Chapter 15
Max woke up with Allegra in his arms and her head on his shoulder.
She looked very peaceful, very desirable, and a lot easier to deal with than when she was awake.
He’d never claimed to understand women, and Allegra’s behavior since he’d turned up at Musgrove Hall had confounded him.
She wasn’t herself. He missed her honesty and the way she could disarm him with a look.
She seemed resigned … and that didn’t suit her.
Why she’d reacted to the necessity of marrying him in such a way made no sense.
If she’d hated the idea, she could’ve spoken up, and he would never have forced her into it.
But she’d agreed and then walked around looking like she’d just lost her fortune, which, if he was being honest with himself, was rather insulting.
Of course, with all the wedding preparations, they’d barely had a chance to speak to each other. Now that they were married, perhaps, they would be able to sort things out, because he couldn’t stand the way things were.
Allegra made a small sound and opened her eyes. “Max.”
“Yes, I’m still here.”
She yawned and eased out of his embrace. “What time is it?”
“I have no idea.” He threw back the covers and walked over to the bell pull. “Shall I ring for your maid?”
He made the mistake of glancing back, and the sight of her naked body made everything male in him come instantly to life.
“Or we could stay in bed a while longer?” he suggested.
“Whatever for?”
Max cupped his balls and caressed his cock and was gratified when Allegra immediately blushed.
“Oh, that.” She scrambled out of the other side of the bed and made a run for the dressing room. “Actually, I think I’ll get up.”
Max rang the bell and retrieved his banyan from the floor.
His valet, Claude, appeared with a jug of hot water and fresh towels, and Max set about making himself decent.
It appeared that his suspicions were correct and that the truce between them only existed when they were in bed together, but it was a start.
Max had a feeling that Allegra would have to unburden herself of her worries at some point, because she was terrible at keeping secrets.
“Will you inform my wife that I’ll see her at the breakfast table, Claude?” Max said. “I don’t think she’s finished dressing.”
“Yes, my lord, I’ll tell her maid.”
Max went downstairs and was directed into the breakfast parlor, where a vast array of covered silver dishes on the long sideboard hinted at a feast worthy of a man after his wedding night.
There was no one else present. His mother always had her breakfast in bed, and his father, who was an early riser, had probably been and gone.
“Good morning, my lord.”
Max looked up to see Stephen, the duke’s secretary, coming through the door.
“Good morning,” Max said. “I suspect it is you I should thank for arranging the wedding in such a short time.”
“I did what the duke asked me to do, my lord.” Stephen allowed himself a self-congratulatory smile. “I thought it all went off rather well.”
“It was splendid.”
Stephen piled up his plate and sat opposite Max. “The duke asked if you and your bride could present yourselves in his study at eleven. I believe he wishes to go over some of the new arrangements.”
Max nodded, his attention half on his food, and half on the door through which he hoped his newly acquired wife would soon make an appearance.
She eventually arrived, looking somewhat flustered and dressed in her favorite blue. Max and Stephen both stood as she came into the room.
“Good morning,” she said.
Max came around the table to kiss her hand and led her over to the covered dishes on the sideboard.
“There’s plenty to choose from,” he said. “I’ll ask the butler to provide you with a pot of tea and some toast.”
Allegra helped herself to a large plate of food and sat beside Max, who was still eating.
“We have an appointment with the duke at eleven, my dear,” Max said, and glanced at his pocket watch.
“Then I’d better eat up,” Allegra said. “I don’t usually sleep in so late.”
Max winked at her. “I’m sure you found the wedding as exhausting as I did.”
She went bright red and refused to look at him for the remainder of the meal while poor Stephen tried gamely to make conversation.
At precisely five minutes to eleven, Allegra finished eating, wiped her mouth with her napkin, and looked at Max. “I am ready.”
Max stood and pulled back her chair for her. The duke’s secretary had already gone ahead of them, and Max escorted her across the entrance hall to a door that Allegra assumed led to the duke’s study. He paused to tap on the door, and Stephen opened it.
The duke sat at a large desk, which was covered in scrolls, maps, and books. He looked up as they came in, his cool gaze surveying her in particular.
“Good morning, your grace.” Max bowed, and Allegra curtsied.
“Please sit down.” The duke gestured at the chairs set in front of his desk.
