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

Frowning, Danielle went to the library door, opening it just as Bedfordappeared and in stony accents informed the owners of the voices that ifthey did not leave immediately they would be thrown out.

A woman's voice lifted in a sobbing wail and Danny went swiftly intothe hall. Two men and a woman stood by the open front door, nakeddesperation on their faces. It was easy enough to see why the footmanand Bedford were reacting as they were—the party bore all the signs ofpoverty in their bedraggled clothing and wooden-soled shoes; and theywere none too clean, either. But Danielle knew well how dirt andmisfortune were inextricable partners. . "Qu 'est-ce qui sepasse, mesamis?" She

walked briskly toward them.

All three began to speak at once in an impossibly confused torrent andshe held up her hand in an imperative gesture for silence.

"Venez avec moi, s'il vous plait

.Bedford, you will bring coffee andbiscuits to the library, please." With an encouraging smile she usheredthe group into the library and closed the door.

"Maintenant, vous

voulez expliquer. Vous, monsieur?"

She indicated the man whosegrizzledhair bespoke his seniority.

The story was preceded with elaborate, courteous apologies for the rudemanner of their interruption, but speed was of the essence and they hadbeen unable to afford the time to write to request milady to visitthem. Danielle nodded. She had assumed something of the sort since herhelp had never before been requested in this way. The chevalierreceived the urgent visits since in his bachelor lodgings they wouldattract less notice than in Grosvenor Square. But D'Evron was in Franceat present gathering up-to-date information for Pitt, much as Danielleand Justin had done last summer.

A footman appeared with a tray of refreshments, his expression woodenas he placed it on a small rosewood table. "Thank you, I will pour thecoffee myself." Danielle dismissed him with a courtesy that concealedher impatience. When they were again alone she turned to the elderlyman.

"Continuez, monsieur."

She wished now she had asked Bedford to provide bread and cheese ratherthan the dainty mouthfuls of petit fours that accompaniedthe coffee. She was reminded unpleasantly of Marie Antoinette, who haddeclared that if the people had no bread then they should eat cake. Shewould remedy her thoughtlessness later.

The old man told the story with a simple dignity that did little toprevent the cold chills creeping across Danielle's skin. Hisgranddaughter, twelve years old, had been on her way to market thatmorning when the cry of "pickpocket" had rent the air from a manstanding close to her. In the succeeding flurry, someone had bumpedagainst her and a gold watch had fallen to the ground at her feet. Thegirl had been seized instantly, hauled before the magistrates, who, inthe face of the evidence, spared no time to listen to her haltingattempts to explain her innocence in a language she barely knew. As aresult,

la petite

Brigittewas now incarcerated in Newgate Prisonawaiting trial and the Robertses knew no one with sufficient facilityin the language to plead her case.

At story's end, Danielle paced the library floor well aware that foronce she had no idea what to do. The first priority was to effect thechild's release from that hell upon earth. She could post bail if sheknew how to do so, could even expend sovereigns in bribery, but to dothat she must go to the jail herself, and there was no one to accompanyher. The chevalier was in France, Jules and his friends were attendinga prize fight out of town. Justin was her only hope and Danielle had noidea where he was, but every minute Brigitte spent in Newgate was aminute spent in danger of life and limb, not to mention the

trauma ofsuch an experience.

"You must allow me one hour." She made her decision with cold finality.If Justin could not be found in that time then she would go alone. Itmeant a broken promise, but the only alternative was to turn thisstricken family from the door. He would understand that as he hadunderstood everything else.

She left the Robertses in the library and instructed Bedford to sendseveral men in search of His Lordship—they should try White's andWatier's and certain houses. She reeled off the names of Linton'sclosest friends and included the address on Half Moon Street. It wasunlikely, since Edward Mainwairing

had joined the Ninth Foot some six months ago, that Justin would havebusiness there, but it was possible he might be visiting his oldfriend. She then requested that a substantial nuncheon be provided forher guests and went upstairs to don habit and boots, slipping a purseof sovereigns in the deep pocket together with her pistol. She threw aheavy cloak over her arm before descending to the bookroom where shescribbled a hasty note to Justin—a note of apology and explanation ofher mission.

All efforts to find Justin failed and with a fair assumption ofconfidence she had the town chaise brought to the door and followed thedistraught Roberts into its cushioned interior. There was no need forsecrecy—in fact, Danielle decided, quite the opposite. She would needall the power and influence of her social position in this affair andshe had made no secret of her destination in her note to Justin.

Fortunately, she was unable to see the coachman's face as he receivedhis orders. But they were orders from the countess and Malcolm spranghis horses bearing the chaise with the Linton arms emblazoned

on itspanels in the direction of Newgate Jail.

She must first see the governor, Danielle decided, alighting from thechaise with a swish of skirts. The building was an intimidating mass ofstone surrounded by high walls in which were set iron gates. The gateswere manned by slovenly looking individuals who initially showed scantinterest in the chaise and the presence of a small figure in a deepblue velvet riding habit adorned with silver lace. However, when thatfigure demanded to see the governor immediately and castigated themroundly on their inebriated state, they staggered involuntarily into arelatively