Chapter Seventeen

Allegra knew from the tone of Pip’s voice that this was not a moment to joke. She turned so that she was more beside him than in front of him.

“The man is no gentleman, that’s for certain.” She felt Pip’s arm tighten around her.

“Did he insult you?”

“Not really. I thought at first, he was trying to blackmail me...he started on about his visions of me.” She swallowed. “And that time I told you about...you know...” Her voice tapered into silence as she found it difficult, even now, to talk about such things with her husband.

“Yes, I recall...go on...”

“But when I told him that you knew all about it, and certainly wouldn’t pay for his silence, he told me I’d completely misunderstood, and all he wanted was for me to take him to visit Falworth Manor.” She looked Pip full in the face as she ended her words, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“To what?” asked Pip incredulously.

“To visit Falworth Manor,” repeated Allegra. “It puzzled me then, and still does. I suppose I am the logical person to speak to, but he certainly didn’t have to start the conversation with a vaguely threatening-sounding kind of discourse. If he’d just asked politely, I probably would have agreed without all this nonsense...” Her voice trailed off as she vainly tried to make sense of the Rajah’s words.

“This is very strange.” Pip’s arm relaxed around her waist.

“We are in agreement on that point, my Lord,” said Allegra rather ruefully. “However, I see Lady Bascombe about to descend on us, which means unfortunately we don’t have the leisure to discuss this matter right now.”

“Damn the woman,” muttered Pip as his mouth formed a polite social smile. “Lady Bascombe. How are you this evening? Not dancing?”

“Now, now, my lad....” boomed the ample Lady Bascombe. “You know my Twitty don’t tread too lightly.”

Allegra, who had earlier been introduced to Lord Twitterdale Bascombe and been amazed that such a tiny man could have ventured into marriage with such an Amazon, pondered Lady Bascombe’s words.

“But if your Lady there was to spare you to an old woman for a quick turn about the floor, I wouldn’t say nay.” She grinned as she took Pip’s arm and nodded at Allegra. “I’ll get him back to you, gal, in one piece...although if I was twenty years younger, you’d have cause to worry about which piece you’d get back.”

Amazingly, Pip blushed.

Allegra laughed as she watched her husband expertly swirl the large woman into the dance. Her own hand was soon claimed, and the ball progressed well into the wee hours of the morning, finally being accorded the highest compliment—a delightful crush.

It must have been shortly before dawn that Penelope yawned hugely, and Grace rubbed her eyes. “That’s it, Cousin Ally...we are done in.”

“Go straight to bed, girls. We’ll talk in the morning.” Allegra smiled tiredly after picking up a misplaced reticule and putting it down again.

“You too, Ally. “ Pip caught his wife futilely trying to smother her own yawns.

“But Pip...I wanted to talk to you about...you know...” Ally glanced at the twins as they made their way up the stairs.

“I know, but I also know that we’re too tired to think straight. As you said, we’ll talk in the morning. It was a wonderful ball...you did well, my dear.” Pip ushered Ally to the bottom of the stairs.

“You should sleep too,” Allegra mumbled as she felt waves of exhaustion swamping her body.

“An excellent notion,” he chuckled. “Go to bed, sleepyhead. “ Allegra turned to say goodnight only to have her words blotted out by his lips.

“Sleep well,” said Pip. He turned his bemused wife to the stairs and pushed her on her way. She was halfway up them before she realised she’d been kissed, and almost asleep on her pillow before she realised she’d thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, dreams of Falworth Manor plagued Allegra’s rest, and it was a scant couple of hours later that she rose tiredly, unwilling to try to get more sleep if it meant returning to a time which had brought her so much unhappiness.

“Damn the Rajah. He stirred up this hornet’s nest in my mind.” She dressed herself then grasped her comb firmly and tugged it through her hair as if to wrench out the bad memories.

Knowing that she would probably be the only one down at this hour, Allegra quietly left her room and sought sanctuary in the small salon. She paused only to smile at the servants who were already busy cleaning up after last night’s revels.

“May I procure you some tea, my Lady?” Runcorn politely masked his shock at seeing his Mistress up and around a little less than three hours after she’d retired.

“Thank you, Runcorn, that would be marvellous, but I don’t want to add any extra work for all these busy hands...” She gazed at the hive of activity in the room.

“That won’t be a problem, my Lady.” Runcorn unbent slightly. “I have a nice pot just ready for pouring, so I’ll be right along.”

