A Duchess Enraged (4 page)

"Do you have
room for one more admirer, my lady?" he asked. "Or do you suffer from
a surfeit of adoration? I would be honored if you would allow me to join
you."

Her eyes widened
behind her mask as her eyes ran over his broad shoulders and well-muscled legs.
One hand fluttered for a moment at her side, and then she regained her
composure. "What a handsome gentleman, to be sure. He puts all of you to
shame," she informed her circle of admirers. "From whence have you
sprung, sir?"

"I have been
absent from England for some years," replied Adam. "But I regret
having been away, since I have not until now met you."

"Another pretty
speech! And from a new admirer. I find you have piqued my interest. Do you have
a name, sir?"

Adam bowed low over
the delicate hand extended to him and pressed a kiss to it. His flirtatious
spirit rose in response to her teasing tone. "I believe I must decline to
name myself," he said. "But I have come to lay my heart at your
feet."

The lady's fan flew
open and she hid behind it, her eyes dancing. "I find I am intrigued,"
she said. "I believe I will allow you to escort me to obtain some
refreshment; these gentlemen who surround me no longer amuse me."

Her gallants
protested in mock dismay, but she stood and took Adam's arm. "I will be
back in a little while. Pray, dance with some of the poor neglected ladies in
my absence."

Adam led her onto the
terrace and obtained a glass of negus, which she accepted with a charming
smile. She leaned back on the railing and looked at him closely, her fan waving
delicately back and forth.        

"And so I have a
new admirer. You are very mysterious, sir."

Adam smiled and moved
so that he stood next to her. Her delicate scent, like flowers after the rain,
floated up to him. "A little mystery makes life more exciting, don't you
think?"

She shrugged.
"Perhaps. But a woman must be careful. If there are too many unnamed men
in her life she might get confused."

"Then you will
have to dismiss all the other gentlemen and concentrate on me," said Adam
promptly.      

"But you are not
as secretive as you think you are. I believe that I could guess your
name," she ventured, her dimples flashing.

"Do you think
so?" said Adam. "You set yourself a difficult task. I am not
well-known here."

"If I can name
you," said the woman, "Will you give me that pretty diamond that
twinkles in your cravat?"

Adam leaned towards
her. "And what shall you give me if you fail?"

"Ah, a wager!
What would you like to have from me?" she asked archly.

"Only the bow
that nestles so sweetly above your ear," replied Gravesmere, placing his
hand over his heart.

"An unequal
exchange. You are very confident that you will win," declared the woman.
"And now I shall see if I know you, after all.” Her eyes twinkled up at
him from behind her mask. “Are you perhaps the Duke of Gravesmere?"

Adam's eyes widened
in shock. "How do you know me? I would remember you if we had ever met
before."

She glanced away, one
rosy fingertip tracing the pattern on her fan. "But you see, I am
acquainted with your wife," she said slowly. "I think perhaps you
should not be flirting with an unknown woman at a public ball."

Adam, taken aback,
laughed harshly. "I do as I please, and my wife can do as she pleases. And
it is my pleasure to be here with you in the moonlight."

The dimples appeared
again. "Then perhaps I will not turn you away. Although I would hate to
hurt poor Allegra. She is a sweet child."

"Allegra is
nothing to me," said Gravesmere violently. He paused for a moment to
regain his composure. "I would prefer not to discuss her, but rather to
learn more about you, my dear."

"Very
well," she said cheerfully. "We shall consign your poor bride to
perdition. But I think it will be very difficult for you to learn much about
me. What shall you and I do together this fine evening?"

Gravesmere was
delighted to see her so amenable. "Perhaps we may stroll along one of the
paths?"

She smiled slyly.
"You would lure me away, and perhaps compromise me? For shame. I will not
be treated as some light woman."

Adam bowed. The woman
seemed to have certain standards, despite her flirtatious behavior. "Then
perhaps you will dance with me?

