Lady Madeline's Folly Read Online Free PDF Page B

interested enough that she continued. “The first item of business will be to find you suitable lodgings.”
    “Welcome to stay with me,” Taffy offered.
    “You are very kind,” Madeline said, “but it will not do in the long run. Your mama and sister will not like to have a permanent house guest who is no kin or connection to the family.”
    “Mama won’t mind. Mary will be delighted.” Mary, who bore a strong physical resemblance to her brother, never minded having a gentleman forced into her orbit.
    “Mr. Aldred will require privacy for his work,” Madeline said to put an end to this scheme. “Now about an apartment? I think the Albany, don’t you. Taffy?”
    “Only place for bachelors,” he agreed. “Top of the trees. Good handy location. Not dear either.”
    “Do you happen to know if there are any vacancies?” she inquired, despite an air of dissatisfaction that rested on Henry’s features.
    “Happens I do. Bricklin flew the coop two days ago. Owed a quarter’s back rent. In the basket. Left his belongings there. Seized by the bailiff for rent. Be happy to rent the place furnished. Nice stuff too: Sheraton set of chairs, marble-topped commode, good mahogany writing table. Dashed hard bed—could put a feather tick on it. Do the whole thing up brown for a monkey.”
    “Excellent,” Madeline said. “You must go there today and hire the place, Cousin.”
    “I am not accustomed to living in hired rooms,” Mr. Aldred exclaimed. “I would much prefer to rent a cottage.”
    “Too steep,” Taffy told him.
    “A shabby little cottage is not at all the thing for you,” Madeline agreed. “Better a little elegance than a lot of squalor.”
    “I shall be having company. My mother plans to visit me, and also friends from home. A small flat will not do at all.”
    “The address is very important,” Madeline explained. “The Albany is so well located, right at Piccadilly.”
    “Have a look at least,” Taffy urged.
    “All right, I’ll look, but I favor a private house,” Aldred said after repeated urgings from his two mentors.
    The next step was more difficult to accomplish. It is no easy thing to tell a gentleman his clothing is rustic. When he is clearly halfway up into the boughs already, a certain degree of discretion is necessary. “What a handsome jacket you are wearing, Taffy,” she began judiciously.
    Taffy opened his lips and smiled in pleasure. “Never put myself in any hands but Weston’s,” he admitted.
    “He is the only tailor favored by the ton, I believe,” she said casually. “There is no matching him.”
    Henry was by no means so slow as to overlook her meaning. “I suppose I ought to visit him, if I am to rub shoulders with the sort of people you have been speaking of,” he said, much to her delight.
    “Suit yourself,” was her mild encouragement. “I must say, if I had such a fine figure, I would wish to show it off to best advantage.”
    In this flattering and insinuating manner, the conversation continued. Taffy extolled the virtue of Hoby as bootmaker. “A man daren’t be shod by anyone else. The king, the prince regent, Duke of Kent, Wellington. Top of St. James’s Street, next to the old Guards Club. I’ll introduce you. Baxter is your man for curled beavers.”
    He also suggested where shirts and cravats and other necessities could be obtained. “I daresay it will cost me a small fortune,” Henry objected.
    “No, a large one,” Taffy countered.
    “It need not be paid for all at once,” Madeline pointed out.
    “Put ‘em on tic,” was Taffy’s more straightforward advice. “No one pays cash on delivery. I’ll let ‘em know you’re to be trusted. Mind, you must put a little something on account from time to time. Another thing, if you mean to cut a swath in society, you’ll need a new carriage.”
    “All this can’t be necessary only to get a position!” Henry objected. “I must draw the line somewhere. My little whiskey is good