“There you are, Merriwether. Take this downstairs and make sure it gets delivered immediately. Then come back here. I need to get dressed.”
The maid dropped a curtsey and left, and when she returned she found Allegra already seated at her dressing table, dragging a comb through her tangled hair.
“Let me do that, Your Grace,” Merriwether said. Her mistress seemed agitated this morning.
“Is the duke about?” asked Allegra.
“He was here earlier this morning, but he went out,” answered Merriwether.
“Do you know when he’ll return?”
“He didn’t say.”
Allegra sighed. It was just as well, but she would have liked to see him one more time. Still, it was probably better that she did not. Her resolve might falter. “Quickly, Merriwether,” she said. “I’m expecting a visitor.”
A half an hour later Allegra was pacing up and down the sitting room, jumping every time there was a sound in the hallway. Finally, she heard footsteps approaching, and she paused, a hand at her throat. Now that her plan seemed about to come to fruition, she doubted herself. Did she have the strength to do this? And was it fair to Lord Gresham?
The door opened and Tristan appeared in it, handsome and calm as ever. He bowed politely, but said nothing until the door had closed behind him and the footman’s footsteps disappeared down the hallway.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” he said. Allegra looked beautiful, despite her evident distress. Her skin was missing its usual rosy glow, but that only heightened the brilliance of her blue eyes. Her hair was dressed very simply, and it clustered around her head like a golden crown. She was lovely, but she was also clearly distraught. He felt a pang that she should be this way, for he had been a cause of her worries. He shifted uneasily. Guilt was not an emotion with which he had much familiarity.
“Lord Gresham. Good morning.” Allegra cleared her throat. “I suppose you’re wondering why I summoned you.”
“I must admit that after last night I thought that you wouldn’t care to see me for some time. I’m flattered that you feel otherwise.”
“I’m somewhat embarrassed myself. It’s just that I need your help, and you did say that I might count on you if I needed a friend.” Allegra tried to say the words without sounding too stilted.
Tristan blinked. He had indeed said that the night before, and he found to his surprise that he had meant it. Allegra, who had never done anything to him, was clearly at the end of her rope. If he could help her, he should. “You may count on me. Is there some service you require?”
Allegra clasped her hands in front of her and looked down. A blush rose up her neck into her cheeks. “Yes, there is. I was wondering if you would--if I might--if perhaps you still would take me away with you after all!”
The words came out in a rush, as though she needed to say them quickly, before she could stop herself.
Tristan’s eyes widened, but he managed to contain his shock. He looked at her closely. She was clearly embarrassed. He could only imagine what it had cost her to ask him such a question.
“I was under the impression that you still loved your husband and wished to try to reconcile with him,” he said in as conversational a tone as possible. “Surely this would make that difficult?”
“I was mistaken last night. There is no longer any relationship to salvage. I must get away from here, Lord Gresham, and you are my only hope. Please say you will help me.”
Now what had that stupid boy done, thought Tristan. “What has changed your mind? Last night you seemed so certain that you couldn’t be with me.”
Allegra gave a laugh that was meant to sound confident, but instead trembled on the edge of hysteria. “I was being silly and missish. And overly romantic, thinking that I could make Adam care for me. It was stupid of me. I see now that we never had a chance. I must leave here immediately and never return.”
“But this is the world you belong in,” protested Tristan. “Your family and friends are here. The life of an outcast isn’t an easy one, my dear. If you ran off with me you could never return.”
A week, even a day ago he would have felt a rush of triumph at her words. Instead he felt only pity and a wracking anger at himself. He had reduced her to this state, and instead she was blaming herself.
“I don’t wish to return!” Allegra’s voice broke on a sob, which she hastily suppressed. “Believe me, Lord Gresham, I’ve considered this from all angles. I have no choice but to go with you.“
Tristan’s sense of the ridiculous returned for a moment. “A compliment indeed,” he murmured.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean it that way,” said Allegra hastily. “Indeed, I think you’re a very nice man, and I’m sure that I can bring myself to be much more accommodating than I was last night if you just give me a little time. I don’t mean for you to do me this service and receive nothing in return.” She hung her head.
