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

be dressed in this way. Is your primeminister to know my identity?" This speech was somewhat muffled as herhead disappeared inside the flounces of the gown which the earl droppedovet her.

"No. And he will not see your face either." She was turned briskly asher self-styled maid hooked the gown at her back. "You will speak onlyFrench and answer only those questions asked of you. There will be nonecessity to volunteer information as Pitt will know exactly what hewishes to find out. Now, turn around and let us take a look at you."

She turned slowly to face him, suddenly quite unaccountably shy. Theclothes felt very strange and uncomfortably constricting and it hadbeen so long since she had seen herself dressed as a girl that shecould not imagine how she looked.

The earl put up his glass and examined the small figure. The gown was aperfect fit and the soft swell of her bosom, uplifted by the staysbeneath, rose tantalizingly at the neck.

"I was quite wrong," he said slowly, "when I said you would be a mostbeautiful woman one day. You are already quite enchanting, milady."

Color mounted to the roots of the neat, short cap of pink-tinged curls."Truly, sir?"

"Truly, Danielle. Look in the glass if you do not believe me." He tookher shoulders, turning her to face the long pier glass, and she saw ayoung woman in a soft green gown that accentuated the ivory skin anddeep brown eyes. Slender forearms and dainty wrists emerged from thefroth of lace at the sleeves and the tiny waist was outlined by a broadsash. Small feet in pale green kid slippers peeped beneath a ruffledhem.

Linton left her for a moment, returning with a small box bearing theinsignia of the jewelers he had visited that afternoon. Taking thedainty white fichu from the bedf he arranged it in the neck of thegown, covering her semi-exposed bosom. "Until you are out, child, youmust maintain true maidenly modesty." He smiled.

"You once told me I did not have much to display," she accused, peeringdown at his skillful fingers.

"Did I really? How very indelicate of me," the earl murmured. "You musthave annoyed me exceedingly." He opened the box and took out a smallbrooch of tiny diamonds and seed pearls, fastening it carefully in thefichu at herbreast.

"Oh, how pretty!" Danielle breathed, fingering the delicate object."Thank you for letting me wear it, milord. I promise I will take verygood care of it."

"It is yours, Danny."

"But, my lord, I cannot. I ... I have already taken so much from you,"she stammered, flushing with dismay.

"Now you are being foolish again and quite ridiculously missish. Iexpect you to be awkward, stubborn, argumentative, and thoroughlydisobliging, but not to be missish—a quality of the very young which I

find both exasperating and boring!" she was informed roundly. "You willaccept the brooch graciously atod I will hear no more of this nonsense.Is it understood?"

"Perfectly, milord." Danielle sank into a beautifully executed curtsyof just the right depth, extending a small,long-fingered hand as she rose. The earl received the tapered fingersin his, raising them to his lips as he bowed gracefully.

"Well done, Lady Danielle," he said approvingly. "I see that you

have

had an education in the finer points of etiquette."

"But of course, sir," she exclaimed. "Did you imagine I had not?"

"Most reprehensible of me," he murmured apologetically, "but you see, Ihave only, until now, encountered a grubby, sharp-tongued urchin offearsome pride and independence, who rides, walks,

talks, curses, anddresses like a veritable vagabond."

"I do not ride like a vagabond," she protested indignantly, seizing onthat as the only part of his speech she could dispute.

"True, but I have not yet seen you ride as a lady," he reminded gently.

"Yes, well, that is something I do not care to do. If I may not rideastride I will not ride at all."

"In that case, my child, you will, I fear, be doing very little ridingin the future."

Those eyes blazed at him. "What I do in the future, my lord, will be noconcern of yours."

"How very wrong you are," he sighed. "Come now, Danielle, let us notquarrel tonight. You are looking far too adorable—it quite puts me at adisadvantage, and I know you believe in playing fair."

At that her mouth curved in a thoroughly impish grin, two deep dimplesappearing in cheeks which were certainly less thin than they had been afew days ago.

"You mean, sir, that when I am dressed in this manner you find yourselfunable to make threats against my person?"

"If you behave in a manner befitting your attire, I will find it quiteunnecessary to do so. So, let us cry peace for a few hours."

The small head bowed a graceful acknowledgment. "Shall we dine, milord?"

Linton, with a slight bow, crooked his arm invitingly and, laying herhand on the fine cloth, she allowed him to escort her to the table.

The artist in the kitchen had had a bad time since receiving Bedford'srelayed orders that afternoon, but nothing in the meal arranged inchafing dishes on the sideboard gave any indication of the tantrumsthat had shaken the lower regions of the mansion. Danielle did amplejustice to the large carp in parsley sauce, a dish of buttered crab,and a saddle of mutton with mint sauce, but, to the earl'sastonishment, rejected the dish of pastries and the rhenish cream infavor of a piece of stilton and an apple that he peeled for her withhis tiny silver dessert knife.

"I have not a sweet tooth, you see," she informed him seriously."

Grandpere

said it would ruinmy palate and I daresay he was right.Anyway, I have not been in the habit of eating puddings, so do not missthem."

Linton hid a smile, wondering what this unusually sophisticatedcreature would do when faced with her