“Birthing an infant, no matter how quick the process, is difficult, Allegra,” the duke told his wife. “Sirena needs to rest.” He reached out and clamped his hand about her upper arm. “Come, my darling girl.”
Her look was one of complete outrage, but she obeyed. “I shall be back,” she told Sirena.
“Eventually,” the duke said, and then led his wife from the room, almost forcibly.
“I should have thought to ask Allegra to remain,” Sirena said. “Run after them, Ocky, and tell them.”
“No, my dearest, Allegra must go home,” the viscount said to his surprised wife. Then he sat down next to her. “Let me tell you what your cousin and our friends have been doing.” He then proceeded to regale her with the tale of the Bellinghams’ niece and her family. He finished by saying, “They have just returned fromFrance via London. Allegra is exhausted, but refuses to admit it. Quint wants to get her home so she may rest. You can see how washed out she is, sweetheart.”
“But it was so wonderful to see her,” Sirena said, “especially since Mama has not come. I do not understand it. Do you think something has happened to Mama, and Steppapa doesn’t want to tell me for fear of harming our baby? Well, the baby is born and healthy, and I have sent to Mama two days ago and have no answer. You must go to Morgan Court tomorrow, Ocky, and bring my mother back to me.”
“I think that is an excellent idea, sweetheart,” the viscount answered his wife. “I shall start in the morning.” He kissed her gently. “Go to sleep now, Sirena.” Then he left her bedchamber, and hurried downstairs, just catching the duke and Allegra. “Quinton,” he called. “Sirena wants to see her mama. What am I to do?”
“You told him?”Allegra’s voice was icy.
“I thought it necessary,” the duke said.
“Must the entire world know that my ancient stepmother is having a baby, and I am not?” Allegra demanded.
“You had best tell Sirena so she doesn’t fret, and you do not have to take the long ride to Morgan Court,” the duke advised.
“No. I shall tell her,” Allegra cried, and dashed back up the stairs to her cousin’s bedchamber.
Sirena was just dozing off. She sat up as Allegra slammed into her room. “Wh…what is it?” she said, startled. “Oh, Allegra, you have come back, dearest.”
“I just came to tell you that Aunt Mama will not be coming to see you immediately. Quinton and I stopped at Morgan Court on our way back from London. Your mother is expecting a baby in May, Sirena. Isn’t it awful? I didn’t want you to be as embarrassed as I am overthis state of affairs, but I also didn’t want you to worry as to why she was not here with you and her grandson, where she should be,” Allegra finished in a self-righteous tone.
“Mama is to have a baby?”Sirena’s face shone with a mixture of amazement and delight. “Ohh, Allegra how wonderful! Now we shall be truly bound not just by our mother’s blood, but by our little half sibling. How is she? Is she all right? What incredible news you have brought me, dearest. Ocky! Do you know? Mama is to have a baby.”
“Yes,” Allegra suddenly burst out bitterly. “A baby. A child who will take away my inheritance, and make Quinton hate me for not being the richest girl in England. But did our parents consider that when they fornicated like two dogs on the road? No. All they thought about was themselves, and not my happiness. You have a baby, Sirena. Now your mother is to have a baby, but I cannot seem to have a baby!” Then bursting into tears Allegra ran from the room and down the stairs.
Quinton Hunter followed after his wife, watching her as she dashed out the front door of Pickford Hall and mounted her horse. He watched as she kicked the beast into a canter and rode away. The groom holding his mount helped him up, and flipping a coin at the man, the duke followed after his wife. He was torn between the desire to kiss her, to comfort her, and to spank her soundly. She had sounded like nothing more than a spoiled brat, and he was frankly amazed. What had happened to the logical and practical young woman he had married? He encouraged his horse to a faster gait in order to catch up, or at least keep apace of Allegra.
Sirena had climbed from her bed, and gone to her window to watch her cousin tear off in a temper. “I didnot consider that this might upset her,” she said slowly. “Lord, I have been thoughtless.”
“I think it is Allegra who has been inconsiderate, and heedless,” the viscount said to his wife.
“No, Ocky, don’t say that. You do not understand. Allegra and her brother, James Lucian, were devoted to each other. Until a few years ago she wasn’t the richest girl in England, nor did she care if she was. Then her brother was killed in France. It is not the money that disturbs my cousin, but the thought that her father could replace James Lucian with another son.”
“Did she not say to you that now Quinton wouldn’t love her?” Ocky said stubbornly.
“Certainly she knows better than that,” Sirena replied with a small smile. “But you will recall that Quinton Hunter with his bluer than blue blood made a match with Allegra first because she was the richest heiress in England. Allegra doesn’t really understand the nature of true love so how can she believe, even if he says it, that her husband truly loves her, and would love her even if she were poor? And there is the matter of an heir for Sedgwick, Ocky. Suddenly that becomes most paramount for Allegra for she is faced with the loss of probably half or more of her fortune, or value. Of course she is angry and upset.”
“What can we do to help?” Viscount Pickford wondered aloud.
“We can do nothing,” Sirena said quietly. “It is now up to Quinton Hunter to convince his wife that no matter what happens he will love her forever and a day, and even beyond. It will not be an easy, or a simple task.” Sirena watched as the duke rode after Allegra. She could but imagine how her beloved cousin felt right now. Lost. Bereft. And she was correct about one thing. It reallywas embarrassing that her own mother was having a baby at this time in her life, although, Sirena thought, I will never say it. I will be happy for Mama, and Steppapa. Then she giggled to herself. She would have never imagined that Olympia Abbott Morgan was still interested, and obviously if one was to believe Allegra, very interested in matters of the flesh. But she and Lord Morgan obviously were.
“What’s so funny?” her husband asked Sirena.
“I thought how amusing that at their ages Mama and Steppapa would still be being naughty. I did not realize one’s interest could lastthatlong,” Sirena answered her husband. “Do you think we shall still be interested in being naughty when we are their age, Ocky?”
“I certainly hope so, my darling girl,” the viscount replied. “I certainly hope so!”
Chapter Seventeen
“Iwant to go up to London,” Allegra told her husband.
“We have just come back from London,” he replied calmly. Living with his bride of six months had not been very easy these past few weeks.
