Tallie's Knight Read Free Page A

Miss
Tallie,” added Brooks.
    She smiled. She knew
he meant well, but it was not a comforting thought that even her cousin’s
servants regarded her as one of them, even if they did call her Miss Tallie.
She continued.
    “I am empowered to
hire as much extra help as we need, and no expense spared, though I am to keep
strict accounts of all expenditure.”
    “No expense spar—” In
a less dignified person, Brooks’s expression would have been likened to a
gaping fish.
    Tallie attempted to
keep a straight face. The prospect of Cousin Laetitia showing enough
consideration for her servants to hire extra help was surprising enough, but
for her not to consider expense would astound any who knew her.
    “No, for she says the
house party is for her cousin Lord d’Arenville’s benefit and he is to pay for
everything, which is why I am to keep accounts.”
    “Ahh.” Brooks shut
his mouth and looked wise.
    “Lord d’Arenville?
Lawks, what would he want with a house party full of young ladies —oh, I see.”
Mrs. Wilmot nodded in sudden comprehension. “Courting.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
said Tallie, puzzled.
    “He’s courting. Lord
d’Arenville. One of those young ladies must be his intended, and he wishes some
time with her before he pops the question. He’ll probably announce it at the
ball.”
    “Well, well, so that’s
it. A courting couple in the old house once again.” Brooks’s face creased in a
sentimental smile.
    “Lord, Mr. Brooks,
you’re a born romantic if ever I saw one,” said Mrs. Wilmot. “I can no more see
that Lord d’Arenville lost in love’s young dream than I can see me flying
through the air on one of me own sponge cakes!”
    Tallie stifled a
giggle at the image conjured up.
    “And why is that,
Mrs. Wilmot?” she asked.
    “Why?” Mrs. Wilmot
turned to Tallie in surprise. “Oh, yes, you’ve never met him, have you, dearie?
I keep forgetting, you’re related to the other side of madam’s family. Well,
you’ve not missed out on much —a cold fish if ever I saw one, that Lord d’Arenville.
They call him The Icicle, you know. Not a drop of warm blood in his body, if
you ask me.”
    “But I thought all
you females thought him so handsome,” began Brooks.
    “He had you all in
such a fuzz—”
    “Handsome is as
handsome does, I always say,” said the housekeeper darkly. “And though he may
be as handsome as a statue of one of them Greek gods, he’s about as warm and
lively as a statue, too!” She shook her head and pursed her lips
disapprovingly.
    Intrigued though she
was, Tallie knew she should not encourage gossip about her cousin’s guests. And
they had more than enough to do without wasting time in idle speculation. Or
even idol speculation, she giggled silently, thinking of the Greek god.
    “Well, then,” she
said, “it is fortunate that we need not concern ourselves with Lord d’Arenville
except to spend his money and present him with a reckoning. And if we need not
worry about expense, the servants may be billeted in the village. I suppose we
should begin to make a list of what needs to be done.” She glanced at the clock
on the mantel.
    “I am expected back
in the nursery in half an hour, so we will need to hurry.”
     
     
    Later that evening,
as she walked slowly out of the nursery, leaving her three charges yawning
sleepily in their beds, their loving goodnight kisses still damp on her cheeks,
Tallie decided she would have to take herself more firmly under control. She
could not go on in this fashion.
    The degree of
resentment she’d felt this morning had shocked her. And it was not Laetitia’s
thoughtlessness Tallie resented, but the mere fact that she was coming home.
    It was very wrong of
her to feel like that; Tallie knew it. She ought to feel grateful to Laetitia
for the many things she had done for her —giving her a home, letting her look
after her children. And it was Laetitia’s home, Laetitia’s children. Laetitia
was entitled to visit