Page 105 of How to Ruin a Rake

“I’m fine,” Allegra said automatically, although it was far from the truth.

“Mrs. Smith?” Max called out to the cook as they entered the kitchen.

“Yes, my lord?” She came out of the pantry, her shrewd gaze on Allegra. “Oh, the poor lady looks quite shaken. You were very brave to confront those three drunks, my lady. Mr. Brice said you were magnificent.”

Allegra tried to smile as Max pulled a chair out for her and she sat down. “It was easy to be brave when I had Brice and the stable hands standing behind me.”

“You need some hot, sweet, tea and mayhap a piece of cake?” Mrs. Smith turned to Max. “I can get the maid to bring everything through to the drawing room, my lord.”

“If you don’t mind, I think we’d rather stay here,” Max said. “Just like the old days when it was the three of us battling the rat population.”

Mrs. Smith laughed as she took the kettle from the range, filled the teapot with boiling water, and stirred the tea leaves before she replaced the lid. “Things are very different now, my lord. We’ve a full house of staff, a stable full of horses, and a dry roof over our heads.”

Allegra had a sense that Max and Mrs. Smith were just talking to soothe her, but when had that ever been necessary? She was a strong woman who didn’t need to be talked around, but she didn’t seem to have the energy to stop them. When Mrs. Smith put a slice of lemon cake topped with curd in front of her, she immediately ate it.

“Did you have breakfast?” Max asked, as Mrs. Smith gave her a second slice.

“I wasn’t very hungry,” Allegra said. “I feel much better now.”

“Good.” Max poured the tea, and soon Allegra began to feel restored.

“Might I ask where your mother and sister were during all this confusion?” Max asked.

“They went out for a drive to view the autumn colors and perhaps paint some watercolors,” Allegra said. “They asked if I wanted to accompany them, but I declined. It’s a good thing I did; otherwise, you would’ve come back to find your friends had made themselves at home and drunk all your brandy.”

“They are no longer my friends,” Max said.

“Then who are you going to associate with when you return to London? Your father?”

“I’m sure I’ll find some more suitable candidates.” Max smiled at her. “I do have brothers, you know.”

“We should invite them to visit us here,” Allegra said.

“Yes, they’d probably come to see how badly I’m doing,” Max said. “It would be nice to surprise them.”

Allegra reached for his hand. “You will surprise them. You have become a surprisingly effective landowner.”

“It’s about time, too, considering how much I’ll have to inherit.” He made a face and raised his cup. “Here’s to the health and continued longevity of the current duke.”

Eventually, Max left to check that his drunken visitors had indeed left the property. Allegra finished her third cup of tea with Mrs. Smith for company. The kitchen maids were busy getting lunch ready, and Allegra knew she must be in the way. She was just about to excuse herself when Mrs. Smith leaned in and spoke in hushed tones.

“I didn’t want to say anything in front of his lordship, my lady, but now that you’re eating for two, I’ll make sure to have lots of cakes to tempt your appetite during the day.”

“Eating for two?” Allegra stared at Mrs. Smith. “Oh, yes, of course. Thank you.” She rose to her feet in something of a panic. “I’ll just go and see if my mother has returned and whether she’ll be wanting luncheon.”

She practically ran all the way up to her bedchamber. Then, as she sat at her dressing table, she studied her reflection and attempted some mathematical calculations. She hadn’t had her monthly courses since arriving at Blanchard House. She’d told herself it was due to the stress of her unexpected marriage and that things would revert to normal as soon as she was more settled. But perhaps it was more than that.

She placed a shaking hand over her stomach. Was Max’s child in there?

One thing was certain—she had to keep that knowledge to herself for as long as possible. Max might not care what society thought of him, but the idea stung that Landon would be telling everyone Max wouldn’t return to London because he was under her thumb.

She took a deep, trembling breath and attempted to set out all the reasons why revealing her pregnancy was a terrible idea. She knew from her mother that not all pregnancies were successful. This one might not take, which was a devastating thought, but a reality just the same.

And then there was Carenza. Her sister couldn’t have children, and though she claimed to be at peace with it, Allegra would never wish to cause her distress.

Announcing her pregnancy after three months of marriage would make all the London gossips think Max had only married her because he had no other choice. She could only hope that if the pregnancy did continue, the baby would be born a respectable nine months after the marriage.

So far, her symptoms had been an aversion to certain foods, a desire to sleep at the most inconvenient of moments, bursting into tears, and a liking for copious pieces of cake. Max didn’t seem to have noticed, which was good. Mrs. Smith would keep her secret, and her mother and sister were due to return home in less than a week, which meant she stood a good chance of deceiving them until they left.