Читать книгу Regency Pleasures and Sins Part 1 - Louise Allen, Christine Merrill - Страница 25

Tallie awoke with a start to a bustle on the landing and the unexpected sound of Lady Parry’s voice. She tumbled out of bed and dragged on her dressing-gown before peeping round the door.

She was not imagining things. Lady Parry was just untying her bonnet strings and talking to her maid while the footmen carried her portmanteau into her room. She caught sight of Tallie’s tousled head and sleepy eyes and hurried across.

‘My dear! Are you not well?’

Tallie allowed herself to be bustled back into her room. ‘I am quite well, Aunt Kate. It was just that I had a very tiring evening last night and found myself yawning my head off this morning, so I thought the best thing to do was to go to bed and catch up on my sleep.’ Sooner or later she was going to have to confess the whole ghastly business, but she needed to be awake first.

‘My goodness! What have you been up to while I have been away?’ Lady Parry asked archly, her eyebrows rising at Tallie’s answering blush.

‘Oh, it is a long story, ma’am! I will tell you all about it later. But how is it that you are back so soon? How did you find Lady Palgrave?’

Lady Parry made an ambiguous noise, waved her hands vaguely and subsided into a chair, gesturing Tallie to sit down opposite her. ‘Really, in some ways it was better than I could have hoped, which is why I am back so soon. She was already out of sympathy with the monkeys, which had quite wrecked the Blue Bedroom, were attempting to eat the wallpaper in the Chinese suite, of which she is very fond, and had bitten her favourite footman. So she had got rid of them.’

Something in Kate’s voice suggested that this was not quite such good news. ‘How, ma’am?’

‘By the simple expedient of opening the windows and letting them go. Two have already been shot by the gamekeepers on neighbouring estates and a delegation of villagers and the vicar arrived as we did, to complain about the remaining two, which had taken up residence in the church. The vicar was talking darkly about reconsecration—I let poor William deal with that.’

‘How?’ Tallie asked fascinated, forgetting her own troubles.

‘He commandeered a basket of peaches from my sister’s succession houses, drove up to the village, had the church doors opened and placed a trail of fruit from the porch to the lych gate. The curate proved to be a crack shot, apparently.’

‘Poor things,’ Tallie observed compassionately. ‘It was not their fault; I am sure they were only acting according to their natures.’

‘I quite agree,’ Lady Parry said. ‘I remonstrated with Georgiana and put it to her that she should not interfere with God’s dumb creation. At least pretty poets can be expected to look after themselves. She did appear chastened and somewhat sobered, so I deemed it safe to come home. William was becoming somewhat restive.’ She stood up. ‘I must go and change. Are you ready to get up, Tallie? We can have a late luncheon. William has gone to find Nicholas, doubtless for some sympathy.’

Tallie agreed with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. Her stomach seemed to contain a cold ball of lead, but she knew she must tell Lady Parry all about her connection with Mr Harland as soon as possible.

As she walked downstairs, schooling her face into an appearance of calm, the front door opened to admit both William and his cousin. Thankfully they did not see her for Tallie stopped dead three steps down and had to stay there for a full minute while she regained her composure. Nick here already! He was obviously not going to waste a moment in telling his aunt what a cuckoo she had been harbouring in the nest.

When she finally made her entry into the dining room, William greeted her with enthusiasm and proceeded to regale his audience with tales of the horrendous experiences he had had to endure. This kept everyone harmlessly occupied for the duration of the meal.

When the footmen came in to draw the covers Nick remarked, ‘I have some matters I need to discuss with you, Aunt Kate. William, could you do me a favour? You know that new bay gelding I bought at Tatt’s last week? I am not sure it is fully sound. You have a good feel for that kind of thing—could you take him out for me this afternoon, give me your opinion?’

He could not have offered a more tantalising bait. Glowing with pleasure at the compliment to his judgement, William made his excuses to his mother and hurried off to change.

Lady Parry was less easy to gull. She led the way into her writing room and sat down, regarding the two of them with a quizzical eye. ‘Well?’

‘I have a confession—’

‘Aunt, there is something I have to explain—’

They broke off, then Nick said, ‘If you start, Tallie, I will join in as we get to my part in events.’ She stared at him, suddenly overcome with nerves and he smiled reassuringly. ‘We had best get it over with, do you not think?’

Tallie nodded dumbly and took a moment to order her thoughts. ‘You recall, ma’am, that I came to you and said there was something I felt I should tell you about? A reason why I should not have accepted your offer to sponsor me?’