Allegra smiled her thanks and made her way into the salon. It had an air of quiet emptiness—the decorations had been taken down, the customary furnishings replaced, and all had been restored to its original appearance. There was nothing except Allegra’s memory to remind her that last night it had been filled with chattering, laughing guests.

Two cups of Runcorn’s tea did a lot to settle her spirits, and she went to the window. The sun was shining, and she felt the urge to let some fresh air into the room.

As she opened the casement, a piece of paper blew to the floor. Natural curiosity made her pick it up and unfold what appeared to be a badly written and crumpled note.

“A.R....can confirm....RG is definitely Falworth...The Angel’s Wing”.

The signature looked hurriedly scrawled and illegible, and Allegra frowned as she tried to make sense of the words.

A slight sound behind her caused her to turn with a little start.

“My Lady...oh dear...” Angus’s drawn features told of his exhaustion. “I believe you have a paper that is supposed to be for me?”

“Of course.” She blinked. “A.R...Angus Redfearn...forgive me, I did not mean to pry. It fell off the windowsill just now.”

“I understand, my Lady. If I may?” He held out his hand for the paper.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of enlightenment cracked across Allegra’s brain, and she turned ashen.

“Lady Ally, what is it?”

“That note—you were making enquiries, weren’t you? About the Rajah? Is it possible? The note says it confirms that the Rajah is...oh my God...Charles Falworth.” Allegra swayed slightly, feeling bile rising into the back of her throat.

Angus rushed to her side and carefully helped her to the nearest chair.

“Does Pip know? Please, Angus, don’t let Pip find out. Oh Angus, Angus...how could this have come to pass?” With a cry of horror, Allegra buried her face in her hands.

Neither she nor Angus heard the door close softly, nor did they hear the footsteps that sped across the hall to the stairs.

“My Lady, please calm yourself...” Angus’s voice was worried as he poured more tea. “Here, drink this...it will do you good.” He held the cup and saucer, and she took it automatically.

“Perhaps you’d better make that two cups...and add a spot of brandy.”

Allegra nearly spilled her tea in surprise as Pip came soberly into the room.

“I can assume from your faces that you, Angus, have found out what we needed to know, and that you, Ally, have discovered that information?”

A nod from Angus confirmed Pip’s accurate reading of the situation.

“Did you know?” she asked, unable to meet Pip’s eyes.

“Not for sure, no. But as time went on, there seemed to be fewer and fewer explanations for the accuracy of the Rajah’s visions. We needed to find someone who had disappeared several years ago—all his mystical declarations date from before that time—and also someone whose death had not been verified. There were only a few people who fit that description, and Charles Falworth was one of them. I was certainly hoping I was wrong.” He frowned. “I see I wasn’t.”

“Do you understand what this means?” asked Allegra.

“I am endeavouring to do so at this moment...” He motioned Angus out of the room. “Thank you, Angus. Will you come to my study in an hour or so?”

“Yes, my Lord...I’m truly sorry, my Lady...” Angus apologetically took his leave.

Allegra rose and walked to the windows she had so recently opened. “I am a bigamist...” she said dully. “I have married one husband while another still lives. It is the correct word, is it not?”

Pip recognised the enormous stress under which his wife was struggling and simply let her talk.

“All the comments he made—and I wondered how he knew so much—he was there...My God, how he could hurt me then and how he can still hurt me. And now he can hurt you, too.” She turned to Pip with a strange look in her eyes. “But I won’t let him hurt you...or the girls...not again. He won’t ruin any more lives like he almost ruined mine...” She gasped as though fighting for breath.

Pip was sensible enough to realise that his ordinarily composed wife was about to plunge into hysteria. In two strides, he was across the room and grabbing her roughly by the arms. Turning her, he made her face him and continued holding her until her eyes lost their blind look and filled with tears.

“Oh Ally...” he said softly. “I would have given anything to prevent your finding out...” He pulled her tightly against him as the tears finally came.

It seemed hours later that Allegra found herself sitting in Pip’s lap, being cuddled up against a rather soggy shirt and clutching his handkerchief, which was also extremely damp.

“Oh dear...” She eased herself into a more appropriate position. “I do apologise, my Lord. I am not usually prone to such displays of temperament...”

“I think it was quite understandable, given the circumstances.” replied Pip gravely. “I would also like to apologise to you for my rather rough handling...I’m afraid there may be some bruises to show later...” He gently caressed her arm, sending goose bumps over her entire body.

Heaving a deep sigh, she looked steadily at her husband. “Well, we’re in a nice mess now, and no mistake. What is our course of action?”

Pip gasped out a laugh. “That’s it? No more crying? Just the practical question of what to do? You astound me, Ally.”

