Chapter 19 #2
Max looked at her, his expression hard to read.
Carenza set down her cup. “Perhaps you could give us a tour of the house, Allegra, and point out all the interesting bits. Julian told me I had to get all the details in case you need his decorating advice.”
“I think we’ll do well enough without him,” Allegra said. “Max has an excellent eye.”
“Did I tell you Father has turned the dower house on the Musgrove estate over to me and Julian?” Carenza asked. “The tenants have just vacated the place, and Julian cannot wait to get in there and make changes.”
“I thought Julian had his own place in Essex?” Allegra said.
“He does, but we also enjoy being close to Mama and Father.” Carenza cast her mother a loving look. “And when you and Max come and stay, you’ll be able to pick which house you wish to sleep in.”
“How very pleasant.” Allegra looked at Max. “How shall we ever choose?”
He rose to his feet and placed his cup back on the tray. “If you’ll excuse me. I have business matters to attend to before dinner.”
The countess stood up and went over to embrace him. “Thank you for welcoming us to your house so warmly. You are the best of men.” She turned to Allegra. “If you don’t mind, I might take a siesta before dinner. I’m sure you and Carenza can entertain each other.”
Max offered her his arm, and they went out together, leaving the sisters facing each other.
“Are you truly happy?” Carenza asked.
“As happy as I can allow myself to be,” Allegra said. “Seeing as I married Max for my own benefit.”
“How so?”
“I knew that such a marriage would help reestablish our parents’ respectability.”
“And mine.” Carenza held her gaze. “None of us asked you to do that.”
“Not directly. It just felt like the right thing to do,” Allegra said simply. “Max knows.”
Carenza stared at her. “You told him you only married him to save your family’s reputation?”
“I wasn’t willing to lie to him.”
“And why did he agree to that?” Carenza asked.
“He didn’t exactly agree.” Allegra looked down at her hands. “I didn’t mention it until after we were married.”
“Oh, Allegra …” Carenza shook her head. “I almost feel sorry for him.”
“I can assure you Max would not appreciate your sympathy.”
“If Max didn’t know your motives about the marriage before the wedding, then why did he agree to marry you, and why is he still here?” Carenza asked.
“Why does it matter?” Allegra frowned.
“Have you even asked him?”
“Of course not.”
Carenza raised her eyebrows. “Shall we proceed with our tour? We don’t want to be late dressing for dinner.”
Allegra stood, her mind racing. “I do wish you wouldn’t change the subject just when you got to the interesting part. Max married me because his father told him to.”
“When has Max ever done what the duke asked?” Carenza rose as well. “And why do you look so ridiculously happy together?”
“All right, then he married me because he knew his father would hate it. Will that do?”
Carenza merely looked at her. “I don’t think that was it, either, but a simple conversation with your husband would resolve this question in a few seconds.”
“I am not asking him why he married me.” Allegra glared at her sister.
“Why not? Are you afraid of what he’ll say?”
“I’m afraid …” Allegra swallowed hard. “That it will give him a reason to return to his old life and rakish ways in London.”
“Because you don’t want him to go,” Carenza said softly.
Allegra wiped furiously at her eyes. “I don’t know what is wrong with me. I never cry, and I’ve become a watering pot since my marriage.”
Carenza offered her a handkerchief and a hug. “Husbands can have that effect on their wives. Julian can be the most infuriating man in the world sometimes.”
She stepped back and looked at Allegra. “I don’t wish to harp on about a subject that causes distress, but this isn’t like you, sister. You’re one of the most forthright and honest women I know. Surely asking Max would at least resolve your obvious anxiety over this matter?”
“And what if he says he married me simply to spite the duke?” Allegra demanded. “What then?”
“You married him to save your family,” Carenza reminded her.
“I don’t understand your point.”
“There are many reasons why people get married. What is important is how they deal with each other after that.” Carenza smiled.
“From what you’ve told me, Max’s parents disliked each other on sight and have lived the rest of their lives accordingly, whereas, our parents are still gloriously and single-mindedly in love. ”
Allegra must have looked skeptical, because Carenza continued.
“Each couple makes choices as to how they wish to deal with each other regardless of their start. If Max is still here, working hard to create a home for you, isn’t that noteworthy?
If he truly disliked you, he would simply have dumped you here and headed straight back to London and no one would have said a word against him.
But he didn’t; he stayed. If I were you, I’d choose to be brave and find out why. ”
Allegra scowled. “I hate it when you’re more reasonable than I am.”
Carenza chuckled as she linked arms with Allegra. “I perhaps have more experience in dealing with men than you do. No man stays where he isn’t wanted, Allegra; why would he?”
“Unlike us women,” Allegra grumbled. “We have to do what we are told.”
“Don’t be silly. You could go to London by yourself,” Carenza said briskly.
“And I must say, as your sister, that you rarely do what any man tells you to do, so why start now? If Max suggests he’s leaving for London, wave him goodbye, and follow him up there in a week or so, and stay at Musgrove House. ”
Allegra gazed at her sister with new respect. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“That’s because you’ve fallen into the habit of feeling sorry for yourself,” Carenza said. “Now might I see the rest of this house? After reading all your letters, I’ve been dying to see the progress for myself.”
It was pleasant to have company, Max thought, as he looked at the Musgroves chattering away around the dining table.
Allegra seemed to be enjoying herself, which somehow made him feel happier.
He still couldn’t imagine leaving her and going to London, but it seemed as if her family, and probably the whole of the ton, assumed that was what he would do.
He knew many gentlemen who married well and then left their wives in their country homes so that they could continue drinking, gambling, and whoring without being “nagged at.” Such men returned home in the summer mainly to impregnate their wives and then leave them in solitude to rear their children.
He’d often thought he’d be one of them, but Allegra had changed his mind.
The only problem was she seemed to be encouraging him to leave. …
If he did, would she come to regret her decision?
Was he stupid enough to try it? Surely, she’d miss him.
He only realized he was staring at his wife when she raised her eyebrows in a question.
He hastily looked down at his plate. He didn’t like wanting her approval, but it appeared that it was now necessary for his happiness.
“Max?”
He turned to Carenza. “I do apologize. I was woolgathering. What did you say?”
“I was just remarking on what a lovely house this is and how well it looks.”
“Thank you,” Max said. “It is still something of a work in progress, but I’m very pleased with what we’ve achieved so far.”
“It’s all Max,” Allegra said. “Nothing would’ve happened if he hadn’t decided to take it on.” She smiled. “I’m very proud of him.”
He smiled in return, his gaze locking on hers as he forgot everyone else in the room. In truth, he was behaving like a besotted fool. If any of his old friends saw him now, they’d be in hysterics.
“It’s a joint venture,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without Allegra’s support.”
“How lovely,” Carenza said. “I always think a good marriage is a balancing act, and you two appear to have mastered it perfectly.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Max said. “Although I suspect Allegra would disagree.”
“Yes, because you don’t play fair,” Allegra said. “And constantly put your thumb on the scales.”
“I most certainly do not.” Max pretended to look affronted. “I’m quite certain your family know exactly who runs the house, and it isn’t me.”
“Allegra has always been honest to a fault,” the countess said.
“In truth, I prefer her to be honest,” Max said, with a challenging stare at Allegra. “Then at least I know where I stand.”