Chapter 11 #3
“Yes, I believe Lord Sebastian Roberts saw us together and assumed the worst.” Allegra gathered her courage. “Is this what your visit is about, your grace? Have there been rumors in London? I can assure you that your son did everything in his power to make sure I got home safely in the end.”
“You are remarkably quick to defend him, my lady.”
Allegra shrugged. “As I said, a lot of what happened was beyond his control. If I hadn’t knocked him out, he probably would have regained control of the carriage far earlier, and none of the rest of it would’ve happened.”
“I find you most interesting, Lady Allegra. Most women who had been put in such a compromising position would not be defending their abductor. And I must note that your parents had no idea what had happened when I explained why we had come to Musgrove Hall.”
“I … didn’t want them to worry. We’ve had enough scandal in our lives,” Allegra said.
“With respect, your name is already being bandied around the gentlemen’s clubs and society events in London. It wouldn’t have been long before your parents heard about it.”
Allegra winced. “Which is quite unfair, when I have done nothing wrong.”
“I quite agree.”
She forced herself to meet his cool gaze.
“If you came here to make sure that I intend to keep quiet about this, then you needn’t have bothered.
I am quite aware that my position in society was already tenuous and that this has sunk me completely.
But, as I have no intention of returning to London, there is nothing to worry about. ”
“That is very generous of you, but I fear it will not do.”
Allegra frowned. “With respect, I’m not sure what you mean. Are you expecting me to make a public confession? I can assure you that is not necessary.”
“On the contrary, I am not expecting you to do anything except become my son’s wife.”
Allegra blinked at him. “What?”
“He has compromised your reputation.”
“What reputation?” Allegra asked. “This is ridiculous.”
The duke drew himself up. “Most women would be grateful to be allied to the family of a duke.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but did Max—I mean, the marquess—insist that he marry me?”
“He did not, but he will do as he is told.”
Allegra’s foolish dream that Max, when confronted by his father, had insisted they marry dissolved into the mist. Of course he didn’t want to marry her.
“Can we simply pretend this didn’t happen?” Allegra asked somewhat desperately. “There will be a new scandal soon, and I will be forgotten about.”
The duke frowned. “Young lady, your father is one of my friends. I cannot allow you to be dishonored by my son.”
“And what did my father have to say about your proposal?”
“He said it was up to you, which I consider somewhat debatable, but he is your father.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then you are extremely foolish. This is not the match I would want for my son, but it is the right thing to do.” The duke rose to his feet. “Your parents have agreed to let the marquess stay here for the next week so that you can come to a satisfactory arrangement.”
“But—”
The duke inclined his head an inch. “Thank you for your time. I have to get back to London. I will see you and Max when I return, and I hope to find you in a more conciliatory mood.”
He swept out, leaving Allegra in a state of shock. She took several deep breaths and managed to make her way back to the drawing room, where her mother and sister awaited her.
“Well?” Carenza demanded. “What did the duke say?”
“He wants me to marry his son.”
“The Marquess of Blanchard?” Carenza asked. “You?”
“To save my reputation.” Allegra sat down in the first available chair with a thump.
“That’s”—Carenza glanced at her mother—“rather unexpected.”
“I know,” Allegra said numbly. “And even though I declined the offer, the duke says Max is to stay here for a week to secure my acquiescence.”
“I must say that the marquess doesn’t seem very thrilled by the idea,” her mother said. “He’s barely said a civil word to anyone.”
“Probably because the duke is forcing him into this,” Carenza said. “I doubt such a man had marriage on his mind when he met you at that inn.” Carenza had obviously spoken to their mother. “It does seem slightly unfair.”
“To him? What about me?” Allegra looked at her sister. She barely bit back the desire to blurt out that Max wouldn’t have been anywhere near the Musgrove house if it hadn’t been for the wager involving Carenza.
“You’d be a duchess. You can’t tell me that doesn’t hold some appeal?”
“The duchess of a man who didn’t want to marry me in the first place?” Allegra shot to her feet. “Don’t I deserve better than that?”
A terrible urge to cry swept over her, and she turned to the door just as it opened to admit the gentleman. Allegra gathered her skirts and rushed past them.
“Excuse me, I’m not feeling well.”
“Allegra …”
That was her father speaking, but she couldn’t stop. She hated to cry, and doing so in front of Max was not acceptable.
She ran for the stairs and went up them as fast as she could. She glanced down into the hall as she gained the landing and saw Max looking up at her, his expression unreadable.