Bertrice Small - The Duchess

"Is it important?" Honor asked her mistress.

"Yes," Allegra said, "I believe it is."

"Ohh, miss, tell me, do!" Honor begged.

"Not yet," Allegra said, "but soon, Honor."

Putting her sewing aside, the maid arose. "There is a lovely gown you haven't yet worn." She ran to the wardrobe, and drew a garment out. "Here it is!" She held it out for Allegra's perusal.

Allegra nodded her approval. The high-waisted gown was striped with broad bands of pink and cream watered silk. The elbow-length sleeves dripped lace. The rounded neckline was fashionably low.

"We can pick some of them beautiful pink roses from the garden for your hair, miss," Honor said. "And you can wear that sweet pink cameo on the gold chain your pa just bought you, and pearl earbobs."

"I will want a bath," Allegra replied.

"Is it true Lady Sirena is marrying that handsome viscount she's been keeping company with all season?" Honor hung the gown out.

"How do you servants learn all the gossip so quickly?" Allegra laughed. "That has always fascinated me."

"Damaris was there when Lady Sirena and her beau come up to her mother's rooms," Honor said. "She came to tell me right away. To brag was more likely," Honor told her mistress a trifle sourly. "She sometimes gets above herself, does Damaris."

"I'll make you proud soon enough," Allegra promised her maid.

They left for Almack's Assembly Rooms in King Street just before ten o'clock that evening. As Allegra had noted earlier the rooms were not particularly distinguished, but Almack's was considered the place to be and be seen in London society. Founded in 1765 by Mr. McCall, exclusivity was its trademark. Balls were held each Wednesday during the season. Low-level gambling was allowed.

One did not simply go to Almack's. Its patronesses issued vouchers to the chosen, and that voucher allowed one to purchase a ticket into the social heaven. Rank and wealth were important, but not a guarantee of acceptance by the patronesses, of whom Lady Bellingham was currently one.

It was at the Bellingham ball that the season's crop of young ladies were observed by the patronesses. They then met to decide who would be allowed into Almack's that season and who would not. It was a near thing for Allegra despite her father's wealth, for the patronesses had noted she danced only one dance. The last dance. Gaining their sworn agreement that they would not tell the tale, Lady Bellingham explained that the Duke of Sedgwick had been the first to ask Allegra for a dance, and shy, she had said her card was full, when indeed it was not. The duke, however, had seen the empty card, and played a wicked trick on poor Miss Morgan, for he had taken umbrage at her refusal.

"Poor child," Lady Markham, one of the other patronesses said sympathetically. "Sedgwick is as handsome as the devil himself, but overproud. Of course an inexperienced girl would have been terrified."

The other ladies murmured in agreement as Lady Bellingham continued her story. And when she had finished they all assented that dear Miss Morgan must certainly be issued a voucher, along with her pretty little cousin, Lady Sirena Abbott. Olympia Abbott knew that it was thanks to her friend that both her daughter and her niece were admitted to the sacred circle that Almack's was acknowledged to be. She was quite deeply in Lady Bellingham's debt now.

The dances deemed acceptable by the patronesses of Almack's were English country dances, Scotch reels, the contredanse, the écossaise, the cotillion, and the minuet. While the popularity of the minuet had waned in France with the revolution, each ball at Almack's opened and closed with one. And after each dance, the young lady was promptly returned to her mama or her chaperone by her gentleman, who bowed politely to the older lady; and if interested, or encouraged, remained to chat.

After her first disastrous ball Allegra found herself most popular, to her amusement. She knew it was her fortune that attracted the gentlemen to her like flies to a honeypot. Some were genuinely pleasant young men, and several she grew to like for their clever repartee and quick wit. Others were outright fortune hunters, and not at all subtle about it. After all, a girl with a rich father and a barely new title should be delighted that men of family and background were paying attention to her. Allegra was not. Her suitors were at first confused, then horrified, and at last insulted when Allegra, who had little patience with pretensions, cheerfully sent them packing.

They arrived at the King Street assembly rooms and were admitted by the concierge, who greeted them by name, bowing as he did so. Once inside they found seats, and sat waiting for the ball to begin. Lord Morgan hurried off to find the gambling. The Marquess of Rowley and his wife arrived, and approached Lady Abbott.

"Sirena, darling! Such wonderful news!" Charlotte gushed. "Have you decided upon a date?"

"Lower your voice, Charlotte," Lady Abbott said angrily. "There has not yet been a formal announcement. You will embarrass us all."

"I have not yet thought about a wedding date," Sirena said softly. "I suppose Ocky and I should discuss it as we have his father's approval."

"June!" Charlotte enthused. "You will make the most divine June bride, Sirena. At St. George's in Hanover Square, of course. Gussie and I will host a wedding breakfast at the house for you afterward."

" If Sirena decides upon June," Lady Abbott said, "I am certain Septimius will have the wedding breakfast. After all, dear, his home is better suited to such an affair than your tiny house."

The smile disappeared from Charlotte's face. She turned to Allegra. "Still no luck, Miss Morgan?" she murmured with false sympathy. "Well, they do say that money cannot buy everything."

Allegra laughed. "Do not be ridiculous, Lady Charlotte. Of course it can. By season's end I quite expect to be betrothed." She smiled sweetly at her cousin's wife.

"I cannot imagine to whom," Charlotte said softly.

"Good evening, Lady Abbott, Lady Sirena, Miss Morgan," the Duke of Sedgwick said. "Gussie, Lady Charlotte." He bowed elegantly.

"Good evening, Your Grace," they all chorused but Allegra. She was far too busy really looking for the first time at the man she was to marry. Impressive, she decided silently, but a snob.

"I understand from my friend, Viscount Pickford, that congratulations are in order, Lady Sirena."

Sirena blushed becomingly and half whispered, "Yes, Your Grace." She looked about. "Is not Ocky with you?"

"But a few steps behind, Lady Sirena," the duke assured her. Then he turned to Allegra. "Miss Morgan, if you will allow me." He took her dance card from her, and wrote his name in the first and last slots with the tiny quill provided. "And you will, of course, allow me to escort you into supper afterward."

"Of course, Your Grace," Allegra replied meekly, and she curtsied.

He looked sharply at her, and seeing the deviltry in her violet eyes, laughed. Taking her hand up he kissed it, then bowed, and walked away.

"Well," Charlotte said meanly, "I'm not surprised that a man like that would be paying Miss Morgan attention." She sniffed audibly.

"Like what, madame?" Allegra responded in icy tones.

"Well, my dear Miss Morgan, the man hasn't a ha'penny to his name. Everyone knows that. He only pays you court because of your father's wealth. Surely you harbor no girlish illusions about him. For all his pretensions I think him rather rough looking. Not at all handsome or refined. They say he lives in one room, for the rest of his house is falling down about him."

"But a rich wife would certainly correct that situation for him, don't you think, madame?" Allegra said sweetly.