Regency Pleasures and Sins Part 1

‘I could never …’ Tallie saw her ladyship’s expressive face fall and smiled helplessly. ‘If you really wish me to, ma’ am … Aunt Kate. I will do my very best not to disappoint you and to be useful.’

‘Then you may start by pulling the bell rope for Rainbird. Will you be ready to move here in a week, do you think? Ah, Rainbird, has my nephew left yet?’

‘He is on the point of doing so, my lady. Shall I request him to step in here?’

Nick Stangate put his head around the door, sending a sharp glance from his aunt’s animated expression to Tallie’s stunned face. ‘I see my aunt has outlined her scheme, Miss Grey.’

‘And dear Tallie has accepted my suggestion,’ Lady Parry responded gleefully. ‘Will you drive Miss Grey home, Nicholas? You may tell her your thoughts on a suitable bank and man of business while you are about it.’ Taking his assent as read, she got to her feet and enveloped Tallie in a warm embrace. ‘Off you go with Lord Arndale and I will speak to the housekeeper about your room. I did not dare tempt fate by making anything ready before I had spoken to you.’

Dazedly murmuring her thanks, Tallie allowed herself to be swept into the hallway and out to where a groom was standing patiently at the head of a pair of match bays harnessed to a rakish high-perch phaeton.

Nick Stangate helped her up into a seat, which seemed dangerously far above the roadway, and swung himself up beside her. ‘Let them go, Chivers.’

They wove through the traffic in silence for a few minutes, then Nick remarked, ‘Stunned into silence by your good fortune, Miss Grey?’

‘Yes,’ she admitted baldly. ‘It all seems like a dream—the money, Lady Kate’s wonderful offer, a Season … And last week I was worrying about whether I could afford a new gown and—’ She broke off, biting her lip.

‘And?’

‘And Miss Gower and thinking about how shallow it was to worry about such a little thing as old gowns or muddy hatboxes when someone for whom you have affection and respect is reaching the end of their life.’

‘And you had no idea of her intentions towards you?’ He reined in to allow an old-fashioned closed carriage to draw away from the kerbside, then let the bays ease back into a trot, watchfully negotiating the Bond Street traffic.

‘Why, no, not the slightest hint. It is so improbable, so like a fairy story I still cannot believe it.’

There was a hint of laughter in his voice as he said, ‘Miss Gower as the fairy godmother—yes, I can imagine her in that role, wearing one of those outrageous hats you used to make for her.’

‘She liked them as pretty as they could be,’ Tallie said defensively. ‘I am glad she saw the last one I made for her; it was quite impossibly pink with as much ruched silk ribbon as I could fit under the brim and a big rose.’

‘I saw it,’ Nick assured her. ‘She had it on the stand by her bed and showed it off to all her visitors—’ He broke off, then added, ‘Do you have a handkerchief?’

‘I am so sorry.’ Tallie scrabbled in her reticule and blew her nose. ‘You must think me a positive watering pot, I seem to be weeping on virtually every occasion we meet.’

‘Not at all. No one can help their eyes watering after a blow to the … er, middle, and to shed a tear at the reading of a will is a most natural reaction, I am sure.’

He sounded indifferent rather than sympathetic and Tallie, who had began to warm to him for telling her about Miss Gower’s hat, frowned.

‘So my aunt persuaded you to come and stay in Bruton Street?’ he observed as they crossed Oxford Street.

‘Yes,’ Tallie agreed, flushing at the coolness in his tone. ‘Do you not feel that is a good idea?’

‘I am sure it will be very much to your benefit.’

Was she imagining the slight emphasis on your? ‘You feel I am not a suitable person for Lady Kate to sponsor?’ she asked, keeping the anger out of her voice with an effort. ‘You think perhaps I am not who I purport to be? Or perhaps you object to my employment at Madame d’Aunay’s?’

Nick shot her a hard glance. ‘I know that you are precisely who you say you are,’ he replied. ‘I made it my business to find out. And I am sure that your employment as a milliner has been entirely respectable.’

The furious retort that rose to Tallie’s lips went unspoken. Of course he had to check on her, he was his aunt’s trustee. It was his duty to protect his widowed relative. How was Lord Arndale to know that she was not an adventuress, ready to prey upon Lady Kate’s kind heart, or someone who would bring scandal to the household?

