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THIRTY FIVE
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2021-08-26 18:00:00"Oh, my dear, when a female is as wealthy as you are, she can look as high as she chooses! I did think of Venice, but there's that horrid Marriage Act to be got over, and I daresay the Regent would never give his consent".
"There is Mrs Smith to be got over too", said Elizabeth dryly. "Nonsense, my love, I have it for a fact he has quite broken with her. I daresay she will keep all the children of the connection - I believe there are ten, but I might be mistaken". "You informed me by yourself, ma'am, that the Duke was a devoted father", said Elizabeth. Mrs Andromeda sighed. "Well, and have I not said that I believe he won't do? Though I must say, my dear, if you had the chance of becoming his wife it would be a very odd thing in you to be objecting to it merely because of a few bags of bad characters. But I have been thinking of it, and I am persuaded it won't answer. Wet must look elsewhere". "Where shall we look this time, ma'Related chapters
DELICIA - DELIGHT - THIRTY SIX
"Is she dark or fair?" inquired his sister.But to this question he could not give any very certain answer. He rather thought Miss Mamala's eyes were blue, but they might be grey, he could not be sure. She was not tall, quite the reverse, yet Elizabeth must not be imagining a dab of a girl. It was no such thing, but she would see for herself.After a good deal in this strain he took himself off to bed, leaving his sister to her reflection.She had not been used to seeing him in the toils of a young woman, and could hardly be blamed for feeling a certain jealousy. She did her best to banish it, and succeeded very fairly. When Lady Mamala, who turned out to be a very kindly sensible woman in the early forties, came to pay her promised call, she did bring her eldest daughter with her, and Elizabeth had leisure to observe Patrick's charmer.Miss Mamala was not long out of the school room, and had all the natural shyness of her Seventeen years.
Last Updated : 2021-08-27DELICIA - DELIGHT - THIRTY SEVEN
"Well, now that you have found me, do you think you could sit down - Keeping me under observation, if you like - until after the game?" he said."I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you!" said Patrick. "Only they told me at White's that you are out of town, and when I called at the Alfred they said you had not been there for months"."Come and take a hand", said Lord Alvana kindly. "You should not have wasted your time at the Half-Read, my boy. They have Seventeen bishops there, so I hear. Clements and I gave it up after the eighth. As for White's, it is my belief Clements taught them always to say he was out of town. Do you care to join us?"Patrick, much flattered, thanked him, and took a place between Sir Herbert Mush and a gentleman with very red hair and very blue eyes, whom he discovered later to be Lord Marino. The stakes at the table were extremely high, and he soon found that his luck was quite out. This did not trouble him much, for he did not
Last Updated : 2021-08-27DELICIA - DELIGHT - THIRTY EIGHT
The shout of laughter that greeted this climax brought several other people over to the group, Patrick amongst them, who arrived in time to hear his guardian say, "had your bloodthirsty opponent met with the accident that did not befall you, Bryant, or was his second less determined than yours?""I am inclined to believe", replied the Beau gravely, "that he realized in time the social solecism he had committed in calling me out at all".Patrick worked his way through the knot of persons to Clements' side, and touched his sleeve. The Earl turned his head, frowning a little. "Well, Patrick, what is it?""I thought you had left", said Patrick in a low voice. "I must have a word with you, you know that is what I came here for"."My good boy, you cannot be private with me at Watier's, if that is what you want. You may come and see me at my house tomorrow morning"."Yes, but will you be there?" objected Patrick. "I have been to your house three
Last Updated : 2021-08-28DELICIA - DELIGHT - THIRTY NINE
Patrick stiffened. "What do you mean?" he asked.The Earl raised his eyes for a moment, and coldly looked his ward over. "Between you, you and your sister credit me with an obscurity of meaning which I am unaware of having done anything to deserve. It really doesn't amuse me. I mean precisely what I say"."But you can't refuse to let me have money to pay my debts of honor!" said Patrick indignantly."Can't I?" said the Earl. "I was under the impression that I could"."Damn, I never heard of such a thing! I must pay my debts!""Naturally", agreed the Earl."Well, how the devil can I if you won't loosen the purse strings?" demanded Patrick. "You must know my pockets are pretty well empty till the next quarter!""I didn't know it, but I don't find it very hard to believe. You have all my sympathy"."Sympathy! What's the use of that to me?" cried Patrick, a good deal injured."I'm afraid it isn't of a
