Tallie's Knight Part 32

"But in the holidays--' Mrs. Cobb shook her head sorrowfully.

"He weren't often asked home in the holidays."

Asked home? As if he were a guesfl "Not asked home in the holidays?"

repeated Tallie, appalled.

"But why not?"

Mrs. Cobb pursed her lips, shook her head, opened her mouth then closed it. After a moment she said, "You never heard this from me, mind, but word was in servants' hall his ma couldn't abide him. And his ma's word was law to his old lords.h.i.+p. Despite her immoral ways."

Tallie could hardly believe her ears. His mother hadn't been able to abide him? And so Magnus hadn't often been asked home in the holidays?

She had never heard of anything so shockingly selfish and callous in her life. Oh, to be sure Tallie had spent her own childhood in a school, but that had been because her parents had been forever travelling, not because they hadn't been able to abide her. She had a packet of letters from her mother, tied with a ribbon, to prove it.

But poor Magnus. Poor little boy. What sort of a woman would do that to her own child?

A horrid, cruel woman, and Tallie knew she would sleep not a wink under her vile gold silk canopies.

"I won't sleep here," she said decisively.

"Please find me another bedchamber."

"But his lords.h.i.+p said--' " You may inform his lords.h.i.+p that I did not wish to sleep in his mother's old room and that I chose another. "

"But--' " That will be all, Mrs. Cobb," said Tallie firmly, feeling bold and autocratic. She had learned a thing or two since she was insignificant Tallie Robinson, and one was how to avoid an argument--with servants, at any rate. Her husband was a different matter.

Chapter Sixteen.

Q^rys^Q.

Tallie looked around the breakfast room in surprise. She turned to the butler.

"Has his lords.h.i.+p not yet come down?"

"Yes, m'lady, he broke his fast early." Harris pulled a chair back and waited.

Tallie sat, feeling quite despondent. It was her own fault-she had stayed awake late last night, hoping he would come to her, and then overslept this morning.

"I suppose I shall see him later, then."

Harris, in the process of serving her with scrambled eggs, hesitated.

"He had urgent business to attend to, m'lady."

Tallie ate her eggs slowly. She had no idea what to do with herself.

The previous day Magnus had made it plain that he wished her to take up the reins as mistress of this establishment. Thanks to Laet.i.tia's habit of delegation, Tallie was not without some experience in running a household. But this house was at once bigger and much grander than anything she had ever seen before. At Manningham she'd been her cousin's dogs body, an errand-runner rather than mistress. Here she'd be expected to know everything.

Tallie glanced around the breakfast room with a critical eye. The room had a pleasant prospect, facing east, receiving morning sunlight. And the windows would have let in plenty of sunlight, had not they, like every other window here, been shrouded in heavy drapery. It was all so gloomy.

She wondered how Magnus would respond if she asked his permission to make a few changes. In her admittedly limited experience, men didn't like changes to their homes. Her cousin's husband George had complained incessantly when Laet.i.tia redecorated their country home.

He hadn't minded her turning the London house upside down with 'fancified nonsense', but his boyhood home had been another matter. On the other hand, according to Mrs. Cobb, Magnus had not spent much of his boyhood here at all, so. No, Tallie decided, she'd speak to him about it at dinner. And in the meantime she'd ask Mrs. Cobb for a tour of the Hall.

By the end of the day Tallie was tired and dusty, but faintly satisfied. She'd been through the pantries, the linen presses and the storerooms, and examined the house from attic to bas.e.m.e.nt. Many of her tentatively offered suggestions had been roundly approved by Mrs. Cobb, and she now felt more confident about discussing changes to the house with Magnus. It was barely half an hour until dinner, so she hurried upstairs to bathe and to change her gown. Magnus had seen her rumpled and untidy enough times, and hadn't seemed to mind, but that had been when they were travelling. This was different. Tonight they dined at home together for the first time in their married life and she wanted to look her best. She had a quarrel to mend.

She hurried through her preparations and sat impatiently in front of the looking-gla.s.s while Monique did her hair, scanning her reflection intently, hoping her looks would please Magnus.

The gown she had finally chosen was one he'd bought her in Vienna. It had become a little limp during their travels, but now, in a big house with skilled laundrywomen, it looked almost as good as new. The fabric was fine and delicate. It clung to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and swirled around her hips. It looked a lot like her golden Paris tea gown that Magnus had ruined so dramatically.

Her eyes misted reminiscently as she recalled how he'd swept her into his arms and ascended the stairs two by two. Could this gown, too, cause a wondrous, utterly splendid night of pa.s.sion? And put an end to a distressing period of coldness.

