Chapter 13
He didn’t like what was happening at all.
Max paused to rearrange his cravat in the mirror.
He’d been at Musgrove Hall for four days and watched Allegra flirt with Cooper the entire time.
Despite Allegra’s parents trying desperately to intervene, Max expected Cooper to propose to her, and he was fairly certain Allegra would accept him.
As he and Allegra had agreed would be best.
And this was why his growing conviction that it would be a terrible mistake if Allegra did marry Cooper was both baffling and annoying.
Could he simply not accept that Allegra might find a man she preferred to him, or was there more to it?
He needed to speak to her before she made that final commitment, and it would have to be soon, because, knowing his father, he’d return with a special license in his pocket or a tame bishop ready to perform the wedding service.
Max put on his coat and smoothed the lapels. He’d noticed Cooper liked to play billiards with Dorian in the latter part of the evening, which gave him the perfect opportunity to speak to Allegra. What he intended to say to her, he hadn’t quite decided, but he needed to have the conversation.
When he entered the drawing room, he found only Mr. Cooper.
Cooper, who insisted on treating Max with a friendly air, smiled at him. “We are the most punctual of guests, aren’t we?”
Max nodded and helped himself to a glass of brandy without offering his companion one.
“How long are you intending to stay at Musgrove Hall?” Max asked. “Do you not have duties to attend to?”
“My employers don’t object to me visiting my friends, my lord, as long as I’m able to satisfactorily complete my work.”
“What exactly do you do?”
“I translate old books about mathematics from the original Arabic, I restore and repair books, and I look for new books to add to my university’s collection.”
“You’re a librarian.”
“That’s one way of describing it,” Cooper said. “As you might imagine, coming to a house like this with a whole room full of family records is something of a treat for me. Dorian was more than happy to let me advise him as to the storage and condition of such important documents.”
“Ah, so this is a paid visit.”
“No, this is a favor for a valued friend.” Cooper paused. “And yourself? How does the heir to a dukedom pass his time?”
Max shrugged. “Waiting to inherit. What else is there for me to do?”
“That’s …” Cooper hesitated. “Forgive me if I speak out of turn, but that must be quite debilitating.”
Max raised his eyebrows. “Do I look debilitated to you?”
Cooper didn’t look away. “I think all men need a purpose in life, my lord.”
Max was about to reply when he became aware that Allegra had entered the room and was staring at both of them.
She wore a dress in her favorite shade of blue, which made her gray eyes shine, and her hair was elaborately curled.
Max preferred it down around her shoulders, but he certainly wasn’t going to mention that.
“Good evening, Mr. Cooper, my lord.” Allegra curtsied. “I apologize that there was no one here to greet you when you came down to dinner.”
“That’s quite all right,” Cooper said. “We’ve been getting acquainted.”
Allegra glanced dubiously at Max. “That’s … nice.”
He smiled at her, and she raised her chin. Max said, “Mr. Cooper believes every gentleman should have an occupation. He was too polite to say so, but I believe he thinks I’m a lazy good-for-nothing.”
“I didn’t exactly say that—” Cooper attempted to defend himself, but Allegra spoke over him.
“You do lack an occupation, my lord. But isn’t that the fate of all the heirs to great titles?” She turned to Cooper. “One must strive for compassion for these poor creatures who have nothing to do but spend money, gamble, and whore their way through society.”
Cooper looked visibly shocked. “Lady Allegra …”
Max grinned and applauded her. “Now I’ve been put in my place, might I get you a drink, Lady Allegra? I think I can at least manage that.”
As usual, Allegra was seated beside Max and opposite Postumus at dinner.
Luckily, her family kept informal manners in the countryside and no one minded if you spoke to the person sitting on the other side of the table.
Max was in good form, flirting with her mother and sister and treating her father with the respect he deserved.
Postumus was quieter than usual. Allegra suspected that her putdown of Max had shaken him somewhat.
In truth, in her desire to outdo Max, she’d completely forgotten Postumus was there.
Postumus still hadn’t proposed to her, and she was running out of time.
The duke had sent a message to her father stating he would be with them in two days, which meant she didn’t have many opportunities left.
She had a sense that if she just came out and asked Postumus to propose, he wouldn’t respond very well, but what else was there to do?
