"I am happy you are pleased, my lord," she answered, her heart racing just a bit faster as she felt his lips. Then she looked up at him and smiled mischievously. "Please do not think that I shall allow such lavish meals to be served when we are alone. I do not want you looking like Prinny. I have noted that you have an appetite for sweets, for you ate two slices of Genovese cake, not to mention a lemon tart and some chocolate soufflé tonight."

"They were delicious," he replied with a chuckle. "I was not aware cook knew the recipe for Genovese cake."

"She didn't. I gave her Aunt Mama's recipe book. My stepmother had copies made for both Sirena and for me," Allegra told him. "Once the guests are gone, sir, it will be a simple life, and simple meals for us."

"If the truth be known, Allegra, and I think it no secret to our friends, you are the only sweet I truly desire," the duke told her.

She stopped playing, and looked up at him. "Will you always say such lovely things to me, Quinton?"

"Yes, Allegra, I will," he vowed. "Believe me, no one is more surprised than I to find myself in this particular situation. I can only hope that someday you may come to love me as I love you."

"I will try, Quinton," she promised him. "I truly will."

The prince, having won several hundred pounds for a change this night, went off to bed before midnight. It was no secret that Lady Johnstone joined him shortly afterward to pay her debt. The following morning found the heir to Britain's throne in an excellent mood and ready for the hunt at the hour of six o'clock. Before leaving, the gentlemen consumed an early breakfast of eggs, bacon, oat stirabout, freshly baked breads, butter, and cheese, not to mention creamed cod and a platter of salmon.

The ladies, however, remained abed the entire morning, but for Allegra, who was downstairs by ten o'clock to go over the menus with the cook and consult with Crofts regarding the pantry, for she was still worried that there should not be enough food. The majordomo reassured his mistress that Perkins had brought back more than enough supplies the day before.

So the next few days slipped by with the gentlemen hunting in the morning and early afternoon, while the ladies enjoyed one another's company. In the evenings a sumptuous meal was served followed by cards until the prince deigned it was time for bed. The pesky boar was killed as were two fine deer and a number of waterfowl. Prinny was pleased, but then he began to grow bored with country life, and announced he would be returning to London the following day. The next morning the four young couples waved him and Mr. Brummell off, but only after Prinny had consumed a huge breakfast, and a large picnic hamper was stored in his coach.

"Delightful time," he assured his host and hostess. "Can't remember when I've had such fun." He bowed to them all, and kissed the ladies' hands.

Lady Johnstone and Lady Perry were not there to bid His Highness a farewell. The prince had invited them both into his bed the evening before. They were frankly exhausted, for he was a tireless lover. He had casually invited them to London. They had promised to visit-eventually. It was not until midafternoon that their carriage collected the two ladies, who thanked the duke and duchess for including them in their little party and departed. They were the last of the guests to go for the others had left shortly after Prinny, promising to return for Allegra's first ball at the end of the month.


***

Th e autumn deepened. The trees were turning wonderful colors on the estate, and in the hills around them. The duke was pleased to learn that four of his mares were breeding, and would foal in the spring. Although he wanted to take Allegra away to some wonderfully romantic place, he was glad they would be here then. The French general, Napoleon, was making difficulties in Italy, and the duke didn't think they would be able to travel there in the spring after all. Still, he would take her to London this winter so she might enjoy her status as his wife. The country was a dull and quiet place in winter, and there could be no harm in spending a few weeks in town after the new year had begun.

The ball given by the new Duchess of Sedgwick in late autumn was to be a great success. Allegra had decided it would be a costume ball, and had invited all the families of note in the county. No invitation was refused, for there were many people curious to meet the new duchess, whose blood was hardly blue, but whose purse was overflowing. As Hunter's Lair was not a large house, many of the guests were staying with friends and relations who lived close by. The ball was to begin at ten o'clock in the evening. A buffet would be served at midnight when everyone would unmask; and then dancing and gambling would continue until the dawn when a breakfast would be presented to those remaining guests.

"I do not like costumes," Quinton Hunter told his wife.

