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

cover away from her face and laid a hand on her brow.She seemed quite cool. "Do you have the headache again?" he askedgently.

"No."

"Well, if you will not tell me what is the matter, I must send for thedoctor."

"I don't need the doctor." Danielle thumped onto her side facing awayfrom him. "I just have the bellyache. It's quite normal and will goaway if you'll leave me in peace." She twitched the covers overheadagain.

"Oh, I see." Justin frowned. It had been nearly four weeks then sincehe had last shared her bed. He was usually so attuned to her body thather monthly cycles were as well known to him as they were to Danielle.His lack of awareness on this occasion served only to emphasize thelonely estrangement of their lives. Well, he was not going to accepthis dismissal this time. "Come," he said briskly. "You may have thebellyache but that is no reason to suffer in misery. Why do you have nofire and no light? It is a wretched day and this room is as cold anddark as a tomb."

"I like it like that," Danny said petulantly. "I feel miserable and itsuits my mood."

Justin smiled slightly. This Danny he could deal with. "Well, it doesnot suit mine, child." He tugged on the bellpull and when Mollyappeared a minute or two later she saw His Lordship kneeling by thegrate, setting a taper to the kindling.

"My lord, please," she gasped in horror. "I will do it."

"It's done," he said tranquilly, rising to his feet. "I suggest youlight the candles and draw the curtains."

"I... I am sorry, my lord," Molly stammered, twisting her hands. "Iwould have done so before but my lady said . . ."

"I understand completely, Molly," Justin reassured. "I know exactly howstubborn Her Ladyship can be."

A muttered expletive came from the bed where Danny now lay on her back,the covers pulled down to her nose as she regardedthem balefully.

"You will feel a great deal better, my love, when you have washed yourface and brushed your hair," Justin told her, pulling the heavy golddrapes across the long window, shutting out the dark, rain-soddenafternoon. The room had undergone a complete transformation; the fireblazed cheerfully and the soft candlelight illuminated the gold, cream,and white of the furnishings. Only Danielle remained untransformed.

"Now, Molly, you will be pleased to fetch your mistress some broth."

"I do not wish for any broth," Danny wailed.

"Would you prefer gruel, then?" her husband asked cheerfully.

"I loathe gruel!"

"Then it had best be broth. See to it, Molly."

"Yes, my lord." Molly bobbed a curtsy and made haste from the room.

The water in the ewer was cold, but Justin decided that the chill mighthave a salutory effect and wrung out a washcloth.

"What are you doing with that?" Danielle demanded warily.

"I intend to wash your face, brat. You are looking rather grubby anddisheveled. I am persuaded you

will feel more the thing when you aretidy."

Danny's arms flailed in protest, but her husband just laughed andcaught both her wrists in one large hand. "You will not succeed inpreventing me, Danny, so I suggest you submit with a good grace."

Danielle snuffled and snorted under the vigorous application of thewashcloth, but with her eyes unglued and her cheeks tingling, she didfeel a little less cross.

Justin brushed her hair until the bright curls shone again, but hismovements were tender and caressing and Danny found herself leaningback against his shoulder automatically, with all the old trust andcomfort. Justin felt it, too, and his heart leaped. He toyed with theidea of taking advantage of the moment and attempting again to discoverwhat had been troubling her in recent weeks, and then he dismissed theidea. If she withdrew from him, he would lose this moment and it wastoo precious. There would be other opportunities and all the moreso if he played a casual game, rebuilding their love brick

by brick,unobtrusively.

"There, that is a great improvement," he announced, f plumping up thepillows and settling her against them. "Now, you shall take a glass ofport for your ache and eat some broth and I shall tell you a very funnystory that will quite chase away the megrims."

Danielle chuckled. "You are skilled at nursing, milord. Even more sothan my old nurse. She used to weep when I was ill, you see, and thatdid not help matters at all."

Justin touched the tip of her nose with a light forefinger and went tohis own parlor for the port. If only

he could have her defenseless andin need of comfort for more than the hour or so afforded by thismonthly inconvenience, he could get to the bottom of whatever it was.

Danielle required little encouragement to eat the steaming bowl ofbroth, rich from the ever bubbling stockpot belowstairs. She foundJustin's story hilarious and choked violently on a toast crumb whichled the earl to observe, as he patted her back and mopped up theslurped soup, that she was still as much of an urchin as ever. Theremark was intended in jest, but it brought so many painful memories ofthose early good times when he'd cared for her, scolded her, and lovedher and she had accepted it all in youthful trust and naivete, thatDanielle stiffened in sadness and the impudent retort that rose sonaturally to her lips was swallowed.

"What is it, Danny?" Linton asked involuntarily.

"Why nothing at all, Justin." She laughed, that brittle laugh that hehad come to dread. "I think I will sleep for a little while and then Ishall be quite restored."

"I will leave you then." He rose from the bed and took the tray,placing it on the dresser. "Do you care to stay home tonight, my love?We haven't played chess together this age."

How easy it would be to