LORD OF MANY SECRETS

THIRTY FOUR

"In a word, cousin, he is a dandy", Elizabeth said.

"More than that. He is of the Bow window set, I grant, but not of the Unique Four. That is composed, as you know, of only your complete Dandies - Alexandra, Alvana, Michale, and Pietropot. Clements has other interests, even more expensive".

"So has Lord Alvana", she interposed.

"Very true. Lord Alvana hunts, for instance, but he does not, I believe, aspire to be first in so many fields as Clements. You may hardly go to a race meeting but you are sure to find Clements has a horse running, while his curricle races, the teams he drives, are notorious".

"It is the only thing I know of that is to his advantage", Elizabeth said. "I will admit him to be an excellent whip. But for the rest I find him a mere fop, a creature of affections, tricked out in modish clothes, thinking snuff to be of more moment than events of real importance. He is proud, he can be insolent. There is a reserve, a lack of openness - I must not say any more, I shall put myself in a rage, and that will not do".

He smiled. "You have no love for the dandies, Elizabeth?"

"Oh, as to that - Mr Alexandra is of all people the most charming companion. Lord Alvana too must always please. But in general, no, I do not like them. I like a man to be a man, and not a mask of fashion".

He agreed to it, but said seriously, "I gather there is more than you have said. These faults, though you may despise them, are not enough to anger you as I think you were angered this evening, cousin".

She was silent for a moment, her eyes smoldering again as the recollection of her interview with the Earl. Mr Tellaro laid his hand over hers, and clasped it. "Do not tell me unless you choose", he said gently, "but believe that I only wish to serve you, to be, if I may be no more, merely your friend".

"You are all consideration", she said. "All kindness". She smiled, but with a quivering lip. "Indeed, I count you very much my friend. There is no one I can open my mind to, saving Parte, and he is young, taken up with his new acquaintances, and amusements. Mrs Andromeda is very amiable, but she is related to Clements - a circumstance I cannot bring myself to forget. I have been thinking how very much alone I am. There is only Parte - but I am falling into a mood of pitying myself, which is nonsensical. While I have Parte I cannot want for protection". She gave her head a little shake. "You see how stupid Lord Clements makes me? We cannot meet but I find myself picking a quarrel with him, and then I become as odious as he is himself. Tonight in particular, he informed me, if you please, that he shall not consent to my marriage with anyone but himself while he is my guardian! It has put me in such a rage that I declare I could almost elope to Venice just to spite him".

He started. "My dear cousin!"

"Oh, I shall not, of course! Do not look so shocked!"

"Not that, certainly not that, but, I have no right to ask you - have you met someone? Is there some man with whom you could contemplate...?"

"No one, upon my honor!" she said, laughing. Her eyes met his for an instant, and then fell. She colored, became aware of her hand under his and gently drew it away. "Where can Mrs Andromeda be gone to, I wonder?"

He rose. "I must go. It is growing late". He paused, looking earnestly down at her. "You have Parte to turn to, I know. Let me say just this, that you have also a cousin who would do all in his power to serve you".

"Thank you", she said, almost inaudibly. She got up. "It - it is late. It was good of you to call, too being me the book".

He took her hand, held out to him in farewell, and kissed it. "Dear Elizabeth!" he said.

Mrs Andromeda, coming back into the room at that moment, looked very sharply at him, and made not the smallest attempt to persuade him into staying any longer. He took his leave of both ladies, and bowed himself out.

"You are getting to excessively intimate with that young gentleman, my love", observed Mrs Andromeda.

"He is my cousin, ma'am", replied Elizabeth tranquilly.

"Hmm, yes! I daresay he might be. I have very little notion of cousins, I can tell you. Not that I have anything against Mr Tellaro, my dear. He seems an agreeable creature. But that is how it is always! The less eligible a man is, the more delightful he is bound to be! You may depend upon it".

Elizabeth began to put away her embroidery. "My dear ma'am, what can that signify? There is no thought of marriage between us".

"No Bath-miss airs with me, child, I implore you!" said Mrs Andromeda, throwing up her hands. "That is very pretty talking, to be sure, but you have something more of quickness than most girls, and you know very well, my love, that there is always a thought of marriage between a single female and a personable gentleman, if not in his mind, quite certainly in hers. Now this cousin may do very well for a young lady of no particular consequence, but you are an heiress and should be looking a great deal higher for a husband. I don't say you must not show him the observance that is due to a relative, but you know, my dear, you do not owe him any extraordinary civility, and to let him kiss your hand and be calling 'dear Elizabeth', is the outside of enough".

Elizabeth turned. "Let me understand you, ma'am. How much higher must I look for a husband?"