"That, I
believe, is possible."

The woman put her
hand on his arm, and they re-entered the ballroom. As they did, Adam saw to his
dismay that Louisa stood by the door to the card room, clearly looking for him.
A discontented expression covered her face. "Damnation," he muttered
under his breath.

The woman's gaze
followed his, taking note of Louisa. She glanced up at him shrewdly. "Is
something wrong, my lord? Perhaps you have something better to do than dance
with me?"

"I must claim
this dance at another time," said Adam. "I see that another has need
of me. I regret more than I can say losing this opportunity to dance with
you." He pressed a kiss on her hand.

"You are
forgetting, Your Grace,” said the woman. "You promised me your diamond if
I could name you. I believe you lost that wager."

Gravesmere laughed.
He took the pin from his cravat and laid it in her hand. "Perhaps I can
win it back from you someday."

She raised an
eyebrow. "Perhaps you can. I feel sure I will see you again very soon.”               

As Adam looked into
her dancing eyes one more time, another gentleman approached them and stood at
her elbow. "Oh fair one," he hailed her. "I have been pining
away far from your light."

The woman turned her
back on Adam. "And now I am returned to you. What shall we make of
that?" she said.

Adam gazed after her
as she took the other gentleman's arm and allowed him to escort her away. With
a quiet chuckle at her audacity, he returned to Louisa's side. She made a tiny
pout of despair as he approached and took his arm. "Oh, Adam. I have
already lost all the guineas you gave me. I fear the luck is running against
me. Whatever shall I do?"               "

I believe I can
repair the damage, my dear," said Adam. "I shall simply have to give
you more guineas."

"You are good to
me, Adam, darling. And I will be sure to be good to you later." Her eyes
slid up to his face. "Who was that lovely woman I saw you talking
to?"

"Someone of no
account," said Adam. "I don't even know her name."

But as Adam led
Louisa back to the gaming room, his mind continued to dwell on the unknown
lady. Her behavior had been most immodest, yet she had an innocent charm of
manner and a rare beauty that lingered in his mind. She was, of course, not as
lovely as Louisa, but she was definitely intriguing. It should not be difficult
to discover her identity. She had to be well known in Society. No woman with
that much beauty and charm could remain anonymous for long.

He escorted Louisa
back to the basset table and lounged against the wall as she resumed play. Her
cheeks flushed with excitement and her eyes glistened as she placed her bets.
Adam watched her indulgently.

"Adam, dear,
could you fetch me something to drink?" she asked eventually. "I am
so thirsty."

"Of course, my
dear." Adam, who had begun to feel slightly bored, was glad for the
opportunity to stroll about. As he approached the refreshment table he saw one
of the gentlemen who had clustered about the unknown woman earlier. He laid a
hand on his shoulder.

The man looked up
inquiringly. "Oho. It is the fellow who cut us all out. It seems you have
a silver tongue, you lucky dog."

Adam laughed.
"Perhaps it was simply the allure of an unknown face. The lady seems to be
easily bored. But I have a question for you. I have no idea of the name of the
charming woman we both so admire."

The man gaped at him.
"You must truly have been far from London not to know the Toast of the
Town! That enchanting creature is the latest rage. All the men of London are at
her feet."

"I can see
why," said Adam. "But you didn't answer my question. Her name?"

The man shrugged.
"You will hear it often enough if you stay in London. She is the Duchess
of Gravesmere."

"The Duchess of
Gravesmere?" repeated Adam, stunned.

“Indeed.” The man
chuckled and leaned in with a conspiratorial air. “And can you believe that her
husband hasn't seen her in four years? He has been on the Grand Tour, and they
say he is enamored of some widow, years older than himself. Not that I care. A
husband would be most awkward to deal with. But the man must be a fool, leaving
a woman like that all alone!"

Adam stared across
the room to where his wife was dancing with a tall young man, her brilliant
eyes lit with laughter as they circled, their hands clasped.       

