Chapter 8
Unsuspected Talents
"Your father's stables are truly remarkable, Adam. All of the most modern notions of equine management have been implemented here. I am truly impressed."
They walked down the aisle, past spacious box stalls, their doors gleaming with polished brass. The oaken floor shone with daily washing and waxing, and sunlight slanted through the dimness from the window in each stall, while the scents of horses and fresh straw mingled pleasantly. The occupants were all sleek and well groomed, some carriage horses, some hacks, some tall and well-made hunters for the Duke's use. Allegra drifted gracefully down the aisle, the long skirt of her riding habit caught up over her arm. She patted a soft nose here, blew teasingly at another horse, and spoke gently to a third. She obviously had a feeling for them, and Adam was intrigued to see the tiny woman so at home with the large beasts.
Toward the end of the barn, several of the grooms were huddled at the door of a very large stall, discussing the mare within in anxious tones. Allegra stopped to inquire about the situation and learned that her foaling was not progressing as it should. The mare was one of the late Duke's prize brood mares, imported at great trouble and expense from Egypt. She looked into the stall and saw the horse sweating and trembling, the liquid brown eyes in her sensitive face bulging and rolling as she heaved to deliver the foal.
"How long has this been going on?" she asked, her voice sharp with concern.
"Too long," the grizzled head groom replied with a shake of his head. "That foal should have been on the ground an hour ago, but one of the babe's legs is in the wrong position, and I don't know if the mare can deliver it. If it goes much longer, I'll have to try to push the leg back, but with these hands, 'twill be hard on her." He thrust out his large hands, callused by years of labor.
"I've done it before," offered Allegra. "The same thing happened to one of my father's mares, and the groom showed me how to help, because my hands were small and fine." She pushed past the knot of men into the stall to examine the horse. She touched the mare's shoulder gently and softly stroked the flaring nostrils before feeling the mare's abdomen. Adam stood silent and ignored outside, watching her.
"Get me an apron and a bucket of fresh water," Allegra snapped. She stripped off her fringed and embroidered leather gloves and began unbuttoning the jacket of her riding habit, removing it to reveal a thin linen shirt. As she removed her hat as well, a few curls escaped the severe coil of hair to rest on the collar, glinting in the shaft of sunlight that lanced into the stall. The groom brought an oiled linen apron to her and Adam stared to see his elegant wife transformed into a stable hand. She rolled up her sleeves, and washed her arms and hands, then with the chief groom to assist, set to helping the mare birth her foal.
The minutes stretched out into a quarter and then half an hour, as Adam, now ignored, dawdled in the aisle, with no more noise than the panting of the mare and Allegra's soft commands. Then he heard a satisfied "Ahhh, that'll be it, Your Grace," from the head groom, and Allegra responding indistinguishably. The other men gathered around murmured their relief for the mare, and appreciation of the lady's skill and pressed forward to congratulate her.
Adam peered into the stall and saw his wife kneeling by a helpless foal, as it struggled to stand on its hopelessly gangly legs, while its mother licked it clean. The mare gently nuzzled Allegra's neck as if in thanks and she reached up to soothe the horse with a gentle hand.
Five minutes later she emerged from the stall with a smile and an air of satisfaction. "A lovely filly," she said briskly. "And I think the mare is unharmed, and can be got with foal again next year. A fortunate outcome. It is easy to lose both mare and foal in these situations, but Parker is a very good horseman."
Adam stared at her silently, a confusing mixture of emotions roiling within him. Allegra was warm from her exertions and a thin film of sweat shone on her forehead and her cheeks glowed a gentle pink. Her rolled-up sleeves were marked with blood, and droplets of water glistened in the muted light as they clung to her arms after washing. The thin linen, damp from her efforts, clung to her body, and she had removed the heavy apron as she prepared to leave the barn with the Duke, so he could clearly see her lacy undergarments. He felt an unfamiliar mix of emotions; pride in her abilities, pleasure that she cared for his property, appreciation of the unselfishness that could make her come to an animal's aid. In fact, he felt a most unaccustomed warmth towards his wife, and one which was composed of emotions which diverged widely from those with which he associated with his very physical love for Lady Manning.
"Allegra," he said huskily, grasping her shoulder and turning her to him, "Thank you for saving my father’s mare. I never knew that you were so ..."
His voice trailed off, and he looked into her dazzling eyes, then slowly, gently, lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her softly, and felt her soft mouth cling to his firm lips, and so he kissed her again, harder, this time. Despite her obvious surprise and confusion, she responded shyly, returning his kiss gently.
Allegra felt an astonishing mixture of sensations tingling through her body. For all her sophistication she had never allowed a man to kiss her, and she was briefly carried away by the feelings it provoked in her. She realized dimly that she had been hoping for some time that Adam would express some feeling for her, and felt a brief moment of joy. Then the face of Lady Manning rose unbidden into her mind, and she started. Her eyes flew open and she put one softly protesting hand against Adam's chest.
