Chapter Sixteen

Lord Allenbridge’s hopes that his marriage to Allegra would be overlooked in the excitement of Penelope and Vivian’s announcement was, unfortunately, a little off the mark.

No sooner had a carefully worded paragraph appeared in the Times, than everyone seemed to discover a reason to visit Bridgeford House. Gifts started to arrive, quite unsolicited, and it took very careful record keeping on the part of Runcorn and the staff to separate those intended for the young couple from those intended for Lord and Lady Allenbridge.

“Aren’t people nice?” Allegra asked the question over breakfast, as she opened invitation after invitation to teas, masquerades, ridottos, trips to the country/park/Vauxhall’s, and so on. “They all seem to want the pleasure of our company. Goodness, who is the Comtesse D’Orimasse?”

“Mmm....” Pip mumbled through a mouthful of bacon and eggs. “More likely they want the opportunity to parade us around like some sort of prize zoo exhibit.” He leaned back and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Accept a few if you must, my dear, but check with Angus if you are in any doubt—he has a complete list of those who are considered good Ton and who actually might want to see us....”

“Uncle Pip, you’re too severe...” Penelope smiled as she checked her own invitations and passed them to Grace. “Vivian and I have had some ever such nice presents.... although what we going to do with that enormous silver epergne his great aunt sent us, I have no idea.”

“Might come in handy to hang laundry on...” teased Pip.

“It may indeed,” grimaced Allegra. “I nearly broke my shins on it when it arrived, and I haven’t had the nerve to ask Runcorn where he put it.”

“I don’t suppose you two might like it as a wedding gift from Vivian and I, would you?” Penelope’s sly question made them grin.

“No.” They both chorused at once.

“Well...” said Grace, ever practical. “Perhaps they can donate it to some worthy cause or other. It might help raise money for orphans or something. Anyway, Cousin Ally, you have to expect all these invitations and attention, because although it was a rather clever notice, you can’t escape the fact that you have married one of the great catches of the last few years.”

“Why thank you...” said Pip, inclining his head. “Modesty prevents me from agreeing with your assessment, however, and I will just attribute this growing notoriety to nosiness on the part of people with nothing better to do. On the other hand, I have lots better to do, and must go and start doing it. Ladies...my dear...” He kissed Ally’s cheek lightly and nodded to the girls before leaving the room.

The Times lay on the table, the announcement circled with Penelope’s delicate tracery:

“Lord Phillip Allenbridge is delighted to announce the engagement of his niece, the Honourable Penelope Sullivan, to Sir Vivian Kerrick. To celebrate this happy occasion, a ball will be held at Bridgeford House next Friday, at which time Lord Phillip and Lady Allegra Allenbridge, whose marriage is of recent date, will formally present their niece as the betrothed of Sir Vivian.”

Grace sighed and put the paper aside. “Are we almost finished with our arrangements, Cousin? We seem to have spent hours with just about every tradesman in London over the last couple of days.”

Allegra nodded and set her teacup down firmly on its saucer. “The only things left are our gowns, I believe—fittings and so on. Everything else is all settled and ready for Friday. At least I think so, although there’ll probably be five hundred details I’ve forgotten...” She looked at the girls in some trepidation.

“Now don’t start panicking. We’ve covered just about as much as we can, I’m sure of it,” soothed Grace.

“Tell us about your dress, Cousin Ally?” Penelope attempted to divert Allegra’s attention from her worries.

“It’s very nice, and I like it. And it’s completely unimportant when compared to you two and your gowns. I’m sure Madame Dumas has done you both proud. Now, about flowers for dresses and hair...” The conversation turned into a discussion of the latest styles.

In fact, thanks to the excellent staff at Bridgeford House, the arrangements for the ball had gone supremely smoothly, considering the short amount of time they had been given in which to produce the affair. Invitations had been sent and returned—almost all those invited had responded with pleasure, including, to Pip’s wrath, the Jamesons.

The day of the ball dawned clear and bright, for summer was truly “a’coming in...” and this ball would pretty much mark the end of the Season.

Ally’s greenery arrived promptly, and it gave her great pleasure to direct the arrangement of the festoons of fresh boughs and the large potted ferns that she had ordered for the occasion.