"A fool,
indeed," he said.           

A Public Spectacle?

London's latest rage
was perched on a settee against a wall, fanning herself and watching angrily as
her husband and Lady Manning entered the ballroom. Adam fetched Louisa a glass
of negus, and Allegra observed with eyes narrowed behind her mask as the older
woman smiled and gently touched his cheek. Allegra hunched a petulant shoulder
at the gentleman who sat next to her, possessed of her hand and gushing praises
of her beauty. She sighed.

"How you bore
me, Sir Anthony," she snapped. "My eyes are stars, my eyes are pools
of water, my eyes are like a sunlit sky. Have you no original thoughts?"            

The gentleman
blinked, taken aback. Allegra wrenched her eyes off the sight of Adam leading
Louisa out to dance, and turned to her companion. She mustered a smile.

"Do forgive me,
Sir Anthony," she said. "I am afraid the closeness of the room has
given me a headache. It is shameful of me, however, to blame you for it.
Please, oblige me by finding my brother; I think I should go home."

The gentleman beamed,
happy to be restored to his goddess's good graces, and took himself off in
search of her brother. Another gentleman approached as Allegra swung her fan
back and forth pettishly and bowed gracefully before her. She looked up into
the darkly handsome countenance of Lord Gresham.

"My lord,"
she exclaimed, a genuine smile lighting her face. "How good to see you.
And how kind of you to single me out."

"All of London
is anxious to single you out," Lord Gresham pointed out, kissing her hand.
He seated himself next to her with a lazy grace, stretching his long legs out
in front of him.

"Don't talk
fustian to me, my lord," said Allegra. "You, I know, are no frivolous
young man. I can only be complimented that a gentleman of your intelligence and
worldly experience would care to converse with a mere butterfly such as
myself."

Lord Gresham eyed her
shrewdly and laughed. "Your Grace, you may be a butterfly but you will
never be 'mere'."

Allegra was pleased
that she had made him laugh. Lord Gresham was older than most of the men who
flocked to her side, and was notorious in Society for his wicked ways. There
was something of a mystery about the baron. It was said he had run through an
entire fortune in his youth and now made his living at the gaming tables,
though he never seemed to want for money. His family was an ancient one and his
name respected, but there were hints of a scandalous past and whispers of his
dangerous attraction for women of all types, who invariably ended up ruined and
alone. He had only recently returned from several years abroad, in a swirl of
rumors concerning his doings. Allegra was flattered that he seemed to find her
worthy of his notice. It was easy enough to keep the attention of the young
bucks; all she needed for that was beauty and a bit of wit. But Lord Gresham
was a man who required more than just frivolity and charm in a woman.

"You were
looking quite put out when I approached you," he observed. "Is
something troubling you?"

The smile died on
Allegra's face and her eyes turned to the revolving dancers, her eyes singling
out her husband and his mistress. "'Tis nothing," she said.

"Nothing?"
asked Lord Gresham. "Come, my dear. ‘Tis clearly something."

Allegra's lips
tightened. "It's just that my husband seems to have returned."

"Gravesmere?"
Lord Gresham looked faintly amused. "Is he here?"

"He is indeed. I
just had quite a conversation with him."

Lord Gresham grinned.
"And was it a happy reunion, ma'am?"

"He did not know
he was speaking to his wife," said Allegra shortly.

Lord Gresham took her
little hand in his and patted it. Allegra was clearly distressed. "And why
didn't you tell him?"

Allegra's face
twisted. Lord Gresham observed with pleasure that even when sulking, she was
still beautiful. "I don't know," she said slowly. "I think
perhaps I wanted to play a trick on him. I haven’t seen him in four years, you
know."

Lord Gresham was
aware, as was all London, of the circumstances of the Gravesmere's marriage. He
was also aware of the company Adam had kept on the Continent and now, in
London. The gossips had early on ferreted out his presence in Half Moon Street
with the delectable Widow Manning, and Gresham didn't doubt that their tales
had reached the duchess by now.

