Love Charade Part 25

Peter, who had been waiting since eight-thirty to discuss with my lord his travel plans and itinerary, paced restlessly around his room, mentally running through the arrangements. A message had been sent to Forster to ready the Black Gull for voyage. He would need a day or so to retrieve the crew from their sh.o.r.e leave and most probably to sober them up. Since the yacht was to remain in Calais to await the earl's return from Paris, they would need adequate provisions as the English sailors treated French food with the utmost disdain-red meat and plentiful supplies of ale would be needed.

Justin awoke first. As he stirred, the small figure beside him muttered in protest and snuggled closer. Smiling, he turned on his back, relinquishing his spoon-shaped hold on her body. There was another protesting murmur and she wriggled backward against him. He patted her hip. "Danny, wake up. It's past ten o'clock."

"It cannot be!" Danielle's eyes shot open and she struggled up against the pillows. "How have we slept so long?"

"It was near morning when we went to sleep-or have you forgotten?" he teased.

Danielle had not forgotten and her dimples peeped.

Justin laughed. "Come, brat. You must return to your own bed and summon Molly, and I must get up. I have much to do today."

The latter statement brought a small pout to the full lips as she remembered the Paris journey, but to Justin's relief she made no comment and slipped from the bed to stretch luxuriously in the morning sunlight. His loins stirred at the sight of that warm supple body that a 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. I become uncomfortable."

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

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

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

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

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

"That rather depends on the wife," he declared, striding with her into the other room. "This one deserves little respect." She was dumped in an unceremonious heap into the middle of her own bed and lay laughing up 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 sufficient willpower to do so, now."

"Then I shall claim it anon," she responded.

"I await the moment most eagerly, ma'am." He bowed punctiliously and Danielle went into a peal of laughter at the ludicrous combination of his 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 some careful thinking to do. When Molly appeared with the tray of hot chocolate and sweet biscuits, she found her mistress somewhat abstracted.

Danielle had no intention whatsoever of being left behind when Justin went to Paris. Such a shared adventure would suit her plans to perfection. They would be partners in an endeavor that would exclude all others, and Justin would know that only his wife could partner him on such an expedition. Her presence would only be useful and his scruples about exposing her to danger were quite ridiculous when one considered her past and what she was presently doing amongst her countrymen. How best to persuade him of this was the puzzle. He had been alarmingly definite last night, but then matters had become somewhat confused and since the confusion now appeared to be sorted out quite satisfactorily, Danielle could see no reason why he should persist in his obstinacy.

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

Molly a.s.sented with a bob. Within the hour Danielle was examining her appearance with considerable satisfaction. The gold of her gown did very nice things to her eyes, and her hair, freshly washed and curled at Molly's expert hands, feathered around her face in an artfully ingenuous style. Milord should find the picture irresistible, Danny decided, dismissing the tiny stab of doubt with a nonchalant shrug.

She descended the broad staircase with a light step, greeted Bedford with 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-shod feet, knocked perfunctorily on the door to Peter's small sanctum and entered immediately.

"Good morning, Peter," she said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Lady Danny." Peter put down his papers hastily and bowed, but not before Danielle had seen the appreciative flash in his eyes.

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

The earl's lips twitched as he put up his gla.s.s and examined her appearance. "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 door for her to pa.s.s out. "Shall we go into the library?"

"As you wish, sir." The look she cast her husband p.r.i.c.ked Peter Haversham with envy. Dolly Grant would make him a good wife when he was in a position to offer for her, but he began to wonder whether he wished for a "good" wife, modest and well aware of her place, stolidly willing 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 be like.

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

She had little of the true coquette in her makeup and came straight to the point without considering whether a little further flirtation might ease 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 in patient resignation. "I will not be a hindrance to you, quite the contrary. I will be in no danger, or at least," she amended with scrupulous honesty, "no more than I am accustomed to. I am not enceinte and I am able to gather information that Milord Chatham will find useful. We will travel in whatever guise you choose, and you should know 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 respond effectively to potential danger. I have not stood in the way of your work in London, but I will not take you with me to Paris. I am prepared to spy for Pitt myself, but I will not involve you. The matter is at an end."

Danielle heard the decisive note, the implacable ring in the level voice. "Spying is a harsh word, sir," she said quietly.

"It is, nevertheless, the correct one. I shall be in search of information and I do not wish those who furnish me with that information to be aware of my purpose. There is, therefore, double jeopardy. There is turbulence in the streets and should my purpose become known the personal danger will be doubled. I cannot keep my wits about me when I must worry about your safety."

"I am able to take a care for myself," Danny reiterated.

Justin gave up the attempt to reason with her. "You are my wife, ma'am, although you appear to forget that fact. Your safety and your welfare are my responsibility and mine alone. I choose not to jeopardize either. If you refer to the subject again, I shall postpone my departure for as long as it will take to see you safely to Danesbury where you will remain, under watchful eyes, until my return. Do we understand each other?"

