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NINETY NINE
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2021-10-05 10:00:00"I did not mean that!" said Patrick hastily. "Moreover, I don't believe there is the least fear - I mean, chance - of it coming to pass".
"Possibly not", said the Earl. "But 'fear' was probably the right word. Would you like to continue this conversation, or shall we turn to your own affairs?" "I thought you would not like it", said Patrick, not without a certain satisfaction. "Ay, let us by all means settle the business. I am ready". "Well, sit down", said the Earl, opening one of the drawers in his desk. "This is the deed of settlement I want you to sign". He took out an official looking document, and gave it to Patrick. Patrick reached out his hand for a pen, but was checked by the Earl's raised brows. "I am flattered by this blind trust in my integrity", Clements said, "but I beg you won't sign papers without first reading them". "Of course I should not do so in the ordinary way! But you are my guardian, ain't youRelated chapters
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-RED
"O' course I did what you told me!" answered Harry, aggrieved. "Don't I always? I knew he wouldn't say know to anything out of the bottle. 'Flesh and blood this is', I say to him, but Lord love yer, guv'nor, he wouldn't have known different if I'd said it was daffy! He tosses it off, and smacks his lips, and I'm blessed of he didn't sit down right there under my werry nose, and drop off to sleep! I never seen anything like it in all my puff!""The sooner you forget that you saw it all, the better", commented the Earl. "Where is Hinson?""Oh, him!" Harry sniffed disparagingly and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Putting the horses to, he is, which is about all he's good for, and not so werry good at that either, if you was to ask me"."Don't be jealous, Harry. You have done your part very well, but you cannot do everything", said the Earl, and walked across the yard to the stables just as Hinson led out Patrick's two horses. "Get those horse put to, Ned.
Last Updated : 2021-10-05DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-ONE
Miss Tellaro's first visit to the Pavilion had soon been followed by others, for the Regent, while at Romanina, liked to hold informal parties in his summer palace, and was always very easy of access, and affable to the humblest of his guests.It was not to be supposed that he should feel as much interest in Patrick as in his sister, but even Patrick had been invited to dine at the Pavilion once, and had gone there in a state of considerable awe, and returned home dazzled by the magnificence of the state apartments, and slightly fuddled by the Regent's famous Diabolino brandy.He had tried to describe the banqueting room to his sister, but he had retrained so confused an impression of it that he could only say that he had sat at an immensely long table, under a thirty foot Lustre, all glass pearls, and rubies, and tassels of brilliants, which hung from a dome painted like an Eastern sky, with the foliage of a giant plantain tree spreading over it. He had though
Last Updated : 2021-10-06DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-TWO
"Oh, Lord Peterson has all the prettiest snuff boxes in his possession!" smiled Miss Tellaro. "I have one to match each gown, but he has one for every day in a year. Do, pray, show me this new one, sir! Ah yes, it is charming indeed. Sèvres, I think?""Yes", acknowledged Peterson, in his gently way. "It is a nice box for summer, but it would not do for winter wear, you know"."No", said Miss Tellaro seriously. "I believe you are right"."These niceties are beyond me", complained the Captain. "I suppose I may as well go bury myself now you have got on to the subject of snuff together. You will be talking till midnight"."Oh no!" said his lordship. "To talk on any subject till midnight would be a great bore. But you put me in mind of something very important. Where is Clements? Has he put his name down for some of the Martinique snuff Freiburg and Trevose are importing?""He has not told me, but you may ask him yourself. He
Last Updated : 2021-10-06DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-THREE
"Extremely elegant! It is something quite out of the ordinary, sir", murmured Miss Tellaro, wishing that she had not shut the door into the Saloon."Yes, that I flatter myself it certainly is", he said with a good deal of satisfaction. "But I will tell you something, my dear. Your pretty curls are precisely the color of my gilding! Now, is but that odd? You must allow me to tell you that you make a charming picture". He laughed at her evident confusion, and pinched her cheek. "No, no, there is no need to color up! You do not need me to tell you what a little beauty you are, when you can see yourself in the mirror which ever way you turn".He was standing very close to her, one hand folding her wrist, and his eyes fixed on her face in a greedy way that made her feel hotter then ever, and more than a little frightened. She pretended to be interested in the Villainy timepiece that stood on the mantle shelf, and moved towards the fire place, saying, "you have so ma
Last Updated : 2021-10-07DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-FOUR
She assented, leaning her aching head on her arm. The Regent regarded her with considerable anxiety, and wished that Clements will make haste to come back. Miss Tellaro was looking very sickly, and it would be extremely awkward if she were to swoon again. There had never been anything so unlucky, to be sure. How could he guess that the girl was such a prudish little fool? MacMillan - to whom he would have something to say presently - had grossly misled him. And as for that damned fellow Clements not concerning himself with his ward, that was another of MacMillan's unforgivable blunders.Clements had stalked in without ceremony, without so much as common courtesy, and not only had he not believed a word his Prince had said, but he had had the insolence to show it. It was really a great deal too bad of the girl to place him in such an uncomfortable situation. For he had done nothing, nothing at all! But to be found clasping a swooning female in his arms, to be forced to exp
