To Marry a Duke (10 page)

He restored her to her feet but did not relinquish her arms.
‘Look at me, Allegra.’ Reluctantly

she
raised
her head. ‘Playtime is over, sweetheart. It’s time to accept our union is
inevitable and begin to appreciate the advantages of such a match and not dwell
on the negative aspects.’

Her throat constricted and words would not come.
Unexpectedly her eyes filled. He made her feel so vulnerable, helpless, and she
hated it.

‘Don’t cry, I didn’t mean to distress you.’ He tugged softly
and she found herself gathered into the warm security of his embrace.

Her blood surged through her veins and for second she leant
against him. His heart pounded and she knew he was aroused. Then he dropped his
arms and she stepped back hastily.

Allegra smiled up, believing she was secure in her victory.
He reached out and brushed his thumb across her mouth. ‘Are you going to
change? You don’t have long to do so, if you are.’

She barely restrained the urge to stamp her feet in
frustration. ‘I am still to come? I thought you had relented.’

‘No, my lady, I did not relent, I merely sympathised.’ He
bowed, and his dark eyes flashed a message she could not fail to understand. He
strolled away leaving her alone, her emotions in total disarray.

She ran lightly upstairs to put on her bonnet and collect
her matching parasol and reticule. A moment’s mischief prompted her to insist
that Abbot and Miss Murrell accompany them. As both couples were betrothed, and
they were intending to travel in an open carriage, a chaperon was unnecessary.
Tremayne would be furious and that almost made up for the fact he had taken the
honours in their latest confrontation.

At the appointed time the ladies were assembled on the lawn.
Richard’s phaeton, drawn by two pairs of perfectly matched bay geldings,
arrived first. His tiger jumped down from his perch at the rear of the carriage
and ran round hold the horses’ heads.

‘This is a glorious day for an outing, Allegra, so try not
to look so prune faced about it, there’s a good girl.’ Richard’s shouted
comment was heard by everyone in the vicinity, including Tremayne, standing
quietly behind the ladies.

Allegra was obliged to hide her scarlet face behind her parasol.
Demelza smothered her giggles behind her hand and Miss Murrell pretended not to
have heard. Tremayne was not so tactful.

‘Oh, come now, Witherton, prune faced? That’s doing it
rather too brown. I would say Lady Allegra might look a little blue-devilled,
but no more than that.’

This had the desired effect. Allegra’s mortification turned
instantly to ire. Her head shot up and her colour faded leaving just two
patches across her cheekbones. She was forced to keep her pithy reply to
herself as Richard dismounted and tossed Demelza up onto her seat. He sprang up
beside her, the horses were released, the tiger scrambled back to his place and
the phaeton left in a flurry of stones.

Tremayne settled his party comfortably in the barouche then
stepped back, slamming the door. Allegra realized he had had no intention of
travelling in the carriage with her. He was riding his magnificent black
stallion. He touched his hat and waved them off impervious to her dagger stare.
She could hear his laughter following them across the park.

By the time the barouche had left the park she was more
ready to enjoy the outing. She sat back, closing her parasol with a decided
snap. She stared out of the open carriage. The verges were lush green, peppered
with the bright yellow of cowslips. She closed her eyes for a moment to listen.
‘Can you hear any nightingales, Miss Murrell? That was a cuckoo, I am sure of
it.’

‘I do believe you’re right, my dear. But it’s hard to tell
if the nightingales are singing because there are so many other birds doing the
same.’

Allegra finally relaxed. ‘I didn’t wish to come today, but
Mr Tremayne insisted.’ She paused, but Miss Murrell made no comment. ‘I rather
think I am glad to be here. It must be three years since I attended a fair at
Great Bentley. I find I am looking forward to it.’

‘Of course you are, my lady. It’s a lovely summer’s day and
you are going to spend it in good company.’

The carriage bowled along the lane, passing pedestrians and
pony traps filled with villagers

also
intent
on spending a day at the fair. Their passage slowed as they turned into the
lane that led to Great Bentley for they were forced to follow behind several
like-minded carriages. These events were famous throughout the area and anyone
who had time to spare, and pennies to spend, made an effort to attend.

There was a clatter of hoof beats alongside and Tremayne
appeared. He handled his spirited mount with consummate ease. ‘I’ll ride ahead.
Apollo needs to stretch his legs.’ He smiled directly at Allegra and her heart
turned over. She watched him urge his horse through a gap in the hedge, her
expression a little bemused. Miss Murrell interrupted her reverie.

‘My dear, Lady Allegra, I’m so glad you are finally becoming
reconciled to your marriage and your reservations about Mr Tremayne are over
and your affections engaged.’

