“It was a most beautiful wedding,” Sirena said. “Do try to be happy, Allegra.”
“I am,” the bride insisted.
“You know what I mean,” Sirena replied meaningfully.
“We shall leave you alone for a week,” the young Countess of Aston said, “but after that you will come and visit us.” She kissed Allegra on both cheeks. “Good-bye, darling!” Then Eunice and her husband were gone out the door.
“Youmustcome to London this winter,” Lady Bellingham insisted, giving the bride a warm hug. “It has been a most delightful time, dear girl.” There were more kisses. Then Lady Bellingham and her quiet husband departed.
“We will see you at Eunice’s,” Caroline, Lady Walworth, said before she left with her husband in tow.
“George said you were the most beautiful and generous girl in all of England,” Melinda Hunter said shyly. Then she grew bolder, continuing, “and I know why, Allegra.” Lady Hunter kissed her sister-in-law. “Thank you. Without your kindness and generosity I should not be so happy. I wish you the same joy with the duke as I have had with his brother.”
Allegra flushed. “Families are supposed to help one another,” she said in reply.
“I echo my wife’s thanks,” George Hunter said quietly. Then he kissed his brother’s bride, and Lord and Lady Hunter were gone.
“What did you do?” Sirena wanted to know.
“Another time, dear heart,” Allegra told her softly.
Sirena nodded. “Very well, I shall contain my curiosity.” Then with a wave, she and her husband were off.
“Well, my dear,” Lord Morgan said, “I shall bid you farewell for now. Be a good wife to your husband.” He kissed her on the forehead.
“Yes, Papa,” Allegra responded dutifully.
“God bless you, my darling child,” Lady Morgan said. Then she departed with her husband. There was nothing left she needed to say to her stepdaughter. It had all, thank goodness, been said.
They stood alone in the round foyer. Allegra wasn’t certain what was to happen next. It was much too early to retire, she thought, as the tall clock struck half after two o’clock. The servants were bustling back and forth clearing away the remnants of the wedding feast.
“Would you like to ride?” the duke suddenly asked her.
“In the rain?” Allegra thought her voice sounded rather hollow.
“It is only drizzling right now,” he answered.
“Perhaps a game of chess,” she suggested.
“Ahh,” he agreed. “The very thing.”
“I shall have it set up in the family salon,” Allegra said. “Perkins,” she called to the passing footman. “Set up the game table in the family drawing room, and bring the chess pieces, please.”
As the footman hurried off, the duke said to his new wife, “You looked…look,” he corrected himself, “very beautiful today, my dear. Every inch a Duchess of Sedgwick, if I may say so.”
“You may,” she replied, “and if I may return the compliment, sir, you are most handsome in that satin suit.”
He actually flushed with her praise, then took her bythe hand. “Come along, Allegra. We have not played chess in some weeks, and I am anxious to see if you have improved.”
“You are anxious to see if I have gotten any worse,” she mocked him with a smile. “Prepare yourself for a drubbing, my lord. I have been playing with Papa these last few days, and he is a brilliant player.”
Their family drawing room was decorated in pale blue, buff, and cream color. It held a mixture of old oak furniture and new maple pieces from London. Perkins set up the game table between the two wing chairs by the fireplace. When Allegra had seated herself he handed her the ebony and ivory box banded in silver that held the playing pieces.
She opened the box. “With your permission, sir, I shall take the white pieces, and give you the ebony.”
He nodded in agreement, and set up the board so they might begin their play. For several hours the duke and his new duchess vied with each other over the chessboard. They played several games, and were, Quinton Hunter had to admit to himself, equally matched. He won two games and she won two. Outside the storm continued to rage about them. A footman came into the room to make certain the fire was still burning. He trimmed the lamp and candlewicks, even as a fifth game ended in a draw. It had grown dark outside.
“I have set up a supper in the dining room, my lord,” Crofts said as he entered the drawing room. The clock on the mantel struck six o’clock.