Then as they crossed Weymouth Street into Upper Wimpole Street her heart seemed to stop with a sickening jolt. But she was just such a person! She had kept her shocking secret about Mr Harland’s studio because she had feared disgrace and being branded immoral. But what would be simply a personal shame to a young milliner would be an utter scandal if it was exposed in the household of a Society lady.

Tallie realised that Nick had asked her a question. ‘I am sorry, you said something?’ Was her voice shaking?

‘I asked if I am correct in saying it is the house just here on the left with the green front door?’

‘Yes.’ Of course he knew the address, he must have been checking on all of her circumstances and connections. He would know all about the humble lodging-house and its inhabitants and the fact that they were women earning their own way in the world. Did he know about Mr Harland? Surely not, he would have mentioned something as scandalous as that.

Nick reined in the horses and half-turned on the seat to look at her. ‘Are you quite well, Miss Grey?’

‘Yes. Yes, of course, my lord.’ He looked at her for a long minute; Tallie stared back defiantly, expecting to see that cold grey, inquisitorial look in his eyes, but all they revealed was a concern and a warmth that completely unsettled her. The events of the day had overwhelmed her other senses and perceptions; now she was aware of him again as a man, a disturbing physical presence and an unreadable intelligence.

Behind her she was vaguely aware of the front door opening, but her eyes seemed locked with Nick’s.

‘Tallie! Thank good … I mean, Miss Grey, you are home.’ It was Zenna, sounding uncharacteristically flurried. Tallie turned in her seat, conscious of a strange feeling; part relief, part resentment.

‘Zenna! Please will you give me a hand down? I am sure his lordship will not want to let go his reins.’ Zenna hurried down the steps and stretched up a hand while Tallie jumped down. ‘My lord, may I introduce my friend? Zenobia, this is Lord Arndale, who has kindly driven me back from Lady Parry’s. My lord, Miss Scott.’

Lord Arndale raised his hat. ‘Miss Scott, good afternoon. Miss Grey, I will send details of a bank that I can recommend; should you wish me to accompany you to their offices, I am entirely at your disposal.’

Tallie tried to order her thoughts and behave like a young lady for whom a banker was a necessary adjunct to everyday life. Beside her Zenna was waiting silently; Tallie could feel the waves of antipathy coming from her like the heat from a fire.

Startled, she glanced from Nick Stangate to her friend. He was sitting patiently awaiting her reply, his gaze resting on the two plainly clad young women. Tallie was beginning to be able to interpret his apparently indifferent regard; it appeared Zenna was able to do instinctively. There was assessment in those grey eyes regarding them—assessment and disapproval.

She collected her straying thoughts and said politely, ‘Thank you, my lord, that would be most kind. Good day.’ She dropped the slightest of curtsies and turned to mount the steps. ‘Are you returning inside, Miss Scott?’

As the door closed behind them, cutting off the sound of Lord Arndale’s carriage wheels on the cobbles, Zenna said furiously, ‘Insufferable man! Is he the one who …?’

‘Yes, Lady Parry’s nephew, as I told you the other day. But why do you say he is insufferable?’

Tallie took off her bonnet and gloves and followed the still fuming Zenna into the parlour. His regard had certainly been cool, but Zenna’s life as a governess had inured her to snubs and she had always seemed to shrug them off.

Zenna appeared flustered, then she said slowly, ‘I really do not know, but something in his regard infuriated me. I could feel my hair rising like a cat seeing a dog!’ She brooded for a moment. ‘I have it: he disapproves of me as your friend, not in principle. He does not like seeing you on good terms with a humble governess.’

‘Nonsense,’ Tallie retorted. ‘I am a humble milliner, if it comes to that.’ Not for much longer, an inner voice reminded her. ‘And in any case, what is it to Lord Arndale what company I keep?’ Even as she said it, the thought intruded that as his aunt’s trustee Nick Stangate had every legitimate interest in the company she kept—and that included Miss Grey’s friends.

‘Do have a care, Tallie, I am so worried about Millie; the thought that both of you might be the prey of rakes is too worrying to contemplate!’

‘Lord Arndale’s interest in me and my connections has nothing to do with any amorous intentions, I can assure you.’ Tallie allowed herself one flickering moment’s contemplation of being the object of such desires and hastily suppressed the thought. ‘I will explain it all in a minute—but do tell me what is so concerning you about Millie.’

