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

a deep wing chair, crossingone black-velvet-clad leg over the

other. "Danielle's mischief israrely without purpose. Your son's, on the other hand . . ." He sippedhis port, one eyebrow lifted.

Margaret accepted his tacit refusal to discuss his wife with a respecttinged with regret. Danielle had intrigued her and the marriage evenmore so now that she had observed husband and wife together. But shesaid only, "It is as bad as I feared?"

"I do not make it a habit to frequent gaming hells," Justin saidcarefully. "However, last evening I paid a visit to the Blue Angel." Hefrowned. "Edward is still a minor, Margaret, but those establishmentswill

turn a blind eye to such detail in the interests of plucking a fatpigeon. Were they aware of the true nature of your son's financialcircumstances, they would bar him. But as he runs with Shelby's crowd .. ." He shrugged.

"What am I to do, Justin?" Margaret looked at him, desperation in thesloe eyes.

"If he will not listen to reason, then you have no choice but to letmatters run their course. He will find himself at

point non

plussoon enough and the doors will be closed to him."

"But by then we shall both be ruined," Margaret whispered. "Can you donothing?"

"I can make his true circumstances known, if that is what you wish, Iwill be acutely humiliating both

for him and for you."

"Will you speak with him first? Tell him what you mean to do? Mayhap hewill listen."

"I have no authority over your son, Margaret." Justin stood up. "I amsorry, m'dear. I will drop a word

in his ear, but no more than that. Ifthat does not suffice, then, with your permission, I will disseminate

alittle information. After which, I imagine, be will be glad to accept apair of colors. I cannot promise a

top regiment, but will do what Ican."

"I thank you, my friend." Margaret accompanied him to the door. "Youwill visit me again soon? Tell

me what has transpired?"

"Assuredly. Good night, Margaret." He took her hands, bending to kissher cheek before stepping out

into the quiet nighttime street. A closedcarriage passed him as he turned toward the Strand, but Justin wasblithely unaware of the interest his presence afforded the occupants.

Danielle had not yet returned from Almack's Assembly rooms when hearrived home and he went into

his bookroom to write a terse note toEdward Mainwairing. A missive, addressed to Danielle in bold

blackscript, lay on the desk. Justin examined it idly. The writing was mostdefinitely masculine but notes written, according to the rules ofdalliance should appear with Danielle's hot chocolate of a morning, notarrive late at night. Justin found that his reaction to the message wassomewhat similar to his wife's when faced with Margaret's urgentsummons. He was more than ordinarily curious. But Danielle woulddoubtless apprise him of the contents with her usual directness.

He heard her voice some fifteen minutes later bidding a cheerful goodnight to the porter and Justin went into the hall to greet her.

"Milord, you are before me." She moved toward him, all smiles. "I havehad a famous evening. You would not believe the latest

on dit

about Lady Massey. Sheis apparently enceinte and she must beall

of thirty-three, but her husband is a very old man—sixty if he is aday. However, her lover is

unjeunehomme

and it is said . . ."

"I can well imagine what is said." Justin, mindful of the night porter,eased her ungently into the bookroom. She wore a gown of dull gold overan oyster satin underdress. The de St. Varennes diamonds caught thelight from the branched candelabra. But in spite of their many-facetedbrilliance, they paled beside the vibrant sparkle of her eyes, the softradiance of her skin.

"You have an admirer, my love." Justin indicated the note, watchingthrough narrowed eyes as she examined it. Did he imagine the slightstiffening of those slender shoulders as she read the contents?

"It is only the Chevalier D'Evron. He wishes me to drive with himtomorrow." Danielle ripped the note into small pieces and tossed themonto the tray.

"And will you do so?"

"Mais, d'accord."

Her lowerlip disappeared between small pearly teeth."We speak French together, Justin, and talk of France and the past. Itis good to be with a compatriot,

tucomprends?"

"Oui, Danielle, je comprends."

It seemed a reasonable statement and hewas quite prepared to let it go

at that until she spoke again,hesitantly.

"There is something I think I should tell you, Justin."

The hairs on the nape of his neck prickled, but he merely inclined hishead in invitation.

"I have been drawing some considerable sums to assist the emigres fromParis who find themselves in difficulties." Danielle perched on the armof a chair and began to twist the diamond ring on her finger.

"I shouldperhaps have mentioned this earlier, milord, but for some unaccountablereason it did not

occur to me to do so." She looked up with a ruefulsmile.

"And why does it occur to you to tell me now, my love?" Justin wasconscious only of the strangest

sense of relief.

"I think it is probably because I shall be needing to spend rathermore," she said candidly.

"I see." The earl took snuff. "Tell me, Danny, are you asking mypermission or merely apprising me of the facts?"

"The latter, I think, sir." Her face was grave. "I could not refuse tohelp. Their situations in many cases are quite dreadful. Most of whatthey had, they have been forced to leave behind and it is hard for themto find work and . . . the children, Justin. They are hungry."

There was nothing of the mischievous sprite about her now. Not for thefirst time Justin reflected that

his wife's personality was asmany-faceted as the brilliant prisms encircling her throat.

"D'Evron is also involved?"

She nodded. "The chevalier discovers the need and does what he can toalleviate matters. There