Last Updated : 2021-08-28DELICIA - DELIGHT - FORTY
"Yes, when we get downstairs", said the Earl, opening the door.Patrick made a stiff little bow, and stood back for him to go first.The Earl went in his leisurely fashion down the stairs, and led the way into a pleasant library behind the saloon. The butler was just setting a tray bearing glasses and a decanter on the table. He arranged these to his satisfaction, and withdrew, closing the door behind him.The Earl picked up the decanter, and poured out two glasses of wine. One of them he held out to Patrick. "Madeira, but if you prefer it I can offer you sherry", he said."Thank you, nothing for me", said Patrick, with what he hoped was a fair imitation of his lordship's own cold dignity.Apparently it was not. "Don't be stupid, Patrick", said Clements.Patrick looked at him for a moment, and then, lowering his gaze, took the glass with a murmured word of thanks, and sat down.The Earl moved toward a deep
Last Updated : 2021-08-29DELICIA - DELIGHT - FORTY ONE
The betrothal was announced in the columns of the Morning Post, and it's most immediate effect was to bring Admiral Tellaro to Spear Street with a copy of the paper under his arm, and an expression of strong indignation on his face. He wasted no time in civilities, and not even the presence of Mrs Andromeda had the power to prevent him from making known his mind. He demanded to know what they were all about to let Patrick make such wretched work of his future. "Miss Vivian Mamala!" he said. "Who is Miss Vivian Mamala? I thought it had not been possible when I read it. 'Depend upon it', I said - for Bartholomew was with me, 'depends upon it, it is all a damn hum! The lad will not be throwing himself away on the first pretty face he sees'. But you don't speak, you say nothing! Is it true then?"Miss Tellaro begged him to be seated. "Yes, sir, it is quite true".The admiral muttered something under his breathe that sounded like an oath, and crumpling up the paper threw
Last Updated : 2021-08-29DELICIA - DELIGHT - FORTY TWO
Miss Tellaro, having a book to change at Harriet's Library, was quite agreeable, and in a short time both ladies set forth in an open barouche, the day - though it was November - being so extremely mild that even Mrs Andromeda could not fear an inflammation of the lungs, or an injury to the complexion.They arrived in Bold Street soon after two o'clock and found it as usual at that hour very full of carriages and smart company. Several tilburies and saddled horses were waiting outside Solomon's Hotel, and as Miss Tellaro's barouche passed the door of Clarkson's Boxing Saloon she saw her brother going in on Mr Fritzwa's arm. She waved to him, but did not stop, and the carriage drawing up presently outside a haberdasher's shop she set Mrs Andromeda down and drove on to the library.She had just handed in Tales of Fashionable Life, and was glancing through the volumes of one of the new publications when she felt a touch on her sleeve and turned to find her cousin at her
Last Updated : 2021-08-30DELICIA - DELIGHT - FORTY THREE
Miss Tellaro was gazing at a milliner's window on the opposite side of the road, apparently rapt in admiration of a yellow satin bonnet embossed with orange leopard-spots, and bound with a green figured ribbon, but at Mrs Andromeda's next words she turned her head and unwillingly paid attention to what was being said."I am excessively glad to have fallen in with you, Gabriel", Mrs Andromeda declared. "I have been wanting to ask you these three days what you were about to let Parte tie himself up in this fashion. Not that I have a word to say against Miss Mamala, I am sure she is perfectly amiable, a delightful girl! But you know he might do much better for himself. How came you to be giving your consent so readily?"He said lazily, "I must have been in an uncommonly good temper, I suppose. Don't you like the match?""It is respectable, but not brilliant, and I must say, Clements, I think Parte much too young".He made no reply. Miss Tellaro raised he
Last Updated : 2021-08-30
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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
