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was announced. ‘Come and sit down by me.’

      ‘I … I think I would rather stand, ma’am.’ Tallie took a deep breath and said, ‘I am very sorry to appear ungracious, Lady Parry, but I feel I should not have accepted your kind offer this morning and I thought I should come and say so immediately.’

      ‘Why ever not? My poor child, stop standing there looking like a parlour maid who has broken the best Minton and sit down. There, that is better. Now, I know you must have had a shock this morning, but—’

      ‘It is not that, ma’am. I had not considered what a difficult position I would be putting you in.’

      ‘Because you have had to work for your living? If I do not regard it, be certain that Society will not— not when they learn of your family and fortune, and observe your ladylike deportment.’

      ‘My friends, ma’am—’

      ‘Your friends are more than welcome in my house, Talitha.’

      ‘Lady Parry,’ Tallie said with some emphasis, feeling she was being swept along faster than she wanted, ‘my only friends are a governess, a lodging-house keeper and an opera dancer. I do not believe you could have been aware of that fact when you made your kind offer just now.’

      ‘I have never met a governess who was not respectable and I am sure if the lodging-house in question is where you make your home, its proprietress is bound to be most acceptable.’

      ‘The opera dancer is her niece and lives with us,’ Tallie persisted.

      ‘And is she a nice girl?’

      ‘Very. And despite what the world thinks of actresses and performers, she is a modest, virtuous and respectable young woman into the bargain.’

      ‘There now, so where is the problem?’

      ‘You would not object if I were to continue my friendships?’

      ‘Certainly not. Your friends are most welcome in my home whenever they wish to call upon you.’

      ‘Thank you, ma’am. But not everyone will be of your opinion.’

      ‘By everyone, I assume you mean my nephew?’

      ‘Er … I …’ Tallie had no wish to tell tales or to sound in any way critical of Lady Parry’s family.

      ‘And which of your friends has Nicholas been viewing with that chilly eye of his?’

      ‘Miss Scott, the governess.’

      ‘Foolish boy—he has always been overprotective. And has he set eyes upon the young lady from the opera yet?’

      ‘I believe not.’

      ‘He will,’ his fond aunt prophesised cheerfully. ‘At least, he probably already has met her if she is pretty. Never mind, Talitha. Whom I allow under my roof is my decision. Once Nicholas gets to know you better he will soon cease to worry.’

      ‘That is not all, Lady Parry.’

      ‘I thought we had agreed that you would call me Aunt Kate?’

      ‘You will not wish me to when I tell you about the other matter, ma’am,’ Tallie said, feeling ready to sink now that the moment for confession was upon her. ‘I am not just a milliner, I have been earning my living in another way as well.’

      ‘I know,’ Lady Parry said calmly.

      ‘You know? But, ma’am, you cannot … I have been sitting for an artist!’

      ‘Indeed. Mr Harland, a most talented gentleman, I believe.’

      ‘But, Lady Parry, how could you have discovered what I have been doing?’

      Her ladyship held up a hand to silence Tallie as Rainbird appeared with a tea tray.

      ‘Will you pour, my dear?’ She waited while Tallie handed her her cup with a hand that trembled. ‘A macaroon? No? You must not become so agitated, Talitha. I called upon Mr Harland a while ago as I am considering having my portrait painted. I observed a canvas and asked who the model was, for I thought I recognised her.’

      ‘He told you?’ Tallie was aghast, both at the thought that the compromising classical paintings had been displayed in the studio and that Mr Harland had been so indiscreet as to reveal her name.

      ‘He was immediately very embarrassed at his slip. I am sure it was only because I said I thought I knew the model.’

      ‘And you are not shocked, ma’am? The fact that I was sitting for an artist at all, let alone the way I was … dressed.’

      ‘Admittedly it was not the way in which one would normally wish an unmarried lady to be depicted, but under the circumstances I feel we should disregard it.’

      ‘Circumstances?’ Tallie said weakly.

      ‘I can tell Mr Harland is a most respectable person and I am sure that his slip in revealing your name would not be repeated.’

      Tallie was so taken aback that for a moment she could not find the words to continue.

      Finally she ventured, ‘But, ma’am, if it should be found out once I am launched in Society, it would reflect upon you. After all, I am of no account, but you are a leading member of the ton.’

      ‘And have more than enough credit to carry off any little indiscretions of my protégée,’ Lady Parry said with a chuckle. ‘And it will not be long before you too are a figure in Society, mark my words. A fortune the size of yours is more than enough to cover up any number of indiscretions. Now then, you are still going to be able to move here in a week?’

      ‘Yes, ma’am,’ Tallie stammered.

      ‘Aunt Kate, please, my dear Tallie. Goodness, is that the time? I am due at Lady Fraser’s in an hour, and be seen in this gown I cannot and will not! No, there is no need for you to rush off, this is your home now. Just ring if you need anything.’ Lady Parry sprang from the sofa on which she had been decoratively draped, fluttered across to drop a kiss on Tallie’s cheek and was out of the room before the younger woman could do more than gasp,

      ‘Goodbye.’

      Tallie got slowly to her feet, too bemused to pull herself together and leave. She had been steeled to explain why she was an inappropriate person for Lady Parry to take under her wing and had found both her anxiety for her friends and her scrupulous confession about Mr Harland swept aside.

      Which meant that in a week’s time her former life also would be swept away and she would be making her come-out as a young lady of fashion. Her money worries would be about how to invest and spend it, not how to make enough to afford a new pelisse.

      Tallie stood by the window and stared out at the fashionable street life bustling below her. She untied the ribbons of her bonnet and tossed it onto the sofa as though freeing her head would help her think, but things still seemed just as unreal and unbelievable as they had before.

      ‘Back again, Miss Grey?’ a voice behind her enquired. Tallie stiffened, but did not turn. He had entered without her hearing. ‘Come to confess your secret?’ Lord Arndale’s voice sounded as uninterested as if he had enquired whether she had just returned from walking in the park.

      Tallie felt the breath catch in her throat. She wanted … What did she want? Why had she had hardly a coherent, calm thought since this man had found her in the attic studio?

      She found her voice suddenly. ‘Confess? Yes, that is precisely what I have been doing, my lord.’

      ‘You have?’ Despite everything Tallie felt her mouth curve into a smile. So, she had managed to surprise the imperturbable Nick Stangate, had she?

      ‘Yes, my lord.’ Emboldened by the fact that she could not see his sardonic expression, Tallie wondered if it was safe to tease him further and decided against it. ‘It appears that Lady Parry was already aware of the matter that was troubling

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