust that swept over him. “How dare you
fling her in my face when I know exactly what you’re up to?”

“What do you know,
Adam?” Allegra taunted him. “Do you know anything? Or do you just wonder? I’ll
wager you have no proof.” Adam’s grip was painful, but she refused to give him
the satisfaction of admitting it. She glared up proudly into his angry face,
defiance in every line of her body.

“I’ll have it soon
enough,” snarled Adam. He shook her slightly, wishing he could turn this hard
creature back into his gentle bride. What had happened, he wondered for the
thousandth time. How could they have let what they had disappear so quickly?

“No, you won’t. If
all you want me for it to bear you sons, I’ll make sure that you always have
doubts as to who their father is.” Allegra laughed at the look on his face.
“It’s a small measure of revenge, but it’s all I have.”

“Damn you,” Adam
ground out. “I’ll see that you pay, Allegra. You’ll be sorry you did this to
me.”

“I’m already sorry I
ever laid eyes on you.” Allegra wrenched herself from his grip, and looked down
at the red marks on her shoulder with a sad smile.

Adam flushed at the
evidence of his lack of control. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said
hesitantly.

“It’s far too late
for that,” murmured Allegra, turning away.

Adam’s shame faded at
her words. It was she who had betrayed him first, he thought angrily. He had
been about to forsake Louisa for her when he had found her in Tristan’s arms.
“You’re hardly blameless in this matter,” he sneered.

“You would feel that
way. Women are nothing to you but useful receptacles for your passion, are
they?” Allegra’s voice broke on a tiny, suppressed sob. “And the more
experienced and debauched they are, the better you like them! I’m sorry I can’t
compete with Lady Manning and her vast knowledge, Adam. Perhaps over time I’ll
learn more in order to better satisfy you!”

“What the hell are
you babbling about?” demanded Adam. “I never said you didn’t please me.”

“You didn’t have to!
You’ve made it perfectly obvious.” Allegra turned back towards the stairs,
unwilling to show him the tears that had welled up in her eyes. “I’m going back
to my room. Tell your mother that I won’t be attending the ball with the two of
you tonight.”

Adam’s hand closed
over her shoulder again, and she flinched. At the sight he snatched his fingers
away as though they had been burned. “Allegra, don’t go.”

She turned back
towards him, hope and despair warring in her face. “Why not?”

Adam swallowed. He
could be honest with her and tell her that he needed her desperately. But then
she would be free to spurn him, to claim her victory and then turn away again.
It was a chance he couldn’t take.

“My mother will be
disappointed,” he said slowly. “We wouldn’t want that.”

Allegra’s heart sank
to her toes. For one brief moment she had thought that she had detected a hint
of tenderness in his voice. But it was only appearances that he was concerned
with. “No, we wouldn’t want that,” she echoed.

At that moment Emily
bustled into the hallway. She shook her head and sighed at the obvious
constraint between the two young people. “Come along, children,” she said
sadly. “And please, don’t disgrace me tonight.”

“We wouldn’t dream of
it, Mother. Would we, Allegra?”

Allegra’s chin
lifted. If their estrangement meant so little to Adam, then she wouldn’t let
him know the pain she was in. “Of course. As a matter of fact, I’m quite
looking forward to this evening. Lord Gresham is sure to be present.” With an
angry flash of her eyes she was out the door, leaving Adam to follow in her
wake.

Allegra stood against
the wall, fanning herself pettishly. She had been at the ball for two hours,
but it seemed like two weeks. The moments dragged as she made witty
conversation with countless men, laughing at their jokes, tracing the intricate
steps of various dances in their company, and sipping countless glasses of
champagne. Adam hadn’t approached her once since their arrival. He had gone
immediately to the card room with his friends, and she hadn’t seen him since.
What good was it flirting with all these men if he wasn’t there to see her, she
thought angrily.

“You don’t look
happy, my dear. What’s troubling you?”

Allegra jumped and
looked up into Tristan’s face. He was smiling at her knowingly, as though he
had some idea of her thoughts. She flushed.

“I’m simply weary,”
she answered. “My partner went to fetch me a glass of lemonade, and he’s slow
in returning.”

“What a pity. I would
never keep you waiting.” Tristan took her hand in his and patted it gently.
“Shall we let that rude fellow go to the devil? You look as though you could
use some quiet.”

Allegra hesitated.
Tristan’s company was soothing, but she was uncomfortably aware that she
shouldn’t encourage him unless she was prepared to follow through. And, despite
all evidence to the contrary, she couldn’t keep herself from hoping that
somehow she could bring Adam to care for her.

“I don’t know,” she
murmured. “It wouldn’t be proper. And I’m engaged for the next dance.”

“Coward.” Tristan
signaled to a passing footman, and a full champagne glass appeared in his hand
as if by magic. He handed it to Allegra. “You’re frightened of the gossip. But
it doesn’t seem to bother your husband.”