We do indeed, Danielle thought grimly-on one level at least. "Very well," she said with a dismissive shrug. "I wish to drive your chestnuts. Will you accompany me?"

""Since you may not drive them without me, I appear to have no option." With a conciliatory smile, Justin tilted her chin and kissed the corner of her mouth, happy to settle the issue in such a relatively peaceable fashion. "Do you wish to do so immediately?"

"As soon as I have changed my dress."

"In half an hour then?"

"Twenty minutes, milord." She swept from the room, kissing her fingers with an impish smile that put all Justin's fears to rest. A little early, as he would have realized had he been able to see inside his wife's head at this moment.

Danielle changed into her driving dress, her mind whirling as various plans came and were as quickly discarded. Justin was quite wrong and since he could not be persuaded by wordsand reason then she must take matters into her own hands. He would most probably be very angry, but she could weather the storm. It would be no worse than many she had encountered at the hands of her father and uncles and would carry no bitter crust of mistrust between husband and wife. It would be a simple matter of defiance, too late for Justin to do anything about. He might storm and rage but in the end would perforce accept the loving reason that insisted they share whatever danger came their way. France was, after all, the country of her birth and she had a right to partic.i.p.ate in its trouble, just as she had both right and obligation to give her adopted country whatever help she could.

The devil take Society's prohibitions, Danielle thought indelicately, as she returned downstairs. She would deceive her husband on this occasion, simply by apparent compliance. He would be disabused soon enough and he had created the situation himself, after all. Conscience thus quieted, Danielle rejoined Linton.

In the next twelve hours she made her secret arrangements with a calm efficiency. Peter Haversham answered her innocent-seeming questions as to My Lord's travel plans and the preparations of the Black Gull with blind openness and it never occurred to him to mention Danielle's eager interest to Justin. Her curiosity was natural enough given the closeness of their relationship.

Danielle paid a visit to a young French matron who had contrived to bring into exile an adequate wardrobe suited to the social position of an affluent burgher's wife and left the house with a substantial parcel. Molly would need to put in some tucks and take up the hem. It would be a simple enough task, but when Molly heard what else would be expected of her, she gazed at her mistress aghast.

"B . . . but my lady, it will be quite impossible."

"Oh stuff!" Danielle declared. "We have only to ensure that we are hidden aboard the Black Gull before she sails and once she is well under way I will reveal myself to my lord. You will be in no danger and it will be a famous adventure, I promise. You would like to see Paris, would you not?"

Molly said that she did not think she would at all, particularly not in disobedience to My Lord's direct orders. But Danielle told her she was a poor spirited creature and the earl's wrath would not fall upon her head. "It is more like to fall upon my back," she said with a cheerful insouciance that stunned her maid. "I need you, Molly, and your presence will only please My Lord, I a.s.sure you. We can travel with the utmost gentility as respectable members of the bourgeosie, man, wife, and the wife's maid. In the Tuileries, where I shall appear as the Countess of Linton, formerly a de St. Varennes, it would be considered strange if I were unaccompanied by my personal maid. All will be convenable, you will see."

Molly merely shivered and nearly rebelled when Danielle handed her a pair of britches and a shirt with the brisk injunction to try them on immediately. Since they were tailored for Danielle's slender frame, it was something of a struggle and Danny frowned crossly at the result. "You look even more like a girl than ever! But if you move the b.u.t.tons on the shirt and fasten the britches with a belt, it should suffice. But you must wear a cloak to hide the round bits. Now I must seek Julian's aid. 'Twould be better to enlist the chevalier but since I have promised not to go to his lodging without milord's escort, I cannot do so."

Molly was at a loss to understand why, when her mistress was about to disobey her husband so flagrantly and outrageously, another minor infraction should matter. But then she did not understand Danielle's code of honor-a promise was a promise.

Jules proved harder to persuade, and in fact remained steadfast in his refusal until Danny hit upon the happy notion of informing him that in that case she would take her horse and ride the eighty miles to Dover alone and at night. Julian decided that he could not take the risk of calling her bluff and began to wish heartily that his cousin had chosen a conventional bride who would not embroil her innocent relatives in her madcap schemes. "Y're a spoiled brat, d'ye know that?" he declared with a resigned sigh.

"I most certainly am not," Danielle denied, a flash of anger in the brown eyes. "It is simply that in this instance I know better than Justin and he is being quite idiotishly stubborn."

"And you will, of course, succeed in persuading him of that fact," Jules said sarcastically. "I wish I could be there to see it."

Danielle, too well aware of how much she needed his cooperation, bit back the retort and said mildly, "We will come to you at five this afternoon, then? If we leave after dinner, we should reach Dover by early tomorrow morning, well before Justin. He intends to catch the tide that rises around six tomorrow evening. Molly and I will mingle with the lads carrying provisions on board and hide ourselves until the Gull is well under way."

