"I should like a voucher for Almack's," Allegra told her old patroness.

Clarice Bellingham's warm gray eyes scanned Allegra s beautiful face. It was obvious that she was distressed and running away from something. It was impossible not to probe. "Will you need one for Quinton?" she asked casually.

"My husband is not in town, nor do I expect him," Allegra replied, swallowing back her tears.

"My dear gel, what has happened?" Lady Bellingham burst out, unable to restrain herself. "Surely you are not estranged?"

"My father and Aunt Mama are having a baby. I shall no longer be the richest girl in England, madame. My husband has been cheated. I could not remain at Hunter's Lair under the circumstances. Sirena has had a little boy for Pickford. Caroline and Eunice are breeding, but I am not. I have proved a bad bargain for Sedgwick. I have come to London to think."

Lady Bellingham put a hand over her mouth to stifle her cry of astonishment. "Septimius and Olympia are breeding? You are certain?"

"Madame, I saw my father and his wife but a few weeks ago. She is quite full with her child which shall come in mid-May," Allegra answered in a tight little voice.

"Gracious me," Lady Bellingham responded. "Who would have thought that Olympia and Septimius would have a child between them at their ages, bless me. And of course your father's wealth will now be divided, but has your husband said that he is disappointed, dear gel?"

"He says he loves me, and that it doesn't matter." Allegra began to sob. "But of course it matters. My wealth was offered to him in exchange for his name. It is a good name, Lady Bellingham, a proud and honorable name that even eclipses the king's lineage."

"Has your father said that he is cutting you off, dear gel?"

"No," Allegra wailed. "He says that he and my husband must renegotiate the terms of our marriage after his child is born. A boy, however, will be given the lion's portion. My worth to my husband will be nothing now." And she wept into her hands.

Lady Bellingham considered for several long moments while Allegra cried piteously. Finally she said, "I believe you are mistaken, my dear gel. I have known Quinton Hunter for his entire life. He is proud of his heritage, and it is true he sought a rich wife, but I know he loves you dearly. Your father's wealth is so great that even if you were given but a third of it, you should still be a very rich woman. But Quinton would love you nonetheless, my dear gel, even if you had nothing."

"How can you believe that?" Allegra wailed.

"Because for all his bluster last season about not falling in love, Quinton Hunter did just that. He fell in love with you. The fact that your papa settled an incredible amount on you no longer makes any difference. But Septimius Morgan will not cut you off. He will, I am certain, see you and Quinton have a most handsome allowance. Certainly far better than other young couples. You are being quite silly. Now dry your eyes. You can trust your husband. Spend a few days in London amusing yourself, and then go home, dear gel."

"You really think it will be all right?" Allegra sniffed. "Oh, dear Lady Bellingham, I do not know what is the matter with me these days!"

"Why, you are breeding, dear gel. Didn't you realize it?" the older woman replied. "You are at least two months gone, I should guess. And," she concluded quite archly, "I am very good at guessing."

"What?" Allegra was truly astounded. It wasn't possible!

"You are breeding, dear child," Lady Bellingham repeated. "You are going to have a baby."

"I can't be," Allegra cried.

"And why not? You do have normal relations with your husband, don't you? Of course you do. And when was the last time you had any show of blood? Think!"

Allegra clapped a hand over her mouth. "Ohhhh!" she gasped.

"Women who are breeding are often given to foolish fancies, my dear gel," Lady Bellingham said calmly. "And more often than not they do not see the forest for the trees. It probably happened just before you went to France." She smiled a kindly smile, and reaching out, patted Allegra's hand. "Rest a few days from your journey, and then return home. I believe your husband will he very happy to learn your news."

"I should be certain," Allegra said slowly.

"I shall send Doctor Bradford to see you tomorrow morning. He has looked after me for years, and is most discreet," Lady Bellingham told her guest. "Now, shall we have some tea?"

"Yes, please," Allegra said. "And cake, too, I hope."

Lady Bellingham laughed. "Of course, dear gel. Of course."


***

Allegra returned to her father's house to discover she had a visitor.

"My dear duchess, I will admit to being most surprised at hearing you were back in town," George Brummell said as he kissed her hand.

