Jane Feather - Charade Unknown (great books to read .TXT) 📖

"In the third tier." Danielle lifted a finger to point, but her husbandcaught her hand in time.

"Unladylike brat," he chided. "One does not point in Polite Circles."

Danielle merely chuckled. "Do you see her. Her hair is

a lacapricieuse,

I think."

Justin did see her and sighed. "The lady is Margaret Mainwairing,infant."

"Ah," Danny frowned. "Then you will introduce me,

n'est-ce pas!"

"No, I will not," Justin stated.

"But why not?" Her smile was all sweet innocence that quite failed todeceive her husband. "Is she not perfectly respectable?"

"She is perfectly respectable, but it would not be appropriate tointroduce my wife to my ex-mistress,"

she was bluntly informed.

"People will talk?" Her eyes sparkled.

"A great deal." He turned with some relief to greet the arrival ofagroup of Danielle's admirers. He had little hope that she would allowthe matter to rest there and his forebodings were proved lamentablycorrect when, at the end of the play, in the press of crowds in thefoyer, she disappeared from his side. When he found her, she wasengaged in an animated conversation with Lady Braham with whom she

wasbut slightly acquainted. Margaret Mainwairing, however, was a member ofLady Braham's party.

He arrived at Danielle's side just in time to hear her say, "I am sopleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Mainwairing. I understand youhave been a friend of Linton's this age."

"Yes, indeed," Margaret murmured, an appreciative smile in her eyes asshe saw Justin's expression. "May I offer you my felicitations, LadyLinton." She then extended her hand to the earl. "Good evening, Linton."

"Ma'am." He bowed low over the hand before turning politely to greetthe rest of the group whose well-bred faces barely concealed theirshocked astonishment. "You will excuse us," he said with a smile. "Ourparty awaits . . . Danielle?" He gave her his arm and she laid her handon the cream brocade sleeve, two irrepressible dimples dancing in hercheeks.

Once out of earshot, she said, "You cannot be cross, Justin. You didnot introduce me, yourself, so it was all quite proper. But I thoughtLady Braham was like to swoon when she was obliged to introduce me."She chuckled delightedly but her husband maintained a severe silence ashe handed her into the chaise which bore them to the Piazza where hehad arranged a small supper party for his wife's entertainment. Thetemptation to take her straight home at this point was considerable,but he could not disappoint his guests.

His cousin, Sir Anthony Fanshawe, Lord Philip Courtland, and the youngViscount Westmore were waiting for them as the earl,still in stony silence, escorted Danielle to the table.

"Justin is most annoyed with me," Danielle announced, sitting down witha swish of skirts. "I contrived

an introduction to Lady Mainwairing—shewas his mistress before he was married as I'm sure you are aware." Shesmiled around the stunned circle of faces. "It seemed to me necessarythat society should be aware that I know of these things and I haveonly friendly feelings for Lady Mainwairing. Now all is

convenable,n'est-ce pas?

"

"Odd's blood," Lord Julian said in shaking accents. It was a sentimentechoed by his companions. "What will you think to do next, Danny?"

"'Twas not at all the thing, Danny," Sir Anthony agreed. "A man's wifeis not acquainted with his mistress."

"But Lady Mainwairing is no longer Justin's mistress," Danielle saidtranquilly, sipping her champagne. "Have I not just demonstrated thatfact? It was my object, you understand. You are not being at all wise."She dismissed their stupidity with an airy wave. "If Lady Mainwairingwere still Justin's mistress, then of course I would not know her.Since I do, she cannot be."

"Logical." Lord Philip nodded, most struck with this reasonablestatement. "She has a point, y'know."

A short reflective silence fell around the table and Justin, who to hissurprise was now enjoying himself hugely, sat back twirling hisquizzing glass on the narrow silk riband. Danielle, in her usualfashion, had cut through the hypocritical layers of society'sconventions and had most effectively put the kiss of death to anymalicious scandal-mongering. Who would whisper to her about herhusband's erstwhile mistress when she had so clearly demonstrated thatthere was nothing they could tell her?

"Let us put aside Danielle's regrettable want of conduct and addressourselves to our supper," he said.

"I do not think that the Piazza is asuitable forum for such a discussion."

"No, no indeed not, 'pon my soul," Viscount Westmore agreed heartily."Not a subject for the ladies either."

Danielle went into a peal of laughter, "But I raised the subject,Westmore."

"We were talking about ladies," Julian said severely.

"Oh, infamous, Jules! Justin, will you not defend me from suchrudeness?"

"On the contrary, brat," her husband drawled. "I will endorse it. Eatyour supper."

It was a riotous party and Justin resigned himself to the now familiarrole of schoolmaster presiding over a rowdy schoolroom. In Danielle'scompany the four young men who fancied themselves as sophisticated,blase members of the haul ton lost their world-weary airs, treatingDanny as they would a favorite sister, but with the added spice oflight flirtation with a beautiful woman securely married to the Earl ofLinton who himself regarded the proceedings with patent amusement.

And that night, Linton had in his bed both wife and mistress—a wildcreature in the mood for play who moved over him with eager hands andmouth, made love to him with uninhibited joy in his body, and then gavehim her own to do with as he wished.

Chapter 11

"Your face, Justin, was a picture." Margaret Mainwairing laughedreminiscently as she handed him a

glass of port late one eveningseveral days after the excursion to the theater. "But not as funny asSally Braham's."

"Who was like to swoon, I am reliably informed," said Justin dryly.

"The child is quite delightful, but are you certain you can handle her?"

"I have little need to do so." He sat in