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

friendly andinformative relationship with the young Countess of Linton in themonths since her marriage. Chatham thought it most unlikely thatDanielle would view her husband's plans with equanimity.

Had Linton been aware of the greater shock in store for him thatevening, he would have viewed the upcoming confrontation as a mere

bagatelle

. He had agreed totake Danielle to Vauxhall Gardens thatevening, an excursion that required considerable sacrifice on his partsince he found the place tedious

and the crowds quite abominable. Buthe had found it impossible to resist Danny's coaxing and the flatteringdeclarationthat she could not enjoy herself half so much without his presence. Itwas to be hoped that gratitude at his sacrifice and a thoroughlyenjoyable evening would ameliorate the inevitable tantrum.

When he entered his wife's bedchamber before dinner he found a livelyscene. Danielle was sitting

before her dresser mirror in an underdressof palest pink satin, a wide lace panel threaded with seed

pearlsrunning down its center. Jean-Louis, her emigre hairdresser, wasarranging the curls in a daringly simple knot on top of her head thatleft her neck and ears bare and drew instant attention to theoutrageous decolletage. Half a dozen young bucks lounged around thechamber in ardent discussion, which broke off at the earl's appearance.

"Ah, milord." Danielle turned instantly to him, ignoring the painedmutter of Jean-Louis, whose delicate endeavors to insert pearl-headedpins in the knot were thus interrupted. "You are just in time to settlean argument."

"Indeed." Linton surveyed the assembled company with polite interest."I should be happy to do so, my dear."

"I have decided to wear a patch tonight," she told him, "and no one candecide where it should be placed."

Linton's eyes skimmed over her bosom. He had long given up hishusbandly strictures on her neckline; Danielle knew perfectly well whatshe was about when it came to her clothes. "I cannot imagine why thereshould be any question," he murmured, taking one of the black silkpatches from the tiny box

on the dresser and placing it carefully onher right cheekbone.

"The sorceress." Danielle gurgled with laughter. "What think you of MyLord's choice, gentlemen?"

"It is your husband's choice, Lady Danny." Viscount Lancing expressedthe collective view with a bow

to Linton. "The matter is decided."

Justin watched with well-concealed amusement as the young gallantsmelted from the room. The art of dalliance was one he had enjoyedhimself many years ago and he bore these youngsters no ill will for

their fascinated admiration of his wife.

"Well," Danielle announced. "Since you have sent my advisers away, youmust take on the task single-handed. What perfume shall I wear, milord?"

She used only the most delicate fragrances, never a hint of musk orgardenia. Smiling, Linton took her wrist and applied the scent offreesias before pressing his lips to the pulse point which quickened inthe most gratifying fashion. He would have liked to have kissed thewide full mouth curved in a smile of absolute tenderness, but in thepresence of Molly and Jean-Louis such a display was unthinkable.Instead, he sat in a brocade armchair and waited until her toilette wascompleted and Molly carefully slipped a rose pink ballgown overJean-Louis's simple-appearing creation. The gown had sleeves to theelbow, where lace studded with seed pearls frothed in perfect harmonywith the lace panel of the underdress.

"Tu est ravissante, mon amour,"

Justinwhispered as she pirouettedbefore him. Whatever had happened to his brat? It was mostbewildering—one minute she was there and the next she wasn't. But theunpredictability was never less than exciting.

Danielle was entranced by Vauxhall Gardens. For the first half hour shecould not help looking anxiously at Justin to see if he was enjoyinghimself, but her husband, resplendent in sapphire velvet and lace,appeared not at all bored although, on occasion, she surprised apreoccupied frown between the black eyebrows. But it disappeared theinstant her eyes met his and she dismissed it for the moment. He hadbeen with the prime minister that afternoon and no doubt had heard somedisquieting news. She would discover what in the privacy of the largebed later.

In the pavilion, the earl trod a measure with his wife before losingher to the flock of eager courtiers anxious for her hand. Danielle,however, made her excuses soon enough and returned to his side.

"Do you care to listen to the recital in the concert hall, Justin?"

"I care to do only what you care to do, my love," he responded,replacing a dangerously loose pin in her coiffure.

"Then let us go to the Grecian temple at the end of the Long Walk."Danielle took his hand. "We shall pretend that we areclandestine lovers and you are about to elope with me."

"Could I persuade you to do so, ma'am?"

"Could I persuade you to do so, sir?" she returned mischievously.

"Do you doubt it?" He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the softpalm.

"Then let us do so, immediately. You shall carry me off to your bed andmake a dishonest woman of me."

"We have not yet had supper," Justin objected.

"Oh, pah!" Danielle dismissed such mundane considerations. "Myappetites run in directions other than green goose and burgundy, sir."

"I beg leave to inform you, Madam Wife, that you are a most immodestwoman," her husband said severely. "We will stroll to the temple andthen take supper. The box is bespoken and our guests will bediscommoded to find themselves hostless."

"Oh, you are so prim, husband." Danielle sighed. "But I dare swear,anticipation will make the pleasure greater." A slight sadness creptinto her eyes. The pleasure would indeed be great, but not as it hadbeen before making love with her husband had acquired such a desperateintent.

Linton, from his own standpoint, found that the anticipation of privacywith his wife this evening merely increased his unease. But he playedhis part masterfully and enjoyed Danielle's pleasure in the vivaciousscene. Colored lamps lit the walks along which strolled every manner ofperson, respectable or otherwise, and Danny's