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SIXTEEN
She felt her brain to be reeling. "But it is surely... You, sir, cannot have been a friend of my father?"
He shut his box again, and slipped it back into his pocket. "I regret, madam, I had not that honor", he said. "Then, oh, there is some mistake!" she said. "There must be a mistake!" "Quite possible", agreed his lordship. "But the mistake, Miss Tellaro, was not mine". "But you are not out guardian!" Patrick burst out. "I am afraid there is no loophole for escape", replied Clements. "I am your guardian". He added kindly. "I assure you, you cannot regret the circumstance more than I do". "How can this be?" demanded Elizabeth. "My father did not mean it so!" "Unfortunately", said Clements, "your father's Will was drawn up nine months after the death of mine". "Oh!" groaned Miss Tellaro, sinking down upon one of the gilt and crimson couches. "But the name!" said Patrick. "My father mustRelated chapters
DELICIA - DELIGHT - SEVENTEEN
"I have a cousin living in Lacroix, sir", said Miss Tellaro. "I shall ask her if she will come to me".He glanced down at her meditatively. "Will you tell me, Miss Tellaro, what precisely is your objective in having come to Rome?""What is that to the point, sir?""When you are better acquainted with me", said the Earl, "you will know that I never ask pointless questions. Is it your intention to live upon the fringe of society, or do you mean to take your place in the world of Fashion? Will the Pantheon do for you, or must it be Almack's?"She replied instantly, "it must be the best, sir"."Then we need not consider the cousin living in Lacroix", said Clements. "Fortunately, I know a lady who - though I fear you may find her in some ways extremely foolish - is not only willing to undertake the task of chaperoning you, but has the undoubted entrée to the world you wish to figure in. Her name Andromeda. She is a widow, and
DELICIA - DELIGHT - EIGHTEEN
How I do run on! You don't wish me to live with you at all, I daresay. But a cousin in Lacroix! You would find she would not add to your consequence, my dear. I am sure, a dowdy old lady. She would not else be living in Lacroix, take my word for it".So Miss Tellaro yielded, and that very evening her chaperon arrived at Hotel Nacional in a light coach weighed down by trunks and bandboxes.Mr Kingsley, who sent in his card at about four o'clock in the afternoon, was much more easily dealt with. He was a shy young man, who looked at the heiress with undisguised admiration. He seemed to be extremely conscientious, and most anxious to oblige. He frowned over the credentials of at least a dozen servants, and fluttered over the leaves of a sheaf of papers, until Miss Tellaro laughingly implored him to stop.Mr Kingsley's solemnity disappeared into something remarkably like a grin. "Well, do you know, ma'am, I think of you was to let me settle it all for yo
DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETEEN
Patrick's days during that first week were quite at full as his sister's. His friend, Mr Fritzwa, took him thoroughly in hand. When he was not being fitted for boots at Footies, or hats at Lock's, he was choosing fobs in Wash Street, or riding off to Long Lands to look at a Tilbury, or knowingly inspecting carriage horses at Rancharoll's.The house in Spear Street, somewhat to Miss Tellaro's annoyance, proved to be admirable in every respect, the saloons handsome, and the furnishings just what she liked. She was installed there within three days of seeing Mr Kingsley, and a number of her new gowns having been delivered in neat band boxes, her hair having been fashionably cut, and her maid taught to dress it in several approved classical styles. Mrs Andromeda declared her to be ready to receive morning callers.The first of these were her uncle, the Admiral, and his son, Mr Bartholomew Tellero. They came at an awkward moment. Patrick, who had spent the great part of the mor
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY
Mr Tellaro had moved over to stand beside Elizabeth, and now put a chair forward for her. She took it, reflecting that he did not in any way favour his father.He drew up a back stool, and sat down on it. "My cousin is pleased with Rome?" he said smilingly."Yes, indeed", she responded. "Though I have seen very little yet. Only some of the shops, and the wild beasts at the Exeter Exchange, which Patrick took me to yesterday".He laughed. "Well, that is a beginning, at any rate". He glanced at Mrs Andromeda, who was joining in the conversation between the Admiral and Patrick, and lowered his voice. "You have a lady of quality to live with you, I see. That is just as it should be. I had not had the pleasure before today of meeting her, but she is known to me a little by repute. I believe her consequence to be very just. You are fortunate"."We like her extremely", Elizabeth replied in her calm way."And Patrick, I perceive, has been busy", he said, the smile r