“Thank you for organizing such an excellent wedding day for us, sir,” Max said. “It was most enjoyable.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” the duke said. “Now, shall we get on?” He looked down at the open accounts book in front of him.
“As agreed, I intend to increase your allowance to accommodate your acquisition of a wife. In accordance with her father’s wishes, the marchioness will also receive her own allowance.
When you come to London, you will, of course, reside at this address.
There is no point in wasting money on another property when this one is barely utilized. ”
“You wish me to give up my apartment in the Albany?”
“Yes, of course.” The duke looked up. “It is hardly suitable for a married man.”
Allegra thought she heard Max sigh. How would he continue his rakish ways if he was constantly under the eye of his father or his staff?
“I don’t mind if you keep the apartment, Max,” Allegra said.
The duke looked at her. “That decision is mine, dear lady, as I pay the rent.”
Max took her hand. “My father is right. I have no need for it, my dear.”
“If you insist,” Allegra said.
“I’ve also leased you Blanchard Hall at a nominal rate, which you will use as your primary residence,” the duke continued. “I’ve included money for necessary repairs and for anything your wife considers essential for decorating purposes.”
“Thank you,” Max said.
“You have a house?” Allegra looked at Max.
“Yes, in Somerset.” He smiled reassuringly at her. “I understand that it is very pleasant.”
“You haven’t been there?”
“Not yet.”
The duke cleared his throat. “If we might proceed? My time is valuable.” He focused on Max.
“I appointed an agent to run the estate a few years ago and he sends me quarterly reports, which Stephen will provide for you. I suggest that after the appropriate social visits have been carried out to ensure that the ton accepts that your marriage is a happy one, you retire to the countryside and take up residence in Blanchard Hall for the summer.”
He looked down at his desk, added his signature to the letter in front of him, and held it out to Max. “This is the name of my personal banker at Coutts. I advise you to go and see him at your earliest convenience.”
Max got up and took the letter. “Thank you.”
“Your mother has arranged a list of appearances for you both. She will accompany you to each event to display her approval of your match.” The duke looked at Allegra. “I believe some of your family members will be present, too.”
Allegra, who hadn’t heard of any such arrangement, simply nodded. Her primary reason in marrying Max was to reestablish her family in society, and if the Devereux family were willing to sponsor such efforts, she would participate in all of them with the greatest of pleasure.
“The duchess will expect you to be ready to leave at two this afternoon for the first round of social calls, and tomorrow, I believe she will be hosting an ‘at home’ at which you will both be present.”
“Thank you.” Max took Allegra’s hand and stood up.
They left the duke’s study, and Max paused in the hall to look down at her. “I’d better go and visit this man at Coutts. Will you be all right by yourself?”
“I’ll be fine,” Allegra said. “I need to work out what to wear for all these social occasions your parents have arranged for us.”
“No, you don’t,” Max said.
“I most certainly do.” Allegra frowned at him.
“Did you not take the time to investigate the cupboards in our dressing room?” Max asked.
“I am not in the habit of rummaging through my host’s belongings, sir.”
“Come with me.” He grabbed her hand and marched her up two flights of stairs until they reached their suite. He led her into the dressing room and started opening doors.
“My mother asked your mother for your measurements before you came up to London for the wedding, and she had her dressmaker make these for you.”
Allegra gaped at the rows of dresses. “This is ridiculous.”
Max shrugged. “It’s all about presenting you as the future duchess of Barfleur. Don’t take it for kindness. My mother simply does what my father tells her to do.”
“Still …” Allegra ran her hand over the rows of gowns, which had been separated into day dresses, walking dresses, ballgowns, and dinner dresses. “I will look absolutely splendid.”
“You always do.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll leave you to explore and see you at luncheon.”
He went out, leaving Allegra contemplating the complete wardrobe she’d been gifted by the duke.
There were bonnets and hats in the shelves above the dresses and footwear below.
She opened one of the drawers at random and discovered rows of stockings, garter ribbons, and even a drawer of the scandalous pantaloons she secretly loved.
Another drawer contained embroidered nightgowns along with petticoats and delicately sewn stays. She’d never owned so many clothes in her life, and despite her reservations about the motives of the giver, she couldn’t help but be thrilled.