Chapter One
“Mama, this simply will not do.”
Miss Allegra Carruthers stood with her hands on her hips, an inelegant pose that made her distaste quite clear.
“You know very well I’d promised to spend some of tomorrow with Jeremy and Susan.
It’s their last Christmas Day before the baby arrives, and I’d hoped to help her out with the day’s activities. ”
“A laudable goal, my dear,” replied her mother calmly. “But we have accepted an invitation to visit Twelve Trees. And we accepted on your behalf as well, since you are still part of our family, however much you might wish it otherwise.”
Allegra rolled her eyes. “Papa…” she turned to elicit his assistance, her lively brown curls springing around her face, emphasising her mood.
“Don’t ask me, m’dear.” He vanished behind his paper. “Leave all that sort of thing to your mother.”
“You see?” Lady Carruthers folded her arms and gazed at her daughter. “You have no options, Allegra. You will do as you are bid.”
“But Susan…Jeremy…they are expecting me…”
“You may write them a note informing them we will all be at Twelve Trees with the Earl and his lovely Countess. Your brother understands, I’m sure.”
Allegra curled her lip. “They’ll understand that you’re once again trying to marry me off to some simpering idiot, just to get rid of me.” She sniffed. “Let me think…oh yes. This time it would be the Honourable Bertram Guillemott. The Earl’s younger son, I believe?”
Lady Carruthers’ stare remained unflinching.
“The Countess has intimated that they are considering suitable matches for Mr Bertram,” she acceded.
“Why they’ve selected you, I’m not quite sure, since you’ve proved many times in the past to be intractable, opinionated, and interested in little but your own pursuits. ”
Allegra sighed. “Am I that bad, Mama?”
Her mother relented. “You’re a dear girl, and we love you despite all that.
” She ignored the muffled snort that emanated from behind the Morning Times.
“But Allegra, the truth of the matter is that you must wed. And soon. You’ll be coming up on an age that will brand you as being on the shelf, if you’re not careful. ”
“Twenty-two is not on the shelf.”
“A woman of that age is not of interest to most eligible gentlemen, either.”
“More fools them, then,” retorted Allegra.
“Don’t they want someone who can converse knowledgeably?
Someone who can do more than simper and giggle?
Good God, Mama. I cannot be like those lisping ninnies who throng Almack’s.
I’d die if I had to spend the rest of my life pretending stupidity just to keep a husband convinced he’s smarter than I am. ”
Lady Carruthers sighed. “If you’d only accepted – ”
“Please. Do not say it. Do not, for the eight thousandth time, tell me I should have wed that stiff-necked, over-starched, puffed-up bore.”
“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if you had,” her mother observed. “But it’s far too late to resurrect the matter. In that, you are quite correct.”
Allegra blinked. “Well, that’s something, I suppose.” Her mind whirled. “I’ll have to go and compose a note to Susan, then.”
“Yes, that would be a good idea. Then sort through your gowns, dear. The Earl and Countess will hold at least two balls, and several other daytime affairs, I should expect. So have your maid pack accordingly?”
Sighing, Allegra nodded. “Yes, Mama. As you wish.”
Her temper remained high, though, even as she stood before her wardrobe and considered the contents.
Why, oh why, was she so put-upon? Why couldn’t her parents just let her go about her life without pressuring her into marriage?
It wasn’t as if they were the owners of a massive estate and needed to merge with another massive estate to create a small county of their own, now, was it?
They were comfortable, well-regarded in Society, and had this lovely London home, not to mention a tidy property in the South where they summered. What could her marriage possibly do to improve such a situation?
Jeremy was settled in his own residence, busy building a life with the delightful Susan and a babe on the way.
She’d brought some funds into the marriage, but more than that…
she’d brought love and happiness. Allegra could see it in her brother’s eyes as sought out his wife when they attended various functions.
She made him happy.
Which was more than could be said for the eligible men that her Mama had paraded in front of her daughter. Nitwits. All of them.
With one possible exception…and she’d not think about him at all.
Diving into the wardrobe, and surrounded by silks, wools, lawn and muslin, Allegra distracted herself for half an hour by assessing each ensemble according to its suitability for a sojourn in an Earl’s residence, and the possibility of its appearing attractive to Mr Guillemott.
Those that passed the first criteria were set on one side and then re-evaluated as to their merits on the second.