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY ONE
Miss Tellaro, taken quite by surprise, exchanged a swift glance with her brother, and began to instruct the butler to convey their excuses to his lordship. It was too late, however, the Earl must have followed the servant up the stairs, for he entered the room while the words of denial were on Elizabeth's lips.He certainly heard them, but he gave no other sign of having done so than a faint curl of his lips. His coldly, appraising gaze took in the company. He bowed slightly, and said in his languid voice that he was fortunate to have found his wards at home.Elizabeth was obliged to present her uncle and cousin.The Earl's visit could not have been worse timed. She cared nothing for his opinion, but to introduce the Admiral to him must still be a mortification. She fancied she could perceive a look of disdain in his face, and it was with relief that she brought her cousin to his notice. There at least she had nothing to be ashamed of.A few civilities were excha
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY TWO
The Earl, however, seemed to be in no hurry to repeat his call. They saw nothing of him for some days, though their visitors were many. Lady Selfer came with one of her daughters, and Mr Cholegh, a very tall thin man with a painted face and a yellow waist coat. He was lavishly scented, which set the Tellaros instantly against him, and talked a great deal about the theater. There did not seem to be an actor alive with whom he was not on terms of intimacy. They discovered later that he had written some plays himself, and even produced them. His manners were particularly gentle and pleasing, and it was not very long before the Tellaros were quite won over to him. He was so kind one must forgive the paint and the scent.Lady Selfer had to be liked also, and Mrs Andromeda assured her charges that neither she nor her popular husband had an enemy in the world.Lady Jeremy, another is the all powerful patronesses of Almack's, came with Mrs Drummond Burrell, a lady of i
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY THREE
The rooms were spacious, but not splendid. The refreshments, which consisted of tea, orgeat, and lemonade, with cakes and bread and butter, struck Miss Tellaro as being on the meagre side. Dancing, and not cards, was the object of the club. No high stakes were allowed, so that the cards room contained only the dowagers, and such moderate gentlemen as were content to play whist for six penny points.Lady Jeremy, Princess Mary, and Countess Levre were the only patronesses present. The Austrian ambassador's wife was a little roundabout lady of great vivacity. Countess Levre, reputed to be the best dressed and most knowledgeable lady in Rome, looked to be clever, and almost as proud as Mrs Drummond Burrell. Neither she nor the Princess were acquainted with Mrs Andromeda, and beyond staring with the peculiar rudeness of the well-bred at Miss Tellaro, she at least took no further interest in her. The Princess went so far as to demand of her partner, Sir Henry Movas, who the Gol
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY FOUR
One of his mobile brows went up. "No, ma'am, not by Mr Cliff. May I ask - or is it an impertinence? - why you should have thought so?""Mr Cliff has made it his business to describe me in so many quarters that it was a natural conclusion", said Elizabeth bitterly."Indeed!" He looked down at her rather penetratingly. "I am such an inquisitive creature, Miss Tellaro. I hope you mean to tell me why you are looking so very angry", he said.She smiled. "I should not, I know. But I must warn you, sir, it is not the fashion to be seen talking to me".Both brows went up at that. "On the authority of Mr Cliff?" inquired the gentleman."Yes, sir, at I understand. Mr Cliff has been good enough to christen me the Milk Maid, and to declare that no one of fashion could tolerate my - my person". She tried to speak lightly, but only succeeded in letting her indignation creep through.He drew up a chair. "Let me assure you, Miss Tell
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