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

"Agreed, wife. Will you now dismiss your maid?"

"Shall I also dismiss Petersham for you?" Her eyes danced wickedly asshe moved to the door. "I might also enjoy unwrapping my present."

Odd's blood, but she was beautiful—half Danny, half Danielle; urchineyes under the elegant coiffure, the eager, wanting body beneath theformal gown. Justin, Earl of Linton, wanted his wife as he had wantedno other woman. "Co on," he instructed. "I shall join you in fiveminutes."

Danielle slipped from the room with a soft laugh and a rustle of hersatin skirts, satisfied that the lady who penned notes to her husbandin violet ink on scented paper was no threat to the Countess of Linton.

"You may go to bed, Molly." She whisked into her chamber, closing thedoor behind her. She was in the old "blue room." Justin's suggestionthat she take over the countess's traditional suite of rooms in thewest wing had been received with backstreet indignation—her husband wassuggesting that they sleep at opposite ends of the house? Justin, withsecret delight, had cut short her profanities and agreed to theiradjoining bedchambers and Danielle's private sitting room in the westwing. The blue room was now white and gold with a small powder closetbuilt into one corner. Danielle generally ignored her own sitting roomin favor of her husband's private* parlor where she was frequently tobe found with a book or asleep on the sofa in the late afternoon.

Petersham had become quite accustomed to Her Ladyship's presence as helaid out my lord's evening clothes, and was even resigned to theever-open connecting door and Lady Danny's unconventional appearanceswhen the earl was involved in the sacrosanct activity of tying hiscravat.

Molly had been dozing in a brocade armchair beside the dying fire andleapt to her feet, blinking rapidly. "M'lady, I didn't expect you sosoon."

"No, and you may go to bed, immediatementl" Danielle kicked off herbronze kid pumps. "My Lord is home."

"So I understand, m'lady." Molly picked up the shoes and hid her smile."Shall I help you with your dress?"

"Yes, perhaps you had better," Danielle agreed thoughtfully. The gownwas delicate and, while Justin was never clumsy . . . "And the hoopalso, if you please."

If she pleased! Molly busied herself with the tiny fastenings. Herabrupt elevation from below-stairs maid-of-all-work to personal maid tothe Countess of Linton still produced nightmares of disbelief.

Danielle had surveyed the ranks of impeccably qualified ladies' maidsmarched by her at Peter Haversham's direction with a curling inside.She would never be able to deal with any one of these stiff women withtheir disdainful noses and unmovable opinions as to what was right andproper. She would have Molly, the housekeeper's granddaughter, and noother. Justin had agreed instantly, recognizing his wife's need forcompanionship of her own age. There had been tempestuous rumblingsbelowstairs at this unforeseen advancement of one of the lowliestmembers of the hierarchy. Molly's tears at the unkindness had led to aconfrontation between Danielle and Bedford, who had found himselfrequested by an icy aristocrat to keep his house in order. Hisdignified complaint to the earl had resulted in the simple statementthat if Bedford wished for a recommendation to work elsewhere, the Earlof Linton would be happy to furnish it. End of confrontation and Mollyreigned supreme in the countess's bedchamber and Bedford's staff heldtheir tongues.

Now Molly hung up the bronze satin gown in the wardrobe and surveyedher mistress clad in petticoats and chemise. "Will that beall, m'lady?"

"That will be all, thank you, Molly." The earl's voice came k from theconnecting doorway as he appeared, still dressed in his eveningclothes.

"Yes, m'lord." Molly bobbed a curtsy and disappeared. It was a familiarscene.

"Now, milady." The earl crossed to his wife. "We were talking aboutunwrapping, as I recall."

It was dawn when Linton awoke. He lay relishing the sensation of thesoft body beside him—one week away from her was definitely too long. Asif echoing his thought, Danielle rolled onto her back and murmuredsleepily, "I have missed you, sir. In future, I shall not permit you toleave me behind when

you go about your so tedious business."

The earl smiled and flipped her onto her stomach. Since he had no plansin the foreseeable future for leaving her, any full-scale-argumentscould safely be postponed. He said only, "I do not accept ultimatums,madam," and began to nuzzle his way down the long narrow back.

Danielle stretched and purred, whimpering with pleasure when he tookher little pink toes into his mouth. Then she murmured, "Tell me,milord, about the lady who knows you so well that she writes prettymessages in the middle of the night."

Justin groaned. "Not now, Danny, please."

"Now is a good time," she insisted. "While you are doing these so nicethings to me, I shall not feel jealous of the lady. And then I will dosome so nice things to you while I tell you what your

maman

is waitingto tell you when you call upon her this morning." Her tone indicatedthat she considered such a course of action perfectly logical andreasonable and she was probably right, Justin reflected, running histongue along the high arches of her feet. Danielle squirmed deliriously.

"Very well," he murmured, slipping his hands between her thighs. "Themessage was from Lady Mainwairing. Once my mistress . . .

"But no longer?" she interrupted, her body tensing beneath the strokingfingers.

"No longer," Justin reassured. "Even had I the inclination, brat, Iwould not have the stamina to keep more than you satisfied in thebedchamber."

Danielle seemed content with the statement. "But what then does thelady want of you?"

"She wishes me to call on her urgently. In friendship only, and we arestill friends, Danny."

"Was she greatly upset when you became married?" Danielle tried to turnover, but a hand in the small

of her back kept her in place, and sincethe other hand was exquisitely busy elsewhere she gave up