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

Linton had more than one way of dealing with hergranddaughter's complex personality.

"I'm sorry," Danielle whispered, "but please, milord, tell them theymust not take away my clothes. I... I may need them again, if somethinghappens again and I . . . I have to run away again."

Compassion flooded the earl as he realized what was happening. It wasfar too soon for Danielle to accept security, to put behind her thethought that she needed to be prepared for any eventuality. Her boy'sclothes were utterly necessary to her peace of mind.

"No one will take them away, brat," he said gently. "But you can surelydo without them whilst they are laundered."

Slowly she released her convulsive grip on the britches and jacket,allowing the maid to take them before the storm of weeping overwhelmedher. Linton took the shaking figure in his arms and, sitting on thebed, settled her on his lap cradled against his chest until the rackingsobs slowed and at long last ceased. The Countess of March herself saton the broad window seat feeling in some vague way that she shouldremain as chaperone but also that it was both too late and quiteunnecessary. There was an intimacy between these two that had beenforged in some extraordinary situation that she was certain had been asinevitable as it had been improper.

"I'm all right now," Danielle whispered, struggling to sit up, wipingher bare arm across her wet eyes and running nose.

"Oh, Danny! When will you stop doing that?" Linton chuckled softly,pulling out his handkerchief and wiping her face himself. "Blow yournose, now."

She gave him a watery smile and obeyed vigorously. "Why did thathappen?"

"You have been holding a great deal inside in recent weeks." He set heron her feet and rose himself.

"Get dressed now. I'll leave you in thecompetent hands of your grandmama."

Lady Lavinia followed him out of the room, pulling the door half shutbehind her. "You do not think, Linton, that perhaps a draught oflaudanum and her bed might not be the best course?"

Justin frowned and then shook his head. "No, I think not. She isremarkably resilient, ma'am. I think that outburst will probably havedone more good than any opiate. She will want to tell you her storyherself and also has some further plans which I am hoping she willreveal without too much delay." His lips curved in a slight smile. "Shehas informed me that I will not approve of them, and, I think, hopes topersuade you and March to accede to her wishes without my interference."

"A forlorn hope, I gather, Justin?" Her Ladyship smiled.

"Quite."

The countess nodded in brief satisfaction and returned to thebedchamber.

The muslin gown earned her immediate approval. "It has the mark ofLutece, unless I am much mistaken."

"Milord bought it for me," Danielle informed her, adjusting the fichucarefully.

"Then it is undoubtedly Lutece," the countess averred.

"He also gave me this brooch, ma'am. Do you think it was perhapsimproper of me to accept it?" Danielle looked anxiously at hergrandmother, who could not resist smiling.

"My love, I suspect that that gift is about the only 'proper' thingthat has happened to you in months. It is quite unexceptionable, justright for a young girl. But Lin ton's taste is always as impeccable ashis judgment in these matters. You have minded him well, I hope."

"I have not had very much choice, Grandmama," Danielle replied tartly."My Lord Linton is most persuasive!"

Her Ladyship had no difficulty in believing this, but merely suggestedmildly that they repair to the drawing room.

They kept country hours when in Conwall and dinner was announced soonafter the ladies had arrived downstairs. Linton had exchanged hisriding clothes for a plain but superbly tailored coat of brown clothand fawn knee britches—more morning dress than evening but Lord Marchhad informed him thatthey stood on no ceremony when at Mervanwey. They dined with a degreeof informality but their dinner, in quantity and quality, would nothave disgraced any London table. Once the covers had been removed,however, and the port decanter placed at Lord March's elbow, theservants were dismissed and March suggested that they dispense with theformality of the ladies' withdrawal and hear Danielle's story in theprivacy and comfort of the dining room.

Danielle looked askance at the port decanter which showed noinclination to move in her direction and Justin smiled slightly.

"It is not considered the thing, Danny, for ladies, particularly veryyoung ladies, to partake of port after dinner."

At her rather crestfallen look, her grandfather gave a low chuckle. "Weare quite private, Linton, and the child is half French after all. Ifshe is used to taking it I cannot see that it will do any great harm.However, miss, in company it will not do at all, so you must accustomyourself to two standards." He filled her glass, casting a twinklingglance at his wife, who was looking most disapproving.

Danielle told her story for the third time to an audience as attentiveas her two previous ones, finding that with repeated telling the horrorseemed to recede somewhat. On this occasion she included much moredetail of her life and that of her mother and of events leading to themassacre, providing her listeners with an explanation and a descriptionthat shocked them considerably more than it did her. As before, sheended her narrative at the point where she had met the Earl of Linton.

A heavy silence hung over the table as she concluded and she was not toknow that the thought uppermost in all three of her listeners' mindswas how to put Danielle de St. Varennes on the conventional tracksagain after such a life and such an experience. Justin had alreadydecided how this was to be done and watched with secret amusement thecogitations of his hosts, knowing that sooner rather than later theywould reach his conclusion. He hoped, however, that they would notblurt this out in front of Danielle; it