Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer

Author:Georgette Heyer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Regency, General, Romance, Adult, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781402219498
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 1972-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XI. Philip Astonishes his Uncle

Thomas, deep in the latest copy of the Rambler, was aroused by the sound of wheels drawing up outside the house. He rose and stretched himself, wondering who could choose such a day wherein to visit him. He strolled to the window and peered out into the foggy street. He was surprised to see, not a light town chariot, but a large travelling coach, top-heavy with baggage, and drawn by four steaming horses. As he watched, the door of the vehicle was thrown open and a slight gentleman sprang out, not waiting for the steps to be let down. He was muffled in a many-caped overcoat of Parisian cut, and shining leather boots were on his feet. Tom was puzzled. Then, from out the coach, issued two other men, evidently servants, the one small and wiry, the other lank and cadaverous. Both seemed depressed. The man in the well-cut cloak waved his hands at them and appeared to shoot forth a number of instructions. The little man, scarcely visible beneath the band-boxes that he

carried, nodded, shivered, and rounded on the lean man. Then the man in the cloak turned, and ran up the steps to Tom’s front door. A long bell-peal sounded through the house. Tom walked to the fire and stood with his back to it. Possibly this was his friend Mainwaring come to visit him, but why did he bring so much baggage? Tom rather hoped that the unknown guest had come to his house in mistake for another’s.

But a quick tread came across the hall and the door of the library was swept open. Hat in hand, the visitor stood before Tom, bowing.

“Revered uncle, I kiss your hands!” And he proceeded to do so.

“God ha’ mercy, it’s Philip!” gasped Tom. “I never expected you for another week, lad!” Philip tossed his hat and gloves on to the table and wriggled out of his cloak. “I am de trop, no?”

“Never in your life!” Tom assured him. “Stand up, child, and let me look at you!” Then, as Philip clicked his heels together and faced him, laughing, his eyes widened, and his lips formed a soundless whistle. “By the Lord Harry, Philip, it’s marvellous! How could you do it in six months—!”

Philip rustled over to the fire and stooped, warming his hands.

“Fog, cold, damp! Brrh! The unspeakable climate! Tom, it is permitted that I stay with you until I find an abode?”

With difficulty his uncle withdrew his gape from Philip’s claret-coloured coat of fine cloth, laced with gold.

“Can you ask? Stay as long as you will, lad, you’re a joy to behold!”

“Merci du compliment!” smiled Philip. “You perhaps admire the mixture of claret and biscuit as I wear it?”

Tom’s eyes travelled down to the creaseless biscuit-coloured small-clothes. “Ay. I admire everything. The boots most of all. The boots—Philip, where did you obtain them?”

Philip glanced carelessly down at his shapely leg.

“They were made for me. Me, I am not satisfied with them. I shall give them to François.

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