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

"No, I never have. But I'm in the minority, I assure you. Now getdressed; there's water in the jug, and when you're ready come next doorfor some breakfast." On that, Linton turned and left the cabin.

Wondering uneasily if she were safe from intrusion, Danny unwound theblanket and staggered over to the table. The water in the jug was coldbut felt wonderful on her skin where salt and sweat seemed to havedried into an almost visible crust. Her movements were slow andfumbling at first, but as her legs began to feel more like themselvesshe was able to perform her ablutions with something approaching herusual efficiency.

A brisk

"Entrez"

greeted hertentative knock on the adjoining door.The master cabin was a far cry from the narrow space she had occupied.There was even a Turkey carpet on the shiny floorboards and the largebed bore no resemblance to a bunk. The earl rose from the breakfasttable as she came in, and looking at the woebegone little face and hugesunken eyes a smile softened his usually impassive features.

"Poor brat, you

have

had arough time," he said compassionately. "Comeand eat."

It was a very un-French breakfast—no light meal of bread, rolls, jam,honey, and coffee this. Looking at the plate of crispy bacon, the moundof fluffy eggs, the pink ham and the huge sirloin, all thoughts of lastnight fled as Danielle sat eagerly in the plush-covered chair the earlheld for her.

"What may I serve you, Danielle?"

"Everything, I think, milord, except perhaps the beef," she respondedpolitely, reaching for the silver coffeepot.

"Milk first," Linton stated firmly, filling a large mug to the brimwith thick, creamy liquid and placing it before her. "It lines thestomach, and yours,

mon enfant

,I strongly suspect needs some lining."

The earl finished his meal well in advance of his ward and sat, sippinghis tankard of ale, pondering a means by which on their way toCornwall, he could contrive a meeting with William Pitt for bothhimself and Danielle. Her information and opinions were too valuable towaste at this point and would, he knew, be eagerly received by theprime minister. But how to accomplish this, without revealing heridentity and disguise?

"Does something trouble you, milord?" The soft-spoken question brokeinto his frowning reverie. She had such a pretty, musical voice whennot haranguing landlords and stableboys in the language of the gutter.The sooner Danielle de St. Varennes donned her petticoats again thebetter! That thought gave rise to another and a plan glimmered in HisLordship's mind. It would need refining certainly, but just might servethe purpose.

"Milord?" Danielle was regarding him anxiously and he forced a lightsmile.

"Nothing troubles me, infant. I was wondering if you felt strong enoughto ride today."

"Instead of traveling boxed up in one of those horrid coaches?" Hereyes shone.

"Exactly."

"Oh, I should like it of all things. But where shall we find horses?"

"We shall hire them in the village." A slightly pained look passedacross His Lordship's countenance. "They will be hacks, of course, butI daresay we can contrive to make do."

Danny clapped her hands in delight. "I have not been on the back of ahorse since February."

His Lordship felt a twinge of doubt. "How well do you ride, brat?"

The look of withering scorn he received informed him all too clearlythat that was a question better not

to have been asked.

"Certainly as well as you, sir, if not better" was the very dignifiedresponse.

Linton sighed. "Danielle, you really must learn to guard your tongue.Such sharp responses to relatively innocent questions will not endearyou to the ton."

"I cannot imagine why I should wish to endear myself," she bristled. "Ihave no intention of being introduced to the ton."

The earl frowned, opened his mouth on a sharp retort, and then thoughtbetter of it, saying only, "I rather think your grandparents will havea different view of the matter. I am going to see to the horses. Do youcare to accompany me?"

This prospect was sufficiently diverting to put out of mind the uneasyfeelings provoked by their exchange and Danielle was far too accustomedto pursuing her own course to be long troubled by the idea ofopposition to a path she had decided upon when her flight began.

She gazed around her with great interest as they came up on deck. Thefamous white cliffs of Dover were asawe-inspiringas she remembered fromher childhood journey and the small seaside village bustled under theearly morning sun. The Pelican Inn stood back from the quay, thegleaming, white-washed brick and sparkling mullioned casements ampleevidence of its prosperity.

In the clean, orderly stableyard behind the inn the earl surveyed thefive available horses critically.

"Do you have a preference, Danny?"

She clearly took the question very seriously and he watched withinterest and growing respect her thorough examination of thecandidates. Sensitive fingers explored tendons, checked the broad backsfor

a hint of concealed saddle-soreness, lifted thick velvety lips toreveal yellow, tombstone teeth.

"The piebald gelding and the gray mare. They're not pretty." Twoenchanting dimples peeped in the thin cheeks. "But they have the moststamina. The black will be blown after twenty miles, the bay isswaybacked, and the roan fit only fora child in leading strings."

Linton nodded, having reached much the same conclusion himself. The twoshe had selected were certainly rawboned jobbing horses but quite thebest on offer.

"See that they are saddled then. I'll be in the coffee room."

Danielle watched him go into the inn, reflecting that this role ofservant was not becoming less irksome with practice. Soon she wouldhave to face the uncomfortable task of informing her self-appointedguardian that she had rescinded her promise made in Paris. Havingpledged the word of a Varennes she could not, in honor, break it, sothe promise must be openly withdrawn first.

She saddled the mare herself while a stableboy performed the sameoffice for