Tallie's Knight

by Anna Gracie

  eligible bride. On the other hand, Tallie would not put it past her

  cousin to set her up for a humiliating fall. In fact, it would be very

  like her. Tallie could just imagine Laetitia entertaining her London

  friends with the joke. Imagine, that plain, foolish lump of a girl

  actually believing that Magnus wanted to marry her! When he has the

  pick of the ton at his fingertips! Oh, my dears, I laughed until the

  tears ran down my cheeks! But there, 'tis not kind to laugh at one's

  inferiors . but really, if you could have seen Magnus's face when the

  girl confronted him, Lord, he thought he was being pursued by a

  lunatic! And gales of laughter would follow.

  "Er ... Cousin Laetitia was under the impression..." Tallie's eye fell

  on the newspaper 'that the maids might have forgotten to press the

  paper for you, but I see they have, so I

  will go at once and tell her that everything is. organised. " She

  stood up to leave. Lord d'Arenville rose also.

  Heavens! He was looming again, standing so close she could just smell

  the faint tang of a masculine cologne. Tallie took a step backwards

  and stumbled against the divan. A strong hand shot out and caught her

  by the arm, holding her until she steadied, then releasing her.

  "Thank you... So clumsy..." she muttered, flustered, and annoyed with

  herself for being so.

  "Stay a moment, Miss Robinson. I wish to speak to you." His hand

  touched her arm again, a light touch this time, not the firm, warm grip

  of before.

  Tallie looked up, puzzled. A faint warning bell sounded in her mind as

  she saw the purposeful look in his cold grey eyes, but she quashed it

  immediately. No doubt he had some complaint about a servant, or a

  message he wished her to carry to her cousin. Outwardly calm, she

  allowed herself to be seated a second time, folded her hands demurely

  in her lap and waited.

  Magnus noted the quiet way she folded her hands. It seemed to him a

  pleasantly womanly gesture. Her whole demeanour pleased him. Clearly

  Laetitia had told her of his decision, and, whilst he wished she had

  not, this girl's reactions bore out the soundness of his choice. She

  was neither filled with vulgar excitement nor coy flutterings. Yes,

  she would do nicely. He took a deep breath, surprised at how

  unexpectedly nervous he suddenly felt.

  "You said you had spoken with Laetitia?"

  The cold knot in the pit of Tallie's stomach grew. Wordlessly she

  nodded.

  "Yes, I should have expected she could not keep it to herself."

  Without waiting for her reply. Lord d'Arenville began to explain.

  "It would be best if the wedding took place almost immediately--it

  takes three weeks for the banns to be called. We would be married from

  this house and my cousin's husband George would give you away. I would

  prefer a small affair, just my immediate family--Laetitia and her

  husband-- | and of course any friends or relations you wish to

  invite..." j It could not be true. She was not sitting here listening

  to this cold, proud man elaborate on the arrangements for his wedding.

  Her wedding!

  His wedding to Tallie Robinson! A girl to whom he had scarcely spoken

  two words.

  But his cool, indifferent demeanour, his very seriousness convinced

  her. It was not a joke, not a malicious trick to make sport of the

  poor relation.

  But he hadn't even asked her if she wanted to marry him!

  After a time, Tallie's shock wore off, and she realised she was

  furious. And utterly mortified. She had known the likelihood of her

  ever marrying was slim. Living in the country as Laetitia's unpaid

  governess, she came into contact with few eligible men, and with

  neither looks nor fortune to recommend her, her prospects were few and

  far between. But it was one thing to face the prospect of a lonely and

  loveless future, and another to be so little regarded that she did not

  even merit the appearance of a courtship. Were her feelings and

  desires of so little significance to him?

  Tallie stared down at her knees, flushed and fuming, biting her lip to

  prevent her rage from spilling out. Her hands shook, itching to slap

  the smug condescension off his face. She clenched them into fists,

  dwelling on how pleasant it would be to box his arrogant ears! She

  took in very little of what he was saying!

  Lord d'Arenville rose from his seat and paced up and down before her,

  explaining the arrangements. He noted his bride's delicate blush, her

  modestly bowed head, and congratulated himself again on the excellent

  choice he had made. No pampered miss, this. She sat there, meekly

  listening to his plans for her future. Quiet, submissive,

  delightful!

  How could he ever have been so foolish as to consider a sophisticated

  woman of the ton as the mother of his children? Laetitia's candidates

  had been self-centred, selfish, and far too sure of themselves. Much

  better to have chosen this sweetly shy girl with her modest, downcast

  eyes. Thalia Robinson would be grateful for his offer--she had no

  worldly ambition, no highly strung temperament.

