Bertrice Small: The Duchess

"She will have a titled husband before the season's end," Madame said cynically. "Her family will seek out the best title they can find, and Miss Morgan will wed it, mark my words, Francine. They will not settle for a mere baronet, or petty lordling. It will be a gentleman of some consequence, and her father's wealth will obtain him."

"But what of l'amour?" Mademoiselle Francine asked, plaintively.

Madame laughed. "These English make their marriages like shopkeepers making the best bargains. There is little sentiment involved, I fear. It is all about status and wealth."

"Pauvres petites," Mademoiselle said.

"Do not weep for these girls, Francine," Madame replied. "They will get exactly what they seek, and deserve. And strangely, most will be very happy. They are odd people, these English. Home and hearth are what matter most to them. They have no sense of adventure."

"But everyone should have love," Mademoiselle persisted.

Madame laughed again. "You are a romantic, Francine," she said. "Now give me the measurements you took, and we will begin designing."

On their arrival in London Allegra found a number of invitations awaiting Sirena and herself. The envelopes were piled upon a silver tray in the order in which they had been received.

"Gracious!" she exclaimed. "What am I to do with all of these?"

Charles Trent took the ornate salver from the butler, Mr. Marker. "I shall go through these myself, Miss Allegra, and arrange for them to be answered properly. Ahh, I see the Bellingham crest. She usually gives the first ball of the season. That will be an acceptance. Some will be invitations from those seeking to improve their social standing by inviting you. Then there will be those from very important people, and some events that are certainly not suitable for young ladies in their first season."

"Such as?" Allegra demanded.

Charles Trent smiled. "Certain card parties where the wagering is fast and deep, Miss Allegra. Why the Duchess of Devonshire has been known to lose hundreds of thousands in a single night. You don't want to get caught up in anything like that, but of course, there will be those only too eager to lure you into their gaming hells. Your father would not approve."

"This season we are to join sounds more and more dangerous to me," Allegra said. "I wish Papa had let me remain home. If I must marry I could have wed with Rupert Tanner. He has asked me, you know, but Papa will not hear of it."

"Asecond son? I should hope not!" Lady Abbott declared.

"His father was in favor of it," Allegra said.

"I don't doubt it. Having a second son wed with the greatest heiress in all of England would have been quite a coup," her aunt replied. "The old Earl of Ackerly is a sly dog, and always was. Besides, his countess is not someone your father would have you related to, even by marriage. She is his second wife, and her background is quite shadowy."

"Besides, you don't love Rupert," Sirena said. "You've always said he was like a brother to you."

"Yes, but I am comfortable with him, and he does whatever I tell him," Allegra admitted frankly.

Mr. Trent swallowed a guffaw at this remark.

"Upstairs with you both!" Lady Abbott ordered. Then she turned to the butler. "Marker, send a footman to Madame Paul's to say we have arrived and would like a fitting on the girls' gowns as soon as possible. They certainly cannot be seen in public in such old-fashioned country clothing."

"Yes, m'lady," the butler replied with a bow.

They easily settled into the house on Berkley Square, but late that same afternoon they had a visitor as they sat in the gardens enjoying the sunshine. Marker came with the card, and offered it to Lady Abbott.

"Good gracious!" she exclaimed, paling. Then, "Of course I am at home to Lady Bellingham. Show her out here at once! Girls, your very best behavior, please! Clarice Bellingham is one of the arbiters of both fashion and society in London. If she approves of you, you will be given entry to everywhere that is important."

"And if she does not?" Allegra inquired.

"Your season will be a total failure, my dear child," Lady Bellingham said, coming into the garden. She was a tall, handsome woman dressed in the height of fashion. "They all listen to me, although frankly I do not know why, but there it is. How do you do, Olympia? It has been four years since you brought a daughter to London." Lady Bellingham plunked her ample frame onto a marble bench, looking about her as she did so. "Septimius has the finest gardener in all of London. I don't know anyone else's garden that looks so beautiful." She stopped speaking for a moment to catch her breath and gaze sharply at the two young girls in her view.

"I-it is good to see you, Clarice," Lady Abbott said, regaining her composure. "No, 1 haven't been up to London since Amanda made her bow. I am a countrywoman at heart, I fear. And then, too, London is not the same without my dear husband. Marker, tea, please."

"I suppose I should miss Bellingham if he went and died on me," Lady Bellingham remarked dryly. "I shouldn't like to take a backseat to that featherbrain my son is married to, but fortunately my good husband seems to be in grand health, praise God! How are Augustus and his Charlotte? That marriage was executed quickly, and we were all quite certain…" She paused, and then continued, "Well, you know what everyone was thinking, Olympia. Yet here it is several years later, and she has not produced."

"We continue to hope, and pray," Lady Abbott said weakly. She had forgotten what a whirlwind Clarice Bellingham could be.

"Now introduce me to these two fetching young creatures. Who is the outspoken one, and who is the gentle one, as if I didn't already know," she chuckled.

"This is Miss Allegra Morgan, my niece."

Allegra curtsied politely, although her cheeks were still warm from having been overheard; and now to be called outspoken was most embarrassing.

"Not Pandora's gel? Well, she's certainly a rare beauty. I suppose as her father's heiress we can expect she will be a great success," Lady Bellingham pronounced quite candidly. "How d'do, Miss Morgan."

"How do you do, madame," Allegra replied as another rush of heat suffused her face. Lady Bellingham had called her Pandora's girl. Did they all have such sharp memories'? She supposed so. It was interesting that they could remember her mother when she could not.

"And this is my youngest, Lady Sirena Abbott."

Sirena made her curtsy to Lady Bellingham, giving her a shy smile as she did so.

"How d'do, my dear," the formidable lady said. Then she turned to Lady Abbott. "She will certainly be an Incomparable, Olympia. She is the loveliest of your three gels," and then seeing Sirena flush with pleasure, Lady Bellingham said, "Why, child, has no one ever told you that?"

"No, madame," Sirena replied.

"Well, you are, and I have seen both Caroline and Amanda. The elder has shoulders a bit too broad, and the other's nose was a bit too retroussé, I fear. Still, they did well in the husband hunt, but you, I suspect, will do better." She turned her attention back to Lady Abbott. "She has a respectable dowry? I know how selfish Charlotte is, and how she must begrudge this lovely child."

"Fortunately Arthur left monies in his will for both Sirena's season and her dowry. It is identical to that of my two elder daughters, and more than adequate," Lady Abbott said proudly.

"And being in the company of her cousin won't hurt either," the redoubtable lady replied. "I assume Septimius is giving them both a ball? What a house this is for entertaining! What a pity it is only used by Lord Morgan when he is in town managing his many affairs."