Tallie gazed at the gown in the looking-gla.s.s. She was counting on that reaction tonight. It was the only way she could think of to break down the icy barrier that had arisen between them. Talking would do no good, for she was determined not to give in to him and she could not imagine him giving in to her. No, this was the only way. And maybe then he would be able to forgive her intransigence.

She fastened a string of pearls around her neck. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, slightly enlarged with pregnancy, swelled above the low-cut gown most satisfactorily. Her skin, with a light dusting of rice- powder to disguise the dozen or so freckles, looked pale and smooth. Tallie frowned critically at her image, then tugged the neckline a little lower. She had no intention of being sent to her room tonight, alone with a supper tray, like a naughty child to contemplate her sins. No, her husband might be displeased with her defiance on the matter of her brother, but she had every intention of seducing him back into her bed. Tonight.

His urgent business, whatever it was, had kept him away from the house all day. She had imagined her first day at d'Arenville Hall--Magnus would show her around, telling her tales of this and that as he introduced her to her new home, her arm on his, or, better still, his arm around her. Today Mrs. Cobb had shown her the house, not Magnus, but Tallie was determined Magnus would show her the rest. And then, perhaps, she would come to understand the man she loved--to discover the boy and learn what had made him the man he was.

Urgent business or not. She could wait for urgent business, but she would wait with him, not for him. And when it was finished, she had urgent business of her own. Tugging her gown a little lower, Tallie stood up, took a deep breath and left her chamber.

The pale young princess descended the curving marble stairway slowly.

Her enchanted silken gown clung to her figure whispering softly with every movement. Below her, a statue of a handsome, dark-haired prince awaited her, his marble features cold and unmoving, his eyes blind and unforgiving, trapped in a spell by an evil Ice-Witch. Candlelight gleamed on his frozen features.

The princess came closer. With each whisper of the magic gown, each flicker of golden candle-flame the statue seemed to warm. The eyes flickered and darkened from a pale ice- grey to a stormy sea-dark colour. The blindness lifted from him and marble melted into flesh.

Slowly he moved towards her, first one step then another, then he was leaping up the stairs towards her, two, three steps at a time. He swept the princess into his arms.

"Tallie, my dearest love, forgive me my coldness. I need your warmth, your love." And his mouth descended on hers and the evil spell was broken. But there was no Magnus waiting for her at the foot of the stairs.

There was only Harris, the butler. Magnus must already be in the dining room. She was a little late from fussing about her appearance.

He must have become impatient.

"Good evening, Harris." Tallie smiled.

"I am looking forward to dinner. The aromas coming from the kitchen earlier were delicious, and I must confess I am extremely hungry." She hurried towards the dining room.

But when she entered, she came to a sudden, shocked halt. The long, gleaming table was set for only one person. He could not, surely, still be attending to his business?

"M'lady," murmured Harris. Hiding her anxiety, Tallie allowed him to seat her.

"Is my husband not joining me?"

A footman entered with soup, and Harris waited until she had been served and the footman had gone before answering.

"I told you this morning, m'lady. He left on urgent business.""But his business surely cannot last all night," she said."Lord d'Arenville must eat, must he not?"Harris looked awkward."M'lord left d'Arenville this morning. He did not say when he would return."

Left d'Arenville? Tallie stared at the butler in confusion, a coldthread of dread winding around her heart."I a.s.sumed you meant he'd left the house.""No, m'lady. He left." The butler looked at her in concern.Left? Left for where? Tallie tried to keep her features even."Did you not know about it, m'lady?"Tallie attempted a smile."Yes... yes, of course I did, but I did not realise he meant to leave today. I thought he was going to... to..."

She felt her lips quivering and hastily touched a starched linen napkin to them to hide her distress.

"A foolish misunderstanding, that is all," she mumbled, and lowered her

head as if to say a silent grace.Where had he gone? And for how long? All day and night, obviously.But without a word to her? She spooned up some steaming substance and conveyed it to her mouth. Her hands were shaking. She laid the spoondown with a clatter, hoping the butler hadn't noticed.There was a short silence. She wondered whether Harris could hear her heart pounding. It sounded terribly loud to her.

After a time he cleared his throat and said, "Lord d'Arenville left a

letter for you, m'lady. Did you not receive it?"

Tallie stared.

"A letter?"

"Yes, m'lady. I shall fetch it immediately, " said Harris, sweeping from the room. He returned in a moment, bearing a sealed letter on a silver salver. He placed it beside her, hesitated, then bowed and left the room.

