Tallie's Knight Part 4

"Naturally, my dear. " Would not you be? After all she's done forher, and now this! The very ingrat.i.tude. ""Trapped, undoubtedly.""Oh, undoubtedly!"Tallie wondered which of the young ladies Lord d'Arenville had chosen.It had to be either Miss Blakeney or Lady Helen Beresford--they werethe only two young ladies not at breakfast. That explained why shecould sense such an atmosphere of hostility in the room--failedcandidates seething with frustration and anger. Tallie tried to closeher ears to the vehement mutterings. It would be a relief when Lord d'Arenville, Lae- t.i.t ia and all their horrid friends had gone back to London.

"Thrusting little baggage. A man of honour ... no choice."

"And that dress last evening--positively indecent!"

"No other word for it."

Tallie began to eat her breakfast, though her appet.i.te had quite

vanished. Her cousin's friends were quite unbearable. "More coffee. Miss Tallie?" murmured Brooks at her ear.

A friendly face at last.

"Oh, yes, please, Brooks." Tallie beamed up at him and held her cup out for him to refill.

As Brooks poured, Miss Fyffe-Temple, one of Tallie's neighbours, roughly jogged his elbow. Hot coffee boiled over Tallie's hand and arm. She leapt up with a shriek of pain.

"Oh, Miss Tallie!" exclaimed Brooks, horrified.

"How very clumsy of me, to be sure," purred Miss Fyffe- Temple.

"What a nasty red mark it has made. I do hope it won't leave a scar."

"Yes, it's quite disgustingly red and ugly. Is it terribly painful?"

Miss Carnegie added.

' Oh, how horrid. I think I' mgoing to faint," exclaimed The Honourable Miss Aldercott. The others immediately gathered around Miss Aldercott, cooing with pretty concern.

Blinking back tears, Tallie ran from the room and headed for the scullery. She plunged her arm in a pitcher of cold water and breathed a sigh of relief as the pain immediately began to ebb. After a few moments she withdrew it and blew lightly on the reddened skin. It was quite painful, but she didn't think it was too serious a burn. But why had Miss Fyffe-Temple done it? Tallie hadn't missed the gleam of spiteful satisfaction in her eyes as she had made her mocking apology.

"Are you all right. Miss Tallie?" It was Brooks, his kindly old face furrowed with anxiety.

"I am so sorry, my dear."

"It is not serious, Brooks, truly," Tallie rea.s.sured him.

"It gave me more of a fright, really. It hardly hurts at all."

"I don't know how it happened. She... My arm just slipped."

Tallie laid a hand on his arm.

"It's all right; I know whose fault it is. Brooks. The thing I don't understand is why."

Brooks stared for a moment, then suddenly looked awkward.

"I think you'd best speak to your cousin, miss," he said.

"She's still abed, but I have no doubt she's expecting you."

Tallie frowned.

"I shall go up to her, then, as soon as I have put some b.u.t.ter and a piece of gauze over this burn," she said slowly.

Judging from Brooks's expression, something was amiss. She could not think what it was. No doubt her cousin would enlighten her.

The? " Tallie's voice squeaked. She stared at her cousin, her jaw dropping in amazement. The effects of her indulgences the night before had kept Laet.i.tia in bed, and from the sounds of things she was still inebriated. Or demented.

The? " repeated Tallie, stunned.

"How can you possibly say such a thing, Cousin? He does not even know my name."

"Ha!" spat Laet.i.tia, holding her delicate head.

"I'll wager he knows you in other ways, you hussy! In the Biblical sense! Why else would he choose a wretched little n.o.body?"

Tallie gasped, first in shock and then in swelling outrage. It was one thing to be asked to swallow such a Banbury tale-Lord d'Arenville wishing to wed Tallie Robinson, indeed! But to be accused of immorality! She was not entirely sure what knowing 'in the Biblical sense' meant, but she was very certain it was immoral. Tallie was furious. She might be poor. She might be an orphan, shabbily dressed and forced to live on other's generosity. But she was not immoral.

"Firstly, let me tell you. Cousin," Tallie said heatedly, 'no man has known me in the Biblical sense, and I am shocked that you could even suggest such a thing! Secondly, I cannot help but believe you must have made an error about Lord d'Arenville's intentions. Perhaps you misheard him. "

"I did not," snapped Laet.i.tia.

"Do you think I would imagine such an appalling thing?"

Tallie gritted her teeth. Imagination indeed! She could imagine no member of the aristocracy, let alone the arrogant Lord d'Arenville, choosing his cousin's poor relation for his bride.

"But I have not exchanged even one word with his lordship," exclaimed Tallie.

"I do not believe--' shrilled Laet.i.tia, holding her head.

"Cousin! I promise you." Tallie tried to keep her voice calm, despite her frustration. Her cousin was very angry.

"Do not lie, girl! He told me himself he had chosen you."

A small, cold knot of fear lodged in Tallie's stomach. She had never seen Laet.i.tia this furious before, and she knew her cousin well. There was a hard, ruthless streak in Laet.i.tia. This foolish misunderstanding--the result of too much champagne, no doubt, or perhaps a jest on Lord d'Arenville's part--could have dire consequences for herself.