  His eyes ran over her figure. It was difficult to tell in that

  frightful dress she wore, but she seemed sturdy--certainly robust

  enough to survive the rig ours of childbirth. And this girl, he

  believed, had the capacity to love, and he needed that--for his

  children. He recalled the tender way her hands had caressed young

  Georgie. He wanted that for his child. yes, for his child. Her hands

  were trembling, he realised. Magnus watched approvingly as she

  clenched her fingers tightly together in an effort to control her

  emotions. Excellent. Self-control was a good thing in a wife.

  He gentled his voice. Doubtless such disparity in their respective

  stations in life made her a little nervous, a little eager to oblige.

  The thought did not displease Magnus. He intended to treat her

  kindly--her nervousness would pass with time and she would no doubt be

  grateful for his forbearance. It would be a start. She would find him

  a good husband, he hoped. He would look after her, protect her, take

  care of all her needs. He continued to pace the floor, describing

  d'Arenville, the family seat, and how much she would like living

  there.

  Tallie fumed silently, letting his words wash over her. So she was to

  be his quiet, compliant little brood mare, was she? The wife he

  intended to keep immured in his beastly d'Arenville for ten years or

  more!

  In a pig's eye she was!

  The nerve, the arrogance, the presumption of the man! He must have

  decided a plain, poor woman would give him the least trouble, a woman

  without prospects but with the hips and teeth and bloodlines to bear

  his heirs! A sturdy woman!

  She longed to leap up, to fling his proposal of mar. No-- Tallie

  Robinson, poor relation, did not merit a proposal, for he had not even

  waited for her reply. He'd presented his prospective brood mare with

  an assumption of marriage!

  Well, whichever it was, she would fling it in his teeth! That would


  bring a shocked look to that insufferably complacent face. And how she

  would enjoy snapping her fingers under that long, proud nose! She

  would wait until he had finished describing the wonderful treats that

  marriage to him would bring her! What was he talking about now? The

  view of the lake from the summerhouse at sunset? Hah!

  I'm sooo sorry, Lord d'Arenville, she would tell him, but even the

  delightful prospect of viewing the d'Arenville duck pond at dawn cannot

  tempt me to marry you. I would much prefer to remain unwed.

  Sooo sorry to disappoint you. And she would sail out of the room, head

  held high, leaving him stunned, furious, gnashing his teeth with

  chagrin.

  No, she decided. Too tame, too straightforward. He deserved a taste

  of his own medicine. He hadn't even bothered to speak to her} He'd

  merely informed Laetitia, no doubt offering to take a poor relation off

  her hands. Tallie had been scalded and abused and accused of outright

  immorality. And all because of his arrogance. He needed to be taken

  down a peg or two! Or three!

  Tallie smiled to herself, planning her revenge--she'd keep him

  guessing. A man of his pride and consequence would loathe being kept

  waiting. Especially by a little nobody from nowhere! A sturdy little

  nobody at that!

  Laetitia's guests obviously knew of Lord d'Arenville's choice. They

  would be waiting for the announcement. And Laetitia--what would it do

  to her pride to have the despised poor relation keeping the head of the

  family dangling?

  The thought filled Tallie with glee--she would let them all wait. and

  wait. and wait. And they would marvel at her temerity in making her

  future husband wait, for of course it would never occur to any of them

  that she could be so foolish as to refuse such a prize!

  A prize indeed, Tallie thought scornfully, glancing up at him from

  under her lashes. As if a handsome face and figure and a wealthy purse

  were everything!

  Yes, she would make him, and everyone else, wait. And then, just when

  everyone was starting to wonder how much longer Lord d'Arenville's

  temper would stand it, Tallie would carelessly decline his offer. That

  would serve him right! How his pride would suffer--the great Lord

  d'Arenville, prize of the marriage mart, courted and pursued by every

  matchmaking mama in the country, rejected by the plain and

  insignificant poor relation!

  "The banns would be called immediately and the wedding set for three

  weeks from now. Would that be enough time for you to organise your

  bride clothes?" said Lord d'Arenville.

  Tallie blinked up at him in mocking surprise. Was that a question he

  was asking? Something he didn't know? An arrange menthe hadn't

  made?

  Something for her to comment on? Amazing.

  She stood up.

  "Lord d'Arenville. I thank you for your very... surprising... offer of

  marriage. May I consider my reply?" Without waiting for his response,

  Tallie hurried on, "Thank you. I will let you know my answer as soon

  as is convenient."

  Magnus's jaw dropped.

  She walked to the door, opened it, paused, turned back to face him and

  smiled sweetly.