He immediately pulled back, and looked down at her with a gentle expression. He had realized when he kissed Allegra that she was inexperienced, and he felt a flash of joy that she had not allowed others to enjoy her favors. He mistook her pulling away for shyness, and he clasped her hand in his. It was obvious to him that Allegra possessed a depth of character he had not previously suspected. It would be wise, he suspected, to tread slowly and discover more about her. He turned her gently towards him and draped the discarded riding coat over her shoulders and they walked toward the house, her bright head resting against his arm, his arm about her shoulders.
They entered the hall thus, to be greeted with a quiet smile by the butler. Adam released Allegra, and looked down at her questioningly. She looked very confused, but she smiled at him.
"I suppose we must join my mother for tea," said Adam.
"Yes, she will be expecting us," agreed Allegra. "I should go change into something more suitable."
She began to turn away, and Adam stayed her with a touch on her arm. "Allegra..." he said.
"Yes?" she replied, swinging around to face him.
Adam paused. "Thank you again for saving the mare."
Allegra's eyes dropped. "I could not stand by and watch her suffer, when I had the power to help her, my lord." She walked slowly up the stairs, while Adam gazed after her, trying to organize his confused thoughts.
They met again in the sitting room. Allegra had changed into a charming gown and Emily was presiding over the teacups. Adam entered, and immediately she looked up. As their eyes met, Allegra colored and Adam smiled.
"What is this?" asked Emily, delight in her voice. "Do I sense a thaw between my son and his wife?"
Allegra grew even redder. "It is merely that we had a pleasant ride this morning, Mama. Gravesmere is so lovely that I could not help but enjoy myself."
"It's true, Mother," said Adam teasingly. "Allegra seems to find Gravesmere utterly charming, despite the company she is forced to keep."
"How unkind of you to put words in my mouth, my lord," laughed Allegra. "Your son was a most gracious companion, Mama."
The older woman looked from one face to the other, and then broke out in a huge grin. "You two are keeping secrets from me," she accused. "Yet I think I know what they may be. Pray, how did this rapprochement come about?"
"It is simply that Allegra is a woman of unsuspected talents, Mother," said Adam. "I had thought her merely a charming face and a clever wit, but I find that she i
s not only a notable horsewoman but an experienced stable hand as well."
"And I have discovered that my husband, when he is not scolding me, is a man of charm and substance," said Allegra, not to be outdone.
"Well, this is very good news, indeed," said Emily. "And I take all the credit for myself. Didn't I say that the country was a fitter place than the city to spend one's time?"
Adam took her hand and kissed it. "As always, we bow to your superior wisdom, Mother."
Emily laughed. "What a flatterer you are, Adam. But I'm very glad to see the two of you being polite to one another. Civility is the basis for many a good marriage."
"Perhaps, if all goes well, we can move beyond mere civility," said Adam, his eyes meeting Allegra's.
She dropped her eyes and smiled. "Perhaps. But for now, civility is a most unusual and welcome state."
Adam exerted himself to be pleasant the rest of the evening, and Allegra responded with alacrity. Under Emily's pleased eye, they laughed over dinner and played piquet in the sitting room afterwards. Emily retired early, pleading fatigue, leaving Allegra and Adam facing one another alone.
"Your mother is an incorrigible romantic, Adam," said Allegra. "I fear she thinks this new politeness between us foreshadows other developments."
"My mother had a very happy marriage. She wishes nothing less for us."
"Alas, happy marriages are not easily come by."
"Perhaps not," said Adam. "But I think that if we can continue in amity, perhaps we might achieve such a state."
"Do you? I can only hope you are right." Allegra looked around, suddenly very conscious of the fact that she was alone with her husband. "And now, I too must retire. I have promised to visit the mare and her filly in the morning, and I wish to rise early."
Adam offered her his arm and escorted her through the lengthy hallways to the door of her room. She paused a moment, looking up at him through her lashes.
"Good night, Allegra," said Adam, placing a lingering kiss on her hand.
"Good night," she replied, not knowing whether to be relieved or annoyed that he stopped there. She entered her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she gathered her scattered thoughts. She eyed the door that connected to her husband's room nervously, but she soon realized she needn't have worried. It remained firmly shut all night.
Chapter 9
A Sudden Gift
If Lady Manning haunted the dreams of both the Duke and the Duchess that night, neither made mention of it the next day. Indeed, by the time Adam emerged from his room, Allegra had risen, dressed, and gone to the stables. He found her there, dressed in a simple riding habit, hatless, her hair already coming out of its pins in gentle curls.
He paused at the stall in which she kneeled, caressing the tiny filly she had aided the day before. The foal, a sorrel, with four white socks and a blaze, seemed to be composed of nothing but slightly unsteady legs and an inquisitive face. It nuzzled up to Allegra under the watchful eye of the mare, who, surprisingly, seemed to feel no concern about Allegra's approach to her baby. The foal's soft nose rested against her blooming cheek, and the sorrel coat of the baby horse and the red gold of the woman blazed together in a shaft of sunlight that crossed the stall. She looked up suddenly to find Adam watching her, and she greeted him warmly.
