"What a very strange request." Mirabeau laughed in puzzlement. "If Idid not know you as well as I do, my friend, I would assume you haddeveloped some . . . um . . . odd predilections!"
Lord Linton laughed too, but without much humor. "I can assure you thatthe case is quite the opposite. Somewhere in your household you musthave a servant who could be relieved, for a consideration of course, ofhis second best suit of clothes."
Mirabeau rang a small gold handbell and explained his friend's needs tothe inscrutable footman who had instantly responded to the summons. Theextraordinary request was carried into the far depths of the vastmansion and within a remarkably short time the earl was presented witha packet and an apologetic explanation that the household contained noone quite as small as His Lordship had described but it was hoped thatthese would suffice. Coins exchanged hands as Linton assured thelackey, after a quick examination, that they would do quite well. Achair was summoned, the earl having decided that he did not wish torisk another such incident as had occurred on his way by again walkingalone through the streets, and he was borne in relative comfort and allbub immoderate speed by strong-armed carriers back to the Inn of theRooster.
Mine Host, in nightshirt, was hovering to receive his returning guestand responded with a deep bow to the demand for a truckle bed in MyLord's chamber. His place was not to question the whims of nobility andif Milord Linton chose to share his apartments with a backstreet waifthat was his business. It was certainly interesting, though, and anexplanation similar to that hinted earlier by the Comte de Mirabeauflashed through his mind.
The earl, well aware of his host's suspicions, went upstairs, silentlybemoaning the slur on his reputation. The chamber was quiet as heentered, lit dimly by a single taper and the embers of a dying fire. Aquick glance behind the bed curtains assured him that his urchin wasstill deeply asleep. She appeared by her position not to have stirredin his absence.
Sitting at the writing desk, sharpening a quill with quietconcentration, Linton began a letter to the Earl of March, pausing onlyto bid entrance to the servants with the truckle bed, instructing themto set it up in the far corner of the chamber. Alone again, he sandedthe two sheets of paper covered in close black script and read themissive through. Unwilling to go into too much detail, he had describedthe incident at Languedoc in bald, unadorned phrases, stated simplythat he would bring their granddaughter to them as fast as travelingconditions permitted, and enjoined his lordship's absolute secrecyuntil he could explain the situation in full and in person. It wouldhave to do, although it would undoubtedly give rise to more questionsthan it satisfied. A messenger traveling alone on horseback wouldaccomplish the journey several days faster than the earl and his chargecould and the Earl and Countess of March would at least be alerted totheir granddaughter's arrival. He left the letter on the desk. Timeenough to find a messenger in the morning.
Linton prepared himself for sleep, turning back the covers on thetruckle bed before drawing aside the bed curtains. Danielle lay curledon her side, facing away from him. Very gently he pulled back thecovers and then swore under his breath. The shirt had become tangledaround her waist revealing the soft curves of quite the prettiestlittle bottom. Grim-faced, Linton hastily disentangled the material,pulling it down to cover the entrancing sight before sliding his armsbeneath the still sleeping figure. As he lifted her, Danielle's eyesshot open and she gazed in shock and fear at the impassive face aboveher. For one petrifying moment she had no idea where she was until acalm remembered voice spoke with brisk reassurance.
"Do not be afraid, child. I'm going to put you into another bed. It's alittle small for me," he added dryly. "And I do not see why I shouldspend the night with my feet hanging over the end."
The large hrown eyes closed again instantly and he felt an absurd urgeto kiss the paper thin, blue-veined lids. Resolutely he bent and laidthe sleeping figure on the narrow cot, pulling the covers over her. Sheflipped instantly onto her side again, drawing her knees up to herchin. Trying very hard not to think of whatmust have happened to the shirt as a result of that maneuver, Justin,Earl of Linton, took himself to his body-warmed, rumpled bed.
The arrival of his shaving water and the heady aroma of strong coffeeheralding the coming of breakfast awoke him after what seemed like avery short night. Once the bustle in the chamber had died away, hepushed aside the bed curtains and got yawning to his feet. The mound onthe truckle bed stirred.
"Are you awake, Danny?"
"No" came the muffled response.
"Good. Then perhaps you would stay that way until I'm dressed." Aslight smile tugged fleetingly at his lips as he drew on the fine hoseand perfectly tailored buckskin riding britches. He must remember toensure in their future resting places that the room was equipped with adressing screen.
Padding shirtless on stockinged feet he went over to the dresser.Seating himself before the mirror and his shaving water he carefullysharpened the broad blade of the razor on the leather strop beforebeginning to remove his overnight beard.
"Why are you traveling without your valet?" The sudden questionstartled him and he nicked his chin, closing his mouth on the oath thathad sprung readily to his lips.
"You are supposed to be asleep," he declared irritably. "Don't you knowbetter than to talk to someone whilst they are shaving?"
"Well, you see, I have never seen anyone shaving before," Danielleapologized.
The earl wiped his face with a dampened towel and turned around. Hisobserver was sitting up in bed, hugging her knees, regarding him withmischievous interest.
"And I suppose you've never seen a man without his shirt before,"Linton muttered.