Lady Parry nodded. ‘Yes. You were concerned that you had sat for Mr Harland.’

‘Indeed, I had sat for him, ma’am. But not just to assist with portraits he was undertaking. When you said you knew all about it, I thought you really knew what I had been doing.’

‘Which was?’

Tallie took a deep breath. ‘Posing naked, or only lightly draped, for classical scenes.’

Lady Parry gasped, her eyes widened and she stared back at Tallie, apparently bereft of words for once.

‘Extremely tasteful compositions,’ Nick interjected as neither woman appeared capable of speech. ‘And Mr Harland, as I am sure you will realise, has always behaved with the utmost respect and propriety towards Tallie.’

‘Propriety?’ Lady Parry moaned faintly. Then her gaze sharpened. ‘And how do you know about this, Nicholas?’

‘I visited the studio with Jack Hemsley. He wanted to make arrangements to have his aunt’s portrait painted. William was with us and some other young cub.’

‘I was posing for a scene as Diana the Huntress,’ Tallie added. ‘When he realised that Mr Harland was painting from a model, Mr Hemsley forced his way in. Ni … Lord Arndale tried to stop him—’

‘But failed,’ Nick finished grimly. ‘It turned into a hunt.’

‘Not William, surely?’ Lady Parry asked, obviously appalled.

‘It was not real for the two youngsters,’ Nick explained gently. ‘They had no understanding that they were searching for someone real, someone who would be frightened. If William had found Tallie, he would have protected her, I am sure of it.’

‘I hid in a cupboard,’ Tallie pushed on, her voice wavering, desperate to get the tale told. ‘I lost my drape running away, the key fell out of the door—all I could do was turn my back on it, hide my face and wait.’

‘I saw the drape and managed to divert the others. Luckily I saw the key and was able to give it to Tallie so she could lock herself in.’

‘You were wonderful!’ Tallie said vehemently, suddenly finding her voice again. ‘You saved me and you acted with such … such consideration, such tact. If that awful man had found me I do not know what I should have done. And I have never thanked you for it, even this morning …’

Her voice tailed off as she saw Lady Parry’s expression. ‘I am afraid there is more, ma’am.’

‘I presume you did not recognise Talitha?’ Lady Parry asked Nick.

‘No, Aunt. I did not know her then, of course, and her hair was down. I never saw her face.’

His aunt closed her eyes fleetingly, apparently considering just what he had seen. ‘Go on,’ she said grimly.

‘I bumped, quite literally, into Lord Arndale when I was delivering your hats the next day. I recognised his voice, but I do not think he knew me.’ Tallie looked questioningly at Nick, who shook his head.

‘I must have been blind, especially as I cannot deny that my experiences of the day before were more than somewhat on my mind.’ Tallie bowed her head, blushing.

‘Someone in bare feet with their hair down is going to look different from when they are wearing shoes and have their hair up,’ Lady Parry conceded in a calm voice that Tallie found more worrying than a storm of anger would have been. ‘No wonder you were so upset when you arrived at the house, Talitha.’

Without thinking, Tallie nodded agreement. ‘It is very difficult, feeling so desperately grateful to someone when you cannot thank them and at the same time being extremely angry with them.’ She caught Nick’s eye and warmed at the flash of understanding she saw in them.

‘Indeed. Well, let me see if I understand how the situation stood when you joined my household, Talitha. You knew who saved you at the studio and also believed that I knew about your … unconventional employment. You, Nicholas, had no idea that Talitha was the model you saw?’

‘You are correct, although I knew that Tallie had a secret that she had managed to conceal from my enquiry agent and also that she intended to tell you about it, for she informed me of that when I challenged her.’

‘So, when did you discover the truth?’

‘At Tallie’s first ball. Jack Hemsley managed to lure her into a retiring room and attempted to kiss her. Tallie put up a spirited resistance and her hair came down—at which point William and I found them. As soon as I saw her from the back, I knew.’

Tallie stifled a gasp. He had known for weeks who she was?

‘And my son?’

‘He was too busy being furious and disillusioned with Hemsley—one good outcome of the situation—to make the connection between a glimpse of a picture weeks before and the lady living under his roof and his protection and now the subject of insult.’

‘And do you think Mr Hemsley recognised Tallie?’

‘I think he must have done; I cannot account for what happened afterwards otherwise. He was too afraid of what I would do if he talked. Then Tallie gave him added reason to hate her by interfering in his attempt to seduce her friend Miss Blackstock.

