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NINETY THREE
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2021-10-02 10:00:00"Oh, none in the world! But I must own I was rather taken aback by her asking me when your engagement to Captain Richard was to be mage public knowledge. I did not know what to say".
Elizabeth laughed. "Dear ma'am, I hope you told her that you did not know?"Mrs Andromeda shot her a quick look. "To be sure, I told her that I had no apprehension of any such engagement taking place. But the case is, you see, that people are beginning to wonder at the preference you show for Richard. You must not be offended with me for speaking plain". "Offended! How should I be?"Mrs Andromeda began to look a little alarmed. "But, Elizabeth, is it possible that you can be contemplating marriage with Richard?".Miss Tellaro smiled saucily, and said, "I am persuaded you can no longer see to make your fringe, ma'am. Let me ring for some working candles to be brought for you!""Pray do not be so teasing!" besought her chaperon. "I have nothing in the world to say againRelated chapters
DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETY FOUR
There was very little to tell them, after all, he had guessed that Lord Clements' refusal to consent to the marriage taking place arose from scruples natural in a man standing in his position. It had been so, his lordship had felt all the evils of a marriage entered into too young, but upon Sir Maxwell's representation to him of the proved durability of Patrick's affection - for six months, at the age of nineteen, was certainly a period - he had been induced to relent."There was no difficulty, then?" Elizabeth inquired, fixing her eyes on his face. "Yet when I spoke of it to him he answered me in such a way that I believed nothing could win him over! This is wonderful indeed! There is no accounting for it"."There was a little difficulty", acknowledged Sir Maxwell. "His lordship felt a good deal of reluctance, which I was able, however, to overcome. I am not acquainted with him, do not think I have exchanged two words with him before today, so that I cannot conjecture wha
Last Updated : 2021-10-02DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETY FIVE
It was from Clements, requesting Patrick to call at his house on the following morning for the purpose of discussing the marriage settlement. Elizabeth listened to it being read aloud, and turned away to pick up one of the volumes of Self Control from the sofa table. But not even Laura's passage down the Amazon had the power to hold her interest. It was evident that Clements had no desire to meet her, he would otherwise have appointed a meeting with Patrick in Maine Parade.The interview next morning served to put Patrick in a mood of the greatest good humor. Clements became once more a very tolerable sort of a fellow, and if his harshness at Cockfield was not quite forgotten it was in a fair way to being forgiven.The first person to share the news with was Mr Bartholomew Tellaro, whom Patrick met in East Street, outside the post office. Patrick had been feeling a good deal of coldness towards his cousin ever since the affair of his frustrated duel, but his pr
Last Updated : 2021-10-03DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETY SIX
"You will be lonely when he is married"."A little, perhaps. I don't think of it, however".He took her empty glass of lemonade from her, and set it down. "He should count himself fortunate to possess such a sister". He picked up her shawl, and placed it carefully round her shoulders. "There is something I must say to you, Elizabeth. In your own house Mrs Andromeda is always beside you. I can never get you alone. Will you walk out with me into the garden? It is a very mild night, I do not think you can take a chill".Her heart sank, she replied in a little confusion, "I had rather - that is, there can be no occasion for that degree of privacy, cousin, surely"."Do not refuse me!" he said. "Do you not owe me this much at least, that I should be allowed five minutes alone with you?""I owe you a great deal", she said. "You have been all that is kind, but I beg you to believe that no purpose can be served by - by what you suggest".
Last Updated : 2021-10-03DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETY SEVEN
Then Mrs Andromeda came up to them, and the opportunity was lost. He escorted both ladies out to their carriage, and it was only at parting that Miss Tellaro could trust her voice sufficiently to say, "I have been wanting to thank you, Lord Clements, for giving your consent to Patrick's marriage"."You have nothing to thank me for", he replied rather curtly, and bowed, and stood back to let the carriage move forward.* * *Why she had been so anxious to inform her guardian that she did not mean to marry Mr Bartholomew Tellaro was a question that occupied Miss Tellaro's mind for an appreciable time. If an answer to the riddle did occur to her she at least would not admit it to be the correct one, and as no alternative answer presented itself to her she was forced to conclude that the agitation of the moment had made her speak at random.Mrs Andromeda, observing her spirits to be low, supposed that she must be looking forward with a good
Last Updated : 2021-10-04DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETY EIGHT
The road to Clements' Resort ran through the village of Howe, past the ruins of Aldrichton, and along the low cliffs to New Shorewood and Lancing, and continues on by Stompy and Broadriver. Patrick drove past the end of the Steyne and up on to the East Cliff at a sedate pace, and just beyond the Old Ship was about to let his horses show their paces along the less crowded West Cliff when a light phaeton suddenly swept round the corner of West Street, and it's driver, catching sight of him, pulled up his horses and signaled to him to stop.Patrick obediently drew rein alongside the phaeton, and hoped that his guardian did not mean to detain him long. "How do you do? I am just on my way to Clements' Resort"."Then I have caught you in time", replied the Earl. "I want your signature to one or two documents".Patrick pulled a face. "Now?" he asked."Yes, certainly now. There is also another matter of business which I must discuss with you, but
Last Updated : 2021-10-04DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETY NINE
"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 you
Last Updated : 2021-10-05DELICIA - 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 : 2021-10-06
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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