He nodded across the
ballroom, and Allegra followed his gaze. She stiffened when she saw Adam, who
had apparently emerged from his seclusion in the card room. He was dancing with
Louisa Manning, and they looked very happy together. A triumphant gleam shone
in her violet eyes as she gazed up at him lovingly. It was almost a declaration
of his intentions, thought Allegra dazedly, dancing with his mistress before
the entire assembled ton. The color drained from her face.

“You’re right, my
lord. Why should I worry about the gossipmongers if my husband doesn’t? After
all, I have nothing to be ashamed of in claiming your friendship.” She took a
sip of the champagne.

Tristan squeezed her
hand. Louisa had played her part well, he thought. He had doubted her ability
to lure Adam out onto the dance floor tonight, but he should have trusted in
her poisonous tongue. No doubt she had simply told him another of her wild lies
about Allegra.

“Indeed not,” he
answered. “We have nothing to be ashamed of. Though, I must admit that I would
wish it was otherwise.”

He smiled down at
her, allowing just the right amount of longing to creep into his face.

Allegra sipped her
champagne and shot another look at Adam and Louisa. Her rival chose that moment
to throw back her head and laugh as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
Allegra’s fingers tightened on the delicate stem of her glass.

“Perhaps I could use
some fresh air after all. It’s rather close here in the ballroom. Is there a
place where we might have some privacy?”

Tristan bowed, his
eyelids dropping to hide the flash of triumph in his gaze. “Certainly, my dear.
I know this house well. There is a charming sitting room which would offer us a
chance to be alone.”

“Then by all means
let us go there,” said Allegra. She accepted Tristan’s proffered arm and
allowed him to lead her from the room, her head held proudly. She would show
Adam that his actions made no difference to her.

Tristan led her past
the bejeweled crowd and out into the coolness of the marble hallway. The
footmen cast them a curious glance, but the vagaries of the nobility were none
of their business. They had seen far too many men and women slip away from
balls in the past to give this pair a second thought. Allegra felt a pang of
guilt at the knowing look on their faces, and paused for a moment.

“Perhaps we should go
back,” she murmured.

Tristan patted her
hand soothingly. “There’s nothing to worry about, my dear. You simply need to
rest for a few minutes in a quiet room. I have no intention of ravishing you
against your will, you know.”

Allegra laughed
nervously. “I know. It’s just that--” she broke off, feeling foolish.

“Your scruples do you
honor, my dear, but no one is paying attention to us. Your reputation will come
to no harm.”

He led her down a
hallway and then eased open a carved oaken door that stood in front of them,
motioning her gently through. She looked around her, enjoying the sudden quiet
and coolness. They were in a beautiful, high-ceilinged sitting room, its
decoration reflecting the current craze for Oriental knickknacks. Because the
room was not meant to be used that night there were only a few candles
flickering in the wall sconces, but she could see that it was decorated with an
eye to comfort, with a broad desk, soft red velvet chairs and a brocaded silk
couch. Tristan led her to it and urged her to sit.

“No one will bother
us in here. I doubt anyone will have the sudden desire to sit in the dark with
all the activities available in the other room.”

Allegra smiled at the
joke. It was a relief to get away, she thought. She wasn’t sure if it was the
champagne, the closeness of the ballroom, or her aggravation with Adam, but she
felt unsettled, and this dark, quiet room had a calming effect on her mood. She
took a deep breath and willed herself to relax.

“Thank you, Lord
Gresham. I feel much better now.”

“I thought you
might.” He seated himself on the couch next to her, but Allegra was relieved to
see that he maintained a proper distance. “Tell me, my dear, how long are you
prepared to put up with Gravesmere’s insults?”

Allegra stiffened
slightly. She knew that she had allowed her relationship with Tristan to become
closer than she should have, but she didn’t know if she was prepared to discuss
Adam with him just now. She looked away.

“I don’t mean to
intrude where I’m not wanted,” continued Tristan smoothly. “But your distress
is obvious, and his behavior is reprehensible. It makes my blood boil to see
him treating you so cruelly. Would you like me to call him out?”

“No!” The word flew
out of Allegra’s mouth before she was even aware of forming it. Her heart
pounded in her chest. Tristan was a famous swordsman, and it was rumored that
he had killed previous opponents.

The thought of Adam
dead brought her no solace at all. Instead, she felt as though she might cry as
the tragic picture of him spread on the grass, blood bubbling from a mortal
wound, Tristan standing victoriously over him came to her mind. She shuddered.

“Such fierceness,”
said Tristan. “It seems you still care for him.”

“I don’t care for him
at all,” retorted Allegra, hastening to push the vision away. “How could I,
after the way he’s treated me? But that doesn’t mean I wish him dead. He means
nothing at all to me, and I simply wish to forget him.”