Zenna paced around the room, too agitated to join her friend on the sofa. ‘I walked back from the Lang-ton house across the Park and there was Millie, with no female companion at all, arm in arm with this man.’

‘He may have been a perfectly respectable admirer.’

‘You know as well as I that, given her profession, Millie cannot hope to make a respectable connection with anyone of the ton! And this man is nothing if not a member of the most fashionable set—his clothes, his air, everything about him. If his intentions were respectable, why did he not welcome an introduction to one of Millie’s friends?’

‘He did not, then?’

Zenna flushed angrily. ‘I was comprehensively snubbed; not that Millie noticed, it was very smoothly done and she is obviously too entranced by him to see what is under her nose.’

No wonder Zenna had reacted so strongly to Nick Stangate’s cold and judgemental regard. ‘Do you know his name?’

‘A Mr Hemsley. Millie calls him Jack.’ Zenna, who was finally sitting down on the sofa, caught her friend’s look of alarmed recognition. ‘You know him?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Tallie said grimly. ‘He is an acquaintance of Lord Arndale and the Parrys, and he was the man who led the pack of them hunting for me in the studio. I saw him again when I last delivered hats to Lady Parry. You are quite correct to be worried, Zenna, he is a complete rake and I am certain can have no respectable reason for paying attention to Millie.’

‘What can we do? Should we speak to Mrs Blackstock?’

They regarded each other dubiously. ‘It might have been a chance meeting,’ Zenobia said. ‘I would not wish to upset Millie by questioning her judgement.’

‘And we would be suggesting that she might behave imprudently if we were to mention it to Mrs Blackstock …’ Tallie’s voice trailed away. ‘We must keep a quiet eye on Millie. It is possible that, if his intentions are dishonourable, the realisation that she has attentive friends will deter him.’

Zenna nodded decisively. ‘Yes, I agree, that is the best plan.’

An awkward silence followed their decision on what action to take over Millie’s unsuitable admirer. Tallie knew Zenna would be expecting her to tell all about the mysterious request to call upon Lady Parry and she must be equally curious as to why Tallie was being driven home by the very man she was so wary of. But Zenna would not pry and Tallie found her own tongue stumbling over what should be a perfectly simple piece of news.

But it was not so simple, she realised. As the fog of shock and confused delight at the news cleared, things became more and more complicated and delicate.

All her friends were in very straitened circumstances. They would greet the news of her good fortune with unenvious delight, she was sure, but her immediate, unthinking instinct to give money away and make life easier for them was fraught with difficulties.

How could she do it without appearing to patronise and putting them in a position where what had been a friendship of equals would be shadowed by inequality? An outright offer of money would wound the pride of any of them, but she did so much want to help lift the anxiety of making ends meet day after day from all three, just as it had been miraculously lifted from her.

‘Zenna,’ she began tentatively.

‘Yes? Do you want to tell me about this morning? Has something unpleasant happened?’

‘No, nothing unpleasant—far from it. But I have had such a shock my head is spinning and I hardly know what to think or do.’

‘Lord Arndale has proposed?’ Zenna enquired.

‘Proposed? No! Certainly not! Why should he do such a thing?’ Tallie felt so hot and bothered at the very idea that she completely lost her train of thought and simply stared at her friend.

Zenna shrugged. ‘Just a fancy that crossed my mind.’ Tallie regarded her, astonished, until she retorted, ‘Well, he is quite extraordinarily good-looking.’

‘Zenna!’

‘I might be a spinster governess, but there is nothing wrong with my eyesight and I can recognise an attractive man when I see one, even if I do not care for him,’ her friend replied somewhat snappishly.

‘Yes, of course you can,’ Tallie apologised hastily. ‘Do you really think him so handsome?’

It was Zenna’s turn to stare. ‘There appears to be something amiss with your eyesight, Talitha. But never mind Lord Arndale—what happened if it is nothing to do with him?’

‘Dear Miss Gower who died the other week has left me a legacy in her will,’ Tallie said cautiously.

‘Oh, how thoughtful of her. What is it? A piece of jewellery or a small sum of money?’

‘That is what I expected when they told me, but, Zenna—it is fifty thousand pounds.’

‘Fifty thou … are you sure? Not fifty or five hundred?’

‘That is what I thought at first, but there is no mistake. She has left me her entire fortune, beyond legacies to friends and servants.’

