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

became accustomed to the presence of an elderlyvoluble Frenchwoman who spoke little English but knew well how to makeher requests and how to have them granted. Nicholas thrived, Daniellewas content, and Justin even more so, now that his wife was no longeragitated at leaving the child and became once again the exclusivesharer of his bed.

The news from France grew ever more alarming as the king, havingaccepted the constitution then proceeded to use his veto in a mannerthat enraged the people. Hatred of the royalists seethed in thefaubourgs and fanned the flames of fear of a royalist uprising. AsDanielle had predicted, many of her

own class began to leave their native land in spite of theconstitution's decree that all emigres would have their propertysequestered and were to be considered traitors to the constitution andliable to the death penalty.

These were the people who knew now that they had done all they couldfor the royalist cause from within their country. To remain was toinvite martyrdom. The trickle became a stream as they gathered supportfor the counter-revolutionary army that their idealistic eyes sawmarching back into France with a blazing sword.

Linton House rapidly became a forum for discussions and plans, and newarrivals on English soil were directed there. Justin resigned himselfto a house under occupation. At least while Danielle was playingmistress of ceremonies in her salon, she couldn't be roaming thebackslums of London. Jules and his friends were almost always to befound participating in the debates, arranging contact with the otherrefugee centers in the Rhineland, offering financial support and theirown swords with an enthusiasm that Justin regarded with benignamusement. It was only natural that these energetic young men shouldfind espousing such a cause an exciting alternative to the social roundof pleasure that had hitherto been their lot.

It was Danielle's attitude that surprised him, although he realizedwith hindsight that it should not have done.

"It is quite ridiculous, Pitt," she stated, striding in exasperationaround the prime minister's bookroom one cold March afternoon. "It isall very well to have ideals, but not when they obscure the realissues. I listen to them rant and rave and plan a glorious revenge butthey will not accept that it is too late for that!"

Pitt exchanged looks with Linton before saying, "Could you explainfurther, Danny?"

"Ah, surely you must know what I am saying?" was her impatientresponse.

"C'est une betise

and I had not thought you stupid, sir."

"Danielle! That is most unmannerly," her husband rebuked sharply,shocked by her rudeness out of his usual calm acceptance of his wife'sdirectness.

Danielle flushed with mortification. "I beg pardon, sir. It is justthat I am angry and frustrated. I did not mean to be impolite."

William Pitt couldn't help his chuckle. The fiery young woman had beenreplaced by a contrite little girl trying to make amends after ascolding. "Pray don't mention it," he begged politely. "I do not meanto appear stupid, but I would like to hear you expand your thoughts."

"Well, it is perfectly simple . . . Oh, Justin, do not look at me inthat manner. It makes my thoughts all tangled."

"You flatter me, ma'am," Linton murmured sardonically, but his lipstwitched. "Continue in a more moderate tone, if you please."

Danielle sighed. "This emigration is exacerbating the outrage of thepeople. They are already saying that Paris is infiltrated with armedspies of the counterrevolution. They suspect secret agents of hiding inthe cellars of the Tuileries, of disguising themselves as NationalGuardsmen and hatching plots to assassinate the patriot leaders. Whatthe hotheads here do not understand is that the people will take theirrevenge on those members of their families that they have left behind.The depositions and arrests are happening every day; estates are beingpillaged just as in the worst days of the

'grandepeur'

and these idiotstalk rhetoric and do nothing practical."

"What should they be doing, Danny?" It was Linton who spoke, hisearlier annoyance quite vanished.

"They should be trying to bring out of France those who are in danger,"she told him succinctly. "There is still time and money and contactsenough to succeed. Those who wish to fight should join the Austrianarmy, the rest should be organizing a rescue mission. Instead they justtalk and will not listen to D'Evron or to myself." She glared indisgust at a spot on the carpet as if it were in some way responsible."Only Jules and the others seem to understand, but they can do nothingwithout inside help. How are we to know who to bring out, who to getmessages to; we are not omniscient."

"Danielle." Justin gave voice to the horrible suspicion carefully. "Youare not by any chance thinking of accomplishing this work yourself?"

"Well, someone is going to have to if these

imbeciles

cannot bepersuaded to see sense."

"Oh dear," William Pitt muttered, filled with compassion for his friend.

"Well, let us hope that that is a bridge we will not have to cross,"Linton said in a placid tone that earned him Pitt's instant admiration."Come, my love, the prime minister expects a division bell within thehour and you and I will leave politics behind for the evening and spendsome hours of dissipation at Almack's."

"Dissipation!" Danielle's laughter rang out. "On orgeat and lemonade,milord? And only the most

decorous dances watched over by every catin-town."

"Oh, do hush, brat," Linton begged through his own laughter. "It isfortunate that Chatham knows you s

o well."

"Mais, d'accord"

she declaredwith a lift of her eyebrow. "I wouldhardly speak so freely in front of him

if he did not."

"Touche,

I think, Linton."Pitt coughed to hide the bubble of merriment.

"Touche,

indeed." Justinpicked up his wife's cloak and placed it overher shoulders. "My sword arm is becoming somewhat weak these days."

"But not your sword?" Danielle whispered and Justin froze, wondering ifhe had heard her correctly but knowing that he had. That wicked whisperhad been for his ears alone but it was still outrageous of her