A Duchess Enraged (29 page)

Allegra's eyes
widened. "But Lord--Tristan, we just arrived. Surely you don't mean--well,
that you don't want to--"

"Not before
dinner, of course, and not before we've a fire lit. But soon, my dear. After
all, you can't expect me to wait forever."

He leaned forward and
kissed her forehead, his fingers still stroking her hand gently. Allegra
breathed a sigh of relief when the door swung open and Baxter entered, casting
the two of them a disapproving glance.

"I've brought
more candles, my lord, and some wine," he said in accents of doom.
"I'll light the fire now, if you don't mind."

A Practical Rake

"Go right
ahead," Tristan said, as he stood up, taking the tray from the butler and
placing it on the table. "This will warm us up." He seized the new
candles and lit them, which immediately imparted a more cheerful glow to the
room. As Baxter noisily built a fire in the grate, Tristan poured two glasses
of wine.

"To us, my
dear," he said, handing Allegra a glass. "And our bright future
together."

Allegra took a long
drink of the wine. Perhaps if she drank enough, tonight might be easier for
her. She was certain that Tristan would be a considerate lover, but she also
knew that she had no desire for him. The only man she wanted was Adam, with his
shining blonde hair and his green eyes that lit with such fire when he made
love to her. He was probably with Lady Manning right now, celebrating their
victory. She closed her eyes for a moment.

"Is something
wrong?" asked Tristan.

She shook her head
and then held up her glass for more wine. "No. I'm just tired."

"A little food
will help. Baxter, when will dinner be ready?"

"Mrs. Small
informed me that she has sent a girl upstairs to make up bedrooms for you and
your guest. In the meantime, she is preparing a meal that should be ready
shortly. She asked me apologize for the meagerness of the fare, but she was
unaware that you would be here tonight." Baxter stood and backed away from
the fireplace, in which a bright fire now glowed.

Tristan sighed.
"Yes, I'm aware of that. You've mentioned that before. Tell Mrs. Small
that I'm sure everything will be wonderful."

"Yes, my
lord." Baxter bowed and removed himself, leaving behind a strong odor of
disapproval. Tristan shook his head.

"You'd think
they'd know better than to be judging my actions. But they've known me since I
was just a boy, and feel they have some right to interfere."

"Do you bring
women here often?" asked Allegra, emboldened by the wine and her own
perverse need to know. She was beginning to realize that she hadn't thought out
her plans very well. Tristan, while charming and kind, was hardly likely to
wish to saddle himself with her for the rest of his life. She had heard enough
rumors to know he had a new mistress every few months. Where would she go when
he was done with her?

Tristan shrugged.
"Often enough. But that's not something for you to worry about. You have
all my attention now."

But for how long,
wondered Allegra. She felt the sudden urge to burst into tears. This morning
Lord Gresham had seemed the obvious solution to her dilemma, but now the
realization that she was about to leave England and all security behind at the
side of a man she barely knew and didn't love came crashing in on her. She took
another sip of wine and tried to think about her problem logically. There was
no going back to London, but she couldn't fathom going forward with Tristan's
plans. It was an impossible coil she had gotten herself into.

"You look
worried. Is there something wrong?" Tristan leaned forward solicitously.

Allegra hastily
raised her glass so it was between them. "No, of course not. May I have
some more, please?"

"Certainly."
Tristan refilled her glass and then placed the bottle on the table in front of
them. "Let's get comfortable here by the fire while we wait for dinner.
There are some matters we should discuss."

"Discuss?"
echoed Allegra.

"Certainly.
While we have embarked on a fine romantic adventure, there are some
practicalities which must be dealt with. For instance, I imagine you don't wish
to become pregnant."

Allegra almost
dropped her glass. She gave a little gasp as she clutched at it with suddenly
nerveless fingers. "No, I suppose I don't," she choked out. Her other
hand moved unconsciously to touch her stomach. She realized that in the back of
her mind she still hoped that perhaps she was carrying Adam's child. It was a
foolish wish, for it would do her no good and only complicate her situation,
but to have some small part of him to keep seemed like a precious gift.

"That's very
practical of you," continued Tristan. "I'm not inexperienced in the,
er, contraceptive arts. There are a number of devices we could use and we
should discuss which of those you would prefer."

Allegra felt as
though her tenuous hold on reality was dissolving. She took a gulp of wine.
"I'm sure you know best in this matter," she said hesitantly.
"Perhaps you should make the decision."

