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

"My lady, you can't go in there," the governor demurred, painfullyaffected by the reality of the stony-faced, liveried coachman and thesudden thought of what might happen to him should the Countess ofLinton suffer injury.

"Well, it is clear that someone must," Danielle replied impatiently."Send one of your men."

"I ain't goin' in among that lot." The turnkey backed away. "They'd'ave me eyes out, soon as look at me."

"Oh, do not be absurd. You must be removing women from in there all thetime."

The governor refrained from saying that it was a rare occurrence andwhen it did happen his men required the company of half a dozen othersand the comforting presence of muskets. Since no such event had beenanticipated on what had been a peaceful morning, he had neither the mennor the firearms available.

"Unlock the door," Danielle repeated, steeling herself for theinevitable when the uncomfortable silence looked as if it would go onforever.

*  *  *

Justin walked into Watier's to be informed that a member of hishousehold had been in search of him but an hour since. As he receivedthis message he was hailed by the Marquis of Louden.

"Justin, 'pon my soul. Your men appear to have been searching all overtown for you. I received one myself not above half an hour ago."

"Indeed, George." Linton frowned. "Was there any message?"

"No. He wished to know if I knew your whereabouts. I suggested he mightfind you with the master." The master in question was the noted fencer,Armand Gaillard, who made a very satisfactory living matching his skillwith that of the Quality.

"I was there, but must have left before the messenger arrived." Lintoncould not hide his anxiety from

his friend. "If you will excuse me,George, I had best discover what so urgently requires my presence."

"Of course, dear boy," the marquis assured. "Tis to be hoped it'snothing serious. Lady Danny is quite well, I trust?"

"She was when last I spoke with her. I daresay Peter has written one ofhis formidable speeches for me

to deliver to the Lords and is anxiousto ensure that I do not miss the debate." He made his tone light andthe marquis laughed, gracefully accepting that Linton did not choose toshare his obvious concern.

Tomas was walking my lord's chestnuts along St. James's when Lintonreappeared on the steps of his club. Without a word, Justin took thereins and sprang into the curricle giving the tiger barely time to

jumpup behind as the horses leaped forward under the flick of the whip.

"What's amiss, Bedford?" Justin asked directly, pulling off his glovesas he strode into the hall.

"Her Ladyship left a message for you, my lord, before she left with theFrench persons." Bedford managed to convey, in spite of his impassiveexpression and calmly polite tone, exactly what he thought of the"French persons." He handed Linton the folded paper.

"Thank you." Justin went into the library before opening the message,his heart pounding uncomfortably. What he read sent him into apanic-stricken fury the like of which he had never before experienced.His wife, nearly five months pregnant, had dared to venture alone intothat abyss of human misery and degradation that was Newgate. And shehad broken her word—the one thing he had relied on without question. Itmattered not that she had made no attempt to deceive him, had searchedall over town for him, had gone on her errand with his coachman inattendance. His orders had been absolute and her promise made withoutcondition.

White-faced, Justin yanked the bellpull and gave instructions for thecurricle to be brought round again immediately. The horses were stillin harness and Tomas, with a resigned shrug at this unusuallyunpredictable behavior of My Lord's, brought them out of the stablesand back to the square.

"Where we goin', me lord," he gasped, hanging on for dear life as thehorses, given their heads, raced through the streets causing alltraffic in their path to cower against the curb.

"To Newgate," the earl spat out furiously and Tomas gawped indisbelief. It had to be Her Ladyship up

to her tricks again, hethought. Nothing else could throw His Lordship into such a toweringrage. But

what the devil took her to Newgate?

The Linton chaise stood outside the gates of the prison. Of Malcolmthere was no sign and the horses vrere being held by two men and adistraught woman, none of whom seemed capable of controlling thetossing heads and stamping hooves. A crowd of interested spectatorsshouted advice, much of it coarse and not at all to the point, andtheir yells merely served to exacerbate the highly bred beasts.

Linton sprang down and handed the reins to Tomas. "Do what you can," heinstructed tersely. "I'll send Malcolm out directly."

"I'll 'elp, me lord." A scrawny urchin appeared suddenly at Linton'sfeet. "Ah'm good wiv 'osses." Darting to the chaise he beganto soothe the leaders with a series of clicking noises thatunaccountably appeared

to calm them.

"I'll manage, me lord," Tomas said. 'The lad knows what he's about."

Justin strode to the gate. This time it opened instantly. Somethingextraordinary was going on this morning, and clearly anyone who hadanything to do with the chaise and the lady had business inside thejail.

"You'll be wantin' the women's side," one of the guards offered asJustin stood for a moment irresolute, looking around the bewilderingnumber of low buildings. "Leastways, that's where Bill took thecoachman." He jerked a thumb to the left and laughed coarsely. "Jestfollow your nose when you're inside. Can't miss it that way."

Justin tossed him a shilling and followed instructions.

*  *  *

"Unlock the door," Danielle said for the third time, controlling hershudder of horror. "I have not all day to waste on this tediousbusiness."

Tedious! This fearsome little creature actually had the temerity torefer to the prospect of entering that hellhole as tedious! Thegovernor gazed at her in awe and then