‘How wonderful!’ Zenna hugged Tallie hard, then sat back with a face radiant with pleasure at her friend’s good fortune. ‘What are you going to do now?’

‘I hardly know, it is such a surprise.’ An idea suddenly struck her and, without giving herself time to worry about details, Tallie said, ‘I must make some sensible investments, of course. Zenna, you know you have always said your dream is to have your own school? Why do we not go into partnership and do just that?’

‘I do not have any money,’ Zenna protested. But Tallie saw the sudden flare of excitement in her eyes.

‘Yes, but you have all the skills and know how a school should be run. I will provide the money for the house and so forth, you manage the school. And,’ she added as Zenna opened her mouth to argue, ‘I would hope to find somewhere large enough for me to make it my home as well, if you should not object.’

‘Object? Object! Tallie, do you really mean it? How wonderful, there are so many things I want to try, so many new ideas about the education of girls—’ She broke off. ‘But you have not given this any thought yet, have you? You must do so, and take advice. And, in any case, why on earth would you want to live in a girls’ school? With this fortune you can be a Society lady.’

‘I am too old, Zenna, and I know no one.’

‘Nonsense.’ Zenna leapt to her feet and began to pace the room. ‘Lady Parry would advise you.’

‘She already has,’ Tallie admitted. ‘She has invited me to stay with her and make my come-out under her aegis.’

‘Did you not agree? That is a marvellous opportunity, you could not hope for anything more fortunate.’

‘Yes, I did agree, but now I think I must tell her I have changed my mind,’ Tallie said slowly. Her conscience was pricking her very badly and she knew that, whatever her views might be about Lord Arndale’s opinions, she owed it to her kind patroness to ensure that she brought not a whiff of scandal to her household.

She met Zenna’s bemused gaze and blurted out, ‘I must tell her about my work for Mr Harland. I cannot risk the scandal if anything came out, it would be a dreadful way to repay her kindness.’ She did not add the other consideration, which had been looming large ever since she saw Lord Arndale’s inimical stare fixed upon her friend.

If a respectable governess was not considered a suitable acquaintance for the newly wealthy Miss Grey, what would Lady Parry make of a lodging-house keeper and an opera dancer?

‘I must speak to her this afternoon,’ she said resolutely. ‘I will thank her for her kindness, but she will see that I am an unsuitable recipient of it. Better to do it at once, before she has the chance to make any further plans on my behalf.’

Zenna shook her head sadly. ‘You must do as you think fit, of course, but it is such a shame that you will not make a come-out.’

‘Never mind. Tomorrow we can start to make plans for the school—if that idea is still agreeable to you.’

‘How can it be anything else? I cannot believe my good fortune—I declare I feel as dazed as you look, Tallie dearest.’ She broke off at the sound of the front door opening. ‘That must be Mrs Blackstock. What will you tell her?’

‘Nothing yet, I think. I have no wish to embarrass our friends with the size of my inheritance, although I would value your advice about how I might help them at some point. I think perhaps tomorrow we can tell her of our plans and give notice. If she finds other tenants before the school is ready, we can always find lodgings together, or go to an hotel.’

‘An hotel?’ Zenna echoed, wide-eyed.

‘Why, yes,’ Tallie said recklessly. ‘I can afford it, after all!’

This frivolity did not last much beyond luncheon. Zenna was distractedly making lists, breaking off to suck her pen, gaze into space and then resume her scribbling.

But Tallie was imagining how disappointed in her Lady Parry was going to be when she discovered that her protégée was so abandoned as to supplement her living by posing naked.

Chapter Six

Rainbird hid any reaction he felt at Tallie’s second, unexpected, call of the day. ‘Her ladyship is At Home, Miss Grey, and has no one with her at present.’

‘Talitha! What a nice surprise.’ Lady Parry put down the book she was reading and looked up with a pleased smile as Tallie was announced. ‘Come and sit down by me.’

‘I …? think I would rather stand, ma’am.’ Tallie took a deep breath and said, ‘I am very sorry to appear ungracious, Lady Parry, but I feel I should not have accepted your kind offer this morning and I thought I should come and say so immediately.’

‘Why ever not? My poor child, stop standing there looking like a parlour maid who has broken the best Minton and sit down. There, that is better. Now, I know you must have had a shock this morning, but—’

‘It is not that, ma’am. I had not considered what a difficult position I would be putting you in.’

