Chapter 4
Max glanced up as the clock in the small private parlor struck six and Lady Allegra came through the door. She’d redone her hair, and her dress looked as though it had been pressed.
“Much better.” Max looked her up and down.
She rolled her eyes and came to sit at the table. “That was the best sleep I’ve had since we left London.”
“Agreed.” He offered her a glass of wine, which she accepted. “Do you have any idea where Southwold is in relation to where you wish to go?”
“I believe we’re still in Suffolk.” She made a face. “In fact, we are farther away from my parents’ estate than we were yesterday.”
“But at least we’re alive,” Max reminded her. “We really had little choice but to leave as quickly as possible.”
“I’m perfectly aware of that. If I hadn’t woken up and heard them plotting, we’d be dead.”
He raised his glass to her. “Cheers to that. I suppose I owe you my life.”
She met his gaze, her gray eyes clear. “You do. And considering I have every right to wish you dead, I find that quite ironic.”
“As you said, it will be far more fun to kill me yourself.”
“That’s true. I must ask Mrs. Gunner if I can borrow her meat cleaver.”
Max almost spat out his wine, laughing. If there was anything he’d learned about Lady Allegra Musgrove in the past few days, it was that she was indomitable and that she had a dry sense of humor that appealed to him immensely.
“Make sure that it’s been sharpened,” Max advised her. “I wouldn’t want to suffer too much.”
She grinned at him, and he suddenly saw how attractive she could be.
“You are incorrigible.”
“Yes.” He bowed.
There was a knock at the door, and Daisy and Mrs. Gunner entered carrying two trays, which they set on the table between Max and Lady Allegra.
Daisy set out the plates and utensils, while Mrs. Gunner pointed at the food. “There’s chicken, ham, roast potatoes, parsnips, gravy, and some greens.”
“It all looks splendid, Mrs. Gunner,” Max said. “Thank you very much.”
He winked at Daisy, who blushed as she left the room behind her mother.
“Don’t you dare,” Lady Allegra said the moment the door closed.
“Dare what?” Max asked.
“Seduce the landlord’s daughter.” She fixed him with a hard stare. “We do not want Mr. Gunner pursuing us with a shotgun because you have ruined his daughter!”
Max held up his hands. “I have no intention of seducing her.”
“Promise?”
“Of course.” He placed his hand over his heart. “On my honor.”
Lady Allegra snorted and applied herself to her food.
“This is excellent,” Max said, after he’d helped himself to seconds.
“I agree.” Lady Allegra nodded. “I only hope I have enough coin to pay for it.”
“Can we not simply enjoy a meal together without you worrying?” Max asked.
“You see”—she pointed her knife at him—“that’s why you’re a known rake. You simply ignore any unpleasantness around you because it’s easier than thinking ahead and making good decisions.”
“That seems harsh.”
“The truth often does.” Lady Allegra returned to eating.
Max regarded her calm face. He’d never met a woman who was so keen to hand out advice about his character before. It was quite unsettling. “You sound like my father.”
“Really?” She looked up. “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him.”
“Oh, you’d remember him if you had. He has quite the reputation.”
“For what?”
“Being the epitome of a cold-hearted aristocrat,” Max said. “Even if you did encounter him, he would barely acknowledge you, because you would be beneath his interest.”
“He sounds charming.” Lady Allegra poured herself another glass of wine.
“He’s a duke. He has no need to exert himself for others’ benefit. He expects everyone to bow down to him.” Max paused. “Except the monarch, of course, although privately, he considers himself far superior to those jumped-up German nobodies.”
Lady Allegra spluttered into her drink. “Then I suspect he and my father would have something in common. My parents detest the Prince Regent.”
“Who doesn’t?” Max took a third helping of chicken. “The man’s a disgrace.”
“I rather thought you’d like him.”
Max fixed her with a quelling stare. “My dear girl, I do have some standards.”
There was a knock on the door, and Daisy came back in, her attention entirely on Max.
“Ma says do you want some pudding?”
“Yes, please.” Max made a sterling effort not to stare at Daisy’s bounteous breasts. “And is there brandy?”
“Yes, sir.” Daisy cleared the plates off the table. “I’ll be back in a minute with both.”
As soon as Daisy left, Lady Allegra reclaimed his attention. “By the way, I told Daisy that our baggage was lost with the gig.”
“That was clever of you.”
