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

plan. We have been living in considerable harmony since thedebacle at Newgate and I have no desire to disturb it."

The Lintons returned to London in October. The infant Nicholas, hisnurse, nursery maid, and all the possessions considered necessary forhis comfort were ensconced in a second chaise, while Molly occupied thefirst in solitary state, Danielle having chosen to ride in the companyof her husband and Peter Haversham.

For a full day after their arrival, Linton House was turned upside downby a tempestuous countess who declared the traditional nurseryapartments quite inadequate in their present condition for her son.They were too dark, shabby, and cramped; she did not care for the colorscheme or the furnishings and something must be done immediately. WhenLinton observed mildly that they had been considered well enough forhim, he had been roundly informed that there was no reason to visit

his

deprivations on the next generation.

The nursery party was housed temporarily in the west wing while an armyof painters and decorators

tore down the old curtains, covered thenursery walls with crisp white paint, the woodwork with glossy scarlet,and the floors with a deep blue carpet. Bright curtains fluttered atthe windows and cheerful chintzes covered chairs and cushions beforeDanielle eventually pronounced herself satisfied and the householdheaved a sigh of relief.

Not for long, however. Five days later, Justin walked into the hallafter a leisurely ride in Hyde Park to

be met by a hysterical nurse anda raging Danielle in driving dress, holding a bawling Nicholas.

"Out, woman, this instant!" Danielle pointed dramatically to the door.

"What the devil's going on?" His Lordship demanded,

"This . . . this . . . Oh,

c'estinsupportable

. The only words that Ican think of, I cannot use!" Danny stormed. "Hush now,

mon petit chou,

hush." The crimson-faced baby yelled louder and Justin took hissonfirmly out of his mother's arms.

"You are not going to calm Nicky unless you calm yourself," he saidwith good reason, patting the child's back. "Let us continue thisunseemly scene in a little privacy." He strode to the library and thelittle viscount hiccupped and ceased his wailing as the steady hand onhis back continued its comforting work and the strong familiar armsprovided a safe haven fromthe chaos that had abruptly disrupted his orderly world.

Danielle followed, her skirts swirling under her impetuous stride. "Iam sorry, but it is beyond bearing, Justin." Her voice was calmer nowbut the brown eyes blazed. "That.. . that. . . woman out there!" Shegestured vigorously to the hall as she closed the door. "Nicky has beencrying for hours while she has been sitting in the servants' hallgossiping! And she actually said that it was good for him not to have

what he wanted sometimes if he was not to become spoiled! How dare she?I went out for two hours, just for a drive with Philip, and my child is

tortured

in my absence."

"That's a rather dramatic way of putting it," Justin murmured, sittingdown in an armchair and giving Nicholas his seal to play with. Itdisappeared instantly into the small mouth and Justin wiped the residueof tears from the button nose and brown eyes. The child was thespitting image of his mother.

"It is not at all dramatic," Danielle maintained, but hereyes softenedas she looked at them. "The woman must go. She's not fit to care for achild."

"Not for your child maybe," Justin said carefully. "By all means giveher her papers, but she must have

a month's wages in lieu of notice anda note of character. It would be unjust to do otherwise since herpractices would be considered perfectly acceptable in any otherhousehold. Your standards are exacting, my love. I have no quarrel withthem, but you should realize that they are somewhat unusual."

"But it is barbaric to leave a child to cry in that fashion. He is butfour months old, how else can he express his needs?" she demanded,arched eyebrows meeting in a ferocious frown.

"An English nurse, my love, expects to reign supreme in her nursery. Asfar as she is concerned the child is in her sole charge. I remember myown." Justin laughed. "I held her in much more awe than I did myparents; she had a very hard hand and didn't scruple to use it."

"Well, I will not tolerate such a thing," Danielle declared. "If Nickymust be cared for by others than myself, then they will do so accordingto my wishes. He is not to be made unhappy."

Justin thought of the years his son would spend at Eton, years which,if he did not conform, would be sheer misery. But Danielle wasright—the child was as yet four months old and entitled to instantgratification of his needs. Time enough later to prepare him for thereal world and to prepare Danielle for some facts pertaining to theupbringing of the heir to the Earl of Linton. He could not afford forhis son

to grow up at his mother's apron strings. At that momentNicholas cooed at his father and smiled. Justin forgot all else but hisoverpowering love for this helpless trusting scrap. He buried his facein the soft fragrant roundness of the baby's cheek and Danielle, with asatisfied smile, left them and went to

dispatch Nurse Barker in anorderly fashion.

Half an hour later she popped her head around the library door."Justin, I am going to visit the Bouchers in Steeplegate. An aunt liveswith them but they are desperately short of room. Tante Therese is wellaccustomed to babies and I am sure will be happy to take care of Nicky."

"I will come with you, in that case." Linton stood up carefully, thenow sleeping child in his arms. "This may not be one of your usualexcursions, but I still prefer that you not make it alone."

"Comme tu veux."

She shruggedeasily. "I will put Nicky in his crib andMolly will look after him until

we return."

Tante Therese was more than happy with the arrangement and the Lintonhousehold, perforce,