It seemed that the day flew by and before she knew it, it was time to dress for the dinner, which would precede the ball. Only twenty or so close friends had been invited for the meal, the rest of the guests would arrive sometime after about ten o’clock.

As she dressed, a shiver of excitement ran up her spine as she realised this was truly her debut as Lady Allenbridge. The maid she had been bullied into using for this night had dressed her hair in a profusion of curls that brushed her shoulders and gave her an unusual sensation as they caressed her bare skin.

Her dress was of pale lavender silk and lavishly embroidered around the hem with spring flowers in varying shades of purple from the lightest lilac bloom to the deepest pansy. This embroidery was echoed in the wide band of lace that fell from the daring neckline and formed sleeves that exposed her shoulders. Ribbons in matching shades of purple were threaded through and allowed to fall from love knots onto the soft silk.

Allegra found the effect both elegant and pleasing, and felt that it would give her the measure of confidence she would need on her first night as Lady Allenbridge. She knew that her décolletage was quite appropriate for a married woman, but couldn’t help wondering what her husband’s reaction was going to be when he saw how the dress emphasised the creamy sweep of her breasts and her generous cleavage.

She was just twitching the last fold into place when a light tap on her bedroom door heralded the entrance of said husband. She took a breath, only to hold it as she saw Pip in his full-dress attire. No one, she felt, could wear the tight-fitting breeches as well as his Lordship, and no one could attempt to carry off such a magnificent waistcoat, ornately embroidered in purple and gold. His presence was quite overpowering, and Allegra gulped as she saw his eyes darken with some emotion as they gazed at her.

“M...m...my Lord...I did not expect...”

“It is the custom for us to go down together, but I wanted you to have this before we left.” He held out a slim black velvet box.

“Oh no,” breathed Allegra.

“I know you’re not fond of jewellery—distinctly unfeminine trait I might add—because Angus told me you have refused almost every piece of Allenbridge jewellery he’s shown you.”

“It’s not...I do think they’re lovely...It’s just...” stuttered Allegra, caught off guard.

“I understand. You don’t think you’ve earned the right to wear them, am I correct?”

She nodded, eyes lowered, cheeks flushing.

“Well, you may wear these with a clear conscience, because they are not part of the Allenbridge collection.” He opened the case and held it out for her to see.

She gasped. Lying on the black velvet and spitting purple fire at her was her mother’s amethyst set. “How?When? This is...oh...oh...” She carefully touched the stones with her finger as if afraid they would disappear.

“I saw the picture of your Mama.” Pip nodded towards the desk where the small miniature reposed in pride of place. “You are much like her, you know. Anyway, I had a notion that those jewels would have a special meaning for you and when I asked around, Rundell and Bridge kept an ear to the ground and let me know recently that they’d found and purchased them for me. They’ve been cleaned and the settings repaired...are they to your liking? I mean, will you wear them? Well, not all of them, but some of them tonight, perhaps...I...er...dash it, Ally...say something,” Pip stammered to a halt.

Allegra swallowed, feeling her emotions were about to choke her. A tear slipped down her cheek as she whispered, “Thank you...”

“Then they do please you?” said Pip uncertainly.

“Oh, how could they not?” She felt the breath come back into her body. “These are all I remember of Mama, and it was so hard to part with them. I had no choice after Falworth died—I had to settle his estate and I never thought I’d see these again. Indeed, I am deeply in your debt, Pip, and will never be able to tell you how much they mean to me.”

Pip smiled with relief. “May I suggest the aigrette for tonight?” He lifted the delicate bouquet of amethysts and diamonds from its resting place.

Allegra turned to her glass and watched as Pip carefully clipped the jewel into the softness of her hair. The stones glowed and shone and took on a life of their own as if they belonged there. She knew her heart was in her eyes as she turned back to her husband.

“Ah, yes. Perfect. I’m glad I found them, Ally. It was a lucky notion indeed.”

“You are a true gentleman, Pip, and I thank you very, very much...” Then she astonished both herself and Pip by leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

Pip sucked in a breath and his arms went around his wife almost without thought. Their gazes met—hazel eyes gleaming with moisture, blue eyes shining with desire. Pip tightened his grip and bent his face to hers.

“I have waited...I don’t want to rush you into anything before you’re ready.” He pressed a light kiss on her mouth. “But it’s getting harder to keep my hands off you...” Another kiss followed, and another, until she gasped, and Pip delved deep into her warmth.

