deal more nerve than she had
thought it would to face him this morning. Though she hated to admit it, Adam's
handsome face had haunted her childish dreams after their marriage. And now he
was restored to her, except that he was even more beautiful than when he had
left. The years had erased the remnants of boyishness, and now she was
presented with someone who was very much a man. Broad shoulders filled his
coat, and his tight breeches showed her clearly his slim hips and muscular
thighs. His features, still forming when he had left England, were now firmly
chiseled, his chin firm, his cheekbones high, his eyes a vivid green. She
looked at his hands, reflecting dazedly on their obvious strength. She turned
away with a tiny shrug and tried to collect herself.
"You
haven't," she replied. "Oh, you look a little older, and you have
filled out a bit. But you're still very handsome--and you're still
frowning."
Adam cocked an
eyebrow. "Is that how you remember me?"
"You scowled
dreadfully all during our wedding. And that's the only time we've ever
met."
"Except for last
night." Adam's voice was sharp with annoyance.
Allegra laughed as
though he had made a joke. "Oh, that was two strangers encountering one
another at a masked ball. But my husband...no, I have seen him only once
before."
"I also saw you
earlier in the day," said Adam.
"Did you?"
"You were riding
in the park."
Allegra dimpled and
waved a hand airily. "Oh, the gallop. No wonder you look so severe. I know
I shouldn't have done that, but it couldn't be resisted. It was early and no
one was about, and a respectable walk just doesn't satisfy me. London can be so
confining, and a good gallop clears my head. You do have a knack for
discovering me in my more carefree moments, Adam."
He frowned. "It
would oblige me if you did not gallop in the park again. Nor attend public
balls, either."
"Why ever
not?" asked Allegra, her eyebrows rising.
"It is hardly
behavior I expect from my wife."
"You expect a
certain kind of behavior from me?" Allegra chuckled. "I hardly think
that on five minutes acquaintance you can begin to dictate to me, Adam, nor to
have realistic expectations about my ideas and behavior. I attended an
entertainment last night in the company of my brother. What could be more
respectable than that?"
"Your brother is
hardly one I would consider a suitable escort. He's a brash young man, and his
care of you was certainly lacking last night."
"But my brother
was a particular friend of yours before you left England, wasn't he? Surely you
can trust me to the care of your friends?"
"The gentleman
you left Ranelagh with was not your brother. My wife should be leading a life
which does not include making a public spectacle of herself."
"I? A public
spectacle? I believe you have no right to judge me, particularly since your own
life is hardly scandal-free. Even in London we have heard something of your doings
on the Continent."
"You are my
wife, and you should be a credit to me," said Adam. "Your behavior is
very much my concern."
"How serious you
are," cried Allegra. "One would think you were a staid and sober
middle-aged man, not the dashing young gallant who wagers diamonds with unnamed
ladies. Surely you won't deny me my little pleasures? I am, after all, a lady
of fashion. Indeed, this Season I am the fashion."
Adam was aghast. He
had been sufficiently stunned by the discovery that the dowdy and tearful child
he had left four years ago had grown into a woman of beauty and grace. Now he
was learning that she was not merely beautiful, but also headstrong and
impetuous. He had expected to have to deal with a mild milk-and-water maiden
with plain features who would jeopardize his reputation as a dashing
man-about-town. Now it seemed Allegra might jeopardize his reputation in other
ways.
"I do not find
the changes in you attractive, Allegra," he said. "Meekness and
docility are qualities to be prized in a woman."
He was amazed to hear
to hear
thought it would to face him this morning. Though she hated to admit it, Adam's
handsome face had haunted her childish dreams after their marriage. And now he
was restored to her, except that he was even more beautiful than when he had
left. The years had erased the remnants of boyishness, and now she was
presented with someone who was very much a man. Broad shoulders filled his
coat, and his tight breeches showed her clearly his slim hips and muscular
thighs. His features, still forming when he had left England, were now firmly
chiseled, his chin firm, his cheekbones high, his eyes a vivid green. She
looked at his hands, reflecting dazedly on their obvious strength. She turned
away with a tiny shrug and tried to collect herself.
"You
haven't," she replied. "Oh, you look a little older, and you have
filled out a bit. But you're still very handsome--and you're still
frowning."
Adam cocked an
eyebrow. "Is that how you remember me?"
"You scowled
dreadfully all during our wedding. And that's the only time we've ever
met."
"Except for last
night." Adam's voice was sharp with annoyance.
Allegra laughed as
though he had made a joke. "Oh, that was two strangers encountering one
another at a masked ball. But my husband...no, I have seen him only once
before."
"I also saw you
earlier in the day," said Adam.
"Did you?"
"You were riding
in the park."
Allegra dimpled and
waved a hand airily. "Oh, the gallop. No wonder you look so severe. I know
I shouldn't have done that, but it couldn't be resisted. It was early and no
one was about, and a respectable walk just doesn't satisfy me. London can be so
confining, and a good gallop clears my head. You do have a knack for
discovering me in my more carefree moments, Adam."
He frowned. "It
would oblige me if you did not gallop in the park again. Nor attend public
balls, either."
"Why ever
not?" asked Allegra, her eyebrows rising.
"It is hardly
behavior I expect from my wife."
"You expect a
certain kind of behavior from me?" Allegra chuckled. "I hardly think
that on five minutes acquaintance you can begin to dictate to me, Adam, nor to
have realistic expectations about my ideas and behavior. I attended an
entertainment last night in the company of my brother. What could be more
respectable than that?"
"Your brother is
hardly one I would consider a suitable escort. He's a brash young man, and his
care of you was certainly lacking last night."
"But my brother
was a particular friend of yours before you left England, wasn't he? Surely you
can trust me to the care of your friends?"
"The gentleman
you left Ranelagh with was not your brother. My wife should be leading a life
which does not include making a public spectacle of herself."
"I? A public
spectacle? I believe you have no right to judge me, particularly since your own
life is hardly scandal-free. Even in London we have heard something of your doings
on the Continent."
"You are my
wife, and you should be a credit to me," said Adam. "Your behavior is
very much my concern."
"How serious you
are," cried Allegra. "One would think you were a staid and sober
middle-aged man, not the dashing young gallant who wagers diamonds with unnamed
ladies. Surely you won't deny me my little pleasures? I am, after all, a lady
of fashion. Indeed, this Season I am the fashion."
Adam was aghast. He
had been sufficiently stunned by the discovery that the dowdy and tearful child
he had left four years ago had grown into a woman of beauty and grace. Now he
was learning that she was not merely beautiful, but also headstrong and
impetuous. He had expected to have to deal with a mild milk-and-water maiden
with plain features who would jeopardize his reputation as a dashing
man-about-town. Now it seemed Allegra might jeopardize his reputation in other
ways.
"I do not find
the changes in you attractive, Allegra," he said. "Meekness and
docility are qualities to be prized in a woman."
He was amazed to hear
to hear
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