"How the deuce do you mean to do that?'' In spite of himself Lord Julian was intrigued.

"There is a small cabin next to the master cabin," Danny explained. "It is used only by Petersham when he travels with Linton. I think it unlikely that we shall be discovered there."

"Unlikely, but not impossible," Julian stated.

"Certainly," she agreed. "But there is no such thing as a flawless plan, Jules. One must simply have one's wits about one. I shall contrive, never fear."

She would, too, Jules thought moodily as he saw her back into the phaeton with its matched bays that had been her husband's birthday gift once he was satisfied of her driving competence.

Danielle returned to Grosvenor Square and accosted her husband in the library where he was reading the Gazette. "Justin, I have decided that since you are to leave very early in the morning and I do not wish to quarrel with you, and I will because I shall be cross, I will spend this night with Grandmere. You have no objections, I trust."

Justin regarded her thoughtfully. This was the first mention of his journey since the last confrontation and there were distinct thunderclouds lowering in her eyes. However, if this was the method by which she chose to deal with the situation what right had he to complain?

"You will not dine with me, love?" he asked with a quizzical smile.

"No," she said gruffly, swinging her hat by its ribband. "I am to dine at the Mayburys' and then go to the ball at Almack's. After which I shall return to March House."

"Then we must make our farewells now?"

"Yes, if you please. I shall leave within the hour as I intend to dress at March House."

"I consider it cruel punishment to deprive me of your company, my love."

"You are depriving me of yours," she snapped with credible annoyance. "It is not the other way around."

"Clearly your plan is the test one," he said dryly. "I have no wish to part with you in anger, so .. ." He took her in his arms. For a moment her body was stiffly resistant, but gradually and inevitably she relaxed, her mouth opening eagerly beneath his and for a fleeting instant Justin almost changed his mind. Why deprive them both of this when even Pitt acknowledged her ability to hunt and gather the necessary information? And Danny was as streetwise as he was himself-more so. But no. She was his wife now, the Countess of Linton, and no urchin waif. He could accept her work in London because she used her position to achieve her goals, but he would not make a spy of his wife. Drawing back, he brushed a stray curl from her forehead. "I will be gone no more than three weeks, Danny."

"Unless there is a storm or a dead calm to prevent the Gull's sailing home." She shrugged. "Or unless you fall foul of footpads in a back alley, or are discovered in one of the clubs when tempers run high and a spying stranger in their midst is not to be borne ... I wish you G.o.dspeed, Linton." With that she disappeared, leaving her husband disconsolate and not a whit suspicious, while her own spirits danced at how easily that had been accomplished. There would be a penalty to pay, no doubt, but she would pay it with good grace. Once Linton understood her motives then they would act in this business together.

Danielle and Molly left Linton House without unnecessary fuss, Danielle in a simple afternoon gown, Molly in her usual habit of correct maidservant. They were obliged to take the Linton town chaise to avoid remark, but Danielle, once in situ, gave the coachman orders to deliver them to Lord Julian's lodgings, saying that His Lordship would convey them to March House after an expedition to the Botanical Gardens. It was not the coachman's place to question his orders or Her Ladyship's arrangements and he did neither. Since it didn't occur to Linton to check up on his wife, the deception escaped notice.

Julian put his bedchamber at Danielle's disposal while his manservant prepared dinner. Jules was quite accustomed to the sight of his cousin-in-law in britches, but his eyebrows shot up when he saw Molly.

"It will do very well, Jules," Danielle rea.s.sured. "Molly will wear a cloak to disguise herself. We are exceeding sharp set. You will not object if Molly dines with us?"

"Not in the least." Jules smiled warmly at the girl whose face betrayed her terror at this extraordinary circ.u.mstance. He pulled out a chair for her and seated the servant, allowing the countess to perform the office for herself. Danielle did so without the flicker of an eyelash and addressed herself to her dinner, encouraging Molly to do likewise with all the warm concern of a close friend.

At eight o'clock that evening, Lord Julian Carlton found himself driving his racing curricle to Dover in the company of two women from vastly different stations in life, both wearing boys' dress. One of them fell asleep almost immediately, while the other, a peaked cap hiding a ma.s.s of wheat-gold hair pulled down over her face, gave him a running commentary on his driving skills. When they changed horses and he became weary, she took over from him until the next stage and then relinquished the reins and fell asleep herself, sitting upright, barely losing consciousness but quite clearly taking her rest- much in the manner of an old campaigner, Julian reflected.

