her. She had determined to ask George.
George Partridge had last stopped to see her three
months before in Berkshire. A renowned linguist and
mutual friend of hers and Jeremy’s, George had traveled widely, researching the world’s unique tongues. She
believed he was now transcribing the Romany speech of
the country’s gypsies, though she had no inkling as to his
location. She must trust Jeremy to find their friend and
deliver her message. George, she knew, would have no
difficulty in copying her signature as “Henry Beecham”
George could imitate any accent and any hand.
Hallie convinced herself that George would be
happy to do this small favor. She had, after all, persuaded him to send one of his articles on language to
Marksley and The Tantalus. He had found an admiring
audience, as she had known he would.
She looked again at the drive. It was troubling to discover how easily she had learned to identify Richard
Marksley even from a distance. Something in the set of
his shoulders distinguished him from Jeremy and all
others.
She took her time collecting her things and returning
them to her room. Once she had donned her pelisse and
gathered a bonnet she knew she was more than acceptably late, but the recognition did not prompt her to
hurry. She had so few days left, so little time; she could
not bear to rush the minutes. She did not question that
she thought in terms of time left with Marksley.
Millicent Binkin met her in the foyer. Hallie had
scarcely addressed a word to the woman since the disastrous intrusion at the Tewsbury inn. Yet Millicent did
not seem to resent Hallie’s uncivil silence, nor to feel
any regret for committing her young cousin in such a
questionable manner.
“You have certainly dawdled, missy. Although, given
the sorry state of your wardrobe, one would hardly
credit it. You must remind me to help you select several new day gowns. You look a proper dowd”
“The gentlemen will hardly wish for my company,
then,” Hallie said. “I shall leave you to them” She
started to turn away, but Millicent grasped her arm.
“My dear,” she said repressively, “These theatrics
are childish. You must remember that all of one’s
actions have consequences. Neither I nor the gentlemen
outside desired this situation.”
“And that you know to be a lie, Millicent,” Hallie
retorted, chafing at the too-tight grip on her arm. “Why
are you permitting this sham to continue? Why compel
Richard Marksley to stand for his cousin?”
“You were irretrievably compromised-”
“Only in your eyes, dear cousin. You were both
source and sound. You know you have much to answer
for in all this. When Reginald Marksley returns you
shall appear quite ridiculous.”
“You are not usually dimwitted, Harriet. Had I
believed for one moment that the Viscount would claim
you, I would never have settled for Mr. Richard.”
“You would not! Millicent, you take too much upon
yourself. This is none of your affair.”
“But it is, my dear.” And her cousin’s glance was
sharp. “I have ensured an acceptable match for you. An
eminently acceptable match. You were in a fair way to
being overlooked. No season, no prospects. Only your endless scribblings. Now you will be established, and
very well at that”
It was unseemly, to be arguing here in the foyer, with
their escorts mere feet beyond the door. Yet to have
Millicent Binkin so openly confess her scheming, without regret or shame, was more than Hallie could abide.
“We will discuss this later, Millicent,” she managed,
twisting free of her cousin’s clutch. “It is outrageous
that you would let all of us live this lie. I shall most certainly tell uncle”
“But he already knows, dear,” Millicent said.
Hallie clenched her fists. She had not known she was
such a drain on her uncle’s household as to be foisted
like chattel upon a stranger. She did know she was
shaking, but she could not seem to
George Partridge had last stopped to see her three
months before in Berkshire. A renowned linguist and
mutual friend of hers and Jeremy’s, George had traveled widely, researching the world’s unique tongues. She
believed he was now transcribing the Romany speech of
the country’s gypsies, though she had no inkling as to his
location. She must trust Jeremy to find their friend and
deliver her message. George, she knew, would have no
difficulty in copying her signature as “Henry Beecham”
George could imitate any accent and any hand.
Hallie convinced herself that George would be
happy to do this small favor. She had, after all, persuaded him to send one of his articles on language to
Marksley and The Tantalus. He had found an admiring
audience, as she had known he would.
She looked again at the drive. It was troubling to discover how easily she had learned to identify Richard
Marksley even from a distance. Something in the set of
his shoulders distinguished him from Jeremy and all
others.
She took her time collecting her things and returning
them to her room. Once she had donned her pelisse and
gathered a bonnet she knew she was more than acceptably late, but the recognition did not prompt her to
hurry. She had so few days left, so little time; she could
not bear to rush the minutes. She did not question that
she thought in terms of time left with Marksley.
Millicent Binkin met her in the foyer. Hallie had
scarcely addressed a word to the woman since the disastrous intrusion at the Tewsbury inn. Yet Millicent did
not seem to resent Hallie’s uncivil silence, nor to feel
any regret for committing her young cousin in such a
questionable manner.
“You have certainly dawdled, missy. Although, given
the sorry state of your wardrobe, one would hardly
credit it. You must remind me to help you select several new day gowns. You look a proper dowd”
“The gentlemen will hardly wish for my company,
then,” Hallie said. “I shall leave you to them” She
started to turn away, but Millicent grasped her arm.
“My dear,” she said repressively, “These theatrics
are childish. You must remember that all of one’s
actions have consequences. Neither I nor the gentlemen
outside desired this situation.”
“And that you know to be a lie, Millicent,” Hallie
retorted, chafing at the too-tight grip on her arm. “Why
are you permitting this sham to continue? Why compel
Richard Marksley to stand for his cousin?”
“You were irretrievably compromised-”
“Only in your eyes, dear cousin. You were both
source and sound. You know you have much to answer
for in all this. When Reginald Marksley returns you
shall appear quite ridiculous.”
“You are not usually dimwitted, Harriet. Had I
believed for one moment that the Viscount would claim
you, I would never have settled for Mr. Richard.”
“You would not! Millicent, you take too much upon
yourself. This is none of your affair.”
“But it is, my dear.” And her cousin’s glance was
sharp. “I have ensured an acceptable match for you. An
eminently acceptable match. You were in a fair way to
being overlooked. No season, no prospects. Only your endless scribblings. Now you will be established, and
very well at that”
It was unseemly, to be arguing here in the foyer, with
their escorts mere feet beyond the door. Yet to have
Millicent Binkin so openly confess her scheming, without regret or shame, was more than Hallie could abide.
“We will discuss this later, Millicent,” she managed,
twisting free of her cousin’s clutch. “It is outrageous
that you would let all of us live this lie. I shall most certainly tell uncle”
“But he already knows, dear,” Millicent said.
Hallie clenched her fists. She had not known she was
such a drain on her uncle’s household as to be foisted
like chattel upon a stranger. She did know she was
shaking, but she could not seem to
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