"I'm thinking of
your comfort as well as mine," said Tristan. "I feel that it is
important that we agree on this matter. Now, the French have a device that a
man can wear, but there are also sponges that the lady can use. I realize that
we have taken off too quickly to obtain any of these devices, and so tonight we
must simply rely on either our luck or the tried and true withdrawal method,
but in the future we should be more sophisticated about this. Don't you
agree?"

"Oh,
certainly," murmured Allegra, blushing furiously, and wondering how she
had gotten involved in such a conversation. She reached for the wine bottle.
"I'm sure you're right."

"Excellent."
Tristan smiled at her warmly and took the bottle from her, pouring more liquid
into her glass. "I'm so glad we've taken care of that. It's wise to take
care of these matters beforehand."

Allegra, speechless,
drank still more wine. She hadn't formed any definite ideas about how the day
of her elopement would proceed, but sitting in a dark, cold, nearly abandoned
house while discussing contraception was not among the scenarios she had
envisioned. To her intense relief, Baxter appeared in the doorway just then and
regarded them solemnly.

"Dinner is
prepared, my lord. It will be served in the dining room."

Tristan rubbed his
hands together briskly. "Ah, good.  Has a fire been lit there as well,
Baxter?"

"Yes, my
lord."

"Then we'll come
right away. A bit of food in our stomachs will do a great deal to restore our
spirits. Come along, my dear."

Allegra reluctantly
put down her glass and took his proffered hand. She stood up slowly, swaying
slightly. She had drunk too much on an empty stomach, she realized. Tristan
patted her hand encouragingly.

"Mrs. Small is
an excellent cook. I'm sure this will be a treat."

"This way, Your
Grace." Baxter led the way ceremoniously out of the sitting room and down
the hall. He threw open yet another set of massive oaken doors to reveal the
formal dining room. A fire blazed merrily in the fireplace and candles were
placed at one end of the table, but the room was massive enough that Allegra
could barely see the far end of it through the gloom. Covers were set for two,
and the gleaming length of the table stretched out before them, surrounded by
chairs upholstered in heavy red silk brocade.

"One of my
ancestors, I believe during the time of Charles II, loved to entertain,"
observed Tristan. "This room was his creation, and I'm sorry to say it's
been sadly neglected since that time. Still, we must make the best of it."

He escorted Allegra
to the table and seated her. "You may go, Baxter. We'll serve
ourselves."

Allegra watched as
the butler shuffled out and Tristan seated himself, lifting the covers off the
dishes as he did so. Despite her nervousness she knew that she was hungry, and the
scent of food that wafted through the air made her suddenly ravenous.

"Mrs. Small has
outdone herself," observed Tristan as he eyed the meal. "Despite her
not being aware of our arrival, I think this will be quite acceptable. Would
you care to try the veal?

Allegra nodded.
Tristan served her silently, and then looked at the bottle of wine that sat
near his elbow. "A decent vintage," he murmured. "Would you care
for some?"

"Please."
She watched as the liquid filled her crystal glass and she reached for it
eagerly.

"Be careful, my
dear. I'll want you to be alert later," Tristan said softly.

Allegra's eyes met
his, and she flushed. It wouldn't do for him to know she was having second
thoughts. There was no going back for her now, and Tristan was her only point
of security. "I will," she said softly. She turned her attention to
her meal, careful to avoid his eyes.

As she picked up her
fork she was startled by a sudden burst of noise in the hallway. The sound of
urgent knocking echoed through the cavernous foyer, and a man's voice could be
heard shouting something in the distance.

"What could that
be?" asked Tristan, rising to his feet. "Excuse me, Allegra. I'll get
rid of this troublesome intruder."

Allegra watched him
stalk out of the room, not daring to acknowledge the sudden hope that had
flared in her heart. It couldn't be Adam, she told herself sternly. He was far
away, in London, probably with Lady Manning. He would never have followed her
here. There were too many rifts between them that could never be repaired.

Putting down her
glass, she stood and went to the door, peering cautiously out into the hall.
She could see that Baxter had made his way to the front door, and was muttering
under his breath as he pulled it open. There was clearly far too much activity
today to make the old man happy. Tristan stood behind him, a look of impatience
on his dark face.

"Causing all
this commotion late at night. I've never heard of such a thing," Baxter
said as he swung the door open. "No one would have acted this way in your
father's time."

He stepped backwards
as the figure standing on the threshold, wearing heavy riding boots and a
greatcoat, burst into the house. The intruder was still shrouded by darkness,
but the shape of his figure, his height and the breadth of his shoulders, made
Allegra draw in her breath.

