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

Her sister-in-law's color changed, became puce, then deathly white andpuce again. "How dare you!"

Her voice shook.

"Well, how dare

you?

"Danielle snapped back. "I am, as it happens, wellaware that my husband holds Lady Mainwairing in

friendship

. She hasasked his advice on a delicate family matter and he has been goodenough to assist her. Now, I suggest you leave because I should warnyou that I am about to lose my temper. You may tell your mama that I amsuitably grateful for her solicitude but should be more grateful if shewould allow me to mind my own affairs." She stood up and hauled on thebellpull. "Lady Bedlington is leaving," she informed Bedford curtly.

Beatrice left without another word, her back stiff, mouth set. Neverhad she been so humiliated and by

an ill-mannered babe to boot. Whathad happened to her urbane brother that he should take to wife such awild creature, with no sense of propriety? How could she have said suchan unpardonable thing? The fact that Danielle had hit the nail on thehead with her caustic animadversions on the sexual attractions

of LordBedlington only added fuel to the lady's ire.

Justin became painfully aware of the estrangement existing between hiswife and his family when, in response to an urgent summons from hismother, he appeared in South Street to be coldly informed by thedowager countess that, while she would not, of course, cut Danielle inpublic, private social intercourse between them must now cease. Hiswife had been unpardonably rude to Beatrice and by extension toherself. She refused to tell him the issue and his sister, whenquestioned, had a fit of hysterics that required smelling salts and amountain of cambric handkerchiefs to stem the flood. Justin, resistingwith difficulty the urge to slap his sister back to her senses, bowedcurtly and left. His brother-in-law, when accosted, could throw nolight on the situation and managed to convey to Justin with muchhemming, hawing, and humphing that his peace was quite cut up. Thehouse was in an uproar and Beatrice burst into tears whenever she sawhim. What was a man to do with a household of hysterical women, forGod's sake, except go to his club?

Justin had scant sympathy for his brother-in-law at the best of timesand none at all at this moment. He said coldly that if Bedlington choseto have his life made a misery by a pair of nagging women that was hisaffair. Linton did not.

Danielle, however, had some explaining to do and he strode back toLinton House in search of those explanations. He was not mollified byfinding his wife closeted in the library with the Chevalier d'Evron.There was a strained look to her eyes that reminded him forcibly ofthose early days and did nothing for his temper.

D'Evron took his leave instantly with a courteous bow to Justin and amost elegant leg for Danielle,

whose responding curtsy was impeccablyformal.

"That man is always here," Justin stated with unusual irritability,pouring himself a glass of Madeira.

Danielle looked at him in surprise. "Do you object, Justin?"

"Do I have cause to?" he snapped.

"Oh, do not be absurd. What has put you out of temper?"

"I have just spent an unpleasant hour being informed by my mother andsister that they wish to have no further contact with you outside theinevitable social meetings. Why?" He turned to face her and drew asharp breath at what he saw. She was rigid with fury, her lips a thinline.

"I suggest you ask them, my lord."

"I have done so. Since they will not tell me, you will. I am notprepared to find myself in the midst of hysterical feuding women. Whatdid you do?"

"I did

nothing.

" Daniellecould not believe that Justin was accusingher of initiating things. He always took her part and in this instanceshould be doing so even more. "Your interfering sister, at theinstigation of your mother, took it upon herself to give me some adviceand information that was quite uncalled-for

and prompted only bymischief. I encouraged her to leave the house." Since Justin hadneglected to pour her a glass, she took up the decanter of Madeira, buther hands were shaking so much that she put it down again.

"I do beg your pardon." Justin filled her glass. "Danny, will you tellme what was said?"

"No," she stated flatly, taking a steadying sip of the tawny wine. "Ifyou wish to know, you must find out from your sister. I am notalebearer. Does it not occur to you that her reluctance to tell youherself might be to do with your possible reactions? She holds you insome considerable awe. I have no desire to be private with either yourmother or your sister so the arrangement suits me very well. You havemy assurance that I will show all due respect in public. Now, if youwill excuse me, I am having luncheon with Lady Graham and I must changemy dress." She was gone in a swirl of muslin before Justin couldrecover his wits sufficiently to prevent her.

He stood nonplussed for a few moments as he accepted with a slow,rueful grin that he had lost that encounter, and he had lost it becausehe had attempted to deal with a child and been met with the dignifiedanger of a woman. Danielle's code of honor was absolute, as well heknew from experience. If she was not going to tell him then he'd bestaccept that fact. There was no question as to whose side he was on,even without the facts, so he must simply resign himself to the coldwar until it petered out. It would do so eventually.

Danielle maintained a rigorous silence as Molly helped her to change.Molly knew the signs of Milady's anger well enough by now, just as sheknew it was not directed at her. She kept her own tongue still,therefore, serenely going about her tasks, ignoring the snapping eyesand the impatience when Molly's fingers slipped on a tiny cloth-coveredbutton. She was