Heart pounding, Tallie watched him leave. Her first letter from Magnus. She broke open the wafer and began to read.

My dear Lady d'Arenville, Lady d'Arenville. Not Tallie. Her heart sank.

You were sound asleep when I came to your room and I did not wish to disturb your rest. I know how much you need it.

Not as much as she needed him. Why could he not have woken her?

I have important business to transact and must leave for London first thing this morning. I am unsure of when I shall return, but be a.s.sured I will do so as soon as my business allows it.

London? The letter dropped from Tallie's nerveless fingers and fluttered onto the table. Gone to London? He had just gone off to London? Without explaining or saying goodbye? With shaking fingers she picked up the letter and continued to read, her numb brain hardly able to take it in.

You will have plenty to occupy you in settling in to the Hall and making preparations for the nursery. I noticed you did not sleep in the chamber allotted you. You have my full permission to make any changes you wish and draw on any sums you think necessary. My man of business, Jefferies, has been informed thus.

Full permission to make any changes she wanted? Draw on any sums she thought necessary? How long was he expecting to be gone to make arrangements like that? Informing his man of business?

In addition, you will need to order a new wardrobe.

Tallie glanced down at her golden tea gown. It probably was a little shabby, she reflected sadly. Despite the miracle wrought by the maids.

And it was growing a trifle tight. Yes, she supposed she would need a new wardrobe. You will not lack for either advice or masculine support during my absence, for I offered my oldest friend, Freddie. Winstanley, the living at d'Arenville and he moved into the vicarage last month. You may repose complete confidence in both Freddie and his wife, Joan Janet Jenny. You will like them.

Was that an opinion of her taste in people or an order to like his friends? It was hard to know. But why was he not here to introduce her to them? How long did he plan to stay away? Tallie read the last lines with great trepidation.

/ will make every effort to return before you are brought to bed of a child, but if not my thoughts will be with you. Take care, my dear.

Yr affectionate husband, She could just make out the scrawl at the bottom--d'Arenville.

Tallie crushed the letter slowly to her breast and stared blankly out of the window. She had no idea how long she sat there staring, but she was vaguely aware of Harris coming in at some stage and silently removing the dish of cold soup.

He brought a plate of roast beef, fresh and hot, but she took one look at it and pushed it away. She felt sick.

/ will make every effort to return before you are brought to bed of a child, but if not my thoughts will be with you.

She could think of nothing, no business, however important that could keep him away for such a long time. Harris took away the second untouched plate and returned with Mrs. Cobb and Monique. Tallie was vaguely aware of some whispering behind her, but she could take in nothing. nothing but the fact that Magnus had brought her here to d'Arenville Hall and left her the very next morning. Leaving a coldly formal letter explaining he might possibly find the time to return after his heir had been born. , He had abandoned her. The truth pounded in her brain like a hammer against an anvil, but she could not take it in. ; It was as she had heard him say to Laet.i.tia all those months ago. He wanted a plain, convenient wife whom he would get with child and live in the country. But he couldn't have just left her. Not Magnus. Surely he wouldn't. not without even saying goodbye. Unless he really had abandoned her. He would have found it difficult to face her, knowing what he planned. maybe too difficult. A new thought occurred to her. Perhaps his coldness towards her after their difference of opinion about her little brother had been feigned. or at least exaggerated. Perhaps even then he had been preparing to leave her here. alone. She s.h.i.+vered, suddenly feeling very cold.

"Milady," said Monique at her elbow.

"Are you all right?"

Tallie did not answer.

"Feeling a bit poorly, the wee mite," said Mrs. Cobb gruffly. She picked up the linen napkin and gently blotted Tallie's face with it.

The napkin came away damp, and Tallie stared at it, dimly puzzled. She lifted a trembling hand to her cheeks and found tears. She'd been crying without knowing it.

Shakily she stood up.

"I want to go to bed, please. I don't feel very well."

On trembling legs Tallie approached the staircase she had floated down so hopefully only a short time before. It loomed before her now, an almost impossible climb. Doggedly she took one step, then another, then another.

"Tallie, my dear, forgive me for calling unannounced--' Hurriedly Tallie sat up, surrept.i.tiously wiping her eyes before turning to face the minister's wife, Janey Winstanley, who had become a good friend over the last few months.

Janey stopped in mid-sentence. Her face crumpled with concern as she took in Tallie's woebegone face and reddened eyelids.

"Oh, my dear--' she began.

Tallie interrupted.

"All these drat ted changes to the house have stirred up so much dust

and I am forever catching it in my eye." She rubbed her handkerchief