"It was a whim, sir, but now that I am here, I believe I shall return home within the week. Quinton could not come. Something about the horses and a breeding schedule," she replied airily.

"Well then, if your duke is not about to escort you around, dear duchess, I hope you will allow me to be your cicisbeo while you are here. I am going to a delicious new gambling hell tonight, and while I understand you do not gamble, you must come with me, and be seen."

"Why, sir, I do believe that I shall accept your invitation, and while I do not as a rule gamble, I might join you tonight in that wicked vice," Allegra laughed. "Where are we going?"

"It is in St. James, Your Grace, and quite new. It has been opened by an Italian gentleman. He claims to have fled Venice in advance of a French general, Bony-part. The place is most cosmopolitan with émigrés from France and Italy, as well as the crème de la crème of the ton. We shall probably meet Prinny there. Shall I call for you at ten?"

"That would be perfect, Mr. Brummell. I have never before experienced the wicked life here in London," Allegra said. "Perhaps I should, just once before I return to the country." She smiled at him, and gave him her hand to kiss.

He did so, and smiling in return said, "Until tonight, Your Grace.


***

“Neither your husband, nor your father would approve of you gambling, Your Grace," Charles Trent said quietly as he stepped from the door of his personal billet.

"I shall want a thousand pounds, Charles," Allegra told her father's secretary. "I shall not, I promise you, lose any more than that. I am not addicted to gambling, and have self-control."

"No one is addicted at first, Your Grace, but the lure of the games is irresistible. Go with Mr. Brummell if you will, but take your own carriage. That way you are free to return home whenever you desire."

Allegra nodded in agreement. She valued Charles Trent's advice, but just this once she would do something impractical and wicked. Just once. Then she would return home to Hunter's Lair to tell her husband that she was breeding, and would deliver him an heir before year's end. If Dr. Bradford confirmed Lady Bellingham's conclusion. She hurried upstairs.

She wore black and silver, and carried an ermine muff that had a ruby and diamond pin fastened to it. Her jewelry was also rubies and diamonds, including a hair ornament nestling within her smooth elegant chignon, which was not at all fashionable, but which suited her quite well as Mr. Brummell observed. At her suggestion he released his own hired coach, helping Allegra into her vehicle. Then giving the coachman directions, he joined her. Within a very short time they arrived at St. James, the carriage-stopping before a well-kept house that was all alight at every window. They stepped from the coach.

"Good heavens, isn't that the Duchess of Devonshire?" Allegra asked, staring at the very beautiful woman just now entering the mansion.

"Indeed it is," Mr. Brummell replied. "I understand that she has already gone through her allowance for the year. Several hundred thousand pounds, I am told. She is not a lucky gambler, I tear."

"Where does she get the ready to gamble with then?" Allegra wondered.

"The moneylenders, friends, relations, sometimes even strangers," Mr. Brummell replied. "She is quite charming, and people tend to like her, so they indulge her terrible vice, even though most of them know they haven't a chance of regaining what they have loaned."

He escorted her up the two marble steps into Casa di Fortuna. Footmen, attired in sky blue and gold silk livery, and wearing powdered wigs, took their outer garments. Others offered them wine in exquisite Venetian crystal goblets.

"What shall we play first?" Allegra asked him. "I have never been to a gambling hell, and I am entirely in your hands, Mr. Brummell."

"I suppose you play Whist," he said.

"I do, but I have also learned a new game with dice that is called Hazard. Do they play Hazard here?"

"Perhaps later, Your Grace," he said, guiding her to a large ornate room where there were many players at many tables, playing Whist. Mr. Brummell seated her at a table that was just being opened up, and placed himself opposite her. They were quickly joined by a Lord and Lady Kenyon. They played for an hour, and to her surprise Allegra won each and every hand. Finally she grew bored, and stood up.

"I have enjoyed your company," she told Lord and Lady Kenyon. "Come Brummell, and let me see what else Casa di Fortuna has to offer us tonight." She stuffed her winnings in her muff, and moved on into another room where a wheel game was being played. "What is it called?" she asked her escort, curiously.