Meeting his passion, Ally surrendered to the joy she knew she would find in Pip’s arms. Heat spread throughout her body and pooled at the juncture of her thighs. Pip’s hand slid naturally to her breast, kneading its softness through the delicate lace and silk of her gown. The intensity of their kiss deepened, and Allegra lost herself in the depths of the excitement the contact of their bodies was causing.

“Ooh...Pip...Pip...” she moaned, tilting her head back and letting him nibble and lick his way down her neck.

“Ahem—my Lord, my Lady...” A loud voice cleared its throat outside the door. “If you please. The carriages are about to arrive.” Runcorn tapped again with extra force, which made the couple inside realise he’d probably been doing it for a few minutes while they were otherwise occupied.

With a grimace, Pip released Allegra and straightened her gown. “Shall we?” He asked his wife with a quirked brow, looking at her with such longing that she felt her breath disappear.

“Yes, I think we should.”

She wondered exactly what question she was answering

That night, many remarked on the glow in the new Lady Allenbridge’s cheeks and the complementary smile worn by her husband. In fact, it was generally acknowledged that the Allenbridge Ball concluded the Season that year in a grand way.

By ten o’clock the receiving line disbanded, and Pip and Allegra were able to take to the floor to the strains of a quadrille. Although she was smiling happily, Pip knew that his wife’s mind was busily reviewing the arrangements, guests, servants, and food, so he did not attempt to engage her in any deep conversation, merely commenting that it looked like it was going well.

“Indeed, my Lord...” They came together in the figures of the dance. “Penelope and Grace are particularly in demand...” She smiled, nodding at a group of young people just pairing off to join the waltz.

Allegra did not realise that she herself was the centre of much discreet surveillance, although Pip was only too aware of the fact.

Who was this woman who had married such a confirmed bachelor? Several times Pip had surprised an intense look from one or other of his acquaintances. A certain dowager had gone so far as to level her quizzing glass at Allegra’s belly. That had aroused his anger, but he had managed to call on years of training to restrain himself from telling the old bat his exact opinions of her. Besides, it wasn’t out of the question that he might yet get an heir—he hadn’t reached his dotage, and Allegra was younger than himself.

Watching her move gracefully towards him with her silken skirts swirling around her slim thighs put quite inappropriate thoughts of their earlier kiss into Pip’s mind, and he sternly recalled himself to the moment before his condition became obvious.

Noting a slight frown cross his partner’s face, Pip raised an inquiring eyebrow.

“The Jamesons have arrived and brought the dratted Rajah with them,” she hissed in answer to his unspoken question.

“Damn.” His eyebrows snapped together, and Pip surreptitiously surveyed the ballroom, catching sight of the party as they entered the room—fashionably late thanks to Gloriana, he supposed.

As the floor was now full of dancing couples, it was time for the host and hostess to circulate amongst their guests. Pip and Allegra were easily able to slip out from the whirling throng and wend their way towards the Jamesons.

“My dear Lord Phillip...and I suppose I must now call you Lady Allenbridge, mustn’t I?” Gloriana gushed as she headed for Pip with hands dramatically outstretched, while simultaneously slinging a verbal shot at Allegra.

“My wife and I are pleased you could attend, Miss Jameson.” Pip’s response was correctly formal, and he managed to evade her grasp.

Gloriana’s eyes snapped fire. “My, my, how many broken hearts you must have left in your wake, my Lord. And how devastated your swain was.” She tried unsuccessfully to keep the snarl out of her voice as she delivered yet another cut to Allegra.

“My congratulations to you both. I know my sister joins me in wishing you all the happiness in the world.” Nigel Jameson spoke quietly, moving from behind Gloriana and approaching Allegra. “Lady Allenbridge—my very best wishes for your future. “ He placed a kiss on her hand.

“Thank you, Sir Nigel. Your words are most kind,” she responded, feeling rather guilty at the pain she saw in the young man’s eyes.

“And of course the Rajah joins us in our congratulations.” Gloriana’s voice was almost too loud, and she tugged the man forward in a swirl of silks and tassels.

“Indeed yes. This is truly the wedding of much surprise, yet not surprising to those of us who can see past the veils of reality.” He waved a gloved hand through the air as he uttered this confusing sentiment.