Last Updated : 2021-10-07DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-FIVE
Miss Tellaro dried her eyes, and said huskily, "I am sorry you should have the troublesome office of taking me home. I am quite ready. But if only Mrs Andromeda could be fetched...""To summon Mrs Andromeda from the card table would give rise to the sort of public curiosity I am endeavoring to avoid", he replied. "Come! Your mistrust of me surely cannot be so great that you will not allow me to convey you a few hundred yards in your own carriage".She raised her head at that. "If I did indeed say that on that hateful day I beg your pardon", she said. "You have never given me - would never give me, I am persuaded - the least cause for mistrusting you". She saw the frown in his eyes, and wondered at it. "You are still angry. You don't believe me when I say that I am sorry".He put out his hand quickly. "My dear child! Of course I believe you. If I looked angry you must blame circumstance, which has forced me to..." he broke off, and smiled at her. "Shall we
Last Updated : 2021-10-08DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-SIX
The Earl drew a chair forward." Yes, I think there might be several explanations", he said. "Will you not be seated? Richard, pour out a glass of wine for Miss Tellaro".She made a gesture of refusal. "Thank you, thank you, I do not want anything. What explanation can there be? All I can think is that some accident has befallen him, but even that will not do, for how is it possible that I should not have heard of it by now? He was not alone, his groom was with him. Lord Clements, what has happened to Parte?""I am afraid I can scarcely answer that question", replied the Earl. "But since he was accompanied by his groom, it seems safe to assume that he has not met with an accident. The more probable explanation is that he has gone off to see a cock fight, or something is that sort, and did not wish you to know of it"."Oh", she said eagerly, "do you think that might be so? It is quite true that he would not wish me to know. But the Mamalas - oh no, he would
Last Updated : 2021-10-08DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-SEVEN
"But I have known you for eighteen years", objected Alexandra. "And it does seem to me that I have seen another determined suitor - a very civil gentleman who is, I think, a cousin"."Admiral Tellaro's son", said the Earl briefly.Alexandra nodded. "Yes, I met the Admiral in Spear Street once. He is a fellow, now, who would send his plate up twice for soup. I am perfectly willing to suspect any son of his"."Yes", said the Earl, "I rather fancy that if nothing is heard of Patrick, suspicion will point to Mr Bartholomew Tellaro. That would be unfortunate for Mr Bartholomew Tellaro"."I collect", remarked Alexandra, "that the gentleman in question is no friend of yours"."So little my friend", replied the Earl, "that I shall own myself surprised if he does not presently set it about that it was I who caused Patrick, and his groom, his tilbury, and his horses to disappear"."Which is absurd", said Alexandra."Which", agreed
Last Updated : 2021-10-09
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DELICIA - DELIGHT - THE END
"Now do you know why I am glad to be rid of my ward?" demanded the Earl."Oh", said Miss Tellaro foolishly, "I was afraid you meant me to marry your brother!""Were you indeed? And was all the determined flirting I have been watching between you merely to show me how willing you were to oblige me? Nonsensical child! I have been in love with you almost from the first moment of setting eyes on you"."Oh, this is dreadful!" said Miss Tellaro, shaken by remorse. "I disliked you amazingly for weeks!"The Earl kissed her again. "You are wholly adorable", he said."No, I am not", replied Miss Tellaro, a soon as she was able. "I am as disagreeable as you are. You would like to beat me. You said you would once, and I believe you meant it!""If I only said it once I am astonished at my own forbearance. I have wanted to beat you at least a dozen times, and came very near to doing it once - at Cockfield. But I still think you ado
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-TWENTY
"You can have a dozen yachts", replied the Earl, "if only you will go away!" "I was sure you would agree!" declared Patrick radiantly. "I could not conceive of any reason why you should not! And do you think Evans' cousin..." "Yes", said the Earl. "I am persuaded Evans' cousin will be the very man for you. You had better go and talk it over with Evans before he leaves Romanina". Patrick was a good deal struck by this suggestion. "Upon my word, that is a capital notion! I believe I will do it at once, if you don't mind my leaving you?" "I can bear it", said the Earl. "Let me advice you not to lose any time in setting out". "Well, I think I had best be off at once", said Patrick. "And when I have talked it over with Evans I will come and tell you all about it". "Thank you very much", said the Earl gravely. "I shall be on the watch for you, I assure you". Miss Tellaro turned away to hide a
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-NINETEEN
The Earl had knocked on the door by this time, and in a few moments his step was heard on the stairs. Patrick went out to meet him. "Come up, sir! We are both here!" he said. "How do you do? You are the most complete have indeed, you know! My head, when I awoke! My mouth too! There was never anything like it!""Was it very bad?" inquired the Earl, leisurely mounting the last three stairs."Oh, beyond anything! But I don't mean to complain. I have had a famous time of it! But come into the drawing room! My sister is there, and I have something very particular to say to you. Liz, here is Lord Clements".Miss Tellaro, who for reasons best known to herself, has suddenly become absorbed in her embroidery, laid aside the frame and got up. She shook hands with the Earl, but before she could speak Patrick was off again."I wish you would tell me, sir, what you call that way of tying your cravat! It is devilish natty!""I don't call it anythin
