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TWELVE
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2021-08-16 04:00:00"Eh?" said Lord Garbatela. "Did you say you were Clements' ward?" The gentleman in the great coat gave Patrick back his card. "So you are my Lord Clements' ward!" he said. "Dear me! And - er - are you at all acquainted with your guardian?" "That, sir, has nothing to do with you! We are on our way to visit his lordship now". "Well", said the gentleman softly, "you must present my compliments to him when you see him. Don't forget". "This is not to the point!" exclaimed Patrick. "I have challenged you to fight, sir!" "I don't think your guardian would advise you to press your challenge", replied the gentleman with a slight smile. Elizabeth laid a hand on her brother's arm, and said coldly, "you have not told us yet by what name we may describe you to Lord Clements". His smile lingered. "I think you will find that his lordship will know who I am", he said, and took Lord Garbatela's arm, and strolled with him into the coffee room.
* * *
It was with difficulty that M
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DELICIA - DELIGHT - THIRTEEN
He would have passed on, and seeing him so anxious to be gone Miss Tellaro made no further effort to detain him. But Patrick was less perceptive, and still barred the way. "Well, I'm glad to have met you again, sir. Say what you will, I am in your debt. My name is Tellaro - Patrick Tellaro. This is my sister, as perhaps you know". The gentleman hesitated for an instant. Then he said in a rather low voice, "I did know. That is to say, I heard your name mentioned". "Ay, did you so? I daresay you might. But we did not hear yours, sir", said Patrick, laughing. "No. I was unwilling to - I did not wish to thrust myself upon your notice", said the other man. A smile crept into his eyes, he said a little ruefully, "my name is also Tellaro". "Good God!" cried Patrick in great astonishment. "You don't mean it - you are not related to us, are you?" "I am afraid I am", said Mr Tellaro. "My father is Admiral Tellaro". "Well, by all that's famous!" exclaimed Patrick. "I never knew he had a son!"
Last Updated : 2021-08-16DELICIA - DELIGHT - FOURTEEN
The smaller of these - the King Deer - took most of the North going vehicles, while the larger, Horse Empire, which was situated in the middle of the town and kept no less than twenty seven pairs of horses and eleven post boys, seized on the chaises traveling south. The rivalry between the two was extremely fierce. It was said that on more than one occasion private chaises had been intercepted and the horses forcibly changed at one or other of the inns. Some sign of this was evident in the way the ostlers of the Horse Empire came running out at the approach of the Tellaro's chaise, and led into the big stable yard. A glass of sherry was handed up to Patrick, and sandwiches were offered to his sister, this being one of the superior attractions of the Horse Empire over the King Deer, that it's customers had free refreshments pressed on them. The change of horses was accomplished in two minutes. A couple of post boys cast off the smocks they wore over their yellow jackets to keep them
Last Updated : 2021-08-17DELICIA - DELIGHT - FIFTEEN
She listened to it all, and asked him a dozen questions. He could not tell her very much about the play, he had been too much taken up with watching all the fashionables. He thought it had been Othello, or some such thing. He was nearly sure it was Othello, now he came to think of it. Famous stuff, but he had enjoyed the farce more. And now what were they to do? For his part he thought they had best call on Lord Clements, and get it done with.She agreed to it, and went up to her room after breakfast to put on her hat and her gloves. She hoped Lord Clements would would not be angry with them for having come to Rome against his advice, but now that she was so near to seeing him person she owned to a slight feeling of nervousness. But Patrick was right - nothing could be done until they had presented themselves to their guardian.Since neither she nor Patrick had the least notion where Cavendish Square was to be found, and since neither of them cared to betray th
Last Updated : 2021-08-17DELICIA - DELIGHT - SIXTEEN
She felt her brain to be reeling. "But it is surely... You, sir, cannot have been a friend of my father?"He shut his box again, and slipped it back into his pocket. "I regret, madam, I had not that honor", he said."Then, oh, there is some mistake!" she said. "There must be a mistake!""Quite possible", agreed his lordship. "But the mistake, Miss Tellaro, was not mine"."But you are not out guardian!" Patrick burst out."I am afraid there is no loophole for escape", replied Clements. "I am your guardian". He added kindly. "I assure you, you cannot regret the circumstance more than I do"."How can this be?" demanded Elizabeth. "My father did not mean it so!""Unfortunately", said Clements, "your father's Will was drawn up nine months after the death of mine"."Oh!" groaned Miss Tellaro, sinking down upon one of the gilt and crimson couches."But the name!" said Patrick. "My father must
Last Updated : 2021-08-18DELICIA - DELIGHT - SEVENTEEN
"I have a cousin living in Lacroix, sir", said Miss Tellaro. "I shall ask her if she will come to me".He glanced down at her meditatively. "Will you tell me, Miss Tellaro, what precisely is your objective in having come to Rome?""What is that to the point, sir?""When you are better acquainted with me", said the Earl, "you will know that I never ask pointless questions. Is it your intention to live upon the fringe of society, or do you mean to take your place in the world of Fashion? Will the Pantheon do for you, or must it be Almack's?"She replied instantly, "it must be the best, sir"."Then we need not consider the cousin living in Lacroix", said Clements. "Fortunately, I know a lady who - though I fear you may find her in some ways extremely foolish - is not only willing to undertake the task of chaperoning you, but has the undoubted entrée to the world you wish to figure in. Her name Andromeda. She is a widow, and
Last Updated : 2021-08-18DELICIA - DELIGHT - EIGHTEEN
How I do run on! You don't wish me to live with you at all, I daresay. But a cousin in Lacroix! You would find she would not add to your consequence, my dear. I am sure, a dowdy old lady. She would not else be living in Lacroix, take my word for it".So Miss Tellaro yielded, and that very evening her chaperon arrived at Hotel Nacional in a light coach weighed down by trunks and bandboxes.Mr Kingsley, who sent in his card at about four o'clock in the afternoon, was much more easily dealt with. He was a shy young man, who looked at the heiress with undisguised admiration. He seemed to be extremely conscientious, and most anxious to oblige. He frowned over the credentials of at least a dozen servants, and fluttered over the leaves of a sheaf of papers, until Miss Tellaro laughingly implored him to stop.Mr Kingsley's solemnity disappeared into something remarkably like a grin. "Well, do you know, ma'am, I think of you was to let me settle it all for yo
Last Updated : 2021-08-19DELICIA - DELIGHT - NINETEEN
Patrick's days during that first week were quite at full as his sister's. His friend, Mr Fritzwa, took him thoroughly in hand. When he was not being fitted for boots at Footies, or hats at Lock's, he was choosing fobs in Wash Street, or riding off to Long Lands to look at a Tilbury, or knowingly inspecting carriage horses at Rancharoll's.The house in Spear Street, somewhat to Miss Tellaro's annoyance, proved to be admirable in every respect, the saloons handsome, and the furnishings just what she liked. She was installed there within three days of seeing Mr Kingsley, and a number of her new gowns having been delivered in neat band boxes, her hair having been fashionably cut, and her maid taught to dress it in several approved classical styles. Mrs Andromeda declared her to be ready to receive morning callers.The first of these were her uncle, the Admiral, and his son, Mr Bartholomew Tellero. They came at an awkward moment. Patrick, who had spent the great part of the mor
Last Updated : 2021-08-19DELICIA - DELIGHT - 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 r
Last Updated : 2021-08-20
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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
