All Chapters of DELICIA - DELIGHT - : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Harry, you see, is a misogynist", explained the gentleman, apparently not in the least annoyed by this unceremonious interruption. "I am not interested in you or in your servant!" snapped Miss Tellaro. "That is what I like in you", he agreed, and sprang lightly up into the curricle, and stepped across her to the box seat. "Now let me show you how to hit me". Miss Tellaro resisted, but he possessed himself of her gloved hand and doubled it into a fist. "Keep your thumb down so, and hit like that. Not at my chin, I think. Aim for the eye, or the nose, if you prefer". Miss Tellaro sat very rigid. "I won't retaliate", he promised. Then, as she still made no movement, he said, "I see I shall have to offer you provocation", and swiftly kisses her. Miss Tellaro's hands clenched into two admirable fists, but she controlled an unladylike impulse, and kept them in her lap. She was both shaken and enraged by the kiss, and hardly knew where to look. No other man than her father or Patrick had e

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!"

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

"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

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