“Well, I’ve got the crying out of my system, and there seems no point in prolonging such distress. It accomplishes nothing. Also, as you were the one to set the enquiries in motion, I have to suppose that you have a plan.”

She waited patiently for Pip to answer. He did not.

“You do have a plan, Pip, don’t you?”

“Actually, as my shirt is now drying out, I was rather hoping you might want to cry some more. It was most pleasant having such a cosy armful on my lap just now...” The gleam in his eye was distinctly wicked. “Wouldn’t you like me to kiss the tears from your cheeks...and elsewhere?” His gaze dropped to her bosom.

“Don’t change the subject.” She refused to acknowledge the strong inclination to climb back into his arms.

Sighing, Pip rose and began to pace the room. “I should have known you were not the sort of woman I could lure onto my lap...”

Allegra snorted at his comment. He certainly could lure her. She was completely lurable. But it wouldn’t do for him to know that.

“As far as a plan goes, we haven’t really formed one to any great degree...so much depended upon confirming the identity of the Rajah. Now that we know for sure who he is, we must find out what he wants and what he’s doing here.”

She nodded her agreement. “Then I suggest we join poor Angus in the study. He’s probably thinking you’re going to fire him for allowing me to find out the truth. Perhaps if we all put our heads together, we can come up with something.” She paused. “But Pip, what do we tell the girls? I really would rather they not know that my husband is still alive.”

Pip stopped before the door and turned, putting his hands firmly on her shoulders. “Ally, let’s establish some facts here. I am your husband. The laws of the Church and the laws of England have affirmed it.”

One hand rose to cup her cheek. “Charles Falworth died years ago, and you have behaved with perfect propriety as his widow since that time. You were free to marry me, and marry me you did. I shall never relinquish you nor do I consider you wed to any other.”

His voice was resolute and nearly took her breath away. “May I ask what your feelings are in this matter?”

Her heart thumped loudly as she tried to read Pip’s expression. She saw softness in his eyes and wondered at it, yet was not unaware of the firmness around his mouth.

This was a time when the words she spoke would echo loudly for years to come—a turning point in their marriage—and in the space of a few seconds, Allegra knew that this moment would dictate the course of their lives together. She could respond in an impersonal and appropriate fashion, or she could tell the truth and live with the consequences.

Her natural inclination for honesty won out.

“I consider myself your wife, Pip, and will never relinquish you willingly for any reason. My first husband is dead, though he was less of a husband to me in all of our marriage than you have been in the last few minutes.”

She raised her chin a little, relishing the warmth of his palm against her face. “You wed me knowing of my circumstances and have asked me for nothing...such nobility must be rewarded with my honesty. If I had to leave you I would, but it would cost me a high price.” She paused. “It would cost me my heart.”

Her gaze never wavered as she bravely let Pip glimpse the depth of her emotions.

Fire blazed in his eyes and his arms went around her. Allegra surrendered herself to his embrace and readied herself to be ruthlessly kissed—only to hear a polite cough.

Jumping, the two turned to see Runcorn standing in the doorway, trying not to look embarrassed.

“Sir Vivian asked me to inform you that he has joined Mr. Redfearn in the study, my Lord, and that a ‘Council of War’ is about to convene.” Runcorn’s gaze was fixed rigidly on a point some three feet to the right of His Lordship.

“Er...very well, Runcorn...run along now—” stuttered Pip, caught completely off guard by the untimely arrival of his butler.

Allegra’s composure returned more rapidly. “Thank you, Runcorn. Please tell the gentlemen we shall be there directly.”

She turned to Pip and held out her hand. “Come, my Lord. Shall we?”

“No we dashed well shan’t...” said Pip, ungrammatically. He grasped his wife’s hand and pulled her towards him as the door closed behind Runcorn.

“Pip, we have some very important and difficult decisions to face...there will be time for us to...to continue this conversation...perhaps...once we’ve worked out what to do?” she placed her hand pleadingly against Pip’s chest.

A deep breath emanated from his Lordship, and he seemed to be struggling with the logic in his wife’s suggestion.

“As usual, you’re making good sense Ally, damn you. However,” his strong hand stayed her passage from the room, “...things have changed now, dear wife, and you know it as well as I do. This conversation will most certainly continue, and at a not-too-distant time. Are we in accord?”

Knowing full well what Pip was implying with his question, Allegra cast the rest of her natural reserve to the winds and let a delightfully naughty smile linger on her mouth. “We are in complete accord, my Lord. I shall await the time of our continued conversation’ with much anticipation.”