Jane Feather - Charade by Unknown (howl and other poems .TXT) 📕

her comprehension. If her husband preferred only thatshe not ride alone, she could not quarrel with him and, indeed, had nodesire to do so.

"Justin, you cannot permit her to racket about the countryside and thetown in her usual outlandish fashion," Lavinia protested, once Daniellehad left. "Supposing she should be thrown?"

"That is such a remote possibility, Lavinia, that I consider the riskan acceptable one. I do not think Danielle has been thrown from a horsesince she was six years old," Justin said calmly. "She is no fool

forall her teasing and will take no unacceptable chances."

"But, Justin, Danielle does not understand the meaning of anunacceptable chance," Lavinia lamented.

"I believe she does." Linton smiled. This pregnancy, as only he knew,was of Danielle's making, and she would not jeopardize it. Once setupon a course of action, she followed it through with single-mindedpurpose. She would never deliberately put herself in danger ofmiscarriage.

"But Louise had such difficulties and Danielle is so tiny." Lavinia, inher anxiety, quite forgot the impropriety of discussing such matters infront of three young bachelors. Fortunately, though, none of themappeared remotely put out; it was as if their mother were discussing afavorite sister.

"She is stronger than Louise, ma'am. But I take your point. I shallinsist she visit Stuart as soon as we return to town and that shefollow any specific recommendations he might make."

With that Lady Lavinia had to be satisfied. Stuart was the courtphysician, considered the best

accoucheur

in Harley Street, and,for all Justin's easy tolerance of Danielle's unconventional ways,Lavinia did not doubt his ability to "insist" should he feel it waswarranted.

*  *  *

The Ducloses who received the Earl and Countess of Linton later thatmorning were a quite different family from the one Danielle had firstseen in the cold smelly room in London's East 'End. The children, plumpand rosy, swarmed around Danielle as she distributed presents. Within avery few minutes she was involved in an energetic game of Hunt theThimble around the stone cottage that bore all the signs of awell-managed orderly household. Monsieur and Madame Duclos regarded thescene benignly and appeared to stand on no ceremony with the youngcountess. They were more reserved with His Lordship until he accepted atankard of monsieur's cider and a large slab of madame's heavy fruitcake with its thick crust of marzipan beneath the white icing. Theyrelaxed completely when Danielle scooped up little Guillaume, now tenmonths, and deposited him on Linton's lap.

"My Lord must get used to babies, you see," she said with a twinkle."Since he will have one of his own in June." The news was received withjoyful exclamations of congratulation. Justin beamed delightedly,heedless of the baby's fingers busily engaged in pulling at his crisplystarched stock. The kitchen was redolent with the aromas of boilingpudding and roasting goose and Danielle suddenly put her hand over hermouth and ran for the courtyard.

"Oh, la pauvre petite!"

MadameDuclos exclaimed in instant femalecomprehension, and bustled after her.

"It was always so with madame," Duclos informed Justin placidly. "Butit passes in a few weeks, you

will see. And then she will want only themost impossible things. With Marie it was peaches, only peaches—inFebruary, my lord!" He chuckled reminiscently. "I scoured the whole ofParis." Duclos sighed. "But that, of course, was in the old days."

"I shall make you a tisane." Madame Duclos reappeared, her arm around apale Danielle. "It is just the thing."

"No, please, madame. It is not necessary." Danielle managed a wansmile. "I feel much better now and we must leave you to your dinnerpreparations."

"What nonsense! Sit by the fire; it will take but a moment." Madame setthe kettle on the fire and began to select dried herbs from the longrack hanging from the ceiling. She placed the herbs in a stone mortarand began to pound them with a heavy pestle, clucking sympatheticallyall the while. Boiling water was poured over the mixture, creating anaromatic infusion that she then strained through muslin and poured intoa cup.

"Drink this, child," she said briskly. Danielle's nose wrinkled at thepale green liquid but she sipped bravely and found that it was actuallyvery soothing.

Justin noticed with relief that the color had returned to her cheeks bythe time the cup was empty and decided that the sooner he got her homethe better—home and ensconced by the drawing-room fire with her feet ona footstool and cushions at her back. Keeping her there would requireconsiderable ingenuity but he'd have ample assistance.

Thus it was that Danielle found her guests curiously uninterested inoutdoor pursuits. Piquet, backgammon, chess, and riotous games ofcharades seemed to be their preference. When she began to show distinctsigns of cabin fever, Justin hit upon the notion of a fencingtournament in the long gallery and followed that success with anarchery contest in the stableyard. Danny had not the skill with the bowthat she had with the small sword and suffered what she considered anignominious defeat at Julian's hands. She seized on Justin's suggestionthat she work to perfect her technique and then challenge Julian to areturn match. Her cousin-in-law played his part by scornfullymaintaining that she could never defeat him. As a result, she receivedall the fresh air she craved a mere few paces from the house in anactivity that required little physical exertion, all the whileblissfully unaware of the elaborate machinations of her husband,grandparents, and friends.

"How long do you intend to keep this up, coz?" Julian asked softly oneafternoon as the two men stood watching Danny at her single-mindedpractice.

"For as long as possible," Linton replied. "This nausea concerns me,although I am assured by every female from Lady Lavinia to Molly thatit is quite normal and, in fact, a good sign. But it taxes her strengthalthough she will not admit it." He turned to smile at his cousin. "Iam grateful for your help, Jules, and that of the others. But you mustnot feel obliged to remain here; it must grow tedious."