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

"A little," Justin said judiciously. Margaret had, in fact, beengreatly upset—not by the prospect of his marriage, but by his statementthat he intended to be a faithful husband. But she was a wise woman,accustomed to accepting the inevitable, and rather than risk losing hisfriendship had capitulated with a shrug and the cynical statement thata thirty-seven-year-old widow could hardly compete with the charms of aseventeen-year-old.

"But why does she send you the so urgent message?"

"I do not know exactly." Justin turned her over, taking her facebetween his hands. "She asks for the advice of a friend in atroublesome matter. Do I have your leave to offer it, Madam Wife?"

Danielle, looking up into the blue black eyes, realized with a surge ofjoy that the question was asked in

all seriousness. "But of course youmust. One must always stand by one's friends."

"Danny." Justin shook his head in wonder. "You are the most amazingcreature." He kissed her tenderly, but she responded with suchfierceness that he realized tenderness was not what she required at themoment and gave her what she wanted, plundering her mouth with arapacious tongue. She met thrust

for thrust, her body lifting againsthis, her legs curling around his buttocks, drawing him against thecleft

of her body.

Afterward she lay, her head cradled against his shoulder, one handstroking dreamily over his belly. "If you are in a good mood, I shouldperhaps make my own confession." Her teeth nibbled his sweat-damp,salt-tasting skin. Justin sighed, running his hands through the curlson his breast. "Was it so very dreadful, infant?"

"It should not have been," Danielle asserted. "It was very early in themorning, you understand. Well before seven and there should not havebeen anyone around." A faintly aggrieved note had crept into her voice.

"Astride, in britches, no groom and galloping ventre a terre in HydePark?" Justin sighed again. He received no answer and took the silencecorrectly for an affirmative. "Who saw you?"

"I do not know." The aggrieved note was no longer faint. "Your

maman

would not tell me. But I cannot abide tattletales and if ever I findout I shall tell them so."

Justin grinned, imagining the scene. However, he controlled his innermerriment and said severely, "I thought we had agreed that while youmay do as you please at Danesbury, in town you will abide by the rules."

"But you would not allow me to go to Danesbury," Danielle replied inaccents of sweet reason. "It would be wise in you, I think, to permitme to accompany you in the future." She was out of his arms before hecould react and danced across the room, the brown eyes gleaming inmischievous invitation.

The challenge was quite irresistible. Justin sprang from the bed andlunged for her. Danielle, with a laugh, leaped sideways and dodgedbehind a chair. The chase took them around the room, over the chairsand the tumbled bed and into My Lord's connecting suite. Here there wasmore scope and Justin gave up the fleeting thought of the absurdity ofa thirty-five-year-old leader of Society playing tag, stark naked, withthe equally naked minx who, for better or worse, was his wife. She wastoo quick for him, though, and, changing his tactics, he stood still.Danielle stopped also, her face flushed, eyes bright, bosom heavingunder her swift breath.

"Come here," Justin demanded. She shook her head, the tip of her tonguerunning over her lips. "Come here." He held out his arms and smiled.

Danielle. examined him thoughtfully. "You are very beautiful, myhusband." She walked into his arms.

"Wretch! Whatever did I do to deserve you?" Justin murmured as the softpliant body reached against him.

"I expect you were very good when you were young," she informed himcomplacently.

Chapter 10

"It seems to me, Peter, that the farrier has overestimated hisexpenses." Danielle looked up from her study of the ledgers piled onthe desk in Linton's bookroom. It was later that same morning but therewas no trace of the provocative sensual mistress of My Lord'sbedchamber in this calm matter-of-fact lady of the house. She wore asimple morning gown of sprigged muslin over a very small hoop. Herunpowdered hair hung in soft, unconfined curls to her shoulders, andshe was frowning.

It was a frown Peter Haversham was well accustomed to and one thatboded ill for a comfortable morning. "I could find no fault with themmyself, Lady Danny."

"Ah, but you do not understand these matters, Peter." She tapped anitem in the ledger with an imperative forefinger. "Maximilian was shodtwo months ago. John and I agreed that he should be put to pasture forthree months because of a strained tendon. It is not possible that heshould then have required four new shoes a month ago. C'estunebetise.'We will not pay this Monsieur Harker. He is a stupid man tothink he can play such a trick."

A very stupid man, Peter reflected. But then there were few farriersworking for the vast estates of the aristocracy who expected theirbills to be subjected to the minute, informed scrutiny of a shrewdeighteen-year-old countess.

"I have also a small problem here, Peter." She skimmed through thepages of the ledger. 'This shipment of '73 claret was returned to thewine merchant—there was one musty bottle, you understand, so it wasnecessary to return the whole. Wecould not lay down a hundred bottles when the one Bedford and I sampledwas contaminated."

"No, indeed not, Lady Danny," Peter concurred, wondering, nevertheless,how many other households returned an entire shipment on the basis ofone bad bottle.

"But the wine merchant has billed us for carriage charges. We will payhalf.

Qa c'est reasonable, n'est

ce pas?

If he has a further problem,we take our account elsewhere."

"Are you making my poor Peter miserable, Danielle?" Linton closed thedoor behind him as he stepped into the room.

"Indeed not, milord," Danny protested. "At least, I do hope not. Am Imaking you miserable, Peter?"

"No, no,