Jane Feather - Charade, Unknown [great novels to read TXT] 📗

way to bed. A soft knock elicitingno response, he unlatched the door gently and entered the darkchamber. Danielle had extinguished all the tapers before retiring toher cot in the corner—a gesture that could have been interpreted asunfriendly had the earl not strongly suspected she required the coverof darkness in which to lick her wounds. He placed his own candlebeside the bed and lit the tapers above the mantel before crossing tothe cot and examining the diminutive mound under the covers. His urchinwas definitely asleep, but the tear-streaked cheeks and sticky lashesbore witness to the outburst of emotion that had preceded sleep. Lintonsighed, bending to pull the disarrayed cover over the slight shouldersbefore blowing out the candles on the mantel and making his ownpreparations by the single, dim, flickering light by the bed.

Chapter 5

The Earl of Linton woke to an empty chamber and a countryside shroudedin that fine English mizzle that made the seasons in this damp land sohard to differentiate. It was definitely not riding weather and hereconciled himself to completing the last leg of the journey to Londonby post chaise.

The parlor, in which a bright fire now glowed, was also empty ofeverything except his breakfast. He had not expected to find hiscousin, for whom the matutinal hours before ten o'clock were supposednot to exist, but he had expected some indication of his urchin'swhereabouts. An inquiry of the wench who served him his coffee producedthe information that Danny had been seen by Mrs. Jarvis at around sixo'clock but not since.

The earl frowned at his sirloin, wondering if Danny had thought betterof her agreement to remain with him until London, but he dismissed thesuspicion as unworthy. The child quite clearly had a very rigid code ofhonor and even if she were laboring under a sense of injustice wouldnot break her word.

In fact, the subject of his thoughts was making her damp way backacross the fields after a sorely needed period of quiet reflection. Shehad awoken before the first bird song and making her way to the kitchenhad found that hub of the hostelry already seething with life. She hadbeen bidden to the breakfast table by the motherly Mrs. Jarvis but hadaccepted instead a meat pasty and an apple and set off on a long trudgeacross the surrounding countryside. Her reflections had been gloomy andthe steady drizzle had done nothing to spark her usualoptimism. Milord appeared to take his guardianship much more seriouslythan she had thought, as last evening's episode so clearlydemonstrated. It seemed to encompass far more than a simple concern forher physical welfare. That being the case he would, without doubt, dohis possible to prevent the furtherance of her plans once she reachedCornwall. She had hoped, she now realized naively, that once she hadeffected her escape from his protection that apparent careless lethargyof his would persuade him to put the entire episode out of mind. Hisfears for her safety, now she was

out of France, must surely beconsiderably allayed and he would know that a simple and relativelyshort journey across England would be easily accomplished by one who asa fugitive had made the infinitely longer and more hazardous trip fromLanguedoc to Paris. But he seemed to have some strange and mostexasperating notions about the manner in which Danielle de St. Varennesshould proceed both now and

in the future.

Pausing, she threw her apple core into a small stream, watching thecircle of ripples widen on the rain-pitted surface of the sluggishbrown water. She had ceased to think of herself as Danielle de St.Varennes since that February night, had concentrated only on a planthat required the identity of "Danny" to carry it through. But the Earlof Linton seemed only to acknowledge Danielle and his constantreminders of this person were disturbing, forcing her out of hiding inthe deep recesses of the mind of Danny. Now she seemed to slip withbewildering rapidity from urchin to aristocrat and the only fact ofwhich she was absolutely convinced was Linton's determination that sheassume the latter role permanently, at the earliest possible moment.

Maybe her grandparents, whom she remembered as a gentle, kindly couple,would share Linton's view

of the matter and be much less amenable topersuasion than she had anticipated? But she could not

return to Francewithout their help—or someone's at least—and return she must, albeitfor as brief a

stay as possible. She had a task to complete and not allthe Earls of Linton should stand in her way.

She had reached thisrousing decision as she attained the courtyard of the Red Lion

to come face to face with her protector who was about to sally forth insearch of his errant ward.

"Good morning, Danny," His Lordship murmured courteously, steppingaside to allow her entrance into the inn.

"Morning." She made to brush past him, but a lazy hand took her wrist.

"You appear to be rather wet, brat."

"It's raining."

"Yes, I had noticed," he concurred silkily. "I think you had betterchange your clothes before we continue our journey."

"Why? I shall only get wet again." Danielle was painfully aware thatshe sounded like a sulky child but somehow could do nothing to alterher tone.

"Ah, but you see, you won't," the earl said gently, flipping open hissilver snuff box and one-handedly taking a delicate pinch. "We shalltravel today by post chaise."

Danny wrinkled her nose disgustedly. "But it's only twenty miles and alittle rain hurt no one."

"It will hurt me, my child. I am sorry to inconvenience you, but Ireally must insist." The long fingers tightened for an instant aroundthe fragile bones of her wrist. "I would like to leave within thequarter hour so you would oblige us both by making all speed todonsomedry clothes. Of course," he added pleasantly, "should you findyourself in difficulties in this matter, I should be most happy toassist you."

Danielle twitched her wrist out of the immediately relaxed hold. "Yourassistance, my lord, will not