Chapter Twenty-Three

The Villa August had indeed tried hard to live up to its name and reputation as a Roman revival.

It’s impressive gravel driveway was lined with statues—some usefully holding burning torches—and large white columns flanked the enormous stairway leading to an imposing entrance.

As the Allenbridge party arrived, their carriage joined the slow procession that was making its way to the foot of the stairs and disgorging precious cargoes of the fortunate guests who had received an invitation to this grand event.

The steps were alive with the colourful silk gowns of the ladies and punctuated with the severe dark shades of their escorts’ coats. Diamonds and other gems caught the light of the torches and flickered like stars against a night sky.

The late evening air lay still and heavy against Allegra’s bare shoulders as she left the carriage and joined the others who were making their way to the receiving line in the Villa’s foyer. The laughter was loud, and the voices shrill and high, and Allegra quickly accepted that this was going to be considerably less formal than the balls she had previously attended.

Gripping her husband’s arm firmly, she pasted a polite smile on her lips and hid the fact that she was becoming increasingly unsettled. Something, somewhere, was bothering her, nagging at her subconscious mind, and she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.

She let Pip lead her onto the dance floor, doing her best to push her disquiet aside and enjoy the feeling of his arms around her. Penelope and Vivian whirled past them in a flurry of silk and grins, glowing with happiness.

Allegra glanced up at Pip. “I’m so glad to see that look in their eyes, aren’t you?” She knew he’d understand.

He did. But another, stronger emotion was rising in him, one he was coming to recognise very clearly.

“I’d prefer seeing that look in your eyes,” he answered bluntly. “Along with that little sigh you make just before you squeeze me so tight and cry out my name.” He quickly dropped a kiss onto her bare shoulder.

“Pip....” hissed Allegra, her cheeks hot. “We are in public, you know.”

Pip cleverly swirled her out of the way of a couple who were dancing too near, so engrossed in each other that they were unaware of anybody else on the floor.

“I don’t think they are particularly interested in what we’re doing at the moment, do you?” He grinned and pulled Allegra even closer, feeling her heart race against his chest.

“N...no...” she admitted, breathlessly. “But that doesn’t mean I want you to take liberties in the middle of a waltz...”

Pip waited for her to finish her sentence. He’d glimpsed that delightfully wicked twinkle lurking behind her eyes.

“I’d much rather you took liberties with me when the waltz is over, and we can find somewhere more private.”

Pip’s arms tightened even more about his wife as his desire for her grew to breaking point. “Dear God, Ally...I want you more than I can say. What the hell have you done to me?”

He rested his head against her hair and slowed their steps. “I never expected to feel this way at my age. I can’t tell you how difficult it is resisting the urge to drag you off into the garden and have you in the middle of the peonies.”

Allegra’s breath caught and Pip bit back a groan as desire flooded him at the little sound.

“Oh Pip, not peonies. They’re full of earwigs, you know. Besides, they are not the easiest plant to grow, and I’d hate to crush something so delicate. How about pansies?”

The thought of his wife’s body shining against a bed of multi-coloured pansies as he plunged deep into her was almost more than he could stand, and this time Pip groaned aloud.

“Enough, woman. We are now going to dance very fast so that exhaustion will temporarily drive all these lascivious thoughts about gardens and perennials out of my poor, simple, male mind. After this dance, I shall indeed take you into the garden, but we will do no more than exchange pleasantries and get a breath of fresh air.”

Allegra grinned. “As you say, my Lord.” Her response may have been meek, but she didn’t miss a chance to brush his thighs with the silken length of her legs as their steps rhythmically followed the music.

Beads of sweat were appearing on Pip’s brow as the dance ended. He wasted no time in escorting his wife off the dance floor and out one of the many large open windows that led to the lush gardens of Villa August.

He knew Allegra was losing her breath in her attempt to keep up with him, but he didn’t care. He had a definite intent, and he intended to satisfy it.

What that intent was became abundantly clear as soon as Pip reached the first private bit of garden.

Turning, he dragged her into his embrace. Their lips met in a fiery collision and the tensions of the last weeks fled as they poured themselves into the kiss. Allegra’s fingers wound themselves through Pip’s hair as his hands stroked her body, feeling its warmth through the thin tissue of her gown. They both knew what pleasure could be found together and her arousal was immediate.

Where such behaviour might have led was left to speculation, however, as a pair of familiar voices intruded upon the passionate couple.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It was the loudly exasperated voice of Angus Redfearn.

“You bloody well should, and you should also be glad I haven’t told Uncle Pip,” hissed back Grace’s normally pleasant voice.

“Don’t swear—and tell me what you think I’ve done... Grace... please. At least give me a chance to defend myself...”

“Why should I? You’ve never even said that you feel anything special towards me, so why should I bother to continue this conversation? In fact, why am I getting so upset over nothing at all?”

This was spoken with a distinct sob—clearly Grace didn’t believe her own words.

“It probably is nothing, but it’s bothering you, so you have to tell me because I can’t stand to see you upset. I want to...I think that I...er...Grace...I really care so much.” Sounds of movement followed this statement.