"Well, either you misheard him. Cousin, or else he is playing a nasty joke on you. Yes, that's it--it must surely be a jest." People like her cousin's friends were always playing tricks on some poor unfortunate. The joke this time might be on Laet.i.tia, but Tallie was the poor unfortunate.

"Jest?" Laet.i.tia snorted.

"Magnus does not jest--not about marriage."

"Perhaps you took a little too much champagne, Cousin, and did not realise he was hoaxing you," Tallie suggested tentatively.

"Nonsense! I know what I heard!" said Laet.i.tia, but her tone belied the words. It was clear that she was starting to entertain doubts.

Tallie felt a trickle of relief.

"I will speak to his lordship, shall I, and clear the matter up once and for all?" Tallie rose to her feet. It just had to be some trick Lord d'Arenville was playing on Laet.i.tia. Tallie was not amused. His little joke had already got her scalded by boiling coffee, and now it threatened her position in Laet.i.tia's household. But would His High-and-Mightiness think of that? Not he!

He who had been given everything his heart desired, ever since he was born--it would not occur to him that some people existed on a fine line between survival and dest.i.tution. All that stood between Tallie and abject poverty was her cousin's good will, and no careless jest was about to jeopardise that! Lord Look-Down-His-Nose would soon learn that one person at least was not prepared to have her life wrecked for a mere lordly whim!

She found him in the downstairs parlour, idly leafing through a freshly ironed newspaper, lately arrived from London. Fortunately he was alone for a change.

"Lord d'Arenville," she began, shutting the door firmly behind her.

"I.

have just been speaking with my cousin Laet.i.tia, and she seems to be under the impression that you. "

He laid the paper courteously aside, stood up and came towards her.

Tallie's voice dwindled away. Heavens, but he was so very tall. She'd noticed it earlier, of course, but now, when he was standing so close, looming over her. "Ah, Miss Robinson. Good morning. Is it not a pleasant day? Will you be seated?"

Miss Robinson ? He remembered her name? She could have sworn he hadn't taken a whit of notice of her the day they were introduced. Or since.

"Er, thank you." Tallie allowed herself to be led to a low divan. He drew up a chair opposite, a look of faint enquiry lifting his dark brows.

"You wished to speak with me?"

To her great discomfort Tallie felt a blush rising. It was one thing to storm out of her cousin's boudoir, declaring she would soon clear up this whole silly mistake, and quite another to confront this immaculate, gravely polite aristocrat with a wholly impossible tale.

' Laet.i.tia seems to be under the impression. ? " he prompted.

Tallie felt her blush intensify. The whole thing was too ridiculous.

She had to escape. She could not ask this man whether there was any truth in the rumour that he wished to marry her. It was obviously a mistake. She knew she was being cowardly, but she could not imagine this coldly serious creature considering her--even for a jest--as an eligible bride. On the other hand, Tallie would not put it past her cousin to set her up for a humiliating fall. In fact, it would be very like her. Tallie could just imagine Laet.i.tia entertaining her London friends with the joke. Imagine, that plain, foolish lump of a girl actually believing that Magnus wanted to marry her! When he has the pick of the ton at his fingertips! Oh, my dears, I laughed until the tears ran down my cheeks! But there, 'tis not kind to laugh at one's inferiors . but really, if you could have seen Magnus's face when the girl confronted him, Lord, he thought he was being pursued by a lunatic! And gales of laughter would follow.

"Er ... Cousin Laet.i.tia was under the impression..." Tallie's eye fell on the newspaper 'that the maids might have forgotten to press the paper for you, but I see they have, so I will go at once and tell her that everything is. organised. " She stood up to leave. Lord d'Arenville rose also.

Heavens! He was looming again, standing so close she could just smell the faint tang of a masculine cologne. Tallie took a step backwards and stumbled against the divan. A strong hand shot out and caught her by the arm, holding her until she steadied, then releasing her.

"Thank you... So clumsy..." she muttered, fl.u.s.tered, and annoyed with herself for being so.

"Stay a moment, Miss Robinson. I wish to speak to you." His hand touched her arm again, a light touch this time, not the firm, warm grip of before.

Tallie looked up, puzzled. A faint warning bell sounded in her mind as she saw the purposeful look in his cold grey eyes, but she quashed it immediately. No doubt he had some complaint about a servant, or a message he wished her to carry to her cousin. Outwardly calm, she allowed herself to be seated a second time, folded her hands demurely in her lap and waited.

Magnus noted the quiet way she folded her hands. It seemed to him a pleasantly womanly gesture. Her whole demeanour pleased him. Clearly Laet.i.tia had told her of his decision, and, whilst he wished she had not, this girl's reactions bore out the soundness of his choice. She was neither filled with vulgar excitement nor coy flutterings. Yes, she would do nicely. He took a deep breath, surprised at how unexpectedly nervous he suddenly felt.

"You said you had spoken with Laet.i.tia?"

The cold knot in the pit of Tallie's stomach grew. Wordlessly she nodded.