"I am sure when
he realizes that the beautiful woman he met tonight is his wife he will be very
pleased," said Gresham gently.

Allegra smiled a
little at that. "Do you think so, my lord? I do not know him, but I would
like it if we could be friends at least. I fear my temper got away with me
tonight."

Gresham tried to
encourage the smile. "Any man who would be sorry to have as lovely a woman
as you to wife would be a fool. I am sure Gravesmere is not that.”

"You reassure
me, my lord," said Allegra. "You are very kind."

Lord Anthony returned
at that moment with the distressing news that Allegra's brother was drunk and
in no state to escort his sister home. "I’ll be dashed if I know how we’ll
get him home, Your Grace," he said.

Lord Gresham arose
and bowed to Allegra. "Permit me to escort you home, my lady. I believe
you can trust yourself to so serious and staid a gentleman as myself."

Allegra bestowed a
beautiful smile on him. "You are too kind, my lord. I am sure I can trust you
completely." She stood, accepting his proffered arm gracefully. With one
last cold glance at Adam and Louisa, she allowed herself to be led from the
room. She was unaware that Adam glared angrily after her as she left with
Gresham.

The next morning Adam
was on his mother's doorstep at an unfashionably early hour. The butler opened
the door, and when he saw who had been pounding so relentlessly on it, he was
immediately wreathed in smiles.

"Your Grace!
It's so good to see you, my lord. We have been expecting you, as your luggage
arrived some days ago. If you will permit me to say so, Her Grace will be very
happy to have you home."

"Thank you,
Bates," replied Adam. "And my mother is exactly who I wish to see.
Where is she?"

"Upstairs in the
morning room, Your Grace. I will announce you."

"By no
means," said Adam. "I mean to surprise her."

"Very good, Your
Grace."

Adam leapt up the
stairs two at a time and burst into the morning room. His mother was sitting by
the window, her head bent over a piece of stitchery. She looked up, surprised,
and a cry of delight broke from her as she stood and ran to him, clasping him
tightly in her arms.

"Oh, Adam. It's
so good to have you home. I have missed you dreadfully, the more since your
father's death." She looked up at him, her eyes tearing slightly. Adam was
no longer the charming boy who had left home. "How you've changed. You
look very much the man now, my dear."

"It's good to
see you, Mother." Adam hugged her and stroked her back. "I'm sorry to
have been away from home at such a difficult time. Forgive me for not returning
when I heard the news."

"Well, you were
far away. Your father had been dead for weeks before you received my letter,
I'm sure. But still, I have missed you," said Emily.

"I'm home now.
How have you been?" Adam held his mother at arm's length and surveyed her
closely. She was still very lovely, but she had lost the youthful glow that she
had possessed before he had left.

"I miss your
father dreadfully," she admitted. "He made my life very full. But now
I have Allegra, of course, and she is very good at filling my time and making
me laugh."

"Ah, yes. My
wife, the duchess." Adam released his mother and took a step back.
"Do you like her, Mother?"

"She is a
charming girl, Adam," she said. "Your father and I made a good
choice. I hope you'll come to care for her."

Adam bit his lip.
"What is she like?"

"Oh, very gentle
and kind. But she also has a lively wit and a quick mind. She has been quite a
success in society," confided Emily.

"I have some
idea of her success," said Adam, a touch of anger creeping into his voice.
"I was in the park yesterday and witnessed a disgraceful display by a
hoyden on a black stallion. She was galloping wildly with two men in hot
pursuit, who she then proceeded to flirt with outrageously. I then saw this
same female with half of the libertines in London at her feet at the ridotto at
Ranelagh last night. Imagine my horror when I learned that this brazen flirt
was my supposedly demure bride!"

Emily laughed.
"Did she do that indeed? Allegra is forever kicking up a dust. She is the
most amusing child."

