Jane Feather - Charade by Unknown (top rated books of all time txt) 📗

"Oh no, I have seen that often," she assured him cheerfully. "On theestate, you know? Particularly in the summer."

"Well, that's very fortunate," His Lordship observed dryly. "I shouldhate to shock your maidenly sensibilities."

"Do you really think I have any?" the voice gurgled merrily.

"Quite frankly, no." He completed his dressing under the unnervinglycurious stare of those melting brown eyes, tying the snowy cravat withthe intent concentration of a nonpareil. The bright polish to his topboots did not meet his exacting standards, but in the absence ofPetersham they would have to do.

"You didn't answer my question—about your valet," the urchin persisted,uncannily tuning into his thoughts.

"You can be thankful I am traveling alone," he commented shortly. "IfPetersham were with me I would have handed you over to him to scrubyesterday."

There was a short silence as Danielle absorbed this unpalatable pieceof information. "But why isn't he?"

"You are the most persistent child! He is not with me because mybusiness on this occasion necessitates the minimum of fuss and themaximum of speed. I wished to travel without ceremony. And if you arethinking of asking me about my business, I'd advise you-to save yourbreath." Linton drew the second boot over his slim muscled calf and,standing, reached for the blue velvet coat that slipped over the lawnand lace of his shirt with an ease belied by a fit so perfect it couldhave been moulded to his shoulders.

"Come and have some breakfast, brat, and I will tell you how we aregoing to proceed." He poured coffee into two cups and broke into afragrant, steaming brioche.

"I do not need you to tell me how we are to proceed," Danielle saidindignantly. "I have my own plans and if they do not suit you, we mustgo our separate ways."

The earl disdained to respond to this blunt statement. He merelycontinued calmly with his meal under the now baleful eye of his ward.

"If you are intending to eat, child, I suggest you do so. We are insomewhat of a hurry this morning."

"I do not wish for your charity," Danny declared stubbornly.

"Please yourself." Linton shrugged, pulling the bell rope. Daniellewatched crossly as breakfast was removed. He could at least haveattempted to persuade her!

"It is fortunate that you are accustomed to hunger," the earl remarkedcasually, coming over to the little bed, "because I do not intend thatwe should break our journey until dinnertime."

"What journey?" she exclaimed.

"Why, to Calais, of course," he said smoothly. "Isn't that where youwished to go?"

Danielle was, for once, silenced.

"Come along now," her mentor instructed brusquely. "I have to go outfor about an hour. In my absence you will please me by dressingyourself in the clothes on the chair." A casual wave indicated theprevious night's package. "And you will pack up my things. Theportmanteau is by the window."

"I am not your servant!" Danielle gasped indignantly.

"You will be traveling in that guise," Linton stated flatly. "And,since you have just said that you do not wish for my charity, youshould be glad of the opportunity to earn your keep."

The girl leapt from the bed in a flurry of bedclothes, hastily pullingthe shirt to her knees as she faced him. "You, milord, are the mostpompous, insufferable, arrogant . . . bastard!"

She got no further. The earl seized her chin between hard, taperingfingers and Danny found herself looking into a pair of flinty eyes, thesculpted lips narrowed in a grim line.

"I warned you yesterday about that tongue of yours," Justin said withsoft menace. "You have one hour, and if you are not ready by the time Ireturn, I shall dress you myself." With that he turned on his heel andleft the chamber with Danielle still standing openmouthed in the middleof the room. The sound of the key turning in the lock brought her backto a sense of reality and a wave of frustrated helplessness surgedthrough her. How dared he? She began pacing the room with long angrystrides, tears of rage prickling her eyelids. But slowly the furysubsided as cold common sense reasserted itself. Why on earth was shefighting him? Under his protection she could cross the Channel in adegree of safety and comfort. Time enough, once they reached Dover, toeffect her escape and make her own way to Cornwall. She had lived onher wits for many weeks now; it was foolish to allow them to desert hernow, simply out

of pride.

During these calming reflections she had begun absently to examine thepile of clothing on the chair. They were the strong, warm, serviceableclothes of the servant of a wealthy and considerate master—corduroybritches, worsted hose, a linen shirt, and woolen jacket. The smallclothes were clean if somewhat mended in places. The linen was not ofthe best quality certainly, but was an immeasurable improvement on herrags of recent weeks. She poured some water from the ewer into thebasin and washed her face thoughtfully before stripping off the shirtand sponging her body. It was such luxury to feel clean again and thewater, whilst not as hot as it had been, was blissful compared to theicy jets of a backyard pump.

Once dressed in a stranger's clothes she sat down to pull on the softleather boots. Her feet, after weeks of wooden pattens, feltconstricted, although the boots were clearly made for something biggerthan the small, slender, high-arched feet of a de St. Varennes.Danielle examined herself critically in the mirror. She would pass,although without the dirt her disguise was not nearly as effective. Thecorduroy cap pulled low over her eyes certainly helped and at least itcovered her roughly chopped curls. Tossing the cap onto the bed, sheturned to survey the room. The earl was a tidy, well-ordered man andpacking his possessions in the large portmanteau was a simple task,even for someone who, until two months ago, had never so much asthought of picking