“Well. Ahem. I suppose so...” said Pip, baffled.

“May I prevail upon new Lady Allenbridge to honour me by directing me to some sustenance for my humble thirst?” The Rajah slipped his arm through Allegra’s.

“Of course. If you’ll come this way?” She struggled to resist the impulse to brush off the Rajah’s touch like a nasty insect.

Somehow or other, they ended up alone at the refreshment table, where few guests had yet felt the need to break their exertions.

“Most pleasant, my Lady, truly of the most delightful occasions.” The Rajah looked around him with a calculating eye.

“Thank you, sir. I believe you will find some drinks here, or we have some other libations in the Library for the gentlemen....” Allegra did her best to be the attentive hostess.

“No...no. This will suffice. “ The Rajah took a glass of lemonade from a tray. “This and your delightful company. Ah, I see a comfortable looking seat for two people...there please?”

Finding herself firmly guided to a couch set back a little amongst some of her trailing greenery, politeness obliged her to seat herself, but she took a place at the very edge of the cushion, indicating that she would momentarily be gone.

“Of course,” began the Rajah. “The good hostess will be wanting to see to her guests very soon, I am sure. So many nice people that have come to the house of the new Allenbridge Lady, have they not?”

Puzzled, Allegra merely inclined her head in agreement.

“My vision, however, tells me they might have come to see the new Allenbridge Lady rather than her house. My vision also tells me they would be very surprised at the past of the Lady.”

“Sir...this is beyond the bounds of good manners.” Allegra paled and gathered her skirts around her as if to rise.

“No, stay...Lady Allegra...” The Rajah placed a scarred and wrinkled hand on Allegra’s smooth arm. Chilled and repelled by his touch, she remained where she was, unwilling to provoke him and uncertain if he might cause a scene.

“I truly mean you no insult. I have seen from your aura...much of days gone by when you were young and...” His gaze wandered across her cleavage “...And wore less of the silken clothes. My visions tell me of a goddess on a pedestal of man.” He paused. “Lady Allenbridge?”

The last words were almost hissed at Allegra, who sat bolt upright and stared ahead, unseeing, into the dining room. Gritting her teeth, she felt she now had his measure.

“If you are insinuating, Sir, that you would make known such gossip about my past as you think your...your...so-called visions might have made you privy to, then feel free. My husband is fully aware of any details concerning my life before our marriage and has felt them unimportant. So if you imagine for one moment that you can...you can...coerce me into something—”

Allegra’s temper threatened to overwhelm her at this point, and she snapped her lips tight shut.

“But no, Lady, you mistake,” said the Rajah smoothly. “Only a man of the lowest character would upset a delightful companion such as yourself. I simply wondered if you would care to visit your ancestral home, Falworth Manor, in my company? You are so kind to all, I hoped for the same. I merely mentioned my visions to make you think of me more as someone you know well.”

Allegra felt that this was the last thing he had accomplished and found herself unable to rid her mind of the uncomfortable knowledge that the Rajah was up to something.

“You want to visit Falworth Manor?” she asked.

“It is my earnest wish. I have heard much of the loveliness of such place, and would like to go. But I know not how to visit without the invitation?”

Allegra rose, unable to sit next to him a second longer. “I understand the present Lord Falworth has recently arrived in town. I shall inquire if it is possible to procure you an invitation from him. I do not visit Falworth. And may I add that you might want to keep a discussion of your visions to those who indicate an interest. I am not one of them.”

The Rajah also rose and bowed deeply over clasped hands. “Forgive my clumsy attempts at conversation. My Lady is all graciousness...” he murmured.

“My Lady is bloody furious.” The thought flashed through Allegra’s mind as she whisked herself away from him as fast as was decently possible. “How dare that little worm try to blackmail me...”

She all but flew from the dining room into the ballroom to be confronted by the sight of what seemed like a colourful blur of dancers whirling about the highly polished floor to the strains of a waltz. A firm hand slipped into her arm and grabbed her, pulling her back and away from the path of the dance.

“What’s afoot, Ally?” Pip’s voice came from above her head, and she found her shoulders pressed against his chest. “I saw you with that Rajah fellow. It didn’t take a genius to realise he was making you most uncomfortable, so you might as well make up your mind to tell me what he said...and I want the truth.”