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

muchlater that night that Danielle had sufficient time alone with herhusband to broach the subject that had been disturbing her thoughts allday.

Justin frowned. "I do not know exactly. He claims that our fathers wereclose friends, but my father

never mentioned such a thing to me and hetook me into his confidence on most matters. However." He shrugged. "Itis not impossible that an old friendship slipped his mind. There isjust something about the man that I do not trust, and I do not care forthe way he looks at you. There is an intensity that makes

me uneasy."

Danny chuckled. "You think he means to seduce me?"

"You will not find me a complacent husband if you succumb, wife,"Justin warned, trying to sound playful but failing miserably.

"Oh, pah!" Danielle dismissed the comment with a careless wave. "He hasthe eyes of a fish and the face of a horse, so long and narrow. But hecannot help either of those misfortunes," she added kindly. "I find himsensible, my lord, and that is a most refreshing change. Also, he showsno indication to flirt with me at all, so I do not think you needworry." Suddenly, her conversation with Madame Cloury at the Tuileriespopped into her head—strange how she had forgotten that story of St.Estephe's checkered

past. But then scandalous gossip was the mainstayof the French court and one could not believe more

than a fraction of what was said.

"What is it?" Justin probed, seeing the changed expression that nowshowed no laughter.

"Rien du tout."

She shruggedeasily—why bother Justin withtittle-tattle? "I was thinking of how best to impart some sense tothose crazy hotheads."

Chapter 20

"What think you, Justin?" William Pitt held his wine to the Maysunlight, turning the glass so that the

rich claret sparked amethystlights through the exquisitely chiseled cuts.

"The claret is superb," Linton observed. "Since Danielle took over therunning of our cellars, we rarely have a poor vintage."

"I do not think Milord Chatham refers to the quality of the wine."Danielle spoke from the chaise longue where she sat on this sunnyafternoon with her son, turning over the pages of a picture book whileNicholas clapped his hands gleefully and struggled to articulate hismother's careful definitions.

"What have you to say to this proposal then, Danny?" Justin regardedher gravely.

"I think that if the prime minister needs you to go to Russia, then youmust do so."

The prime minister heaved a sigh of relief. He had come here today inconsiderable trepidation to enlist Linton's aid. In earlier days hewould have asked the earl in private, assuming that he would make hisown decision and then inform his wife. But Pitt was now well aware thathe was dealing with no conventional marriage and if he asked thehusband to undertake a potentially dangerous mission then

he must alsoask the wife's permission.

"I would have liked to see Czar Alexander's court for myself," Daniellesaid wistfully. "But we have Nicholas to consider andthe voyage could prove dangerous. I also have much work to do here."She turned to Pitt. "How long do you expect the journey will take, sir?"

"No more than three months, ma'am," he responded. "Hopefully less.Linton should not need to spend more than a month at St. Petersburg andas soon as he has an accurate impression of the czar's views as to theaffairs in France and the war between France and Austria, then thesooner he brings them back to me the better."

"At least it is not winter." Danielle stroked her son's headthoughtfully. "The seas are quite calm and St. Petersburg will not besnowbound. How soon will you leave?" She looked directly at her husband.

How could he leave her for three months? Justin wondered. She was buttwenty and yet evinced a quiet maturity and wisdom more suited to awoman ten years her senior. But she was still impulsive and inclined torecklessness when the spirit moved her. What would she do when he wasnot here to apply

the checks and balances? And could he bear to bewithout her for three long months?

He had no choice, of course. His prime minister needed him and Daniellehad given his answer. "Within the week," he said.

"If t'were done when 'tis done, then t'were well t'were done quickly."Danny smiled as she quoted

Macbeth

,a smile of complete understandingas she heard his thoughts. It would be no easier for her to livewithout the mainstay of her existence, to worry, sometimes needlesslyand sometimes with reason, as he made the treacherous journey. But theywere no longer private people who could conduct their lives accordingto their own whims and fancies. In this year of trouble, 1792, they hada part to play in the greater scenario and were both political animalswho shared the same goals.

Justin left England five days later and a week after, on May 30, KingLouis XVFs bodyguard was dismissed by the Assembly, who decided thatthey held an "unpatriotic spirit," being too royalist in theirsentiments. Detachments of the National Guard took their place and thepath to dethronement turned thehill and began its inexorable drop to the river of blood.

"We cannot work with these imbeciles, so we must work without them,"Danielle said forcefully to the small group of Englishmen augmented byD'Evron and the Comte de St. Estephe.

"How do you propose doing that?" St. Estephe asked, hooding his eyesover the spark of excitement. He sensed that his chance for revenge wasapproaching. He would take her as a flagrant betrayer of therevolution—to exact vengeance but also to perform the work that he hadbeen sent here to do. Once she committed herself to action then he hadhis excuse, and he knew her well enough now to be sure that such actionwould no longer be confined to haranguing her despised compatriots.

"We must achieve a list of those in danger and go into France and issuethe warning," Danielle said simply. "It will mean working