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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 rRelated chapters
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
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY FIVE
Two days later Mr Alexandra came to call in Spear Street, and stayed for three quarters of an hour. Miss Tellaro offered him a frank apology for her unwitting rudeness, but he shook his head at her. "A great many people have heard me say rude things, ma'am, but no one has ever heard me commit the folly of apologizing for them", he told her. The only apology you should make me is for having mistaken Mr Freshman for me. A blow, ma'am, I confess. I thought it had not been possible that anyone should do that"."You see, sir, you came in behind him, and he was so very fine", she excused herself."His tailor makes him", said Mr Alexandra. "Now I, I make my tailor".Miss Tellaro wished that Patrick could have been present to hear this pronouncement.By the time Mr Alexandra got up to go, all the favorable impressions he had made on her at Almack's were confirmed. He was a charming companion, his deportment being particularly good, and his manners gratefu
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY SIX
On her mettle, Miss Tellaro guided the team down the street at a brisk trot, driving them well up to their bits. She had fine light hands, knew how to point her leaders, and soon showed the Earl that she was sufficiently expert enough in the use of the whip. She flicked the leader, and caught the thong again with a slight turn of her wrist that sent it soundlessly up the stick. She drove his lordship into Lake Park without the least mishap, and twice round it. Forgetting for the moment to be coldly formal, she said impulsively, "I was used to drive all my father's horses, but I never handled a team so light mouthed as these, sir". "I am thought to be something of a judge of horse flesh, Miss Tellaro", said the Earl. Strolling along the promenade with his arm in the Honorable Fredrick Bush's, Sir Howard Jones gave a gasp, and exclaimed, "Good God, Pascal, look! Curricle Clements!" "So it is", agreed Mr Pascal, continuing to ogle a party of young ladies. "But with a female driving his
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY SEVEN
He took sparring lessons at Jackson's Saloon; shot at Mangro's Galleries; fenced at Angelo's; drank Blue Ruin in Boa's Parlor; drove to races in his own tilbury, and generally behaved very much as any other young gentleman of fortune did, who fancied himself as a fashionable buck. His conversation became interlaced with scanty expressions; he lost a great deal of money playing at Manio, or laying bets with his friends; drank rather too much; and began to cause his sister a good deal of alarm. When she confronted him, he merely laughed, assured her he might be trusted to keep the line, went off to join a party of sporting gentlemen, and returned in the small hours considerably intoxicated, or - as he himself phrased it - a trifle above par.Elizabeth turned to her cousin for advice. With the Admiral she could never be upon intimate terms, but Bartholomew Tellaro had very soon become a close friend.He listened to her gravely. He agreed with her that Patrick was livi
DELICIA - DELIGHT - TWENTY EIGHT
"Oh, no!" she said, with strong revulsion. "You are mistaken. Such a notion is unthinkable".He made a movement as though he would have taken her hand, but controlled it, and said with an earnest look, "I am glad"."You have something against him?" she said quickly."Nothing. If I was afraid - if I disliked the thought that there might be some partiality, you must forgive me. I could not help myself. But I have said too much. Speak to Lord Clements about Parte. Surely he cannot want him to be growing wild!"She was a good deal stirred by this speech, and by the look that went with it. She was not in the least displeased. She liked him too well, but she wished him to say no more. A declaration seemed to be imminent. She was thankful that he did not make it, she did not know her own heart.His advice was too sensible to be lightly ignored. She thought about it, realized the justice of what he had said, and went to call on Clements
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