And what if she asked him and he said no? Allegra couldn’t even allow herself to think about that. She jumped as Max gripped her knee under the table.
“What’s wrong?” he murmured. “You’re hardly eating.”
“I’m … fine.” Allegra offered him a bright smile.
“You are not,” Max said. “I need to speak to you.”
“Not now!” Allegra hissed, aware that there were many sets of eyes on them.
“After dinner when the gentlemen go into the billiards room, I’ll meet you in the library.” He gave her knee one last squeeze and removed his hand. “Now please eat something.”
Allegra forced some food down and was very grateful when her mother took the ladies into the drawing room. Her slight reprieve ended when Postumus came in and walked over to her.
“Lady Allegra? Might I have a moment of your time? There is a book in the library that I wish to consult, and your brother says you know exactly where I might find it.”
“Yes, of course!”
Allegra leapt to her feet before her mother could object and practically ran toward the library. Was he about to propose? Was this it?
He closed the door behind them and waited as she lit some of the candles to illuminate the large book-lined room.
“Now, which book are you referring to, sir?” Allegra asked.
“As I’m sure you are aware, there is no book. I wanted to speak to you alone,” Postumus said.
Allegra squeezed her hands together to stop them from shaking and looked inquiringly at him.
“Over the years, your brother has mentioned you in his letters to me, and I must admit that I started to look forward to hearing about you,” Postumus said. “And when I finally met you, all my hopes as to your excellent character were realized.”
“That is a very kind thing to say, sir.” Goodness, her voice was trembling.
“It is simply the truth.” He held her gaze. “Your brother also mentioned that your marital prospects had become somewhat … clouded. I must confess that he intimated to me that a match between us, even though we aren’t equal, would be welcomed by him and your parents.”
He squared his shoulders and looked at her. “There is something I would like to ask you, Lady Allegra.”
She braced herself for the proposal. “Yes?”
“Is it true that the Duke of Barfleur intends for you to marry his son?”
Allegra blinked at him. “What?”
“I have become aware of a certain change in the ambiance since the duke and his son came to Musgrove Hall.” He smiled.
“Rest assured, none of your family members would discuss the matter with me, but the staff have plenty of opinions. I understand Max Devereux has made you persona non grata in society and that the duke feels honor bound to make his son marry you because of your loss of reputation.”
To her eternal shame, Allegra lost her ability to respond and gaped at him like a dying fish.
His smile was wry. “I see that I am correct.”
Allegra scrambled to reorder her thoughts. “That doesn’t mean that I want to marry him.”
“He’s the son of a duke.”
“If you think I am the kind of woman who would marry simply for social advantage, then you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
“Then I apologize.” Postumus inclined his head.
“Thank you,” Allegra said. “May I speak frankly, sir? I am aware that my brother considers you a good match for me, and he is right.” She took a deep breath. “In fact, if you did offer to marry me, I would probably say yes.”
He considered her for so long that she almost forgot to breathe again.
“The thing is—how can I be certain that your willingness to marry me does not stem from your reluctance to marry Devereux?”
“I …”
He smiled. “I appreciate that you have been put in a very difficult situation, but if I married you under these circumstances, I might always have concerns as to my worthiness. And, after the way I’ve been treated by my so-called family, I am not willing to be second-best again.”
“You would never be second-best to me,” Allegra said. “If I married you, I would give you my whole self.”
“I know.” He took her hand and squeezed it.
“But there is also that little matter of the attraction you feel for the handsome marquess. I’ve tried to ignore it, but every time he’s present, he draws sparks from you.
It is quite uncanny.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “May I ask something of you?”
Allegra nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.
“If you care for the marquess, you should marry him. But, if you choose not to, then perhaps we might correspond with each other and see how things develop?”
“I’d like that,” Allegra said.
“Then at least I’d know that you’d chosen me with a clear head,” Postumus said. “I know this has been very difficult for you, but I assure you that whatever happens at the end of the week, we’ll part as friends.”
He kissed her hand again just as the door burst open to reveal Max.
He frowned. “Please don’t tell me you’re in the middle of proposing to her,” Max said.
Postumus released Allegra’s hand and walked toward Max. “That is for the lady to disclose, not me.”
Max shut the door behind Postumus and came toward her.