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SIXTY ONE
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2021-09-14 10:00:00"Oh yes, I believe it may be, but a bad road. No chance of springing your horses on it. Clements told me as much, advised that north Road at the outset, but I thought I would try the other. However, that's neither there nor here. We ran a dingdong race to Latina, and drew level at Bell Boo, the turnpike man being deaf, as I suppose, and keeping me waiting a good three minutes before he would open the gate. But it may have been that new man of mine I had with me. He carried the yard of tin, you know, but he has no notion how to sound it - put me out of all patience. I daresay the pike keeper might not hear it at first. So Tim drew level with me there, and we had a famous race of it to Bosdo. His nags were blowing by that time, and he changed them at the Green Man. Mine had got their second wind some way back, so I pushed on to Winston, had a fresh team harnessed up there - small quick steppers, capital for a flat stage - and was away before Tim came in sight. Well, as you remember, L
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DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY TWO
Patrick thought it a very good joke, and the notion of a prince paying addresses to his sister provoked him to laughter whenever he happened to think of it."Odious boy!" Elizabeth said, trying to frown. "Pray, why should he not? I hope I am as respectable as Tyley Long, and I believe it to be a fact that the Duke has proposed to her several times"."What, the Pocket Venue?" exclaimed Patrick. "I did not know that! I thought Wellesley Poole was casting his eyes in her direction"."Very possible", said Elizabeth, looking scornful. "I ought to be flattered at his casting his eyes first in my direction, I suppose. Sometimes, Parte, I could wish that I had been born merely to a respectable competence instead of to a fortune"."Stuff!" replied Patrick. "You would not like that at all, let me tell you. And as for this notion of Tary Break proposing to you - phew, I'll lay you ten to one he don't do it!""He will not if I can prevent h
Last Updated : 2021-09-14DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY THREE
An idea dawned on him. His rather protuberant blue eyes gleamed with intelligence. "I see how it is!" he said in his hurried way. "I am a clumsy fellow, I do not make myself plain! But it is marriage, you know, that I am offering you - everything in proper sailing trim, upon my word of honor!""I did not mistake you", she said in a suffocating voice. "But you must perceive how impossible such an alliance would be! Were I to consent to it can you suppose that there would be no opposition from your family?""Oh, you mean my brother, the Regent! I do not know why he should oppose it. He is not at all a bad fellow, I assure you, whatever you may have heard to the contrary. There's Chris to succeed him, and my brother York before me. You may depend upon it he thinks the Succession safe enough without taking me into account. But you do not say anything! You are silent!Ah I see what it is, you are thinking of Mrs Smith! I should not have mentioned her, but
Last Updated : 2021-09-15DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY FOUR
He beamed upon her with such goodwill, and seemed to have so simple a pride in his famous notion that Miss Tellaro had not the heart to protest further. She could only trust in her guardian's ability to rescue her from her difficulties, and wish the Duke goodday with as much reserve of manner as was compatible with the civility she must feel to be his due. He impressed upon her once more that he should approach her guardian. She assented, and so they parted.She was not without hope that a period of calm reflection might damp her royal suitor's ardour. She had no notion of his hurrying off post-haste to call upon Clements, and had every intention of warning the Earl at the first opportunity of what was in store for him.With this resolve in mind she was glad when, at Almack's that evening, she perceived her guardian to be present. He was standing beside Lady Jeremy when she came in, his handsome head bent to hear what her ladyship was saying, but he soon caught
Last Updated : 2021-09-15DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY FIVE
"If you thought that I would ever marry a man old enough to be my father you did me a shocking injustice!" said Miss Tellaro hotly. "And if you had the amazing impatience to suppose that his rank must make him acceptable to me you insult me beyond all bearing!""Softly, my child, I thought neither of those things", said his lordship, slightly amused. "My experience of you led me instead to suppose that you had sent your suitor to me in a spirit of pure mischief. Was that an injustice too?"Miss Tellaro was a little mollified, but said stiffly, "yes, it was, sir. The Duke of Venice could not believe I meant what I said, and the best I could think of was for you to help me. I was sure you would refuse your consent!""I did", said the Earl, taking snuff."Then why", demanded Miss Tellaro, relieved, "did you say you wished me joy?""Merely to alarm you, Deliciae, and to teach you not to play tricks on me"."It was no tric
Last Updated : 2021-09-16DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY SIX
"It took place", said Mr Tellaro, "in a certain tavern known as Boa's Parlor, upon the day that Parte went out to fight Ferdinand. I found his lordship there in close conversation with Ferdinand himself"."With Ferdinand! Good God! What can you mean?"He took a short turn about the room. "I do not know. I wish that I did. It was not my intention to speak of this to you, but lately I have thought that his lordship has been making headway with you. However little I may relish the office of informer, it is only right that you should be put upon your guard. What Clements' business with Ferdinand may have been I have no means of knowing. It must be all conjecture. To see them with their heads together was to me something of a shock, I own. I impute nothing, I merely tell you what I saw.The Earl, perceiving me, came across the room to my side. What passed between us I shall not repeat. It was enough to assure me that Clements regards me as a menace to wha
Last Updated : 2021-09-16DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY SEVEN
The day of setting forward on the journey arrived at last. The trunks and the bandboxes were safely strapped to the chaise. Mrs Andromeda predicted a fall of snow, Patrick mounted his horse, Miss Mamala was picked up in Banana Street, and the whole party started on the journey not more than an hour later than had originally been intended.No fall of snow occurred to render the roads impassable. The weather, though wintry, was not cold enough to make traveling in supportable, and with only one halt of any length upon the way they arrived at Clement by four in the afternoon, to be welcomed with all the comfort of large fires, hot soup, and cheerful company.It was dusk when they turned in at the Iron gates of Clement, and no impression of the park, or the exterior of the house could be had, but the interior struck Miss Tellaro at once with a sense of its elegance, noble apartments, and handsome furnishings. It was just what a gentleman's residence should be. Ever
Last Updated : 2021-09-17DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY EIGHT
Mr Alexandra put in no appearance until midday. The exigencies of his toilet occupied several hours, he had been known to spend as many as two on the nice arrangement of his clothes, to which, however, he gave not another thought once he had left his dressing room. Unlike most of the dandies he was never seen to cast an anxious glance at a mirror, to adjust his cravat, nor to smooth wrinkles from his coat. When he left his room he was, and knew himself to be, a finished work of art, perfect in every detail from his beautifully laundered linen to his highly polished boots.Mrs McCain also kept her room until a late hour, but the three young ladies were up in good time, and spent the morning in exploring the house under the guidance of the house keeper, and in strolling about the gardens and shrubbery until they were called in to partake of scalloped oysters, cold meats, and fruits in one of the dining parlors.The sports men were expected to be back by three o'c
Last Updated : 2021-09-17DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTY NINE
She knelt down beside his chair and clasped his hands. "Parte, how do you feel?" she asked earnestly. "Are you sure that it is no more than a chill?""Why, what else should it be? What's in your mind?""I hardly know, hardly dare to wonder. Parte, when that man picked a quarrel with you - I am speaking of Ferdinand - were you not surprised? Did it seem to you reasonable?""What had that to do with anything?" he asked, opening his eyes at her. "Ay, I daresay I was a trifle surprised, but if Ferdinand was foxed, you know....""But was he? You did not say so"."Lord, how should I know? I did not think so, but he may have been".She continued to clasp his hands, looking anxiously up into his face. "You were fired on the day you came over Finchley Common, a shot you believed might have killed you, had it not been for Hinson. Twice you have been in danger of your life! And now you are ill, mysteriously so, for you have no c
Last Updated : 2021-09-18
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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