"Where's your
master?" he demanded of Baxter, and Allegra felt a thrill of joy shoot
through her. It was unmistakably Adam's voice. It was clear that he was
furiously angry, and she had no doubt that a share of that anger was for her,
but her heart sang anyway. He had come for her, she thought in a daze.

"What the devil
are you doing here?" snapped Tristan. For the first time since Allegra had
met him, he seemed to be truly surprised. The lazy, laughing look was gone from
his face, replaced by blank amazement.

"I'm here for my
wife, of course," said Adam sharply. "And some of your blood."
His hand went the sword hilt that was hidden in the folds of his coat.

"Don't be
melodramatic, Gravesmere, it’s ill bred as well as unnecessary,” Gresham
drawled. “I won't keep your wife if she doesn't want to stay." Tristan
seemed to have regained his composure.

"It's not only
Allegra I'm here for. I demand satisfaction as well." Adam advanced on the
other man. "You've made the two of us dance to your tune, and that's not
something I care for. You'll pay for it."

Tristan laughed.
"You shouldn't have come here, Gravesmere. Your histrionics are wasted on
me, I'm afraid. Take your wife and go, if she'll have you, but don't expect to
take out your frustration on me. You've caused your own problems."

"If you've hurt
her, Gresham, you'll pay." Adam strode past him and looked around the
hall, momentarily surprised. "This is a damned gloomy place to take a
woman."

"I rather think
you've done her more harm than I ever could.  I've caused her considerably
fewer tears than you have."

Adam swung back to
him. "Where is she? Do you have her locked up somewhere?"

"You would think
that," sneered Tristan. “No, she's in the dining room, enjoying a good
dinner. Would you care to join us?"

Adam strode down the
hall, his boot heels ringing on the stone floor. "No, I don't mean to sit
down with you. I'll collect Allegra and we'll be gone."

"And if she
doesn't want to go with you?" Tristan's voice held a hint of annoyance.
"This flight was her idea. She seemed to want nothing more than to be done
with you entirely."

Adam paused.
"I'll convince her she was wrong. Now, where is she?"

Love and the
Well-aimed Ewer

Allegra pulled back
into the dining room as Adam's gaze swept the dark hallway. Her heart was
racing with exhilaration. He had come for her. But why? Was it simply out of
pride, or did he honestly care? She resisted the urge to run out into the hall
and throw herself into his arms. She had humiliated herself enough the night
before.

When Adam strode into
the dining room, Allegra was sitting at the table, sipping wine out of her
glass. Her eyes flew open in feigned surprise at the sight of him, and she
gasped.

"Adam! What are
you doing here?"

"I've come to
take you home," he said. At the sight of her, he felt the familiar rush of
passion, the overwhelming sense of need that she always exerted over him. He
loved her, he realized. She was the woman who completed him, who shared his interests
as well as his bed. Aware of Gresham standing behind him, a cynical smile on
his face, he resisted the urge to rush to the other side of the table and
snatch her up in his arms.

"Why? What do I
have to return to there?" Allegra's voice rang with challenge and her
fingers tightened on the stem of her glass.

"We'll talk
about that later. Just come with me now. Mother is worried about you."

"I won't go back
just because your mother misses me," said Allegra softly. "I can't
live that way anymore."

Adam tapped his toe
impatiently. "I didn't ride all this way just to bandy words with you,
Allegra. You'll come with me now and we'll discuss this later." He strode
around the table and grasped her wrist, drawing her to her feet.

Fatigue, surprise,
and the wine she had drunk made Allegra unsteady on her feet. The red liquid in
the glass she still clutched spilled over the rim, splashing onto her skirt.
She looked down in surprise, swaying slightly. A nervous giggle rose to her
lips as she surveyed the damage.

"Damn you!"
Adam rounded on Tristan, shedding his coat in one rapid motion. "You've
gotten her drunk. You wanted to make sure she wouldn't try to resist you! How
dare you prey on her that way?"

Before Allegra could
even blink, Adam's fist shot out, connecting squarely with Tristan's chin. He
staggered back, falling to one knee.

"That was
stupid, Gravesmere," Tristan growled, stroking his bruised face.
"I've put up with your arrogance for as long as I can."

"My arrogance?
You're the one who thought he could play God with my life, and Allegra's."
Adam advanced, his hands still clenched into fists. "How much was Louisa
going to pay you?"

"Pay me?"
Tristan rose, his face suffused with rage. "Did she tell you that? I'll
have her hide as well. But first I'm going to beat you to a pulp."