Once again the unaccustomed feeling of shame rolled over Tristan. She meant to barter her body for his help, as though he wouldn’t aid her without that promise. Of course, he admitted to himself, he had never helped anyone for unselfish reasons before. Why should he start now? “You don’t have to do that,” he said harshly.
“I’m not an innocent,” said Allegra. “I understand how these arrangements work. You’ve made no secret of your interest in me, and if you will help me, I promise that I will come to you willingly.“
“I think perhaps you should stay here and talk to your husband. Surely you can work this out. I don’t think you truly want to leave.”
“It’s not a matter of what I want, it’s a matter of what I must do,” cried Allegra. Her fingers twisted together and her eyes glimmered with anxiety. “I can’t stay here any longer. I can’t tell you why, but you must believe me. If you don’t help me I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“Then of course I must help you.”
Tristan moved forward and took her hand, patting it soothingly. It was obvious that something had happened that had badly upset her, and she was too distraught to make a careful choice. She wanted to leave, to make an end to her marriage, and running off with him was obviously the most final way she could think of to do this. “Tell me, what has happened to bring about this decision?”
“I can’t tell you.” Allegra suppressed a sob. She couldn’t imagine relating last night’s events to anyone, not even Caroline or Emily. She had given herself over completely to Adam, a man who despised her. It was a humiliation she never wanted to face again.
“You don’t have to.” Tristan looked around the room, feeling slightly panicked. He was unaccustomed to helping ladies in distress. He was far more likely to take advantage of them. He urged her into a silk-covered chair. “I’m just not certain that this is the best idea.”
Allegra looked up quickly, alarm in her eyes. “Do you mean that you don’t want me anymore? I’m sorry that I was so foolish last night. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“No, it’s not that.” He paused, wondering what to say next. “I know how much you care for Gravesmere.”
“And you think that I will make a miserable companion, don’t you?” Allegra looked sympathetic. “I’ll do my best to be cheerful. I’m sure that I’ll very quickly forget Adam once I’m away from his presence. That will make it so much easier, don’t you think?”
“Certainly.” Tristan privately doubted that it would do much good, but he saw no point in telling her that. She wouldn’t believe him. But there must be some way to convince her to remain in London. “What about your friends, and your family? I know you’re fond of your mother-in-law, and Lady Eskmaine. Won’t you miss them?”
Allegra looked pensive. “I know they’ll be disappointed in me, but they have no peace so long as Adam and I live like this. It would be far kinder to them to remove myself, so that they can get on with their lives. They want Adam to be happy, and to have a good marriage, and children--all the things he’ll never have so long as I’m here t
o prevent him. In the long run they’ll be better off if I go.”
“I see you’ve thought this all out.”
“I’ve had to. At first I meant to stay and fight Lady Manning, but now I know there’s no point in it. I haven’t the strength, and Adam doesn’t want me in that way. I realize now that there is no point in dragging this out. It’s best to make a clean break.”
“I still think you should stay. Perhaps there’s more to this matter than you understand. It would be foolhardy to burn your bridges when there might still be an opportunity for reconciliation.”
“No.” Allegra’s voice was quiet but firm. “No, I can’t stay here. If you no longer want me, I’ll leave on my own. It will be more difficult without a protector, but I’ll find a way.“
Looking into her earnest eyes, Tristan believed her. He saw nothing there but hurt, disappointment, and determination to escape. Whatever had happened the previous night had been the final straw for Allegra. It was odd the way things had worked out exactly as he had wanted, despite his attempt to back out. He pondered his options. He could tell her the truth about his scheme with Lady Manning, but he had no particular wish to reveal himself as a villain, and he couldn’t even be sure that she’d believe him. Her mind was clearly made up.
