Chapter 5
“How are we going to pay for all this?” Allegra asked as she entered the private parlor to find Max already eating at the table.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
“Does it involve anything criminal I should know about?” Allegra asked.
“Criminal?” Max looked up. “Hardly. I’ll take your advice and seek out a pawnbroker’s establishment. I’ll use my watch as collateral.”
Allegra took a seat opposite him and reached for a hunk of bread and cheese. “You can have my pearls, as well.”
“We’ve already discussed this. There is no need.”
Allegra held her tongue. She was quite hungry, and the bread was still warm and delicious.
“I’ll go out before the shops close,” Max said. He continued to eat heartily. “I might not be back in time for dinner, so please go ahead and dine without me.”
“As you wish,” Allegra said, as she took another hunk of cheese before Max could finish it all off.
“No arguments today?” he asked. “No warnings as to my conduct?”
Allegra raised her eyebrows. “I’m not your keeper, sir. As long as you fulfill your promise and get me home to Musgrove Hall, I have no grounds for commenting on your activities.”
“With respect, that hasn’t stopped you in the past.” Max took a drink of ale. “In truth, you’ve been berating me ever since we’ve met.”
Allegra pressed her lips together and reminded herself not to rise to his bait. She slowly chewed her bread and cut off another sliver of cheese.
“Jack’s gone back home,” Max said after he’d finished the last of the bread. “I gave him your last sixpence for his trouble. I wish I’d been able to tell him who I really was.”
Allegra’s curiosity got the better of her. “Why?”
“Because he wants to be a tiger or a jockey, and my father has plenty of opportunities for lads like him in his stables.”
“Perhaps you could write to Jack when you get home and simply suggest he contact your father?” She saw Max’s expression and hurried on. “Not the duke directly, of course, but the person who runs his stables. I’m sure you know who that is.”
“A very affable man called Mr. Warwick. I could put in a good word for Jack before he applied,” Max mused.
“That’s an excellent idea,” Allegra said. “How clever of you to think of it.”
Max regarded her. “Don’t flatter me. I am well aware that it was your suggestion.”
“But you did think of finding him a place in your father’s stables all by yourself.”
Max stood up and dusted off the crumbs. “I think I’ll go and check my horse. I’m not sure if I can deal with you when you’re in this placatory mood.”
Allegra smiled brightly, and he rolled his eyes and walked out.
In truth, she was glad to see him go, because she wasn’t sure quite how long she could sustain her attempt not to argue.
There was something about him that just compelled her to set him straight.
And, if she was honest with herself, she enjoyed their spats immensely.
Losing her reputation and being free of society’s rules was surprisingly liberating.
She finished her ale and went to see if she could persuade one of the maids to bring up some hot water for her to bathe in.
Despite her best efforts over the past few days, she still felt rather grubby.
She’d discovered an extra thrupenny bit when she’d emptied out her reticule, and she would use that to tip the helpful maid.
Half an hour later, she lay in the bath, staring up at the ceiling. She’d washed her hair and was reluctant to get out, even though the water was cooling rapidly. She closed her eyes and tried to reach for a sense of calm that had eluded her over the past hectic days.
The door opened, and Max came in.
“I left my—” He scowled at her. “Good God, woman. Why didn’t you lock the door?”
“I thought I had.” Allegra made no attempt to leap out of the bath or cover herself. She’d quite forgotten she was sharing the room with Max. “You could have knocked.”
“You might have mentioned that you intended to have a bath!”
“I didn’t think of it until after you’d left,” Allegra said. “Can you hand me that towel, please? The water is getting rather cold.”
“You’re not getting out while I’m here, are you?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Allegra asked.
“Because … it’s indecent.” He brought the towel over to her and held it out, averting his gaze.
“You sound like an old maid.” Allegra stood up and let the water run off her before stepping out onto the floor.
Max immediately wrapped her in the towel. His hands remained low on her hips. “You’re supposed to be the old maid.”
She shrugged. “I’m resigned to my fate. You can’t make me feel shame for it.” His hands tightened and she looked up at him. “What?”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
She couldn’t look away. “Thank you.”
She shivered as he gently moved a wet curl of her hair away from her cheek. “I’ve completely forgotten what I came up here for.”
