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

certainly not," Haversham made haste to disclaim. "Not asmiserable, at least, as the farrier and the wine merchant will be."

Linton chuckled. He had had a most unpleasant meeting with his motherduring which he had gently informed the lady that he or, in exceptionalcases, the Earl and Countess of March were the only people who had theright to take his wife to task. Looking at Danny now, he was reassuredthat the confrontation had been correct. The urchin side of her was hisand only his and it was a side of his wife that Justin cherished. Justas he cherished the puckered brow, the firm lips, and the sharpuncompromising eyes as she unraveled the intricacies of his householdaccounts.

On more than one, occasion in the last six months he'd listened toPeter's admiring explanations of how much wasteful expenditure had beencut, and then how the money saved had been designated to improve thetenant farms and the lot of various individuals who, through ill healthor misfortune, found themselves in difficulties. Danielle, in the twomonths of their honeymoon, had ridden the acres of Danesbury, moreoften than not in britches, and had learned in those few weeks morethan Justin had ever deemed it necessary to know. That knowledge shehad proceeded to turn to good use and should one of the earl'sfactotums be so misguided as to disagree with her, he found that thetomboy countess could play many parts.

"We are hardly in financial straits, my love," Linton now said,examining the ledgers. "These are no great sums."

"No," she agreed. "But the principle is great. If you allow yourself tobe robbed in small ways, my lord, then you give tacit permission forgreater losses."

Justin remembered that he had married a de St. Varennes— a strongstreak of economy ran in the blue veins of that branch of the Frencharistocracy. His wife had also known the extremes of poverty and nearstarvation. Waste of any kind was intolerable, but then neither was shemiserly, as anyone who had cause to request her generosity was wellaware. He pinched her cheek. "You will do as you think fit, my love."

Peter discreetly averted his eyes from the smiling exchange. Theybehaved sometimes as if he were not in the room, but strangely he feltenormously complimented by this easy acceptance.

An alerting knock on the paneled door and Bedford appeared. He carrieda heavily embossed silver tray on which reposed a visiting card. "Mylady." He bowed and presented the tray to Danielle.

She took the card, read it, and replaced it. "Would you tell thechevalier that I will join him directly?"

"In the drawing room, my lady?"

"Yes, thank you, Bedford." Danielle smiled and the butler's thin lipstwitched in involuntary response before he left the room with ponderoustread.

"You have a visitor?" Justin poured two glasses of sherry, handing oneto Peter. Danielle rarely took

wine before noon.

"The Chevalier d'Evron," Danielle replied. "You have met, I think,Linton."

"I do not recall, but I daresay you are right." Justin actuallyremembered clearly his introduction to the chevalier—a sharp-nosed,thin-faced Frenchman, his body taut with a tension that had immediatelycommunicated itself to Danielle. Justin had found this most disturbing,but without knowing why. He

had dismissed the encounter in the fondhope that it would disappear from reality as easily as it did

frommemory and as far as he knew Danielle's acquaintance with the chevalierwas slight. But slight acquaintances rarely paid morning calls withoutan ulterior motive. However, he had nojustifiable

cause for concern so he bowed to his wife and returned tohis sherry and Peter.

Danielle's frown deepened as she mounted the stairs to the drawingroom. She and D'Evron communicated briefly when they met at socialfunctions, and when necessary sent terse notes. Only a matter ofconsiderable importance would have brought him to her doorstep.

"

Bonjour

,

chevalier

." She greeted hervisitor, closing the door firmlybehind her.

D'Evron turned from one of the long windows overlooking the street.

"Bonjour,

comtesse."

"Voulez-vous prendre un verre?"

Danielle laid a hand on the knottedbellpull.

"Non, merci." The chevalier waved a hand in quick denial of the offerof hospitality.

"D'accord. Asseyez-vous, s'ilvousplait.''

' Danielle sat herself on abrocade wing chair and indicated that her guest should take its fellow.

"Qu'est ce qui se passe, mon ami?"

The direct question brought the direct answer. "I need your help,

comtesse

, in a desperate case;a situation in which your position andpower as the Countess of Linton may make all the difference. You are anEnglish lady and my own position as a mere Frenchman is notsufficiently powerful."

Danielle nodded. Bourgeois prejudice against the French wasconsiderable, and the chevalier would be tarred with the same brush ashis more unfortunate compatriots. "It is more than money this time,then?"

So far her contribution to the refugee cause had been purely financial.She had provided money and custom. Money to alleviate immediatedifficulties, and her business and that of others of the haut ton tothose who had the wherewithal and the courage to set up business againin a foreign land. Hairdressers, modistes, and jewelers, once under thepatronage of the Countess of Linton, were beginning to make a living.But there were many others with problems that could not be solved inthis way and she knew that the chevalier worked tirelessly to intercedefor his countrymen whenever he could.

"There is a family in Steeplegate,

comtesse

.They live in great poverty. Monsieur found work with a shoemaker andmadame has beentaking in laundry. However, she is . . ."The chevalier coloredslightly. "In a delicate situation and can no longer manage the heavywork. Monsieur injured his hand severely

and was dismissed by theshoemaker. There are several young children in the family and thelandlord intends to evict them this afternoon because they are behindwith the rent."

"Then we must pay the rent," Danielle said simply. She received noallowance from Justin, merely carte blanche to draw on his bankers forwhatever sums she required. It was an extraordinary arrangement

and onethat, if it became known, would cause many eyebrows raised inhorror—the Earl