He bowed and raised Allegra’s hands to his lips. “Then it will be my pleasure to oblige you, my dear. Of course I will take you away with me.”
Chapter 27
The Unflappable Freddie
Adam leapt up the stairs to Louisa’s house and pounded on the door with his fist. His drive from Mr. Pemberton’s had given him some time to examine the events that had occurred since his return to England, and his conclusions weren‘t pleasant. Now that the veil had been torn from his eyes by Mr. Pemberton’s revelations, he could discern a distinct pattern in Louisa’s and Gresham’s actions. Some of Allegra’s behavior still seemed baffling, but he suspected that Louisa could cast light on that as well. She had some explaining to do, he thought grimly, and rapped harshly on the door again.
The butler answered it, a look of alarm on his face. “Good morning, Your--” be began, but Adam pushed past him.
“Where is Lady Manning?” he demanded.
“In the little sitting room,” answered the butler, noting Adam’s anger. He allowed himself a small feeling of satisfaction. Louisa was a difficult woman to work for, given to illogical demands and tantrums, and he had a feeling that now she would be given the rough side of someone’s tongue for a change.
“I’ll show myself up,” said Adam.
He turned and bounded up the stairs two at a time, striding down the hall to the sitting room with an impatient tread. He flung the door open to reveal Louisa sitting on the couch, dressed in a loose wrapper of lilac silk over a lacy petticoat. She blinked in pretty surprise at his sudden appearance, and then smiled charmingly.
“Adam, darling! How wonderful that you could visit me today. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Why not?” asked Adam. “Did you have other plans?”
“Of course not. You know all my days revolve around you, darling. It’s just that when you didn’t return to me last night I presumed that you had made an unpleasant discovery about your wife and that you would have other matters to deal with this morning.” In truth, she had been alarmed when he hadn’t come back, since Tristan’s defection had ruined her plans. But she had told herself that Adam and Allegra must have had another fight, or perhaps Allegra had turned for comfort to yet another gentleman, and Adam had found her with him. She was hopeful that their marriage had been sufficiently battered that even Tristan’s mysterious behavior wouldn’t put an end to their estrangement.
“Ah yes. My wife.” Adam moved closer and stood over Louisa, staring down at her broodingly. “You seem to be very interested in her.”
Louisa looked up at him and gave a light laugh. “How could I not be, when she makes your life so miserable? I only want you to be happy, Adam, and I can’t help but think that she brings you nothing but sorrow with her wanton behavior.”
“I met with Mr. Pemberton this morning,” said Adam abruptly. “He told me that he had evidence that Allegra had been unfaithful to me.”
A gleam of triumph came into Louisa’s eyes. “Truly? How wonderful! I mean,” she amended, noting the darkening of Adam’s countenance, “how dreadful. It must be painful, Adam, though you suspected as much.”
“Indeed,” said Adam noncommittally. “You will be disappointed to know that nothing came of it. His information was useless.”
“Useless? How can the evidence be useless?” Louisa’s voice rose in pitch. “If she was caught in a compromising situation, then that is all we need.”
“The situation was most compromising. However, the man involved makes our situation difficult.”
Louisa gasped. “Who was it? Surely not a member of the royal family?”
“What an active imagination you have, Louisa. No, it wasn’t a member of the royal family. It was me.”
Adam watched grimly as a look of cold fury descended over Louisa’s face, to be hurriedly replaced by one of gentle pain. “You, Adam? I thought...I thought that you no longer had anything to do with her.”
“The flesh is weak, Louisa. I’m sure you understand that.”
“I can’t pretend that I’m not disappointed, Adam. I’ve always felt that what we have is so very special. But she is your wife, and I’m sure that she went out of her way to entice you. After all, her body is probably the only way she can think of to keep you. It’s a pity, but I’m sure that further evidence will appear soon.”