"Amusing!"
Adam threw his hands in the air. "Hoydenish, I would say. Her behavior was
not missish at all."

"But she is not
a miss," Emily pointed out. "Allegra is a married woman. She is your
wife."

"That is all the
more reason for her to behave herself!" snapped Adam.

Emily raised her
eyebrows. "How stern you are. What happened to my carefree son, who
thought so poorly of society's strictures?"

Adam stared at her,
his green eyes cold. "Don't try to distract me, Mother. The behavior of my
wife is very much my business."

"Well, she
doesn't know you are about. When the two of you get to know one another, you
will come to an understanding. She is a little headstrong, my Allegra. But she
is very dear."

"Dear!"
sputtered Adam. "Her behavior was not dear in the least. It was appalling.
And what happened to her? She was a little dowdy when I left, and that woman
last night was like a flame to moths. Every man in the room was panting after
her!"

The Dowager gave him
a curious look. "She has grown up. It happens to girls, you know. They
become women. Well, my dear, come sit down and tell me about your travels.
You'll meet Allegra soon enough and I'm sure you'll love her as I do."

Emily dispatched a
servant to fetch Allegra, and Adam sat down grudgingly to regale his mother
with a few tales of his travels. But his mind was not engaged; it kept turning
back to the dashing horsewoman in the park and the tantalizing beauty at
Ranelagh. He grew increasingly angry that his wife should be so hoydenish,
should be dressed so daringly, should be making so free with unknown gentlemen.

Some time passed.
There came a light step on the stairs and the door to the morning room opened.
Allegra floated into the room. She was robed in a pale green gown over a dimity
petticoat, quilted and embroidered. Her shining titian hair tumbled about her
head in a mass of artless curls, and it glowed like a crown on her proud little
head. A gentle smile curled her delicate lips and blue eyes, no longer laughing
but now smiling dreamily, floated in a face of finest porcelain. In the lace at
her bosom, a single diamond pin winked and glittered. Adam gritted his teeth
when he saw it was the stone she had won from him the night before.

"Mama
dear," she called. "You wished to see me?"

Emily rose and took
her hand. "Good morning, Allegra. We have a visitor."

Allegra looked up at
Adam with a mischievous smile and extended him a delicate white hand. He bowed
over it, feeling awkward and clumsy. Allegra was every bit as lovely as she had
seemed the day before, and the intimacy of the morning room, with only one
other person present, made him more than ever aware of their situation. This
was his wife, the woman he was expected to live with, to sire children by. The
thought of Allegra in his bed sparked a sudden flash of desire in his body, and
he fought it back. What was he thinking of? He loved Louisa.

"This is Adam,
my dear," said Emily. "Your husband and my son."

Adam did not know
what reaction he had expected from Allegra, but it was not what he received.
She laughed merrily, a sound like silver bells.

"My lord,
welcome home. I'm sorry I wasn't waiting to receive you, but we weren't
informed of your arrival date, and I'm afraid I danced until early this
morning. I hope your trip was pleasant."

"There was some
rough weather in the Channel," said Adam stiffly. "But I
survived." Her casual manner annoyed him. She should be at least slightly
embarrassed to be confronted with her husband after their meeting last night,
but she seemed to be completely unconcerned.

"You seem to be
recovered. You look very well indeed," said Allegra. "Perhaps you can
join us tonight. We are attending Lady Bellamy's rout. It will be pleasant to
have a man to accompany us, although it's most unfashionable to have one's
husband for a gallant, so perhaps we shall do as well without you."             

The Dowager watched
nervously as Adam's face grew darker. "Yes, please do come," she
urged. "Unless, of course, you're too tired to go out. Perhaps you're
still weary from your journey."

"Not at all. I
would be pleased to accompany you."

"Then perhaps
you should rest," said Allegra artlessly. "We shall be out very late
again tonight."