  "Until then, may I suggest you make no irrevocable arrangements?"

  Chapter Three

  ell, what did he say? It was a hum, was it not? " Laetitia dragged

  Tallie into a nearby anteroom.

  "No, I am afraid it was not," said Tallie reluctantly.

  "You were perfectly correct, Cousin, he thought to marry me."

  Laetitia caught the tense Tallie used and pounced eagerly.

  "But he has changed his mind?"

  Tallie knew she had to choose her words carefully, so as not to

  exacerbate her cousin's volatile temper any further. She was skating

  on very thin ice as it was.

  "No, not exactly."

  "I knew it!" Laetitia stamped her foot.

  "He is such a selfish wretch!

  How could he put me in such a position? Each girl out there was in

  daily expectation of being made an offer! " She glared at Tallie.

  "Each one a diamond of the first water, an heiress or a duke's

  relative--and he chooses youV Tallie nodded, ignoring the insult. She

  understood how foolish her cousin felt. She even felt some sympathy

  for her. Lord d'Arenville was an arrogant, selfish, thoughtless

  boot.

  "It is all right. Cousin," she said soothingly.

  "I intend to refuse him."

  Laetitia froze. She stared, stupefied. Her face went white beneath

  the rouge.

  "What did you say?" she whispered.

  "I am going to refuse him." Tallie smiled reassuringly.

  "Refuse MagnusT Tallie nodded.

  "Yes."

  "You--to refuse my cousin Magnus? Lord d'Arenville?"

  Tallie nodded again.

  "Absolutely. I have no wish to marry him, so there is nothing for you

  to be upset--' " Of all the brazen effrontery! You arrogant little

  bitch! "

  Tallie took a step backwards, unnerved by the fury she saw in her

  cousin's face.

  "Who do you think you are to refuse my cousin Magnus'I You--a complete

  nonentity! A mere Robinson'. Why, he is so far above the likes of you

  that he is the sun to your, your..." Laetitia waved her hand in

  frustration, unable to find a suitable comparison to convey to Tallie

  just how far beneath him she was.

  "How dare you think to humiliate me in this fashion?"

  "But, Cousin, how does my refusing Lord d'Arenville humiliate you?"

  interrupted Tallie, confused by her cousin's abrupt volte-face.

  "I can see how choosing me instead of your--' " Do not for one minute

  dare to gloat, you insolent hussy! "

  "I am not gloating," said Tallie indignantly.

  "But I don't understand.

  Surely if I refuse him it saves you the embarrassment of people knowing

  he preferred me to your friends? We can say that your guests

  misunderstood. "

  Laetitia threw up her hands.

  "She even has the brass to boast of her conquest!" she muttered.

  "Mortifying enough that my cousin chooses a shabby little nobody over

  my friends, but for the nobody to refuse him! No. No! It is too

  much!"

  She turned to face Tallie, hands on hips.

  "Little did I think when I accepted you into my household that it would

  come to this. You will pack your bags and be out of here within the

  hour. John Coachman will take you back to the village where you lived

  before you insinuated yourself into my home." Laetitia's voice was

  low, furious and vengeful, her expression implacable.

  Tallie stared at her, shocked. There was no hysteria in her cousin's

  manner now.

  "You ... you cannot mean it, surely, Cousin?"

  Laetitia sniffed and turned her face away.

  Tallie tried again.

  "Please, Cousin, reconsider. There is nothing for me in the village.

  The school closed down when Miss Fisher died. And... you know I have

  no money."

  "You should have considered that before you set your cap at my

  cousin."

  "I did not set my cap at him. I never even spoke to him! It was Lord />
  d'Arenville who--' " I am not interested in your excuses. You have one

  hour. " Laetitia was adamant.

  Tallie's mouth was dry.

  "You cannot mean it, surely, Cousin?" she began.

  "I have nowhere to go, no one to turn to."

  "And whose fault is that, pray? Had I known before what an ungrateful,

  scheming jade you were, I would never have taken you into my home. The

  subject is closed. One hour." Laetitia swept towards the door.

  "Cousin!" called Tallie. Laetitia paused and glanced disdainfully

  back. Tallie swallowed. She had been about to beg, but she could see

  from her cousin's expression that her cousin was hoping for just

  that.

  No, she would not beg. In her current mood Laetitia would enjoy seeing

  her grovel, and it would do no good; Tallie could see that now.

  "Will you write me a letter of recommendation so that I may at least

  seek work as a governess?"

  "You have a nerve!" spat Laetitia.

  "No, I will not!"

  Magnus strode through the damp grass, snapping his whip angrily against

  his booted leg. He'd planned to go for a long ride, but had found