Page 54 of The Model Debutante
‘I really would prefer not to discuss it,’ Tallie said hastily. If she had not been feeling so flustered she might have been amused at the confusion into which she had thrown William who blushed and began to stutter at the thought he had embarrassed her. ‘And please, I could not bear it if either of you call him out. What if you were to be wounded?’
William looked hurt, Nick merely raised an eyebrow and remarked, ‘Unlikely. No, we need to avoid any hint of scandal in dealing with Lynley. Tallie’s position in this household is too well known not to arouse suspicions if one of us openly challenges him. I have a better idea – one that I can thank you for, Tallie. Financial ruin is going to be a much more effective punishment for Jack than an uncomfortable dawn meeting on the Heath. Is Aunt Kate downstairs, William?’
‘In the front salon. I thought it was odd, she is usually in here at this time of day.’
Tallie glared at Nicholas through narrowed eyes. So, his aunt had tactfully removed herself while he made a declaration, had she? It was regrettable that she had to disappoint her kind patroness, but she was not going to marry Nicholas Stangate to satisfy anyone’s ideas of what was the right and proper thing for a compromised young lady to do.
‘Then let us consult her.’ Nick opened the door for Tallie and steered them both in the direction of the front of the house. ‘If my memory serves me right we will have the perfect opportunityfor our retribution tonight.’
Aunt Kate looked up with a smile which rapidly faded as she took in Tallie’s tight lips, Nick’s expressionless face and William’s pink-cheeked indignation.
‘We have just been telling William that Jack Lynley has attempted to ruin Tallie.’
‘Oh dear.’ She fluttered a white hand and lay back against the sofa cushions. ‘This is all very distressing. You will not say anything, William dear, will you?’
‘Of course not.’ Her son looked indignant. ‘Don’t know what happened anyway, so I can’t say anything. I just want to put a bullet in the man. Damn it, when I think I believed him my friend.’
‘Language, dearest. You are not going to call him out are you, Nicholas?’
‘No. There is too much risk it would draw attention to Tallie.’ Nick pulled over a chair and sat down. ‘Am I right in thinking it is Lady Agatha Mornington’s dress ball tonight?’
‘Oh my goodness, yes it is. I had quite forgotten, what with all the excitement of having to go to Essex and then poor Tallie’s adventures. Were you thinking that Mr Lynley would be sure to be there in attendance on his aunt and it would therefore be embarrassing for Tallie to see him?’
‘Not at all. I was wondering if you felt rather too tired after your journey to go, that was all.’ Nick sat twisting his signet ring round his finger with a vaguely abstracted air. Tallie eyed him cautiously. He was plotting, she was sure of it.
His aunt was even more certain. ‘Out with it, Nicholas. What do you have in mind?’
‘A punishment for Jack Lynley which will ensure he is hurt where it will do him most damage – in his pocket and in his reputation. And it will ensure he will not dare to return to Town for a good long while. If he can afford to, that is. But I am goingto need all three of you to pull it off.’
Aunt Kate sat up sharply, eyes sparkling. ‘Wonderful. I have been wanting to box that young man’s ears ever since I heard of his ungentlemanly behaviour.’
Nick turned to look at Tallie.‘ Do you feel you can cope?’
‘With anything,’ she affirmed with emphasis. She found that her hands were clenched into fists in her lap. The thought of turning the tables on Jack Lynley was powerfully attractive. ‘What do you want us to do?’
At ten that evening Nick smiled at his troops as their carriage drew up at the steps of the Mornington’s Town house. ‘All ready? Are you sure you know what to do? We cannot know the layout of the ballroom in advance so we will have to improvise if necessary.’
‘We will cope,’ his aunt declared. ‘After all, there are only so many ways one can arrange the room and Lady Mornington is not one to be endlessly seeking for variety and novelty. But poor Agatha. I do dislike being the one who reveals the depths of infamy her wretched nephew has sunk to.’
‘Think how she is being deceived now, though,’ Tallie comforted. ‘And you did say she had some very pleasant nephews and nieces on the other side of the family from whom she has been estranged because she so favours Jack. How much better it will be if she has their loyal support and not that of a money-seeking rake.’
‘I would not put anything past him,’ William added grimly. ‘If the moneylenders get impatient at having to wait too long for that post-obit to be repaid, goodness knows what he might do to get his hands on her fortune.’
His mother gasped but Nick said repressively, ‘Your Gothick imaginings are frightening the ladies, William. Now, if we are all ready, let us draw the first covert.’
With butterflies in her stomach Tallie followed her patroness up the double staircase to the wide landing outside the ballroom. They had deliberately timed their arrival for when the receiving line would have ended and their hostess would be found inside with her guests. Aunt Kate stepped into the hot, noisy throng, nodding and bowing to friends. With her hand under Tallie’s elbow she steered her firmly past the young gentlemen who stopped to request a dance.
‘A little later, Lord Dimsdale, we are on an errand at present. Good evening, Mr Hubbert, I am sure Miss Grey will give you a dance later, but just now we really must find our hostess for a few words.’
Tallie craned to see the other side of the room. Nick’s dark head could be glimpsed in the gaps between sets of the country dance which was boisterously under way. He was making steady progress up the room and suddenly Tallie saw his objective at the same time as Jack Lynley saw Nick.
He turned abruptly on his heel and headed deeper into the onlookers towards the head of the room. ‘Gone away,’ she whispered to Aunt Kate. ‘Nick has successfully flushed him out of cover.’
‘Good. Ah, there is poor Agatha Mornington.’
‘And there is William, dodging into the retiring room and out of the other door to get ahead of Mr Lynley.’
‘This is very exciting, Good evening, General. Yes indeed,whata crush.’ Aunt Kate bowed graciously to the military man and bore down on their hostess, a formidable matron whom Tallie recognised from her half-completed portrait at Mr Harland’s studio. ‘Agatha!Whata delightful dance. Have you met my young friend Miss Grey? Talitha, make your curtsey to Lady Mornington.’