Louisa spoke in a soft, wounded voice, but inwardly she was seething. How dare the girl seduce Adam? Is that where he had been last night? When she was Duchess of Gravesmere she would make sure that her predecessor’s life became a living hell. There was nowhere she could run to that rumors wouldn’t follow.
“Do you think so?” Adam folded his arms. “Mr. Pemberton is an expert, and he’s discovered no evidence of any infidelity on Allegra’s part. He seems to think my vigilance has been misplaced.”
“Then it’s obvious that he’s not doing a very good job. You yourself have seen how scandalously she behaves. She flirts without pause, and as for her being seen constantly with Lord Gresham--well, all the world knows that is no innocent friendship.”
“Ah, Lord Gresham. How interesting that you should mention him. I understand he’s a particular friend of yours, Louisa.”
Louisa gaped at him. “Whatever are you talking about? I’ve met him, of course, in Paris and again here in London, but I’ve never had anything to do with men of his sort. He’s a libertine, Adam.” She shuddered delicately.
“Really? I was told that you were once his mistress.”
Louisa’s brow contracted. She waved one white hand gently in the air and her voice took on a tone of injured innocence. “I thought I’d explained all that to you in the past, Adam. I was a woman alone in the world before I met you. I had no money, and many men sought to take advantage of my difficulties. When I wouldn’t succumb, they spread unkind rumors in an attempt to force my hand. It isn’t like you to taunt me with their lies.”
“No, it isn’t. I believed you when you promised me that I was the only man outside of your husband you had even given yourself to.” Adam tapped his toe gently on the ground. Looking down at Louisa he wondered how he could have been taken in so completely. It was at least partly his fault, he admitted. He had wanted to believe in the vision of purity she had presented; he had liked the idea that he was saving her from her jealous would-be lovers, that he was the only one that she wanted badly enough to give into her passion. He had turned a blind eye to the many inconsistencies in her stories and to the well-meant cautions of others.
“That’s one reason I love you so, Adam. You always believe me.” Louisa tilted her head prettily to one side.
“I’m sure you find that an agreeable trait in a man. However, this time my source was not my sister or a con
cerned friend. It was Mr. Pemberton.”
“Mr. Pemberton?” A touch of alarm appeared in the back of her eyes. “Why were you discussing me with Mr. Pemberton?”
“I wasn’t. He brought up the matter after he told me he didn’t think Allegra was cheating on me. He suggested I might be better off having you followed.”
“Me?” Louisa infused the word with indignation. “What a rude man. Simply because I’m your under your protection he feels that he can slander me. You see what it is to be in my position, Adam? Everyone thinks that they can mistreat me. I’ll be so glad when I’m your wife and free from such hurtful gossip.”
She reached into her bodice, making sure he had a clear view of her cleavage, and retrieved a tiny lace handkerchief. Dabbing delicately at her eyes, she peeped up at him, gauging his response. To her dismay, his gaze remained icy.
“Mr. Pemberton wasn’t gossiping. It seems he has been twice hired to watch your movements, and his experience led him to think that I might want to do so as well.”
Louisa froze. She had been dismissed by previous paramours for her infidelities, but she had never thought to ask where they had gotten their information. And Sir Anthony had also been in possession of some unpleasant details before his timely death. When Adam had gone to Pemberton’s agency in order to have Allegra watched, it had never occurred to her that he might run across information on her own activities instead.
“What nonsense,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “He was simply trying to get more of your money by making you suspect me. You know better than that, Adam. We’re meant to be together, and mustn’t allow small-minded people to tear us apart.”
“He seemed quite certain.” Adam’s voice was conversational. “He told me of your affairs with two neighbors--oh, and the footman--when you were married, and also of your being kept by the Comte de Valene. From him you moved on to Gresham, I understand.”
“Adam, how can you be so cruel as to throw these lies in my face? Never have I been so hurt.” Tears appeared in her eyes and caught in her long black lashes, sparkling like diamonds.
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