Page 76 of How to Ruin a Rake

Luckily for Allegra’s nerves, it was a short drive to the duke’s magnificent townhouse, and they arrived within minutes. Max helped her down and led her through a line of staff who had come out of the house to welcome them home. Allegra smiled and thanked everyone as she progressed up the steps and into the vast, marble-floored entrance hall. Max looked down at her.

“I’ll hand you over to the housekeeper, Mrs. Hobart. I’m sure she’ll have prepared a room for you to refresh yourself before all the guests descend on us.”

“Thank you,” Allegra said.

She followed Mrs. Hobart up the stairs and was led into a large apartment overlooking the garden.

“This is the Marchioness’s suite, my lady,” Mrs. Hobart said. “The marquess’s bedroom is through the dressing room.” She opened another door into a connecting room full of wardrobes and a large standing bath. “I’ll bring you some hot water. Your maid will be here shortly, and I’ll direct the countess and your sister up here when they arrive.”

“Thank you,” Allegra said.

She walked over to the window and looked down at the meticulously laid-out garden below. There was no way to escape her fate now. She was married to Max, and she’d have to make the best of it for both of them.

There was a knock on the door, and her mother and sister arrived. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and went to greet them.

“Ah, there you are, darling. You carried it off absolutely splendidly.” Her mother kissed her. “I must say that I enjoyed the whole thing immensely. So many people who thought they’d never have to acknowledge me now having to be polite because my daughter will one day be a powerful duchess.”

Allegra hugged her mother. “I’m glad about that.”

Carenza turned her attention to Allegra’s veil. “Do you want to take that off before you eat? It’s terribly long.”

“Yes, please. All the pins keeping it in place are giving me a headache.” Allegra sat down at the dressing table and allowed Carenza to take off the tiara and the veil underneath it. “You’d better place the tiara in your reticule, Mama, because I’m not putting it on again.”

“Are you sure, darling?”

“Quite sure.” Allegra thanked the maid, who’d brought in some hot water. “I suppose I’d better hurry up. I don’t want to keep the duke waiting.”

The wedding breakfast passed in a blur. There were toasts to her and Max, short speeches, which everyone seemed to enjoy, and the food from the duke’s kitchen was excellent. Even her brother Dorian, who hadn’t been speaking to her since the debacle with Postumus, cheered up, drank too much wine, and became far more human and relatable.

Max stayed by her side, taking her to meet people and introducing them to her. She did her best to be polite and interested, which gained her a rare smile from the duke. Max’s mother stayed long enough to toast the happy couple and then declared that she had a headache and retired to her suite. No one appeared to miss her or be surprised by her conduct.

Eventually, the guests began to leave, and Allegra, who was staying the night in the duke’s house, retreated upstairs with her family to say her goodbyes. At one point, her mother drew her aside for a little talk.

“I’m sure you have acquainted yourself with the mechanics of bedding a man, my dear, but if you have any questions, I am more than willing to answer them.”

“I … ​think I’ll be fine, Mama, but thank you,” Allegra said.

Her mother persisted. “I know you have a practical turn of mind, Allegra, but the actual process can still seem quite shocking, and when it’s your first time—”

“It’s quite all right,” Allegra said. “Carenza told me all about it in the greatest of detail.”

“Oh, thank the Lord.” Her mother looked greatly relieved. “I’m so pleased to hear that.” She smiled. “I’m sure a man like Max Devereux will be an excellent teacher, my love, and that you’ll enjoy yourself immensely.”

Allegra was far too numb to even blush at her mother’s words. She already knew just how good a teacher Max could be, but whether he’d decide to continue her education was entirely out of her hands.

After her family left, Allegra allowed her maid to help her undress and put on her new nightgown and robe, which had been made, according to the duke, by nuns in the south of France. Why he knew that and how he had obtained such intimate garments with such speed had not been explained.

After her maid left, Allegra braided her hair over her shoulder and sat on the edge of the bed, wondering what to do. Would Max put in an appearance? If he wished the world to believe their marriage was legitimate, surely he would turn up. …

After staring at the clock for quite a long while, Allegra began to wonder whether it was up to her to make her way into Max’s bedroom next door. But what if he’d gone to sleep? How mortifying would that be? She decided it was too big a risk and had just resumed her vigil beside the clock when the connecting door between their bedchambers opened and Max came in.

He wore a very nice, embroidered dressing gown, and his feet were bare. Allegra found herself staring at his feet.

“Allegra?”

She looked up and immediately wished that she hadn’t, because now she was trapped in Max’s blue gaze.

“You don’t have to stay,” she blurted out.