Page 7 of The Model Debutante
‘Yes, although he stopped me rescuing the box from the road until it was too late and a carriage struck it.’
‘Yet this gallant gentleman displeased you, and for more than his tardiness with the hat box I imagine?’ Now Tallie was blushing in earnest. ‘My goodness, Miss Grey, whatever did he do? Did he take some liberty with you?’
‘No. Not if you mean did he try and kiss me or make an improper remark, ma’am. But when I was cross because of your hat, he looked in the box and guessed how much it cost and hepaidme for it, in guineas, right there on the street.’ She swallowed. ‘And people saw him.’
‘Dear me, thatwasa thoughtless thing for him to have done,’ Lady Parry exclaimed. ‘No wonder you are so angry with him.’
‘Yes, but I should notbeangry with him, it is very ungrateful of me and I am sure it was just thoughtlessness.’ Tallie was finding herself more confused by the minute about how she regarded Nick. Gallant and quick-witted rescuer or heartless rake not above trifling with a respectable working girl?
‘I do not think that having the courtesy to pick up your boxes entitles him to sufficient gratitude for you not to be angry at such an imprudent act on his part as to make you the cynosure of all eyes on a public street.’ Rather out of breath with the effort of such a convoluted declaration Lady Parry sat back.
Tallie rummaged hastily in her reticule for her handkerchief. There really was nothing more she felt she could safely say and she felt more flustered the more she thought about the encounter.
To have met the man who only yesterday saw her naked body, then to feel such anger when she knew she owed him a considerable debt for his tact and quick thinking and that in anycase the reaction was out of all proportion to his offence just now… And she was making a positive exhibition of herself in front of her kindest and most influential patroness.
‘I beg your pardon,’ she started to say when there was the sound of the front door opening and footsteps in the hall accompanied by male voices.
‘Oh good,’ Lady Parry said, ‘William is home. I have absolutely no hope that I will succeed, but I intend asking him to escort me to Lady Cressett’s soirée tonight. I declare the wretch knew I was going to ask him and he made himself scarce just before I came down for breakfast. Would you be so good as to pull the bell for Rainbird, Miss Grey?’
Tallie did so, remaining in the shadowy corner by the bell-pull. She had glimpsed young Lord Parry on occasions, but only fleetingly as they passed in the hallway. She had no real fear that he would recognise her from the picture yesterday but she had no desire to come to the notice ofanyof the men who had seen it. In any case, it would be most unbecoming of her to put herself forward.
Rainbird entered and informed Lady Parry that their lordships had gone into the study. ‘Would your ladyship wish a message conveyed?’
‘Yes, please ask them both to come in, Rainbird. My nephew must be here as well,’ she added for Tallie’s benefit.
‘I will wait in the hall, ma’am; you will wish to be private.’
‘Not at all, Miss Grey, please stay. William, my dear. And my favourite nephew as well. Now that is fortuitous, you may both escort me this evening.’
William, Lord Parry, was twenty years old. Born to a large fortune and rather girlish good looks he had grown up to be a thoroughly nice, unspoilt young man, if a touch young for his age. A suitable wife would mature him she had confided once to Tallie, and in the meantime she was happy for him to sowhis harmless wild oats under the apparently careless eye of his guardian and her trustee, her nephew Lord Arndale.
William grinned disarmingly at the rallying note in his mother’s voice. ‘Escort you, Mama? Er..I think I am engaged, in fact I feel sure I am.’
His companion followed him into the room and came across to take Lady Parry’s hand in his. ‘Aunt Kate.’ He bent to kiss her cheek, a tall dark man in immaculate riding wear. ‘I hope I find you well this morning? I am happy to inform you that William has absolutely no engagements of note this evening and will be delighted to escort you to whichever concert of ancient music you have in mind.’
Lady Parry laughed, ignoring her son’s outraged protestations. ‘No such thing, you wicked man. I would like you both to come with me to Lady Cresset’s soirée. I can promise absolutely no ancient music and several tables set out for cards.’
Tallie stood stock still in her corner. Lady Parry’s nephew was the man she had just collided with in the street, the man who had protected her yesterday in the studio. To her horror she realised that Lady Parry had remembered her and had turned on the sofa to look for her.
‘Miss Grey, do please come and sit down again.’ Tallie hung back in the shadows. ‘Miss Grey was kindly engaged on an errand for me and has had a distressing accident in the street.’
Both men looked in her direction and Tallie realised there was nothing for it but to emerge. She stepped forward, keeping her eyes down and her hands clasped in front of her.
‘Nicholas, this is Miss Grey. Miss Grey, Lord Arndale, my nephew. I believe you have met my son on occasion before now.’
Tallie dropped a curtsey without looking up. Was she blushing again? Her heart was certainly pounding. ‘Lord Arndale, Lord Parry.’
William Parry stepped forward with the eagerness whichtypified him. ‘I say, Miss Grey, are you hurt?’
‘No, no, not at all, my lord.’
‘Perhaps if you were to move, William, Miss Grey could resume her seat,’ Nick Stangate observed drily, watching his cousin with suppressed amusement. ‘I believe this was your chair, Miss Grey?’ He indicated a bergère armchair on which a reticule lay, its drab plainness in startling contrast to the charming toile upholstery fabric.
‘Thank you, it is, my lord.’
So, this unusual young woman must be the lady-milliner who had been concerning his Aunt Kate to the point where he had felt it necessary as Lady Parry’s trustee to take a hand and make some enquiries himself. He should have realised when he ran into her in the street just now and scattered her hat boxes. Doubtless he would have done if his mind had not been preoccupied with another young woman altogether.
Nick took a seat beside his aunt which had the effect of bringing him opposite Miss Grey. She was certainly well-spoken, and elegant in her deportment and appearance, despite the dreadful gown, unflattering coiffure and downcast eyes. Her present demeanour was in startling contrast to that of the angry girl who had scolded him in the street. She was sitting quite still now, seemingly composed, yet he sensed a desire to burrow backwards into the chair cushions out of sight.