‘You had been the cause of his humiliation twice,’ he said to Tallie. ‘And he had reason to dislike me too. He had guessed I was instrumental in foiling his attempts to fleece William—’ he ignored his aunt’s indignant gasp ‘—and now I had witnessed his rout at the hands of you and Miss Blackstock. But he was still too wary of me to do anything direct.’ Nick got up and began to pace slowly up and down the room.

‘I became concerned. He had reason now to want revenge on both of us. Together we had humiliated him and been the cause of separating him from William in whom he had invested many months of patient grooming before settling down to fleece him.’

‘I never liked the man!’ Lady Parry burst out, her carefully maintained composure vanishing. ‘I tried to for William’s sake and because his aunt, Agatha Mornington, always speaks so fondly of him. And she is not someone easily taken in.’

‘She has been this time,’ Tallie said. ‘He has taken a post-obit loan out against her life.’

‘Undutiful creature! What a revolting thing to do, to leech onto the fortune of one’s relative in that manner. And doubtless he will be investing much time and trouble in ensuring she remembers him generously in her will.’

‘Hence the portrait,’ Tallie reminded her.

‘A post-obit.’ Nick regarded Tallie thoughtfully. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Mr Harland thinks so.’

‘Well, well, that is a useful piece of information.’ Nick’s grim smile boded Jack Hemsley no good whatsoever.

‘So then what happened?’ Lady Parry demanded. ‘Do come and sit down, Nicholas, you are making me positively jumpy and you are usually so restful to have about.’

He threw himself into an armchair, crossed his legs, and regarded his aunt. ‘I set a man to follow Hemsley. And when I heard that Tallie thought she was being followed, I set a man to follow her as well. You were quite right,’ he added, turning to look at her. ‘Hemsley’s man.’

‘And Hemsley organised the burglary at the studio!’ Tallie gasped, suddenly making the connection. ‘All he wanted was another look at the pictures to make sure it was me, and to confirm that they still needed some work doing on them. Then he had someone go and pretend they were interested in buying classical scenes …’

‘His perfectly genuine cousin Oliver Laidlaw, just returned from Greece and on his way back to Scotland.’ Nick grimaced. ‘He took some finding, Hemsley was keeping him close.’

‘And in all innocence Mr Harland asked me to pose one last time to finish the paintings.’ She looked ruefully across to Lady Parry. ‘I had realised by then that you had no idea what I had been doing after all. I was going to tell you when you came back, but meanwhile I went to the studio yesterday evening to help Mr Harland.’

‘Hemsley’s watcher told him you had stepped into the trap and that I was out of town. Mine too reported to me what was afoot.’

‘And you were able to rescue Tallie in time?’ Lady Parry asked anxiously. Tallie noticed with relief that she was once again using the affectionate diminutive.

‘Just,’ Nick said. ‘I got there only moments ahead of Hemsley and a pack of his friends, all drunk and primed for fun.’ He hesitated. ‘We had to leave by the window.’

There was a silence. Then Lady Parry said carefully, ‘Wearing what, my dear?’

‘Nothing, ma’am.’ Seeing the older woman go pale, Tallie added, ‘It was a narrow ledge, and it was raining and we were high above the rest of the houses. Lord Arndale was wonderful—if he had hesitated for a second they would have found me. As it was, it must have been very difficult for him to get me down safely.’

Nick made an impatient gesture with one hand. The bruises and grazes stood out starkly and he clasped both hands together out of sight. ‘She was frozen,’ he said directly to his aunt. ‘Mrs Blackstock’s household were all out of town. I could not bring her here with only the servants and not a stitch on. I took her home with me and made sure she was warm and unhurt.’

Into the silence that followed this confession Tallie said, ‘I returned this morning properly dressed. The staff think I was with the Blackstocks.’

Lady Parry did not seem either as angry or as shocked as Tallie had imagined she would be. Perhaps her patroness was just stunned, which would be understandable. Tallie discovered that she had a throbbing headache, which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

‘May I be excused, ma’am?’ she ventured. ‘I would like to go and take a little sal volatile. I find I have a headache coming on. I will be back directly.’

‘Of course, dear. There is no need to hurry back. And, Tallie …’ Lady Parry smiled at her ‘… please call me Aunt Kate again. I feel a hundred when you both call me “ma’ am” so stiffly.’

Nick relaxed at the twinkle in his aunt’s eye. So, they were not in such deep disgrace as he feared; he was glad for Tallie’s sake. He got to his feet and smiled reassuringly at her as he opened the door to let her out. She blushed and dropped her gaze sharply.