“I thought we should try and add some legitimacy to our arriving with nothing but the clothes on our backs.”
“And a very expensive horse,” Max reminded her. “That’s why I decided to use a different name.”
She smiled approvingly at him. “That was an excellent idea, as well.”
They were still smiling at each other when Daisy came back in with a tray. “I’ve got your brandy, sir, and two helpings of Ma’s custard tart and cream.”
“Thank you, Daisy,” Lady Allegra said. “And please thank your mother for an excellent meal.”
“I will, miss.” Daisy curtsied. “Dad says you can have the gig at noon tomorrow after Ma gets back from the market, if that suits you.”
“That would be most appreciated,” Max said as he poured himself a generous measure of brandy and eyed the custard tart with great anticipation.
Daisy left, and Max took a long slug of brandy and sighed with appreciation. “I don’t want to know where Mr. Gunner gets his brandy, but this is damned good.” He finished the glass and immediately poured himself another one.
“Do you always drink so much?” Lady Allegra asked.
Max gave her the eye. “Says someone who just polished off the majority of a bottle of wine.”
“That’s different.”
“How? Perhaps I needed the brandy because you hogged all the wine.”
He wasn’t quite sure why he enjoyed needling her so much, but her gathering indignation and outrageous set downs were somehow delightful.
“Are you suggesting I’m inebriated?” Lady Allegra asked.
“I don’t know how you behave when you’re drunk. Do you rip your clothes off and run around naked, or are you one of those quiet drunks who weeps bitterly in the corner?”
She sat up straight. “I have never been drunk in my life!”
“You should try it one day,” Max advised. “It can be quite liberating.”
“Only for those who seek to escape the reality of their existence.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“I believe it is better to face your problems and deal with them rather than wishing them away in drunkenness.”
“And what would you know about problems?” Max asked. “You’re a wealthy, titled woman living an existence of privilege.”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes, I am lucky enough to have wealth, but my family is not considered respectable; my sister has just made everything worse, and I am stuck with the prospect of never getting married because of things that aren’t in my control.
Why do you think I am going back to Norfolk in the middle of the Season? ”
He studied her carefully. He hadn’t known she was leaving town because, in truth, he hadn’t been thinking of anything except winning the wager and abducting her sister. An unfamiliar sense of guilt washed over him.
Before he could attempt a reply, Lady Allegra continued speaking.
“But you are right. I do have little to complain about.” Her voice wobbled. “I have a family who loves me, my sister is about to marry the man she adores, and I will never have to worry about being poor or homeless, because I will always have things provided for me.”
To his absolute horror, she burst into tears. He shot to his feet and went to come around the table, but she shooed him away and vigorously used her handkerchief to dry her cheeks.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and faced him. “I do apologize. I must be overtired.” She rose to her feet. “I think I’ll retire. Goodnight, my lord.”
Max stood, too, his gaze fixed on her resolute face, and cursed the fact that he had no idea how to help or reassure her. “Good night.” He bowed.
She left, and he sat down and automatically reached for the brandy, his hand stilling at the last moment.
He’d never thought to see her show such emotion, especially to him, and what in God’s name was he supposed to say?
As far as he understood it, for most women marriage was their primary focus, and Lady Allegra was being denied that opportunity because of the behavior of others.
Max succumbed to his desire for brandy and filled his glass. She hadn’t wanted his sympathy—that was obvious—so what else could he have offered her?
Nothing. Because he’d never experienced real hardship before in his life.
Max drained his glass and immediately refilled it.
There was a tap on the door, and Daisy came in. “Is there anything else I can get you, sir?”
He found a smile somewhere. “No, thank you.”
“Anything?” She smiled invitingly. “My parents sleep very heavily, sir, and my room is as far away from theirs as possible. In truth, it’s directly opposite yours.” She winked at him before she left.
Max sighed. So much for him seducing the innocent Daisy …
He was certain Lady Allegra would attribute his pleasure in making love to beautiful women as yet another character failing, but he enjoyed it immensely. But tonight, he just wanted to sleep in a real bed without fear of being murdered, and the luscious Daisy would be waiting for him in vain.
Allegra woke up with a headache and a profound sense of embarrassment that she had cried in front of the infuriating Max Devereux.
Why she’d let him goad her into revealing truths that had nothing to do with him, she had no notion.
He didn’t deserve her confidences and had proved that by the horrified look on his face when she’d burst into tears.