"You will make a marvelous Caesar," Allegra said sweetly.

"And what are you to be? Caesar's wife?" he demanded.

"Cleopatra," she replied. "Mistresses are far more interesting than wives, or so I have been told," she finished mischievously.

"Cleopatra? Cleopatra was a…"

"Queen,"Allegra finished for him.

"I will not have my wife parading about in scanty draperies," the duke said firmly. "Everyone in the damned county is coming, and there has never been any unseemly gossip about a Duchess of Sedgwick."

"How unfortunate for you that your female antecedents have been so dull," Allegra replied tersely. "And do not tell me what I will or won't wear, sir. When did you become an arbiter of fashion?"

"Allegra!" he shouted. "You are my wife, and you will obey me, damnit."

"How dare you assume that I am so birdbrained as to flaunt myself before the county in, what was it you called it? Scanty draperies. My costume is rich and elegant, but there will be no one who can call it improper, unseemly, or unsuitable," she shouted back at him. "Ohh, you are the most irritating man!"

"And you are the most impossible woman!" he responded before sweeping her into his arms and kissing her soundly.

"You shall not get around me that easily," Allegra cried, pounding on his chest with her two little fists.

"Ohh, but I shall," he mocked her fury, and then he kissed her again until her knees were jelly, and she was furious at herself for the weakness of character she was exhibiting by yielding to him, but she just couldn't seem to help herself.

"Stop, stop," she said desperately.

"Why?" he demanded.

"Because I cannot think clearly when you kiss me, damn you."

"Gracious, you have now taken to swearing," he teased, releasing her from his embrace. "You are not at all the proper girl I married, madame. You have turned into a naughty wench who swears and is deliciously wanton in our bed. I find that I like it, as long as the image you present to the public is one of decorous and cool behavior as befits a Duchess of Sedgwick."

"Damn the Duchess of Sedgwick," Allegra muttered at him. What the hell was the matter with her these days? He was right. She did enjoy their time together in their bed. In fact she was enjoying it more each time they came together which was practically every night. His passion for her was great, and she was astounded at how well he could engage her lust. But it wasn't love, was it?

On the night of their ball he saw her costume for the very first time. It was exactly as she had said, rich and elegant. She wore a white linen gown, a long straight pleated skirt, and a simple sleeveless bodice with a high rounded neck over which she wore a magnificent collar of turquoise, gold, and black beads that lay flat upon her chest.

"My God," he swore softly on seeing the necklace. "They look most authentic." He bent to examine it more closely.

"It is," she said. "One of Papa's clients bought it for me in Egypt several years ago. That is why I wanted to be Cleopatra, so 1 might wear it at long last. I never have before. Can you imagine my appearing in London last season in such a splendid necklace? Do you like the earbobs that go with it?" She shook her head slightly so they would jiggle.

The Duke of Sedgwick was amazed that she could be so casual wearing such a valuable antique. "You are most beautiful, Allegra," he finally said. He liked the full-length cloth of gold cape that she wore with her plain white gown. On her bare feet were golden sandals, and she wore an ornate black and gold wig, topped with a gold circlet from which sprang a golden snake with ruby eyes.

"And you are very handsome as a young Caesar," she returned the compliment. "I am, however, regretting my decision to let you show your knees, sir, for they are most tempting. Perhaps I should have had you outfitted in a long gown worn by the elderly senators of that ancient time. Try not to flaunt yourself too greatly, Quinton. No Duke of Sedgwick has ever done such a thing, and we certainly don't want you to start now."

"I believe the law allows me to beat you, madame, provided the stick is no thicker than my thumb," he growled at her.

"I'd rather you spank me, Quinton," she murmured teasingly to him, kissing his earlobe. "I believe I can be very naughty if you spank me, my lord."

"I am going to forbid Eunice and Caroline in this house," he told her. "They are suggesting wicked notions to you," he said, pretending to be very shocked, but he grinned at her. He damn well knew such proposals came from them, for Sirena and Ocky were too in love to entertain such vagaries of passion.