All pleasure in the excursion evaporated. Allegra frowned.
‘You are quite mistaken, Miss Murrell. I do not wish to hear you say such a
thing again.’

Her dear companion shrivelled,
her kindly face pinched with hurt and Allegra wished her angry words unspoken.
The shock of hearing that in Miss Murrell’s opinion she held a
tendre
for
that man
had caused her to speak
harshly.

Miss Murrell was far out in her assumptions. There was no
rapport between them. He desired her, nothing softer motivated him and she held
him
in complete dislike. She sat
stiffly against the squabs endeavouring to force the image of a pair of
penetrating navy eyes, and a devastating smile, firmly from her mind. She did not
want to marry Tremayne; it would be an intolerable
mésalliance
. She had no alternative. She was trapped. All joy in
the day vanished and she squeezed back unwanted tears.

She groped in her bag for a handkerchief and, with head
bowed, surreptitiously wiped her eyes. She must accept the inevitable – at
least married to a wealthy man she would lack for nothing. Richard’s nuptials
could not go forward if she refused. She was not so sunk in selfishness she
would ruin her brother’s life to benefit herself. Acceptance of the situation
brought with it a kind of peace and Allegra felt ready to enjoy the day again.
She turned to Miss Murrell.

‘I sincerely apologize for my rudeness. I am not sleeping
well, but that is no excuse. I pray you can forgive me for I do not wish to
ruin today.’

‘I accept your apology, Lady Allegra. Let us say no more
about it.’

Allegra knew she had offended her friend and that it would
take more than a few words to restore harmony between them.

Chapter
Ten

The journey continued in uncomfortable
silence. Allegra gazed raptly at the cow parsley bobbing and curtsying,
it’s
frothy cream flowers dramatic against the darker green
leaves of the hawthorn hedge. Miss Murrell was equally entranced by the same
scene unfolding on the far side of the carriage. Abbot sat between them, no
doubt wishing she had been left behind to get on with her mending.

‘This is quite ridiculous, Miss Murrell. We have been
friends for ever and however uncivil I have been, it is your Christian duty to
forgive me.’ This speech was delivered to the back of her companion’s best
chip-straw bonnet. ‘Do not stay up in the boughs please; we shall both have a
wretched day if you do.’

Slowly the bonnet turned. ‘I have said that I accept your
apology, my lady; however I wish to point out to you that since Mr Tremayne and
dear Miss Demelza came to reside at the Priory, I believe you’ve changed. I
scarcely recognize you as the dear girl I used to teach.

Allegra’s jaw dropped. ‘I had no idea I had become so
objectionable to everyone. It is only Mr Tremayne I dislike. I have become fond
of Demelza over the past few weeks. After all she is to be my sister soon.’

Miss Murrell sniffed and pursed her lips. ‘And you are to
become her mama, have you thought of that? The child is neither blind nor
stupid. She cannot be enjoying the constant friction between her father and
yourself.’

‘You are quite correct to admonish me, my dear friend. I
have behaved appallingly. I have allowed my own feelings to overcome what is
acceptable. I promise it shall not happen again.’

Miss Murrell looked
unconvinced,
perhaps believing her
volte face
was
too sudden to be genuine.

Allegra leant forward to add emphasis to her plea. ‘I am,
like my brother, a reformed character. From this point forward I shall be a
pattern card of civility, the most conciliatory of brides. I give you my word;
there will be no further unpleasantness between Tremayne and me.’

‘I’m so pleased to hear you say so, my dear. I shall say no
more for your further actions will demonstrate your sincerity, will they not?’

Allegra sat back satisfied she had repaired the
relationship. Her lips curved as she contemplated spending a day with the newly
married Griersons. Charles and Lady Arabella were well-known to her and she was
eagerly anticipating having a female nearer to her own age to converse with.

She frowned as something occurred to her. Would Tremayne
expect to dance attendance on her all day? She sincerely
hoped
not. There were bound to be cock fights, and possibly a horse race or two, to
occupy him. Although reconciled to her marriage she wasn’t yet ready to spend
time in his company.

It took a further forty minutes for the barouche to travel
the last mile to Great Bentley but she had not been bored. She had smiled and
waved to dozens of acquaintances and been seriously ogled by three society
gentleman recently arrived from London.

Lord and Lady
Hawksmith
, Lady
Arabella’s doting parents, were famous for the splendour of their summer
house-parties. From Bromley Hall it was but a short drive to Great Bentley so
it

was
quite
possible these top-of-the-trees gentlemen were staying there. Although the
season had

not
quite
finished many of the
haut ton
would
have already closed up their Town houses and left

to
enjoy
their summer in the fresher atmosphere of the countryside.

