Page 98 of How to Ruin a Rake

Anne efficiently relaced her and then poured warm water into a bowl so that Allegra could wash her face. After thanking her, Allegra made her way down the stairs and found Max already there, greeting her mother and Carenza.

“My darling.” Her mother came toward her, arms spread wide. She wore a patterned silk gown in her favorite red with a matching straw bonnet complete with cherries. “What a pretty little house this is! It is so good to see you again.”

Allegra promptly burst into tears. Carenza came over and hugged her. “Please don’t cry.”

“I’m just … ​so happy to see you.” Allegra kept crying. Max offered her his handkerchief, and she loudly blew her nose. “I’ve missed you both so much!”

“Shall we take your family up to their rooms, my dear?” Max asked. “I’m sure they’ll want to refresh themselves after such a long journey.”

“Yes, of course, forgive me.” Allegra tried to smile. “I’ve forgotten how a hostess is supposed to behave.”

Her mother’s warm laugh surrounded her. “We’re your family, darling, there is no need to stand on ceremony with us.”

“But she does need to tell you where your rooms are located, or else you’ll be wandering around wondering where on earth she’s put you,” Max said. “I’d take you myself, but I have no idea, either.”

“I’ll take you up,” Allegra said. “You’re next to each other and quite near me.”

She went up the stairs and showed her mother and sister their rooms, rang the bell to make sure the maids brought hot water for them to wash with, and agreed to meet them in the drawing room when they were suitably refreshed. The nap had done her good, and she was keen to drink some tea and perhaps eat a sugary cake before dinner.

Max had disappeared again, probably to ensure that the coachman and his horses were being properly looked after in the stable. She went through to the kitchen to speak to Mrs. Smith. She still hadn’t found a housekeeper, but as they never entertained or had guests, Allegra hadn’t yet noticed the need for one.

“Mrs. Smith? Can you provide some tea and refreshments for the drawing room?” Allegra asked.

“Of course, my lady.” Mrs. Smith took a tray of bread rolls out of the oven. “Would you like one of these with some butter from our new dairy?”

“Yes, please.” Allegra sat down at the table and waited impatiently for Mrs. Smith to split the hot steaming roll and slather it with butter. She devoured it in six bites, and the cook obligingly buttered her another one.

“I have to stop,” Allegra said through a mouthful of bread. “Otherwise, I’ll eat the whole pan.”

“And then there would be no rolls for dinner, my lady,” Mrs. Smith said as she deftly put the rest of the bread out of Allegra’s reach. “I’ll get one of the maids to bring that tea in for you in a jiffy.”

Allegra rose to her feet. “Thank you, Mrs. Smith. Will you tell my husband that we’ll be in the drawing room if you see him?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Allegra went back into the newly restored drawing room, where she’d arranged two sofas and two chairs by the window with a view of the home park, and another group around the fire. She chose the seats with the view because of the still-spectacular autumn color.

It didn’t take long for her mother and sister to join her. After they were seated, Carenza leaned over to take Allegra’s hand. “There’s no need to ask whether you are thriving in this marriage, sister; you look wonderfully content.”

“We’ve had our difficulties,” Allegra acknowledged. “But we’ve managed so far.”

“I confess that I thought Max would be off to London at the first opportunity,” her mother said. “I never saw him as the kind of gentleman who would enjoy country life.”

“That has surprised me, too,” Allegra admitted. “But there has been so much to set right on the estate that I don’t think Max had much choice.”

One of the maids came in with the tea tray, followed by Brice with the cake.

“Thank you,” Allegra said.

Carenza ate a piece of sponge cake and smiled. “The lemon is lovely.”

“It’s my favorite,” Allegra confessed. “Mrs. Smith has to hide the tin from me.”

Despite eating two bread rolls, Allegra was still remarkably hungry, so she helped herself to a scone and clotted cream and a piece of the lemon cake.

Max came in, and she poured him a cup of tea.

“Your coachman is settled in with my head groom, Lady Musgrove, and the horses will be well taken care of,” Max informed her mother.