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THIRTEEN
He would have passed on, and seeing him so anxious to be gone Miss Tellaro made no further effort to detain him. But Patrick was less perceptive, and still barred the way. "Well, I'm glad to have met you again, sir. Say what you will, I am in your debt. My name is Tellaro - Patrick Tellaro. This is my sister, as perhaps you know". The gentleman hesitated for an instant. Then he said in a rather low voice, "I did know. That is to say, I heard your name mentioned". "Ay, did you so? I daresay you might. But we did not hear yours, sir", said Patrick, laughing. "No. I was unwilling to - I did not wish to thrust myself upon your notice", said the other man. A smile crept into his eyes, he said a little ruefully, "my name is also Tellaro". "Good God!" cried Patrick in great astonishment. "You don't mean it - you are not related to us, are you?" "I am afraid I am", said Mr Tellaro. "My father is Admiral Tellaro". "Well, by all that's famous!" exclaimed Patrick. "I never knew he had a son!"
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DELICIA - DELIGHT - FOURTEEN
The smaller of these - the King Deer - took most of the North going vehicles, while the larger, Horse Empire, which was situated in the middle of the town and kept no less than twenty seven pairs of horses and eleven post boys, seized on the chaises traveling south. The rivalry between the two was extremely fierce. It was said that on more than one occasion private chaises had been intercepted and the horses forcibly changed at one or other of the inns. Some sign of this was evident in the way the ostlers of the Horse Empire came running out at the approach of the Tellaro's chaise, and led into the big stable yard. A glass of sherry was handed up to Patrick, and sandwiches were offered to his sister, this being one of the superior attractions of the Horse Empire over the King Deer, that it's customers had free refreshments pressed on them. The change of horses was accomplished in two minutes. A couple of post boys cast off the smocks they wore over their yellow jackets to keep them
DELICIA - DELIGHT - FIFTEEN
She listened to it all, and asked him a dozen questions. He could not tell her very much about the play, he had been too much taken up with watching all the fashionables. He thought it had been Othello, or some such thing. He was nearly sure it was Othello, now he came to think of it. Famous stuff, but he had enjoyed the farce more. And now what were they to do? For his part he thought they had best call on Lord Clements, and get it done with.She agreed to it, and went up to her room after breakfast to put on her hat and her gloves. She hoped Lord Clements would would not be angry with them for having come to Rome against his advice, but now that she was so near to seeing him person she owned to a slight feeling of nervousness. But Patrick was right - nothing could be done until they had presented themselves to their guardian.Since neither she nor Patrick had the least notion where Cavendish Square was to be found, and since neither of them cared to betray th
DELICIA - DELIGHT - 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 must
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
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