They encountered almost no traffic during the long night hours, but as dawn broke, turning the sky to a glorious rose-shot pink, the post road became lively with farm carts and other commercial traffic. It was still too early for the Quality to be out on the roads. Danielle suggested that they stop and break their fast before the sight of three people picnicking by the roadside should draw 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 her cousin the previous evening. Graves had therefore been instructed to put up a picnic basket and the three travelers made a hearty meal of bread, cheese, and ham.

"We should save some food for later," Danielle said efficiently. "I am unwilling to attract notice by buying provisions in the town. We shall hide in the fields until afternoon and then go on-board before My Lord arrives, which will not be before five o'clock, I understand from Peter."

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

"It is to be hoped not," she replied with a grin. "You will wait at the Pelican until the Gull sails, it is agreed? Should anything go awry, I will find you there, and you may escort the Countess of Linton and her maid back to London in suitable costume and irreproachable decorum."

Julian laughed. It was impossible to do otherwise with this wicked sprite who had laid her plans with such intelligent care, foreseeing and planning for any eventuality. He was by now convinced that Linton had been mistaken in his nevertheless understandable edict. Danielle would be no hindrance to his work, only a valuable a.s.set.

They reached the outskirts of Dover at nine o'clock and Julian left his charges 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 encounter Linton." He deposited the portmanteau under the trees. "Are you sure you will be able to carry this, Danny?"

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

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

Danielle pa.s.sed the morning in thought. In spite of her near sleepless night she was too keyed up to follow Molly's example. The servant was snoring rhythmically in the shade. They were well hidden from the road, but the sound of horses and carriages came clearly through sun-soaked summer air, and Danny kept half an eye out for possible intruders while she thought about visiting Paris.

From all accounts, it would be quite a different city from the one she had known-a seething hotbed of political turmoil as the deputies to the National a.s.sembly fought to hammer out a new const.i.tution based on a democratic system of government in a country which had known only the absolute rule of an inherited monarchy. The a.s.sembly held itself to be the representative of the sovereign people and all therefore had the right of free speech and unreserved criticism. There was no question that the government might resign if a bill dear to its heart was rejected, or that the opposition would produce alternative legislation-there was no government party and no opposition party. It was a system riddled with anarchical possibilities; so unlike this calm well-ordered British method of government, and yet Danielle felt all of the excitement of her countrymen as they melted down the lead of the past and recast the image of the present and the future. But those who were 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 rhetoric became the marks of the prominent. Danielle de St. Varennes lay on her back beside a quiet country stream in a peaceful English meadow and chewed a succulent stem of gra.s.s as excitement curled her toes. She would soon see all this for herself.

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

Molly found that she did not particularly care about physical discomfort, her heart was beating too wildly and she appeared to have lost all sense of personal control in the last twenty-four hours. She merely did as she was told and endured stolidly, drawing what comfort she could from the warm kindness and friendship of her extraordinary mistress, who never ceased to rea.s.sure her that Molly would come to no harm from this adventure. That seemed most unlikely to the young girl who had never before left London. But who was she to question the a.s.surances of a mistress for whom she felt only the most dogged devotion and loyalty? And from whom she had received only kindness.

The two figures, shouldering the portmanteau, set off down the white dusty road shimmering in the sun's afternoon glare. They drew no remark. Such a sight was not uncommon in a sea port and the village was a hive of activity as the yachts crowding the quayside made their preparations for catching the evening tide. Lads from the various inns scurried and jostled, exchanging compet.i.tive insults as they hauled crates of ale, sides of salt pork, and baskets of bread aboard the various vessels. Profanities filled the air as seamen wrestled with sheets, swabbed decks, and polished bra.s.s in readiness for the arrival of the yachts' owners who must find only a sober crew and everything in shipshape readiness for departure.

The Black Gull was unmistakable, her gangway down, her paintwork and trim pristine. Danielle stopped on the quay and told Molly to rest their burden. The girl did so with a heavy sigh and Danny, wiping her damp brow with her sleeve, felt a pang of guilt for the maid swathed in the thick cloak. Her own head itched beneath the cap but she dared not take it off and scratch the sweat-soaked curls. Her shirt was sticking to her back and the worsted britches clung hot and damp to her thighs. Poor Molly's clothes were uncomfortably tight and constricting at the best of times. She must be abominably uncomfortable.

"Courage, mon amie" Danielle whispered and was rewarded by a tremulous smile on the pink face. "We will wait until someone heads for the Gull and then we follow."

It didn't take long and the cover was better than Danny had hoped for. An entire procession of laden-bearers appeared from the Pelican and made for the gangway of Linton's yacht. "Come, Molly. You will be comfortable very soon." Danielle heaved the portmanteau onto her shoulder, Molly took the other end, and with one final effort they trotted across the quay to mingle with the procession.'

"Oy! You there!" A seaman accosted them as they gained the head of the ramp.

"Watcha want?" Danny demanded, breathing heavily. "This 'ere weighs a ton, mate."

"Watcha got?" he inquired, stepping closer.