“Don’t touch me, Angus. I couldn’t, not after what I heard...please, leave me alone.”

Pip and Allegra, still in each other’s arms, looked at each other worriedly, their passions receding in their shared concern.

“Grace...don’t leave...Grace...please...talk to me...” Angus’ voice faded away as he pursued his damsel in distress.

“Damnation,” muttered Pip. “I knew something was going on with those two. I wonder what brought all this on?”

“Perhaps it would be best if we returned to the ballroom,” said Allegra regretfully. “If I can find Grace, maybe she’ll let me help her with whatever this problem is.”

Pip stared down at Allegra, thinking she’d never looked as beautiful as she did at that moment.

“You’re right, but this is going to be absolutely the last time that anything comes between us, Madam wife. When we get home tonight, I’m locking all the doors and instructing Runcorn to tell everyone—and I mean everyone—that we’ve gone away and don’t expect to be back for a week.”

“Only a week?” asked Allegra irrepressibly.

“We might be hungry by then,” responded Pip wickedly. “Anyway, let’s take care of family business first, then we can concentrate on important things with a clear mind.” He emphasised the nature of “important things” by appreciatively caressing Allegra’s curvaceous bottom as she preceded him along the garden path.

The dancers were in full swing as Pip and Ally re-entered the ballroom, intent on locating Grace and Angus. Unfortunately, their arrival had been observed.

“Good evening, my Lord.” A seductive voice purred a greeting, and Gloriana appeared at Pip’s side.

“You can spare him to me for one dance, can’t you, Lady Allegra?” she asked, smiling with far too many teeth on display.

Not waiting for an answer, Gloriana pulled Pip into the dance, ignoring his frown and vehement protest. Knowing that time was important with Grace in trouble, Allegra let him take care of Gloriana—she had to find Grace.

A flash of blue across the room caught her eye, and she started in that direction. Frustratingly, some gentlemen obviously felt that an unattended woman was searching for a dance partner, and it took her several minutes to force her way through the crowd and away from those determined to secure a dance with the woman in the stunning red dress.

By the time she had reached the entryway, Grace was nowhere to be seen. Helplessly, Allegra surveyed the glittering throng.

“Cousin Ally...” came a voice above the noise. Turning, she saw Penelope, with Vivian in tow, pushing her way towards Allegra’s side of the room. “Cousin Ally.”

Allegra raised her hand and waved, letting Penelope know she’d been spotted.

After several long moments, the couple reached their goal and stood breathless in front of her.

“It’s Grace—did you see her?” Penelope gasped, trying to get some air back into her lungs.

“I heard her arguing with Angus...she seemed upset.” Allegra’s eyes searched the room.

“She was. She wouldn’t tell me why, either. Vivian and I were going to sit with her for a while, but she said she needed to refresh herself and wanted to be alone for a few minutes.”

Allegra sighed her relief. “Well, that’s all right then, I’ll just go and find her in the ladies’ withdrawing room.”

But before she could turn, Vivian grabbed her elbow. “Not that way, Lady Ally. That’s the problem—Grace didn’t go that way. She went out the main doors.”

“Oh, no...are you sure she didn’t go into the garden?” said Ally, dread catching in her throat.

“No, definitely not,” said Penelope, her voice trembling. “She shouldn’t have gone that way, but she may not have realised that it took her out to the front steps. This place is so big and there are so many people here...”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’m sure she’ll be back in a moment.” Allegra did her best to reassure the worried girl. “Vivian, would you and Penelope find his Lordship? He is dancing with Gloriana, I think. Tell him to meet me in the foyer and we’ll look around and see if we can spot Grace.”

They separated, Allegra heading up the long staircase to the front of the house and the other couple to locate Lord Allenbridge.

It wasn’t many moments before she heard his footsteps hurrying behind her.

“Any sign of her?” asked Pip abruptly.

“Not yet. I wanted to wait until you got here before I actually went outside.”

“Good thinking. The coachmen will be out there, and unfortunately there are plenty of others looking to make a profit off this evening’s activities.”

As they reached the open front doors, he gazed at the small huddles of servants who were dicing, sharing a quick nip from a flask, or worst of all, disappearing into the bushes with the women who had congregated near the carriages to earn some money for the night. This was the real drawback to affairs like this one—too much informality and not enough supervision.

Suddenly, a closed carriage lurched into motion and the driver whipped up his horses, scattering gravel and people before him.

“Pip...” gasped Allegra, grabbing his arm. “Look.” She pointed at something on the ground near where the coach had been standing. Running over, she bent and retrieved it—a blue cornflower.

“God, Pip, Grace was in that carriage.” She snapped her fingers together. “I’m such an idiot...I saw that particular one when we arrived and it struck me as odd that on a night like this, someone should arrive in such a small closed vehicle.” She turned worried eyes to Pip.

“Not only that, but Gloriana told me that our friend the Rajah bought himself a small carriage just like that one...” Pip’s voice was grim.

“Pip—Charles Falworth’s got Grace.” Her face was white.

“Come on, Ally, we don’t have a second to spare.”