If they passed that one, they were returned to the wardrobe.
On no account was she going to dress to attract another in a long line of idiots.
In fact, it would probably be best if she disposed of those gowns altogether.
Perhaps if she garbed herself in sober, unappealing clothing, rather than the vivid and stylish silks she preferred, her parents would finally understand she was not interested in being courted, wooed, or matched in any manner with a potential husband.
She rang the bell, summoning Jean, her maid.
“Yes, Miss?”
“Would you fetch a large bag for me, please? Something I can pack some gowns into? I’m going to give them to my sister-in-law.”
“Oh, yes Miss. I heard you was going to be out of town for a few days, so I’ll bring an extra bag right down.” Jean scurried away.
Susan would probably get some use out of them. Although not for the next few months, of course. And even if she didn’t, she might have friends who would find them of interest.
So when Jean returned, five gowns were neatly folded and stacked on top of each other, waiting to be tucked into a large fabric bag.
“Pity, Miss,” said Jean. “You looked ever so lovely in that dark red one.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Allegra answered dryly. Then grinned at her maid’s confusion. “Don’t worry about it, Jean. I know what I’m doing.”
“Of course, Miss.” She didn’t sound completely convinced but bobbed a curtsy and left.
Next on her list of chores was the note to Susan.
But then she frowned, looked at the clock, and made a decision. Grasping the handle of the dress bag, she retraced her steps downstairs to the front hall, where she found Finch, their butler, emerging from the drawing room.
“Going out, Miss Carruthers? No maid?” He moved away and retrieved her cloak and bonnet.
She nodded, hoping her smile was casual enough.
“I am indeed, Finch. I’m going to take a little time this afternoon to visit Mrs Susan Carruthers.
I need to speak with my brother anyway, so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone and take her this bundle of old dresses.
Since we are practically next-door neighbours, I thought Jean should stay in the warm.
” She turned, then secured her bonnet, looking back over her shoulder as she did so.
“Oh, and would you mind letting Mama know that I’m on this errand? I shouldn’t be too long.”
“That is good news,” he approved. “I understand you will be dining early this evening and on your way to Twelve Trees in the morning.”
She sighed inwardly. “I believe so, yes.”
“Gloves. It’s quite chilly out there.”
“Thank you, Finch. You think of everything.”
His face creased into a smile, making him look quite handsome. His hair was silver now, but his eyes twinkled as blue as ever. She couldn’t remember a time without him and smiled back. “You are a dear and always taking care of me.”
“Nonsense,” his cheeks flushed slightly. “I am always at the service of the Carruthers family, Miss Allegra.”
“I hope they’re as grateful as they should be. I know I am.” She grinned. “Anyway, I must be off.”
“Wait. You’re not walking?”
“’Tis a scant fifteen-minute stroll. I’ve done it a hundred times at least, as you well know. And it’s not snowing, I have my cloak, you gave me my gloves. and you’ve just watched me tie my bonnet snugly under my chin. There really is no need to call a carriage.”
Finch sighed deeply. “I’ll have Frederick accompany you, then, just to make sure. But if you’re late, take a carriage home. It’s not safe for a young woman to be wandering the streets after dark.” He summoned a young footman who hurried up and wrapped a cloak around himself.
“Of course. He can carry the other bag.” She gave him a nod, tossed Finch a little wave, and stepped outside into the cold air of London in December, bracing for the slash of the wind against her cheeks.
It didn’t disappoint. Vicious licks of icy gusts had her reaching for her bonnet, glad of her gloves and the thick fur collar that adorned the neck of her cloak. Her bag, large as it was, served as an ideal buffer, and helped keep her garments tucked tightly around her.
“Gor blimey, Miss. It’s gotten even colder.”
“Just right for Christmas, Frederick. A little snow and we shall be quite festive.”
The lad nodded, and hunched his shoulders as he followed her
There were few others brave enough to stroll the streets, so her journey was accomplished quickly and quietly. Even the usual London traffic seemed to have thinned out today in spite of it being Christmas Eve; perhaps they too decided that errands could be postponed until the weather improved.
But Allegra enjoyed it. She liked the change of seasons, finding something to make her smile in each of them.
Although a particularly sharp gust whisked her skirts and made her legs feel the chill, reminding her that this kind of bitter grey cold wasn’t among her top favourites. If it would only snow…