“Seeing a naked woman would do that to a rake,” Allegra murmured as he gently rubbed her back with the towel. “I suppose I should be glad that you didn’t run away screaming.”
“I’m made of far sterner stuff, my lady.”
His voice held a rough quality that made her want to lean into him and hear more.
He took a deep breath and let it out. “I should go.”
“Yes,” Allegra agreed, without making any effort to move out of his embrace.
He was the first to step back, his gaze moving over her as he picked up his hat. “Lock the door after I leave.”
“Yes, sir.” Allegra bobbed him an awkward curtsy.
“Stop it.” Max frowned and left, closing the door with a distinct bang.
Allegra sank down onto a chair, her legs trembling and her breathing erratic.
When he’d touched her, she’d wanted more, wanted to feel his mouth kissing hers as roughly as his voice had sounded.
A cold stream of water coursed down her back from her wet hair, and she shuddered.
Such fevered thoughts were not for her. What would her sister Carenza think of her displaying her naked self to a man she wasn’t married to?
In truth, Carenza might approve. Allegra sighed. She had to be sensible. Max Devereux was most women’s worst nightmare, and his ability to seduce women was legendary. She had simply fallen foul of a rake, which was nothing to be ashamed of at all.
Max walked swiftly down the stairs and out into the high street, his heart thumping in time to the pulse in his hard cock.
Lady Allegra Musgrove’s long legs, small bosom, and curved hips were now branded into his memory.
Why hadn’t she locked the damn door? And why had she just let him look?
For an unmarried woman, she was remarkably bold.
“Good lord,” Max muttered to himself. “I do sound like an old spinster. She did nothing wrong. I simply”—he let out a breath—“didn’t expect her to look like that.”
“What ho, old chum!”
Max was jerked out of his reverie by the sound of a familiar voice. He turned warily to face the gentleman approaching him.
“Roberts.”
“Max.” Lord Sebastian Roberts, one of his classmates at Harrow and Eton, approached him, grinning like a fool. “What brings you to this part of the world?”
“I’m just passing through.” Max shook the proffered hand. “Had a problem with my gig and had to hole up here for repairs.”
“How inconvenient,” Roberts said. “I did wonder if you were on the run.” He laughed heartily. “I heard rumors that your father is not happy with your conduct.”
“He’s never happy,” Max replied. “Where are you staying?”
“At the George, of course.” Roberts pointed vaguely up the street. “It’s the best inn here.” He paused. “Perhaps you could join me for dinner?”
Max thought rapidly. It was in his best interests to keep the gossipy Roberts as far away from Lady Allegra and the Three Lions as possible.
“I have some business to take care of in town,” Max said. “But I’d be delighted to join you after that.”
“I’m not sure what business you have in this hovel, but that is most agreeable to me. I’ll expect you around six,” Roberts said, and turned to leave. “Tally ho!”
Max watched as Roberts disappeared up the street and debated whether to go back and warn Lady Allegra that an acquaintance of his was also in town.
He decided against it, just in case she was still naked, and headed down the road.
One of the ostlers had given him directions to a shop near where the fishing fleet came in where he could pawn his watch.
It wasn’t the most salubrious part of town, but Max reckoned he could take care of himself.
After completing his business, he’d take a long walk along the coast and let the coldness of the sea air cool his blood.
He had a terrible sense that if he went back to Lady Allegra, she’d know what he’d been thinking, and he was certain she’d insist on bringing up his lustful thoughts, and then what would he do?
The urge to act on them still lingered, which was not good at all.
Staying away from her and having dinner with the amiable Roberts was the best plan. Hopefully he could arrive back to their shared room so late that she would’ve gone to bed.
Allegra ate her solitary dinner and sat in the parlor for an hour waiting for Max to appear.
When he didn’t return, she went up to the bedchamber, lit a candle, and sat beside the fire, reading.
She was so engrossed in her gothic novel that when the clock chimed ten times, she looked up in surprise.
Where was Max? Had he somehow fallen foul of the good citizens of Southwold?
Or was he simply out carousing like the rake he was? Nothing would surprise her anymore.
She got up and went to unlock the door. If he did return late, she didn’t want to have to get out of bed to open the door to a drunken fool.
She set her book aside and decided to get ready for bed.
It had been another tiring day, and tomorrow looked just as wearing, so a good night’s sleep was an imperative.