Allegra glanced down - glad she had decided to keep on the
eau-de-nil walking dress Tremayne had admired. Abbot reached out and adjusted
the bow that secured the matching silk lined bonnet.

‘There, you look lovely, my lady. It’s no wonder all the
gentlemen are staring.’

It had been so long since she had felt the warmth of
admiration and approval from the opposite sex. Allegra felt her face soften,
her smile become genuine and the pain and worry of the past years began to slip
away. She was going to enjoy this outing, in spite of her initial reservations
and her semi-serious threat to Tremayne to hate every minute.

‘Oh look, my lady, Lord Witherton and Miss Demelza are already
here. That is his lordship’s phaeton being led away.’

There was no sign of Apollo. Either Tremayne had not arrived
or he was also inside the elegant mansion making his bow to their hosts. The
groom appeared to hold their horses and a footman emerged from the handsome
front door and ran down the marble steps. He skidded to a halt beside them and
opened the carriage door with a flourish.

Allegra descended first, her back straight, her parasol
furled. She waited for Miss Murrell to join her then they strolled into the
house puzzled neither their host nor hostess was on the step to greet them.

‘Where is everyone, my lady? I know Mr Grierson and Lady
Arabella
are
newlywed but surely they are aware that
to leave invited guests to enter unannounced is the height of discourtesy?’

‘I agree, it is decidedly odd.’
 
She turned to the waiting footman. ‘Conduct
us to Lady Arabella

and
Mr
Grierson, if you please.’

‘They are in the garden, my lady.’

The footman led them across the chequered floor looking
decidedly uncomfortable, obviously realizing this was a serious breach of
etiquette.

‘Abbot, I shall not require you. If you wish to return to
the Priory then ask Thomas to take you back.’

Abbot beamed.
‘Oh no, my lady.
I
should like to visit my sister who lives on the green. What time do you wish me
to return here?’

‘Be back here by four o’ clock, please. Enjoy your day,
Abbot.’ On impulse, Allegra dipped into her reticule and removed a silver coin
and slipped it into Abbot’s palm. Then she followed the smartly liveried young
man as he took them through the house and out on to the terrace. ‘Good heavens!
Whatever is going on over there?’ On the far side of the lawn, her missing
hosts, plus Demelza and Tremayne, were staring up into the canopy of a large
chestnut tree. Of Richard there was no sign.

The young man paused, keeping his face admirably impassive.
‘I believe her ladyship’s cat is stuck up the tree, my lady, and his grace is
attempting to rescue it.’

The two ladies strolled across the expanse of newly scythed
greensward eager to join in the fun. Tremayne heard them approaching.

‘Welcome. As you see we have a daring rescue under way.
Unfortunately as Witherton ascends so does the wretched feline.’ He directed
their attention to the uppermost branches.

‘Richard is an excellent climber of trees. There is not one
of any size in our demesne that he has not conquered at some time during his
formative years.’

Tremayne grinned, his teeth of flash of white. ‘I sincerely
hope you’re correct, my dear. It’s a long way to fall from there.’

She shuddered dramatically. ‘Do not even think that, sir!’
She craned her neck to watch the delicate proceedings unworried by her
brother’s valiant efforts. She felt her bonnet slide backwards and hastily
straightened her head. ‘At least that explains why we arrived
ungreeted
. I am sure they must have an extremely efficient
staff here; where are the housekeeper and butler, I wonder?’

‘I understand they have the day off, as do most of the
servants, to attend the fair.’
 
Seeing
her startled look he added, his eyes twinkling. ‘I know, shocking is it not?
But the cook has prepared a magnificent cold collation, I’m told, for our
nuncheon. Also there are parlour-maids and footmen to attend us should we have
need of them.’

Demelza, hearing Allegra, spun round her face contorted with
anxiety. ‘I’m fearful he will fall, my lady. I know he will. He should not have
gone. It’s only a wretched cat, why should he risk his life for that?’

‘Don’t fret so, my dear.’ She handed the girl her kerchief.
‘Now, dry your eyes, you do not wish them to be all red and puffy when he
returns, do you?’

Tremayne stepped up and slid his arm around his daughter’s
shoulders. ‘Lady Allegra is quite correct, my love. It’s far more likely the
cat will fall than Witherton.’

This comment was overheard by Lady Arabella. She collapsed,
wailing, into the arms of her husband. By the time Charles had soothed his
overwrought young wife and Tremayne and Allegra had restored Demelza to some
degree of equanimity, Richard was beginning his descent. He had the errant cat
tucked firmly inside his waistcoat.