"Good morning. I see that you have found me out. I beg you not to tell London of my appearance; my reputation as a fashion plate would never survive the picture of me clad in grey, with straw in my hair."
"I will hold it over your head unmercifully," promised Adam. "If you do not do just as I say, I will tell the entire ton of your lack of fashion when in the country."
"You are very cruel, my lord. I may have to become the pattern card of a docile wife."
At that Adam gave a shout of laughter. "You may be a pattern card of many things, Allegra, but a docile wife will never be one of them."
She smiled ruefully back. "I doubt I have the temperament for it."
"I have thought a great deal about how to thank you for your care of my horses yesterday, Allegra," said Adam. "Perhaps you will accept this little filly as your own, in token of my gratitude?"
Allegra's eyes lit up. "What a kind gesture, Adam. She bids fair to becoming a very fine animal."
"What shall you name her?"
Allegra thought for a moment, caressing the foal. "A Sudden Gift, to be sure."
"A perfect name." Adam watched her delicate hands as they stroked the filly, and he felt a sudden tension build inside him. He looked away.
"And now, Allegra, what do you say to a ride?" he asked abruptly. "My mother has ordered that a luncheon be prepared for us to carry out on horseback, and neither of us would want to disappoint her, I think. So we must ride out in order to consume this repast."
"It's a sad task," said Allegra. "But I believe it to be your filial duty to please your mother."
"I'll have the horses saddled then. Are you otherwise prepared?"
"Perhaps I should change into something more presentable..." began Allegra, but Adam cut her short.
"You look utterly charming as you are,” Adam said lightly, and then realized that he meant what he had said. She was more than charming, he thought. She was alarmingly, even frighteningly attractive. He tried to summon a picture of Louisa before his mind's eye and failed utterly.
"Such flattery," said Allegra, rising and shaking the straw from her skirt. She gave Adam a curious look. He was behaving in a friendly manner, but there was a tension about him as though something was bothering him. She hoped she hadn't done something to annoy him. "I am sure I am a fright. But if you are inclined to be seen with me so, then it can scarcely matter."
Two hours, after a leisurely ride over the estate, the pair reined in their horses by the side of a stream, its green banks scattered with pink flowers that ran down to the water's edge. The water flowed by lazily, lapping over the stones in the creek bed, and disappearing around a wooded bend.
"This looks to be a likely spot to eat our lunch," said Adam. "Does it suit you?"
"It's lovely." Allegra glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "And I have been wondering for the past half hour what's in the basket your mother sent with you."
Adam laughed. "Then we must satisfy your curiosity, I suppose."
He climbed down from his horse, lightly tying its reigns to the branches of an overhanging tree, and then reached up to help Allegra dismount. She slid down from the saddle and his long fingers closed about her slender waist, lifting her easily away from the horse. He was amazed by her lightness and he paused for a moment before putting her on her feet, holding her suspended in front of him. She met his eyes shyly through the curtain of her long lashes.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, not at all." Adam hastily set her on her feet and stepped back. He swung the basket down from his saddle and looked about for a likely place to sit. "So you mind if the grass is slightly damp?"
"I'll sit anywhere, if you'll give me food," said Allegra lightly. "I'm famished."
"Then I imagine this will satisfy you." Adam spread a blanket over the grass and then lifted the cover from the basket and began to lift out a selection of dishes. "Mother seems to think we need excessive nourishment."
"Oh, look, strawberries," exclaimed Allegra, leaning forward to peer eagerly into the basket. Her red-gold curls just brushed Adam's forehead and he jumped as though burned. "How wonderful!"
Adam laughed to see her passing up the elegant delicacies packed in the hamper by the artist of the kitchen for the little red berries. "Society would be truly horrified now, Allegra," he said. "You are passing up the finest viands for pieces of fruit."
"But they are so sweet, and at this time of year, so rare!" said Allegra. She reached into the basket and picked one up, popping it greedily into her mouth.
"My mother has them cultivated in the hot house." Adam watched, mesmerized, as the red berries disappeared between her lips. "S
he enjoys them almost as much as you do."
Allegra looked up from the basket with a guilty expression. "And I'm being greedy, my lord. I suppose I must share them with you."
"On the contrary, I would be loathe to take them from you. I'll have to content myself with mere quenelles of veal."
He poured Allegra a glass of wine and spread the rest of the food out on a cloth before them as she ate the berries greedily with her fingers. Her motions were quick and delicate, her hands very fine and white. She finished the last berry and took a sip of wine, looking across at him with a hint of embarrassment.
"Now you will think me merely a selfish child," she said. "And I have no one to blame for that except myself."
A Most Unusual Situation: A Traditional Version Georgian Romance (The Gravesmeres Book 1) Page 10