He swung at Adam,
connecting neatly with his opponent's nose, and then the two men were fighting
in earnest, pummeling each other with a fury born of long-suppressed hatred.
The sound of flesh contacting bone filled the room, as the men grunted and
swayed, each trying to inflict permanent damage on the other.

Allegra gaped at them
for a moment, and then put her wine glass down with a snap. "Stop
it!" she commanded, her voice ringing with anger. It was obvious to her
that, while her presence here might have provided the impetus for the fight,
the two men were engaged in a struggle with much deeper roots. "What the
hell do you think you're doing? I won't have two men quarrelling over me like
drunks in a public house."

"Stay out of
this, Allegra," grunted Adam, not taking his eyes off Tristan. He aimed
another heavy blow, which Tristan deflected.

"You're
bleeding," he observed, nodding at the cut over Adam's eye.

"You'll be
unconscious before I'm done with you," Adam replied. He swung again, and
this time broke through, landing a heavy blow to the side of Tristan's face.
The fight resumed in grim silence.

"I won't stay
out of this!" shouted Allegra. "You two are just bullies. Tell me, do
I go to the victor as spoils of war?"

Infuriated by the
lack of response, she snatched up a heavy silver ewer chased with gold that
Mrs. Smart had placed on the dining room table. In an attempt to relieve the
gloom in the dining room, the housekeeper had filled it with flowers. Without
thinking, Allegra emptied the contents over the two men impartially, drenching
them in a stream of cold water.

"Damn it! What
the--" Adam staggered backwards from his opponent, spluttering. Water
rolled off his hair and down his shoulders, soaking the fine linen of his shirt.
"Have you gone mad?" he demanded, turning on Allegra.

"Have I gone
mad? Look at the two of you! Fighting like stable boys. What is the meaning of
this?"

"The meaning of
this, my dear," said Tristan, attempting to wipe the water out of his
eyes, "is that your husband is a fool. But he has come for you, which
argues for some sort of devotion. Do you want to go back to London with
him?"

Allegra hesitated,
looking at Adam. He was soaking wet, a bedraggled flower was stuck in his hair,
and danged onto his shoulder, and blood oozed from the wound over his eye, but
he still looked beautiful. She longed to reach out and touch the muscles in his
chest, outlined by the damp cloth of his shirt. But why was he here? Was it
only because she was a possession of his that he meant to keep, or was there
some deeper meaning to his presence?

"I don't
know," she said softly.

"Allegra, you
must come back with me. I--I think I may have been wrong. We need to talk about
what has happened."

"Why do you
think that?" Allegra allowed a tiny blossom of hope to unfurl in her
heart.

"I've discovered
that Louisa--that Lady Manning--is not the woman I thought she was. She's
plotted against you and I suspect all our quarrels go back to her. To her, and
to Gresham here. They were working hand-in-hand." He glowered at Tristan.

"What?"
Allegra's eyes flew to Tristan's face. He looked slightly ashamed, but defiant.
"I thought you were my friend."

"I'm no one's
friend, child. And if you and your husband were troubled, you need to look for the
cause between the two of you. No one can tear apart a couple that truly
understands one another."

"But did you
plot against us?"

Tristan shrugged.
"I had my reasons for my actions. I don't suppose you would feel they were
worthwhile, but I did."

"You see,
Allegra? He's been using you all this time. Come home with me and I swear to
make everything right." Adam held out his hand, his eyes warm with
promise.

Allegra hesitated,
despite her with to give in. "I thought everything was right before, when
we returned from Gravesmere," she whispered. "But then in London it
was still all wrong. I can't go through that again, Adam."

"You won't have
to," said Adam. He glared at Gresham, who stood nearby, watching them with
a cynical smile on his face. ""All I want is to protect you, and to
care for you. This time it will be different. I love you, Allegra."

"Oh, Adam. I
love you, too." With a happy sigh Allegra melted into his arms, ignoring
the dampness of his clothing that threatened to seep into her own. His lips came
down on hers, blotting out all the unpleasant memories of the last weeks. She
gave a tiny sigh of pleasure and leaned into him, giving herself up to the
kiss.

"How
touching." Gresham's voice broke the silence after some moments. "But
now that you're so happily reconciled, I hardly imagine you wish to remain here
in this gloomy castle. How do you mean to get your wife to London, Gravesmere?
I presume you rode here?"

Adam looked up,
surprised. "Of course. It was the fastest way. I didn't think about returning."

"Of course you
didn't." Gresham shook his head. "Take my carriage. I will return
your horse to town sometime soon."