Nick turned back to his aunt. She knew exactly what must follow from last night’s adventures, even if Miss Talitha Grey appeared not to have worked out the consequences. How would she react when she realised? Not that it made any difference—she was as committed as he had been from the moment they had stepped out onto that nightmare of a ledge last night.

He began to pace again, filling in more detail than he had done in front of Tallie, outlining the decisions he had reached after a morning’s hard and serious thinking.

Upstairs Tallie poured a few drops of sal volatile into a glass of water and tossed it back with a grimace. The thought of lying down on her bed was very attractive, but she could not just run away and leave Nick downstairs, doubtless on the receiving end of a lecture from his aunt. Once Lady Parry had recovered sufficiently from the shock of their revelations to react, she could not believe they were not both going to be thoroughly in disgrace and Nick did not deserve anything except her grateful thanks.

Rainbird was just closing the front door as Tallie reached the hall again and he placed an envelope on a salver before handing it to her. ‘This has just arrived for you, Miss Grey.’

Recognising Zenna’s handwriting, Tallie tore open the wrapper without ceremony and scanned the contents.

… absolutely perfect, Tallie dearest! I have taken the liberty of sending the details direct to your attorney, but naturally I could not say anything to commit us without your personal approval. Do, please come and see—I could not bear to lose such a perfect house …

Tallie glanced rapidly through the closely written pages. It was unlike Zenna to wax so enthusiastic, she must indeed have found the ideal home for her long-dreamed-of school. She was walking slowly towards the writing room as she read and stopped outside the partly open door to shuffle the pages back together before entering.

Inside Lady Parry was speaking and the words froze Tallie where she stood. ‘… not at all what you planned. A suitable débutante this Season—I believe that is what you said when we last discussed your marriage.’

Nick appeared to be moving around. His voice became louder, then unintelligible as Tallie strained to hear, unaware that Zenna’s letter was crushed in her hands.

‘Of course, about time as you keep telling me … set up my nursery … perfectly suitable … I had thought Lord Rushingly’s eldest, perhaps. Invite her to Heronsholt in the summer, make up a house party …’

‘Well, you have not had the opportunity yet to fix her interest,’ Lady Parry observed, sounding a little concerned. ‘Unless I have missed something?’

‘… too distracted by this business, which is a mercy as it turns out …’

‘I rather think she has not realised this all means she must marry you,’ Lady Parry observed.

Who? Tallie shook her head, puzzled, confused and with a growing knot of dread tightening inside her. Who?

‘Tallie?’ Nick’s voice was so close by the door that she jumped and dropped the letter. ‘I do not think it has occurred to her for a moment just how compromised she is or what the consequences of that are.’

Tallie was on her knees, scrabbling to pick up the scattered sheets as Lady Parry said, ‘Certainly, one could not imagine for a moment that the poor child would intend to make such a match.’

‘She is not so ineligible,’ Nick said coolly. ‘Her birth is perfectly respectable, her fortune, now, is more than comfortable.’

‘Of course not, and she is a dear child. But not what one would expect for an Arndale of Heronsholt.’

Tallie stayed on her knees, transfixed, waiting for Nick’s reply.

‘Needs must, Aunt Kate. There is really no choice in the matter.’

Tallie stood up, her knees shaking. Until that moment she had not realised that all she wanted in the world was Nicholas Stangate. Now, and for ever. Yes, she had admitted to herself that she loved him, desired him, admired him. The word ‘marriage’ had never entered her thoughts; somehow, while he was a part of her everyday life, that had not been a consideration.

‘You fool,’ she whispered to herself, backing away down the hall. Her mind churned. How else could you have him? Be his mistress? Why, when the world is full of skilled courtesans, should he bother with you? Hope answered her, desperate. He is attracted to you. He kisses you, takes you to his bed. He risks danger for you.

Tallie reached the foot of the stairs. Mercifully neither Rainbird nor any of the footmen were in sight. Her clear-sighted common sense trod firmly on her optimism. Of course he kissed you, of course he took you into his bed. He is a man, is he not? You stood naked before him. What did you expect him to think, to do? And he is a gentleman. Of course he would protect you. He would have protected Zenna or Millie if he had found them in such straits.

The writing-room door opened and Lady Parry emerged. Tallie whisked round and under the stairs just in time to avoid being seen. But she was careless as she stepped out again once her patroness’s footsteps had died away.

‘Tallie. May I speak with you, please?’

It was Nick.