‘I’m coming down now, so you can all relax. I and the cat
are safe,’ he called through the branches. Instantly the waiting group looked
up. This time Allegra remembered to place a restraining hand on the back of her
bonnet. She noticed Demelza’s hat was hanging, unheeded, from its ribbons,
halfway down her back.

Lady Arabella was not wearing a bonnet. In fact, Allegra
noticed with some amusement, she was still in her morning gown,
a plain
cotton dimity not meant to be seen in company.
Richard had completed over half his climb, the small black head of the cat just
visible under his chin, when there was an ominous cracking and the narrow
branch upon which he had just placed his right foot, gave way.

Demelza screamed, her cry so startling the cat it shot
upwards, attempting to claw its way across Richard’s unprotected face. Allegra
held her breath and instinctively moved closer to Tremayne, but he was gone, no
longer beside her.

Assessing the situation he had leapt forward, tearing off
his jacket as he did so. ‘Hang on, lad, I’m coming up.’

Allegra watched, aghast, as he climbed rapidly, as adroit in
the branches as her brother, until he was able to support Richard’s dangling
feet.

‘Stand on my shoulders. I’m firmly braced below you. Regain
your balance before trying for

another
foothold.’

Richard braced himself,
then
tried
to remove the terrified cat from its position, crouched on top of his head. But
the cat was not prepared to co-operate and with an angry yowl, it clawed
Richard a second time and he was forced to release it.

To gasps of horror the unfortunate animal plummeted to the
ground. It landed, as cats do, on all fours, shook itself, and shot off hissing
and spitting in the direction of the house. Lady Arabella was the first to
react.

‘Well, after all the trouble that has been taken to rescue
him. What an ungrateful animal he is!’ Amidst the laughter of relief the
would-be rescuers emerged feet first from the tree. Tremayne dropped lithely to
the ground but Richard fell heavily, sprawling face down on the grass. He
rolled over, his hands clutched to his face, to be greeted by a further scream
of anguish from his intended.

‘Richard, you are covered in blood. That horrid cat has scratched
you to ribbons.’

Tremayne dropped to one knee and slipping his arm under
Richard, he heaved him up to prop him against the tree trunk. ‘Lean on that for
a moment, until you get your breath back.’ Concerned at the amount of blood
seeping through Richard’s fingers he produced a voluminous handkerchief from
his inside pocket and, folding it into a pad, carefully prised the hand away.
‘Hold this on your eye, press firmly.’

Tremayne had deliberately kept himself between the injured
man and the watching ladies. Without turning he spoke to Allegra. ‘Allegra,
take Demelza inside. I’ll deal with this.’

She didn’t argue. ‘Come along, Demelza, let us go in.
Richard does not want you to see him so discommoded. You know what gentlemen
are like about such things.’

She caught the eye of Charles, his arm still protectively
around his wife. He understood the unspoken message. ‘Arabella, sweetheart,
shall we go in and find your naughty pet?’

Allegra glanced again at Tremayne. She mouthed the word
‘doctor’ and he
nodded,
his expression grim. She
tightened her hold on the softly weeping girl and hurried her inside. Something
terrible had occurred. There was too much blood staining the white handkerchief
for it to be a mere scratch.

Demelza was bundled into the morning room and a parlour-maid
left to attend her. Lady Arabella ran off to look for her cat leaving Charles
and Allegra to speak privately.

‘I fear Richard is gravely hurt, Charles. You must send for
Dr Jones. As you know, he is usually stationed at the Lion, on days such as
this.’

Charles
nodded,
his face pale. ‘I
should have gone up the tree myself. Then none of this would have happened.’

‘Charles, you must not blame yourself. Accidents happen.
Since you broke your leg so badly two years ago you know you are not able to
climb trees. Richard or Tremayne had to climb, and Richard is far younger, so
obviously he volunteered.’ Even as she spoke the words of comfort she was
thinking that fetching a cat down from the tree should have been a job for a
gardener’s boy.

Charles sent a groom galloping across the park to fetch the
doctor. The Lion Inn abutted the far boundary of Great Bentley Hall and could
be reached by way of the churchyard. If Dr Jones was

where
they
expected, he could be with them in a matter of minutes.

A footman had been organized to carry blankets and a
parlour-maid to convey brandy and strong wine outside to Tremayne and the
invalid. Allegra ran to the kitchen to collect a jug of boiled water and some
freshly washed cloths. Then she hurried back to do what she could for her
injured brother.

Charles joined her at the French doors. ‘Why has Tremayne
not brought Richard inside? He would be far more comfortable. I’ll have the
downstairs apartment made ready just in case it’s needed.’