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

Pitt laughed softly. "She is an extraordinary child, but sponsored byMarch will have all the right entrees." He gave his companion a shrewdlook. "You, I imagine, will continue to hold the reins?"

"It seems my destiny," the earl replied calmly.

"It will require all your skill, my friend, and the lightest hand onthe strongest curb!"

"Just so, Pitt."

"Well, you know I stand her friend and yours. Now, did you meet withMirabeau?"

*  *  *

The earl sat in frowning silence as the light chaise made its waythrough the night streets of London prompting Danielle to inquiretentatively, "Are you still cross with me, milord?"

He sat up suddenly. "Cross with you? Why should I be, child?"

"Well, I do not really know, but . . . but . . . my want of conduct,perhaps?"

"Well, as I have had occasion to remark in the past, that is certainlydeplorable," he replied briskly. "However, we shall have some months towork on that particular problem before yourcome-out next Season." Ignoring Danielle's suddenly opened mouth, hecontinued coolly. "I am sorry if I appear abstracted, Danny. Yourinformation and my subsequent discussion with Pitt have created someuncomfortable reflections. I will share them with you on our journey toMervanwey—it is too late tonight."

With that she was obliged to be satisfied and in all honesty was fartoo fatigued either to question his blithe assumption about her futureor to enter into any further political discussions.

The night porter bowed them into the hall of Linton House and the earlaccompanied Danielle to the Blue Room where she was summarily unlaced,unbuttoned, and dismissed to her bed with the firm injunction that sherefrain from bursting into song at her ablutions and be prepared to beup betimes in the morning.

That morning dawned bright and clear and Danny was awakened by theservant, Molly, who brought her hot chocolate, hot water, and her boy'sclothes freshly laundered and pressed. Even the boots carried a shinethat had taken the boot boy an hour to achieve.

"Breakfast, sir, will be served in the parlor behind the dining room."Molly bobbed a curtsy as she turned from drawing back the curtains andDanny buried her face in the pillows not at all anxious to be viewed inthe full light of day by this young woman who was all too close to herin age. As the door closed behind the girl a dreadful thought struckher and she shot upright in the bed. What had happened to her clothesof the night before? She remembered only stepping out of them. It hadnot occurred to her to put them away. But they were nowhere to be seenand their absence only added to the curious dreamlike memories of theprevious evening. Once dressed in her usual garments she became Dannyagain and indeed felt as if she had never been anyone else. Her tasknow was to evade the protection of the Earl of Linton at the earliestmoment and proceed with her original scheme. The nagging doubts as toher ability to pursue this course she dismissed as an attack of morningmegrims and having forced her curls into their rather

unconvincing masculine style set off to find the breakfast parlor. Inthis she was ably assisted by a watchful footman and was ushered intothe small room at the back of the house where Milord was alreadybreaking his fast with a degree of enthusiasm.

"Ah, good morning, brat," he greeted her without ceremony. "You sleptwell, I trust?"

"Very well, thank you, sir." She took her place and examined thedeviled kidneys, mushrooms, eggs, and ham with considerable appetite.

"May I carve you some ham?" the earl asked politely.

"If you please, milord. It is amazing how easy I find it to becomeaccustomed to this English breakfast," she confided, pouring coffee."In France it would be considered barbaric to begin the day with meat."

Linton's lips quivered slightly, but he maintained his composure as shepiled her plate and silence reigned for some considerable time.

"Oh, milord?" Danielle suddenly looked up. "Do you know what happenedto my clothes last night? I was most afraid Molly would see them thismorning."

"I find I have an unexpected talent as lady's maid," Linton informedher dryly.

"Oh." Danielle absorbed this in thoughtful silence.

"You will find a portmanteau in your room. It contains those clothesand toilet articles for the journey,"

he went on calmly. "Within threedays, I intend that you shall put on your petticoats permanently."

"Milord, I have told you . . ."

"Yes, I am well aware of what you have told me. I, however, have alsotold you certain things. We shall see whose plans prevail. If you arequite finished, I suggest we start for Cornwall."

"May . . . may we not discuss this, milord?" Danielle decided on onelast try, an attempt at mature, dignified reasoning.

"There is nothing to discuss, Danny. You will endure my guardianshipuntil I can give you into the charge of your grandparents. I quiteunderstand that you find that fact unpalatable and your positionirksome. However, I should warn you thatif you throw down the glove, I shall most certainly take it up. Shallwego?"

Tranquilly, Linton pulled out her chair and held the doorfor her and Danielle, the wind quite taken out

of her sails, had no choicebut to comply.

Just how difficult her guardian was going to be was revealed all tooclearly when she emerged into the quiet square. The hired chaise stoodat the steps, an enchantingly pretty dappled mare, unsaddled, tied tothe back, whilst His Lordship was standing at the stirrup of amagnificent glossy black.

"In you get, Danny," he instructed calmly.

"But you are riding!" she protested.

"I am."

"May I not also ride?"

"Not until we have left the town. I do not underestimate yourresourcefulness, you see," he murmured almost apologetically. "And theopportunities for escape will be many in the streets. They are socrowded and narrow,