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

almost immediately, while the other, a peaked caphiding a mass of wheat-gold hair pulled down over her face, gave him arunning commentary on his driving skills. When they changed horses andhe became weary, she took over from him until the next stage and thenrelinquished the reins and fell asleep herself, sitting upright, barelylosing consciousness but quite clearly taking her rest— much in themanner of an old campaigner, Julian reflected.

They encountered almost no traffic during the long night hours, but asdawn broke, turning the sky to a glorious rose-shot pink, the post roadbecame lively with farm carts and other commercial traffic. It wasstill too early for the Quality to be out on the roads. Daniellesuggested that they stop and break theirfast before the sight of three people picnicking by the roadside shoulddraw too much attention.

It was impossible for them to patronize an inn in their present guise,a fact of which Danielle, with her usual foresight, had reminded hercousin the previous evening. Graves had therefore been instructed toput up a picnic basket and the three travelers made a hearty meal ofbread, cheese, and ham.

"We should save some food for later," Danielle said efficiently. "I amunwilling to attract notice by buying provisions in the town. We shallhide in the fields until afternoon and then go on-board before My Lordarrives, which will not be before five o'clock, I understand fromPeter."

"Is there anything you have forgotten, Danny?" Jules asked inconsiderable admiration.

"It is to be hoped not," she replied with a grin. "You will wait at thePelican until the

Gull

sails,it is agreed? Should anything go awry, Iwill find you there, and you may escort the Countess of Linton and hermaid back to London in suitable costume and irreproachable decorum."

Julian laughed. It was impossible to do otherwise with this wickedsprite who had laid her plans with such intelligent care, foreseeingand planning for any eventuality. He was by now convinced that Lintonhad been mistaken in his nevertheless understandable edict. Daniellewould be no hindrance to his work, only a valuable asset.

They reached the outskirts of Dover at nine o'clock and Julian left hischarges in a meadow where a

small stream, well shaded by willows,provided a sylvan waiting room.

"I will wait at the Pelican and it is to be hoped I do not encounterLinton." He deposited the portmanteau under the trees. "Are you sureyou will be able to carry this, Danny?"

"Indeed," she replied. "It is but half a mile to the quay and when wego on board it must look as if we are struggling with some considerableweight that requires two people to manage."

Julian nodded and left with some trepidation but buoyed up with thethought of sirloin and ale, hot water and a comfortable bed.

Danielle passed the morning in thought. In spite of her near sleeplessnight she was too keyed up to

follow Molly's example. The servant wassnoring rhythmically in the shade. They were well hidden from the road,but the sound of horses and carriages came clearly through sun-soakedsummer air, and Danny kept half an eye out for possible intruders whileshe thought about visiting Paris.

From all accounts, it would be quite a different city from the one shehad known—a seething hotbed of political turmoil as the deputies to theNational Assembly fought to hammer out a new constitution based on ademocratic system of government in a country which had known only theabsolute rule of an inherited monarchy. The Assembly held itself to bethe representative of the sovereign people and all therefore had theright of free speech and unreserved criticism. There was no questionthat the government might resign if a bill dear to its heart wasrejected, or that the opposition would produce alternativelegislation—there was no government party and no opposition party. Itwas a system riddled with anarchical possibilities; so unlike this calmwell-ordered British method of government, and yet Danielle felt all ofthe excitement of her countrymen as they melted down the lead of thepast and recast the image of the present and the future. But those whowere doing this were new to the task and must learn by their mistakes,if indeed they were able to do so as powers of oratory and rhetoricbecame the marks of the prominent. Danielle de St. Varennes lay on herback beside a quiet country stream in a peaceful English meadow andchewed a succulent stem of grass as excitement curled her toes. Shewould soon see all this for herself.

She awoke Molly when the sun shone directly overhead through thefiligree of the willows and they shared the remains of the picnic. "Youwill be hot, I fear, Molly, in the cloak," Danielle said with concernas she shrugged into her own stuff jacket. "But there is little we cando about it. 'Twill not be for long."

Molly found that she did not particularly care about physicaldiscomfort, her heart was beating too wildly and she appeared to havelost all sense of personal control in the last twenty-four hours. Shemerely did as she was told and endured stolidly, drawingwhat comfort she could from the warm kindness and friendship of herextraordinary mistress, who never ceased to reassure her that Mollywould come to no harm from this adventure. That seemed most unlikely tothe young girl who had never before left London. But who was she toquestion the assurances of a mistress for whom she felt only the mostdogged devotion and loyalty? And from whom she had received onlykindness.

The two figures, shouldering the portmanteau, set off down the whitedusty road shimmering in the sun's afternoon glare. They drew noremark. Such a sight was not uncommon in a sea port and the village wasa hive of activity as the yachts crowding the quayside made theirpreparations for catching the evening tide. Lads from the various innsscurried and jostled, exchanging competitive insults as they hauledcrates of ale, sides of salt pork, and baskets of bread aboard thevarious vessels. Profanities filled the air as seamen wrestled withsheets, swabbed decks, and polished