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-EIGHTEEN
"I am very sensible of it. To be sure, we were completely taken in by my cousin. And to drug me, and put me aboard his yacht - Lord, I thought he was going to murder me when he forced that stuff down my throat! - was the neatest piece of work! I had no notion I should like being upon the sea so much! Evans was in a great pucker lest I should be angry at it, but, 'Lord', I said, 'you need not think I shall try to swim to shore! This is beyond anything great!' "Miss Tellaro sighed and have up the struggle. Patrick continued to talk of his experiences at sea until it was time to go to bed. Miss Tellaro could only be glad that since he had formed the intention of driving to Clements' Resort upon the following day any further description of grounds swells, squalls, wearing, luffing, squaring the yards, or reefing the sails must fall to Miss Mamala's lot instead of hers.It was a melancholy reflection that although she would have been ready to swear, a day before, tha
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-SEVENTEEN
She looked up at him doubtfully. "You are not going to come with me?" she asked."I must ask you to excuse me, Miss Tellaro. I have still something to do here".She let him lead her to the door, but as he opened it, and would have bowed her out, she laid her hand on his arm, and said under her breathe, "I don't want him dead!""You may safely leave everything to me, Miss Tellaro. There will be no scandal".She cast a glance at her cousin, and looked up again at the Earl. "Very well. I - I will go. But I - I don't want you to be hurt, Lord Clements!"He smiled rather grimly. "You need not be alarmed, my child. I shan't be"."But...""Go, Miss Tellaro", he said quietly.Miss Tellaro, recognizing the note of finality in his voice, obeyed him.She found that a chaise and four, with the Earl's crest on the panels, was waiting for her outside the cottage. She got into it, a
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-SIXTEEN
Bartholomew Tellaro's eyes were fixed on the Earl's face. He swallowed once, but said nothing.The Earl took a pinch of snuff." On the whole ", he said reflectively, "I believe Harry enjoyed the task. It was a little beneath his divinity, but he is extremely attached to me, Mr Tellaro - a far more reliable tool, I assure you, than any of your not very efficient hirelings - and he obeyed me implicitly in not letting you out of his sight. You would be surprised at his resourcefulness.When you drove your gig over to New Shahar to strike a bargain with that seafaring friend of yours you took Harry with you, curled up in the boot. His description out that mode of travel is profane but very graphic.I am anticipating, however. Your first action was to introduce a creature of your own into Patrick's household - a somewhat foolhardy proceeding, if I may say so. It would have been wiser to have risked coming into the foreground at that juncture, my dea
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-FIFTEEN
"Almost immediately. You may perhaps remember bringing me word once of Patrick's being got into a bad set of company. You mentioned Ferdinand's name, and it crossed my mind that I had seen Ferdinand in your cousin's company once or twice.At the time my only suspicion was that there might conceivably be a plot on hand to bleed Patrick of his fortune at cards. I dealt with that by frightening Patrick with a threat to send him back to Tellaro if I found he had contracted debts of honor above what his allowance would cover.I thought also that a discreet inquiry into the state of Mr Tellaro's finances might not be inopportune. I admit, however, that I was so far from suspecting the truth that I committed the impudence of sanctioning Patrick's betrothal to Miss Vivian Mamala. In doing that I undoubtedly placed him in jeopardy of his life. While Patrick remained single there was no pressing need to be rid of him.I imagine that before he arranged for the boy's death
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-FOURTEEN
The beast looked down at her, and as the expression that had frightened her died out of his eyes, he transformed gradually back into the Clements Elizabeth knew. "I beg your pardon, Deliciae", he said tiredly. "I was rather forgetting your presence. You may get up, Mr Tellaro. We will finish this when Miss Tellaro is not present".Bartholomew Tellaro had also gradually transformed back into his original self and had struggled on to his elbow. He dragged himself to his feet, and stood leaning heavily against the wall, trying to regain full possession of his senses.The Earl picked up the only surviving chair and handed Miss Tellaro to it. "I owe you an apology", he said. "You have had an uncomfortable sort of a morning, and I am afraid that was my doing. The world is not as you see it every day, Miss Tellaro! There are terrible things in this world and you have just witnessed one"."Patrick - he said it was you who kidnapped Patrick!" she blurted.&nbs
DELICIA - DELIGHT - HUN-THIRTEEN
"Elizabeth, I swear to you I know no more than you do what has become of him! I had no hand in that. What do I care for Patrick, or his fortune? Have I proved myself so false that you can believe that of me? It is you I want, have wanted from the day I first saw you! I never meant it to be like this, but what could I do, what other course was open to me? Nothing I could have said would have prevented you from going to Rome with Richard, and once you were in his and Clements' hands, what hope had I of saving you from that iniquitous marriage? Again and again I have warned you not to trust Clements, but you have not heeded me! Then came Patrick's disappearance, and once more you would not listen to me. When so, I should have shrunk from taking this step had I not seen the marriage license in Richard's possession. But I knew then that is I was to save you from being the victim of Clements' fiendish schemes. I must act drastically - treacherously, if you will! - but yet because I love y