"Yes, I should have expected she could not keep it to herself."

Without waiting for her reply. Lord d'Arenville began to explain.

"It would be best if the wedding took place almost immediately--it takes three weeks for the banns to be called. We would be married from this house and my cousin's husband George would give you away. I would prefer a small affair, just my immediate family--Laet.i.tia and her husband-- and of course any friends or relations you wish to invite..." j It could not be true. She was not sitting here listening to this cold, proud man elaborate on the arrangements for his wedding. Her wedding!

His wedding to Tallie Robinson! A girl to whom he had scarcely spoken two words.

But his cool, indifferent demeanour, his very seriousness convinced her. It was not a joke, not a malicious trick to make sport of the poor relation.

But he hadn't even asked her if she wanted to marry him!

After a time, Tallie's shock wore off, and she realised she wasfurious. And utterly mortified. She had known the likelihood of herever marrying was slim. Living in the country as Laet.i.tia's unpaidgoverness, she came into contact with few eligible men, and withneither looks nor fortune to recommend her, her prospects were few andfar between. But it was one thing to face the prospect of a lonely andloveless future, and another to be so little regarded that she did noteven merit the appearance of a courtship. Were her feelings anddesires of so little significance to him?

Tallie stared down at her knees, flushed and fuming, biting her lip toprevent her rage from spilling out. Her hands shook, itching to slapthe smug condescension off his face. She clenched them into fists,dwelling on how pleasant it would be to box his arrogant ears! Shetook in very little of what he was saying!

Lord d'Arenville rose from his seat and paced up and down before her,explaining the arrangements. He noted his bride's delicate blush, hermodestly bowed head, and congratulated himself again on the excellentchoice he had made. No pampered miss, this. She sat there, meeklylistening to his plans for her future. Quiet, submissive,delightful!

How could he ever have been so foolish as to consider a sophisticatedwoman of the ton as the mother of his children? Laet.i.tia's candidateshad been self-centred, selfish, and far too sure of themselves. Muchbetter to have chosen this sweetly shy girl with her modest, downcasteyes. Thalia Robinson would be grateful for his offer--she had noworldly ambition, no highly strung temperament.

His eyes ran over her figure. It was difficult to tell in thatfrightful dress she wore, but she seemed st.u.r.dy--certainly robustenough to survive the rig ours of childbirth. And this girl, hebelieved, had the capacity to love, and he needed that--for hischildren. He recalled the tender way her hands had caressed youngGeorgie. He wanted that for his child. yes, for his child. Her handswere trembling, he realised. Magnus watched approvingly as sheclenched her fingers tightly together in an effort to control her emotions. Excellent. Self-control was a good thing in a wife.

He gentled his voice. Doubtless such disparity in their respective stations in life made her a little nervous, a little eager to oblige.

The thought did not displease Magnus. He intended to treat her kindly--her nervousness would pa.s.s with time and she would no doubt be grateful for his forbearance. It would be a start. She would find him a good husband, he hoped. He would look after her, protect her, take care of all her needs. He continued to pace the floor, describing d'Arenville, the family seat, and how much she would like living there.

Tallie fumed silently, letting his words wash over her. So she was to be his quiet, compliant little brood mare, was she? The wife he intended to keep immured in his beastly d'Arenville for ten years or more!

In a pig's eye she was!

The nerve, the arrogance, the presumption of the man! He must have decided a plain, poor woman would give him the least trouble, a woman without prospects but with the hips and teeth and bloodlines to bear his heirs! A st.u.r.dy woman!

She longed to leap up, to fling his proposal of mar. No-- Tallie Robinson, poor relation, did not merit a proposal, for he had not even waited for her reply. He'd presented his prospective brood mare with an a.s.sumption of marriage!

Well, whichever it was, she would fling it in his teeth! That would bring a shocked look to that insufferably complacent face. And how she would enjoy snapping her fingers under that long, proud nose! She would wait until he had finished describing the wonderful treats that marriage to him would bring her! What was he talking about now? The view of the lake from the summerhouse at sunset? Hah!

I'm sooo sorry, Lord d'Arenville, she would tell him, but even the delightful prospect of viewing the d'Arenville duck pond at dawn cannot tempt me to marry you. I would much prefer to remain unwed.

Sooo sorry to disappoint you. And she would sail out of the room, head held high, leaving him stunned, furious, gnashing his teeth with chagrin.

No, she decided. Too tame, too straightforward. He deserved a taste of his own medicine. He hadn't even bothered to speak to her} He'd merely informed Laet.i.tia, no doubt offering to take a poor relation off her hands. Tallie had been scalded and abused and accused of outright immorality. And all because of his arrogance. He needed to be taken down a peg or two! Or three!

Tallie smiled to herself, planning her revenge--she'd keep him guessing. A man of his pride and consequence would loathe being kept waiting. Especially by a little n.o.body from nowhere! A st.u.r.dy little n.o.body at that!

Laet.i.tia's guests obviously knew of Lord d'Arenville's choice. They would be waiting for the announcement. And Laet.i.tia--what would it do to her pride to have the despised poor relation keeping the head of the family dangling?