‘Because you have had to work for your living? If I do not regard it, be certain that Society will not— not when they learn of your family and fortune, and observe your ladylike deportment.’

‘My friends, ma’am—’

‘Your friends are more than welcome in my house, Talitha.’

‘Lady Parry,’ Tallie said with some emphasis, feeling she was being swept along faster than she wanted, ‘my only friends are a governess, a lodging-house keeper and an opera dancer. I do not believe you could have been aware of that fact when you made your kind offer just now.’

‘I have never met a governess who was not respectable and I am sure if the lodging-house in question is where you make your home, its proprietress is bound to be most acceptable.’

‘The opera dancer is her niece and lives with us,’ Tallie persisted.

‘And is she a nice girl?’

‘Very. And despite what the world thinks of actresses and performers, she is a modest, virtuous and respectable young woman into the bargain.’

‘There now, so where is the problem?’

‘You would not object if I were to continue my friendships?’

‘Certainly not. Your friends are most welcome in my home whenever they wish to call upon you.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. But not everyone will be of your opinion.’

‘By everyone, I assume you mean my nephew?’

‘Er … I …’ Tallie had no wish to tell tales or to sound in any way critical of Lady Parry’s family.

‘And which of your friends has Nicholas been viewing with that chilly eye of his?’

‘Miss Scott, the governess.’

‘Foolish boy—he has always been overprotective. And has he set eyes upon the young lady from the opera yet?’

‘I believe not.’

‘He will,’ his fond aunt prophesised cheerfully. ‘At least, he probably already has met her if she is pretty. Never mind, Talitha. Whom I allow under my roof is my decision. Once Nicholas gets to know you better he will soon cease to worry.’

‘That is not all, Lady Parry.’

‘I thought we had agreed that you would call me Aunt Kate?’

‘You will not wish me to when I tell you about the other matter, ma’am,’ Tallie said, feeling ready to sink now that the moment for confession was upon her. ‘I am not just a milliner, I have been earning my living in another way as well.’

‘I know,’ Lady Parry said calmly.

‘You know? But, ma’am, you cannot … I have been sitting for an artist!’

‘Indeed. Mr Harland, a most talented gentleman, I believe.’

‘But, Lady Parry, how could you have discovered what I have been doing?’

Her ladyship held up a hand to silence Tallie as Rainbird appeared with a tea tray.

‘Will you pour, my dear?’ She waited while Tallie handed her her cup with a hand that trembled. ‘A macaroon? No? You must not become so agitated, Talitha. I called upon Mr Harland a while ago as I am considering having my portrait painted. I observed a canvas and asked who the model was, for I thought I recognised her.’

‘He told you?’ Tallie was aghast, both at the thought that the compromising classical paintings had been displayed in the studio and that Mr Harland had been so indiscreet as to reveal her name.

‘He was immediately very embarrassed at his slip. I am sure it was only because I said I thought I knew the model.’

‘And you are not shocked, ma’am? The fact that I was sitting for an artist at all, let alone the way I was … dressed.’

‘Admittedly it was not the way in which one would normally wish an unmarried lady to be depicted, but under the circumstances I feel we should disregard it.’

‘Circumstances?’ Tallie said weakly.

‘I can tell Mr Harland is a most respectable person and I am sure that his slip in revealing your name would not be repeated.’

Tallie was so taken aback that for a moment she could not find the words to continue.

Finally she ventured, ‘But, ma’am, if it should be found out once I am launched in Society, it would reflect upon you. After all, I am of no account, but you are a leading member of the ton.’

‘And have more than enough credit to carry off any little indiscretions of my protégée,’ Lady Parry said with a chuckle. ‘And it will not be long before you too are a figure in Society, mark my words. A fortune the size of yours is more than enough to cover up any number of indiscretions. Now then, you are still going to be able to move here in a week?’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Tallie stammered.

‘Aunt Kate, please, my dear Tallie. Goodness, is that the time? I am due at Lady Fraser’s in an hour, and be seen in this gown I cannot and will not! No, there is no need for you to rush off, this is your home now. Just ring if you need anything.’ Lady Parry sprang from the sofa on which she had been decoratively draped, fluttered across to drop a kiss on Tallie’s cheek and was out of the room before the younger woman could do more than gasp, ‘Goodbye.’