The Model Debutante: A Regency romance by Allen Louise

Author:Allen, Louise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The following morning Tallie found she had no idea what to do about her moment of self-revelation the night before. She had felt strangely calm afterwards and had simply gone to bed and slept. So far as she was aware she had not dreamed.

The odd calm persisted, but underneath she was disturbed. It was as though she was sleep-walking into danger, watching herself do so and yet unable to wake herself up. Something had to be done about it of course, she quite realised that. Nick was certainly not in love with her and even if he were, she was a most unsuitable wife for him.

The odd feeling persisted despite an expedition with Lady Parry to Ackerman’s Emporium at 101, Strand. Although Tallie already possessed every gown she could ever imagine she would need, Lady Parry wished to get ahead of what she called ‘the others’ by procuring all the latest fashion plates so that a refreshed wardrobe could be paraded half-way through the Season.

‘I am certain you will be receiving some offers soon, Tallie dear,’ she remarked complacently as they embarked in the barouche.

Tallie was staring absently at a thin individual in an overlarge greatcoat and battered beaver who was lounging against the railings near the house. He looked oddly familiar. She focused on Lady Parry. ‘Offers, ma’am?’

‘Of marriage. You are not sickening for something are you, Talitha?’

‘No, no…I beg your pardon. Who would offer for me?’ Several gentlemen had appeared to enjoy her company, that was true. There were a number who always sought her out to dance, several took her driving and more than one had introduced the subjects of their family, country estates and interests in life into the conversation in a way which, she supposed, she should have recognised as being somewhat pointed.

Aunt Kate rolled her eyes. ‘Making all due allowance for modesty and inexperience – honestly, Tallie! Let me list a few – Mr Runcorn, Sir Jasper Knight, Dr Philpott, Lord Ashwell, the Reverend Mr Laxton. I could go on.’

‘Truly?’ Tallie gazed at her incredulously. ‘But I had not considered marrying any of them. I simply had not thought of them in that way.’

Aunt Kate shook her head at this folly ‘I will lay any odds you like that at least three of them come up to scratch by the end of the week, so you had better decide what you want to say to them.’

‘No.’

‘No? You want me to speak to them first? They will not necessarily approach me, as they know you are of age and I am not your guardian.’

‘I mean, no, I do not want to marry any of them.’ I want to marry an infuriating man who does not trust me, laughs at me – and for whom I am entirely ineligible as a wife.

‘Oh well, the Season is young yet,’ Aunt Kate said philosophically, picking up her reticule as the carriage began to slow down. ‘You are suffering a little from tiredness and nerves, I have no doubt.

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