Adam frowned.
"That's not necessary--" he began, but Allegra tugged on his sleeve.

"Don't be
stubborn, Adam. We must get home somehow."

Adam looked down at
her face, and saw the exhaustion reflected there. "Very well. I accept
your offer for my wife's sake," he said stiffly.

"A wise
choice." Gresham stepped aside. "You are naturally welcome to spend
the night here, if you would prefer."

"No, we'll go
home," said Adam firmly.

"As you
wish." Tristan bowed low before Allegra. "Believe me, Your Grace, I
did not intend to injure you. It was your husband who I wished to revenge
myself upon. If you truly love him, then he is very lucky indeed. Your
affection is more than he deserves."

Adam made a growling
sound in his throat and tried to step forward, but Allegra restrained him with
a gentle hand. "I think it best if we--all of us--" she added,
glancing up at Adam, "Stay away from one another in the future."

"That is
probably a wise decision." Tristan turned away. "I'll send someone to
prepare the carriage."

As he turned to ring
for Baxter, there came another rousing staccato of knocks on the front door. A
small smile crossed his lips, and he moved forward, stalling Baxter, who once
again emerged from the back of the house, muttering under his breath.

"I'll get
it," he said.

"Who can that be
at this hour?" asked Adam.

"I don't
know," answered Allegra. "He didn't mention expecting anyone else."

Tristan swung the
heavy door open to reveal a slim figure on the doorstep. It stepped forward,
waving a piece of paper that it held in its hand.

"What is the
meaning of this, Lord Gresham? If you are playing some foolish trick, let me
tell you that I have no patience for it."

"You're
late," responded Tristan, with just a hint of amusement in his voice.
"What took you so long?"

"What took me so
long? I wasn't home when your note arrived, as I am occasionally occupied on
matters that involve neither you nor my ridiculous family. When I discovered it
I came as quickly as I could, but some preparation was involved. Now, where is
the silly child?"

The figure pushed
back the hood of the fur lined cape it wore, and shining blond hair was
revealed in the dim light of the candles.

"Caroline!"
burst out Adam. "What are you doing here?"

Caroline swung
around, startled to hear her brother's voice. Adam emerged from the shadows
near the dining room, Allegra in tow.

"You see, your
trip was unnecessary," said Tristan, a note of apology in his voice. I'm
sorry to have dragged you from your comfortable home on such a dreary
night."

"What is the
meaning of this?" demanded Adam. "Did you mean to harm my sister as
well?"

"Goodness, Adam,
what happened to you? And to you, for that matter, Lord Gresham?" Caroline
leaned forward, looking at them both in surprise. "You're soaking wet. And
bloody. Don't tell me that you've been fighting."

The men both looked
slightly embarrassed. Adam shuffled his feet.

"I found him
here, with Allegra, obviously planning a seduction," said Adam. "You
can hardly blame me."

"Of course I can
blame you. I suppose you dashed in here, full of bluster, determined to defend
your wife's honor. What a pity you didn't take note of it weeks ago."

Adam flushed.
"That's hardly fair, Caroline. I only discovered today that I was wrong
about Allegra."

"Anyone with
half a brain would have known it long ago," countered Caroline. "What
have I been telling you for weeks?"

Adam's mouth set in a
thin line. "I should have listened to you, I suppose. But the evidence
against her seemed overwhelming. I've apologized to Allegra, and she's been
good enough to forgive me."

"You're very
sweet, Allegra," said Caroline tartly. "Are you sure you know what
you're doing, in taking this ass back?"

"You mustn't
scold Adam," said Allegra spiritedly. "My behavior helped inflame the
situation. I might have behaved better when he first came home. It was just
that I was hurt, and nervous."

"Then it seems
you don't need me after all." Caroline sighed. "What a shame that I
bothered to come at all. And here I thought I was going to save you from your
folly, Allegra. It seems Adam has done that himself."

"How did you
know to come here?" asked Allegra curiously. "Did Adam tell
you?"

"Adam? No, of
course not. Lord Gresham sent me a note this afternoon telling me that you were
determined to flee with him. He asked me to follow after you, as he was certain
that you would change your mind. He didn't want you to be compromised, in the
event that you backed out."

Allegra frowned up at
Tristan. "You didn't wish to run away with me?"

"You're very
lovely, my dear, but I've realized for some time that you love your husband. I
have standards, you know, and do prefer to avoid conducting affairs with women
who are pining for other men. Please accept my apologies if I was wrong, but I
thought you would speedily change your mind and wish to return home."