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

body thata few hours ago had flown with him to the heights of ecstasy. "Please,Danielle," he begged huskily, "do that where I may not see you. Ibecome uncomfortable."

"Then I shall make you comfortable." Danielle leaped onto the bed witha chuckle and pulled off the covers. "Why, my lord," she declared infeigned awe. "You must indeed be uncomfortable. Let me

just. . ."

"No!" he exclaimed as her hands reached for him. He wrestled herbackward and then himself sprang from the bed. "Out!" He strode to thedoor to her chamber and opened it.

Danielle linked her hands behind her head and moved her bodyseductively on the bed, her tongue running over her lips as sheregarded him through eyes narrowed with desire and challenge.

"Well, don't say you were not warned." Grinning broadly, Justin crossedback to the bed. Danny squealed as he hauled her upright, put one broadshoulder against her stomach, and tossed her over effortlessly.

"Brute! This is no way to treat a wife." She pounded his back with herfists and the broad shoulder beneath her quivered with merriment.

"That rather depends on the wife," he declared, striding with her intothe other room. "This one deserves little respect." She was dumped inan unceremonious heap into the middle of her own bed and lay laughingup at him, her hair fanned out over the coverlet.

"Kiss me good morning, Husband."

"When you are dressed," he told her firmly. "I have not sufficientwillpower to do so, now."

"Then I shall claim it

anon

,"she responded.

"I await the moment most eagerly, ma'am." He bowed punctiliously andDanielle went into a peal of laughter at the ludicrous combination ofhis nakedness and the elegance of the movement.

Justin beat a hasty retreat and she pulled the bell for Molly,arranging herself decorously in the cold unslept-in bed. She had somecareful thinking to do. When Molly appeared with the tray of hotchocolate and sweet biscuits, she found her mistress somewhatabstracted.

Danielle had no intention whatsoever of being left behind when Justinwent to Paris. Such a shared adventure would suit her plans toperfection. They would be partners in an endeavor that would excludeall others, and Justin would know that only his wife could partner himon such an expedition. Her presence would only be useful and hisscruples about exposing her to danger were quite ridiculous when oneconsidered her past and what she was presently doing amongst hercountrymen. How best to persuade him of this was the puzzle. He hadbeen alarmingly definite last night, but then matters had becomesomewhat confused and since the confusion now appeared to be sorted outquite satisfactorily, Danielle could see no reason why he shouldpersist in his obstinacy.

"Molly, I shall take a bath," she announced. "You will put out the newmorning gown—the gold cambric, if you please."

Molly assented with a bob. Within the hour Danielle was examining herappearance with considerable satisfaction. The gold of her gown didvery nice things to her eyes, and her hair, freshly washed and curledat Molly's expert hands, feathered around her face in an artfullyingenuous style. Milord should find the picture irresistible, Dannydecided, dismissing the tiny stab of doubt with a nonchalant shrug.

She descended the broad staircase with a light step, greeted Bedfordwith a radiant smile and asked

where My Lord was to be found.

"In Mr. Haversham's room, my lady."

"Thank you, Bedford." She tripped down the corridor in her silk-shodfeet, knocked perfunctorily on

the door to Peter's small sanctum andentered immediately.

"Good morning, Peter," she said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Lady Danny." Peter put down his papers hastily andbowed, but not before Danielle

had seen the appreciative flash in hiseyes.

"My lord, I am come to claim a promise."

The earl's lips twitched as he put up his glass and examined herappearance. "That is a most fetching gown, my love."

"Is it not?" She twirled with a satisfying swish. "You are not, I hope,milord, going to renege on your debt."

"How could you ever think such a thing?" he chided, holding the doorfor her to pass out. "Shall we go into the library?"

"As you wish, sir." The look she cast her husband pricked PeterHaversham with envy. Dolly Grant would make him a good wife when he wasin a position to offer for her, but he began to wonder whether hewished for a "good" wife, modest and well aware of her place, stolidlywilling to help his career, run his household, and bear his children.It had been the perfect dream that one day he would turn into reality,until the Countess of Linton had indicated what a marriage could belike.

While Peter cogitated in his solitary room, the Earl of Linton wasmaking good his promise to his wife in the library. The good-morningkiss was remarkably thorough and it was a somewhat disheveled Daniellewho eventually drew back with kiss-reddened lips and tousled hair.

She had little of the true coquette in her makeup and came straight tothe point without considering whether a little further flirtation mightease her path. "About Paris, Justin."

Linton sighed and wondered why he had thought the matter closed. "No,Danielle. I said that was my

last word and so it remains."

"But you have not censidered," she said firmly. Justin waited inpatient resignation. "I will not be a hindrance to you, quite thecontrary. I will be in no danger, or at least," she amended withscrupulous honesty, "no more than I am accustomed to. I am not enceinteand I am able to gather information that Milord Chatham will finduseful. We will travel in whatever guise you choose, and you shouldknow that

I can keep up with you on horseback, even riding sidesaddle and . . ."

"Danielle, I do not doubt your riding skill or your ability to respondeffectively to potential danger. I have not stood in the way of yourwork in London, but I will not take you with me to Paris.