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

the gelding and then, mounting without assistance, took thepiebald's rein and rode to the front of the inn. Linton swung himselfinto the saddle and the portmanteau was strapped securely behind.Danny, he noticed, sat the large gray as if she were an integral partof the animal, its personality a mere extension of her own.

"We take the London road," he declared briskly. "I hope to do sixtymiles today."

"Why London?" Danielle frowned in puzzlement. "As I recall, we did notpass through London on the way to Cornwall when I came with

Maman."

"I have some business to transact first."

"Oh?" His inquisitive charge raised a pair of inquiring eyebrows andLinton decided that now was probably as good an opportunity as anyother to broach some part at least of his plan.

Danielle heard him out in interested reflective silence. "But in whatguise am I to meet your Monsieur Pitt?"

"He is Milord Chatham, actually," Linton corrected her. "As to yourquestion, I am in something of a puzzle as how to contrive for thebest. But I daresay something will occur to me."

They made good speed, stopping only twice to rest the horses : and takerefreshment at the inns liberally scattered along this ' busy postroad. It was late afternoon when they clattered into the stableyard ofthe Red Lion, some twenty miles outside London. Danielle showed noobvious signs of fatigue and if it hadn't been for her ordeal of theprevious night, linton would have been tempted to complete the journeythat evening. But, in spite of the straight back and easy seat, therewere drawn lines around the purple-smudged eyes and a pallid tinge tothe ivory complexion.

"Gad, Linton! Is it indeed you? Well, 'pon my soul, what brings youhere, Justin?"

Danny, gazing wide-eyed at the author of this exclamatory speech,missed the look of annoyance that flashed across her companion'sfeatures which were instantly schooled to their customary impassivity.

"Good day to you, Julian. My dinner, as it happens," the earl repliedcalmly, reaching down a slender hand to take his cousin's beringedfingers.

Danielle had never seen anyone quite so magnificent as Lord JulianCarlton. A coat of claret velvet with silver lacing, dove-coloredbritches clasped at the knee with sapphire buckles, white silkstockings, and diamond-heeled shoes encased a frame quite as powerfulas her guardian's. Sapphires gleamed in the lace at his throat and hisown hair was hidden beneath a magnificent

perruque

whose curls fellartlessly on the broad forehead of a surprisingly boyish face.

"Then, m'boy, you are in luck," Lord Julian boomed jovially. "I havealready bespoken a dinner to gratify even your exacting tastes, andMine Host has assured me of the excellence of his '67 claret." Acerulean blue eye suddenly fell on His Lordship's mount. "Lud, Justin,"he murmured in awe, "what the devil are you doing racketing around thecountryside on that boneshaker?"

"It has stamina, Julian," His Lordship observed blandly, "although, Iconfess, little claim to grace."

He swung easily to the ground and turning toward Danny surprised thelook of ill-concealed admiration

on a face that suddenly looked too feminine for comfort.

"Your manners appear to have left you with your wits, boy." He spokeharshly in rapid French as he handed her the reins of his gelding.

Lord Julian, for the first time, noticed his cousin's companion and hiseyebrows shot up at the most un-servantlike look of indignation thatthe lad flashed at his master before, with an almost defiant gesture,snatching the reins from His Lordship's hand and turning the horsestoward the stables. Any comment he might have made, however, wasforestalled by Linton who, laying a friendly arm over his shoulders,moved him toward the inn with a polite inquiry as to his presence onthe road to Dover.

Justin was actually very fond of his young cousin whose guardianship hehad relinquished some four years previously when the orphaned LordJulian came of age, but at this moment he wished him at the devil.Nothing could be more unfortunate than this unexpected meeting. Julian,for all his dandified affectations, carried sharp eyes and a good headon those broad shoulders and he could place no reliance on Danielle'spowers of discretion. In fact, he strongly suspected that she didn'tknow the meaning of the word. It looked as if he was facing a mostuncomfortable evening that would not be compensated even

by the RedLion's best dinner and the '67 claret.

His worst fears were confirmed by Danny's somewhat precipitate entrancesome minutes later into the private parlor that he had perforce agreedto share with Julian. Both men turned in surprise as the door burstopen with a lamentable lack of ceremony.

"It is customary to knock on a closed door, brat," Linton said in thatsoft voice that Danielle had come to recognize as denoting annoyance.

"Well, I'm sorry, milord, I'm sure—I jest come for me orders." She hadreverted to her backstreet French but her whole body radiated challengeand her eyes kept sliding toward Lord Julian. "I seen to the 'orses andif you'll not be wantin' me agin, I'll go fer me dinner."

Linton sighed. His cousin's presence obliged him to respond to thechallenge. If he let it pass Lord Julian's curiosity would bepiqued even further—he was already gazing in startled amazement at thisextraordinary display of impudence from a mere servant lad.

The earl crossed the room. "You are insolent, boy," he said gently, thehandle of his riding whip catching the urchin's chin, pushing itupwards to meet his narrowed eyes. "I do not tolerate insolence, as youwill discover if you are not very careful. Is it understood?"

The brown eyes sparked fire, but the earl had placed himself betweenDanny and his cousin, effectively blocking the latter's view. "You willgo to my chamber," he continued as gently as before. "Unpack myportmanteau and lay out my clothes for the evening. I shall require hotwater and your presence when I come up myself in about fifteen minutes."

A look of uncertainty crossed the small heart-shaped face as Daniellewondered uneasily if this time