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

"I should not have told you then.

Maman

said that no husband couldunderstand or accept a wife's need for control over . . ." She fellsilent as Justin seized her chin between fingers that gripped likepincers and glowered down at her.

"You should have told me

at once

"he declared with careful emphasis. "Ido not know what reason I may have given you for casting me in the roleof some brutish lout who would keep you forever with a child

in yourbelly. Had you made your feelings clear, there were certain precautionsI could have taken myself and would have done so willingly."

"I did not think of that." Danielle frowned, diverted by the idea. "Iam sure, since you have presumably fathered no bastards, that you areaccustomed to such things . . . with Lady Mainwairing, no doubt?"

"We will leave Lady Mainwairing out of this, if you please, and anyoneelse that you think to drag into this discussion," he said, a razor'sedge to his voice. "Why did you not trust me?"

Her unruly tongue again! Why had she mentioned Margaret? Now she hadboth to evade the question

and retrieve the situation. Danielle thoughtrapidly.

"It was not a matter of trust, Justin. It was just that so many thingsare so very new to me and I am used to managing alone and . . . and ...I daresay I make the wrong decision at times. But I did not mistrustyou."

Not in that way, at least, and the truth shone clear in the wide browneyes beneath him and Justin sighed in resignation.

It was pointless to play outraged husband, however legitimately, in theface of this extraordinary innocence that marched hand in hand with apowerful sense of self-determination and a knowledge of

the world'svicissitudes that far exceeded her years. He'd married Danielle de St.Varennes for all those reasons and there was no going back, even had hewished to do so. And he most definitely did not.

"I would like you to think very carefully if there is anything else Ishould know . . . anything at all," he stated. "I had thought we weredone with secrets after the previous affair, but clearly this oneescaped your, notice. Are there any others?" Danny shook her head. "Besure of yourself, Danielle," he warned. "If anything comes to lightafter this, you will not find me so tolerant again."

"There is nothing." His affairs with Louise Rockford and MargaretMainwairing were no secret to Justin, after all, and there was nothingshe was doing that he did not know about. Danielle quietened the voice

of conscience that mocked the spurious nature of such an argument. Shetouched his face with gentle fingers, smoothing the frown lines betweenthe straight eyebrows. "I cannot promise never to do things that I willnot tell you about, but they will be small things of no importance."

"Like what?" he asked cautiously.

"Like going to a public ridotto at Ranelagh when you had said it wouldbe a vulgar masquerade and I would not enjoy it in the least."

"And did you enjoy it?" His eyes gleamed.

"No, you were quite correct. I thought it pretty at first, but itbecame tedious and Tony was very happy

to escort me home at an earlyhour. But I wished to see it for myself, you understand."

"Of course," he agreed smoothly. "Why should you accept the second-handopinion of your husband, after all?"

"You did not exactly forbid it," she reminded him, moving her hands tothe well-muscled shoulders.

"I was not aware, Wife, that I was in the habit of forbidding anything.I know better than to throw down the glove where you're concerned." Hishead went back as Danielle's hands moved over his chest, pushing himdown onto the bed beside her,flicking her tongue across his belly. And Paris? The question died onher lips. Time enough tomorrow to deal with that question. Her headmoved downwards and Justin groaned softly as she pleasured him withmouth and fingers and took her own joy from the giving.

Chapter 15

It was nearly midmorning before the earl and his countess awoke and thelife of the household continued in quiet deference to the sleepingmaster and mistress. Petersham and Molly waited in the kitchen as theyhad been doing since seven o'clock, neither of them commenting onwhatever extraordinary circumstance had turned the normally earlyrisers abovestairs into slugabeds this morning.

Peter, who had been waiting since eight-thirty to discuss with my lordhis travel plans and itinerary, paced restlessly around his room,mentally running through the arrangements. A message had been sent toForster to ready the

Black Gull

for voyage. He would need a day or soto retrieve the crew from their shore leave and most probably to soberthem up. Since the yacht was to remain in Calais to await the earl'sreturn from Paris, they would need adequate provisions as the Englishsailors treated French food with the utmost disdain—red meat andplentiful supplies of ale would be needed.

Justin awoke first. As he stirred, the small figure beside him mutteredin protest and snuggled closer. Smiling, he turned on his back,relinquishing his spoon-shaped hold on her body. There was anotherprotesting murmur and she wriggled backward against him. He patted herhip. "Danny, wake up. It's

past ten o'clock."

"It cannot be!" Danielle's eyes shot open and she struggled up againstthe pillows. "How have we slept

so long?"

"It was near morning when we went to sleep—or have you forgotten?" heteased.

Danielle had not forgotten and her dimples peeped.

Justin laughed. "Come, brat. You must return to your own bed and summonMolly, and I must get up.

I have much to do today."

The latter statement brought a small pout to the full lips as sheremembered the Paris journey, but to Justin's relief she made nocomment and slipped from the bed to stretch luxuriously in the morningsunlight. His loins stirred at the sight of that warm supple