Bertrice Small - The Duchess

"You are uncomfortable with my blunt speech," he said, noting her expression.

"A bit," she admitted. "Frankness does not disturb me, Quinton, but I have never before found myself the subject of such talk."

He was amused, but held his peace. She was candid, but at the same time she was quite prudish. He had thought he wouldn't care, but now he realized a girl as young and as innocent as Allegra was going to find the conjugal act quite a surprise, possibly even repellent if she were not properly prepared. While their children might not come from a grand passion, he did want Allegra to at least enjoy the sweet lust between a man and his wife. Neither of them could be so detached or indifferent to it if their marriage was to be a success. But how could he explain such things to her? He suddenly saw the wisdom in waiting several months before they married, and his future father-in-law's cunning in sending Allegra to Hunter's Lair to oversee its renovations. Lord Morgan obviously hoped that as they came to know each other a loving sentiment might grow between them, thus rendering their marital relations happy ones. It was the best any good father could hope for, the duke realized.

They stopped at midday beside a stream that paralleled the road. A picnic lunch packed by the London staff was now spread upon the grass by the servants, who traveled in their own coach. There was a roasted chicken, ham, bread, cheese, wine, and a large bunch of fat green grapes. They ate, and then the ladies sought privacy to relieve themselves while the gentlemen went in another direction. When they met again by the traveling coach the new Lady Morgan invited Allegra to join them, but the young girl declined.

"Thank you, Aunt Mama, but I dislike coach travel, and avoid it when I can. The day is fair and Quinton most delightful company."

They moved on again.

"You have not told me before that I am delightful company," the duke teased Allegra. "It came as quite a surprise to hear you say it."

"I will not ride in that vehicle with them," Allegra said. "Do you see the looks they gave one another all during our picnic? It was so embarrassing, and is worse now than it was this morning at the house."

He laughed. "Why does it disturb you that your father and your stepmother love each other?"

"It does not disturb me," Allegra denied.

"It does," he countered. "And you know why, my dear. You suddenly see your papa as a man with desires and feelings that have nothing to do with you. He is in love again, and is eager to bed his wife."

She blushed scarlet. "How can you say such a thing?" she demanded of him. "They are so old! Why, Sirena told me her mother is forty-one, and I know my papa is well past fifty."

He laughed again. "Both are past the age of indiscretion, my dear, and ready for some fun. There is no crime in it."

"You speak quite knowledgeably," she accused.

"And you prate from your innocence, Allegra," he told her. "Those marital relations between your father and his wife, between any lawfully wed couple, should be pleasant, enjoyable ones even if the marriage has been arranged for other reasons. Passion can be shared, and pleasurable between friends."

"You are no longer speaking about Papa and Aunt Mama, are you, Quinton?" Allegra said softly.

"No, I am not," he admitted. "In a few months' time you and I will share those relations, Allegra. I want such passion between us to be happy for you. I do not want you resenting the children that you will bear me. Can you understand that?"

"You have not kissed me since the night of my ball," she replied. She could feel the heat in her cheeks, and wondered if she looked like a boiled beef at this point.

"Did you like being kissed?" he asked.

"You didn't do it enough for me to form an opinion," she said.

"I thought you quite opinionated on the subject the night of your ball," he reminded her. "As I recall you wanted to know if I was considered expert in such matters, and asked for references."

"I most certainly did not ask for testimonials on the subject," she huffed. "I just asked if you were considered good at kissing. It was a perfectly reasonable question considering I had never before been kissed. I don't understand why you are so put out about it."

"You mean not even the saintly Rupert Tanner kissed you, Allegra? I find that hard to believe," he said.

"Why would Rupert want to kiss me? We are friends, and why do you call him saintly?” she countered.

"Because I understand he is taking holy orders, and will have a living from his father's village church when the old vicar there retires," came the reply.

"How do you know that?" she demanded.

"Because he told me. Remember he was at Pickford House with us during the season. He implied that you had an informal understanding," the duke said, and there was just the hint of anger in his voice.

"What?" The surprise in Allegra's voice was palpable. "How dare Rupert say such a thing! It most certainly is not true."

"Then he obviously said it in an attempt to drive me off," the duke observed, his good humor restored. "And he must be a saint to have never kissed you, my dear."

Allegra kicked her horse into a canter and rode away from him. She was furious. Yes, she said she wanted to marry Rupert before she had come to London, but only in order to escape a season. Her father had put a firm stop to any such idea. There had been nothing between them at all but a shared childhood. "I shall never speak to Rupert again," she muttered to herself. "How dare he?" He dare, she realized, because they were old friends, and he thought she needed to be saved. How presumptuous of him, especially, as they had grown up together. If anyone should know her it should be Rupert.

The duke let Allegra go. It was obvious she needed to work off her temper. She had a temper. That was a discovery. She was a more interesting girl than he had anticipated.

They stopped that night at an excellent inn. Charles Trent had taken an entire wing of the hostelry for his master's party. He was a day ahead of them. They ate their dinner in a private dining room, although Allegra and the duke seemed to be the only ones with an appetite. And when the meal had been cleared away, her father and stepmother were suddenly filled with yawns and deep sighs.

"How can you be so sleepy after riding in a coach all day?" Allegra demanded of them. "Papa, do you not want to play a game of chess? Now that we are to get back to our regular schedule you cannot forget our nightly chess games!" She smiled at him. "Shall I have the board and pieces brought, Papa?"

"I believe, my child, that the excitement of the season has finally caught up with me, and all this good country air is making me sleepy. I think that your stepmother and I shall retire. We will play chess another night, I promise you." He arose, and held out his hand to his bride.

"Come and kiss me goodnight, Allegra," Lady Morgan said. "Did you enjoy your ride today, dearest?"

"Very much," the young girl replied. She dutifully kissed her father and her stepmother. "Good night."

When they had gone she said to the duke, "They want to make love, don't they?"

"Yes," he said, his silvery gray eyes serious.

"I cannot believe anyone that age is still interested in such things, Quinton," Allegra told him.

"Why not? I am sure he had a mistress tucked discreetly away somewhere near Morgan Court."

Allegra was silent, and then she said, "Do you have a mistress tucked away somewhere, Quinton?"

He chuckled. "My dear, do I hear a tiny bit of jealousy in your tone? No, I could not afford a mistress, but so there is no misunderstanding between us, I have also not been celibate either."