"Then it is no wonder everyone goes around looking so ludicrous," she declared roundly. "But I do not intend to be in their company, and if you, milord, are going to insist, I should inform you that we are not yet married and you do not have the right of command."

"Do not challenge me, Danny, please," His Lords.h.i.+p begged mildly. "It will make things most uncomfortable for us both. I do not, as it happens, think that what you have described will look well on you at all. You are far too small."

"Exactement!" she declared with satisfaction. "I shall look positively top-heavy."

This inelegant expression earned her a raised eyebrow from Milord and a hastily suppressed chuckle from Julian.

"The powder and feathers are de rigueur at Court, but I think we can find a satisfactory compromise," Linton stated. "The lacquer and the birds we can do without."

"And you will tell Grandmere so?"

"You may regale Julian with the salient facts of your story, brat, avoiding unnecessary detail, if you please, whilst I find my coat. I will accompany you to Bedford Place. Is your groom with your horse?"

"No, I sent him home and had your servants stable the mare. I thought we might be some considerable time, you see, and as I knew you would ride home with me it seemed wasteful to keep Harry kicking his heels." She gave him her ravis.h.i.+ng smile and the earl, with an almost defeated headshake, left the room to exchange his embroidered dressing gown for more suitable attire.

Justin, Earl of Linton, married Danielle de St. Varennes on a green and gold day of Indian summer, the last Sat.u.r.day in September. It was indeed a quiet wedding, attended only by family and very close friends of the groom and the bride's grandparents, with the notable inclusion of the Prince of Wales, without Princess Caroline, from whom he had been scandalously and openly separated for four years, and William Pitt, who watched the proceedings with a most remarked air of satisfaction. However small the guest list, the occasion was of an elegance bordering on the magnificent. St. George's in Hanover Square was bedecked with hothouse flowers of a delicacy and simplicity that matched the bride's fresh youthfulness, and the music, selected with great firmness by the bride, resounded through the nave on the soaring tongues of the choir.

The Earl of Linton, in midnight blue satin, Dresden lace foaming at his neck, and the most magnificent sapphires at throat and fingers, his hair powdered and curled in a manner that Danielle for one found rather intimidating, stood before the altar attended by his cousin, watching his bride's measured progress down the aisle on the arm of the Earl of March.

She wore a gown of white velvet opened over a white satin underdress thickly encrusted with seed pearls. Her mother's flawless pearl set was clasped around wrist and throat and the exquisite tiara held her long flowing veil in place, to fall down her back over the velvet train. She carried white roses to complete a veritable picture of maidenhood on its last voyage. The earl's lips quivered slightly as he remembered the pithy comment she had delivered on this very subject during the ceremony rehearsal the previous afternoon.

She stood beside him now, her head demurely bent to the bouquet between her gloved hands. They were quite steady, he noticed. When the moment came, the Earl of March took her hand and gave it into the possession of the Earl of Linton before quietly stepping back. Lady Lavinia buried herself in her handkerchief; her tears were of joy for her granddaughter and grief for her daughter who had most truly been sacrificed on the altar of matrimony. It needed all her resolution to remind herself that Louise's had been a self-sacrifice. She had been as headstrong as her daughter but Lucien, Vicomte de St. Varennes, had been, alas, no Earl of Linton who would most a.s.suredly cherish his wife as he was now firmly promising to do.

Danielle's own responses were firm and clear. Only the slight tremor of the fingers between his as she promised her obedience gave any indication of inner turmoil.

The earl bent his head to the small ear revealed by the upward sweep of her curls caught under the veil to whisper, "Do not worry, my brat. I will make it very easy for you to fullfil your vows, I promise." Her fingers gripped his tightly and a soft choke that he was convinced was laughter came from beneath the veil. The heavy gold band slipped over her left finger and the earl himself raised the frothy veil to look into a pair of very grave brown eyes before he bent to brush her lips with his own.

The remainder of the afternoon pa.s.sed in a curious dream for Danielle, now Countess of Linton. She stood for what seemed hours beside her husband in the ballroom of March house, receiving their guests. The congratulations from this group at least were sincerely uttered, though doubts still fluttered in the concerned b.r.e.a.s.t.s of Linton's family and friends-with the exception of Lord Julian who, after the formalities of the receiving line, bore her off to meet the younger members of the vast Carlton clan with as much proud possession as if he himself were the groom. Linton watched with an amused tolerance as he devoted his own attentions to the older generation and the Marches. His mother and sisters were fortunately well acquainted with Lady Lavinia and were soon settled for a comfortable coze. The Countess of March graciously received the many compliments on her granddaughter's beauty and deftly fielded the many probes as to her circ.u.mstances.

Danielle, surrounded by an admiring circle of Julian's cronies and feeling as if she had never before enjoyed herself so much at a party, absently took a gla.s.s from the tray offered at her elbow by a liveried flunky. Before she could raise it to her lips, however, it had left her hand. Startled and not a little put out, she looked up at her husband now standing at her shoulder.

"You will prefer the champagne, my love," he said placidly.

"But how can I know that until I taste this?" she demanded, frowning deeply.

"Try it, by all means, but curb your reactions." He held the gla.s.s to her lips and watched with great amus.e.m.e.nt as an expression of astounded horror crossed the intent face.

"Mais, c'est abominable! Whatever is it, Justin?"

"Ratafia, my dear, and now you know you will be able to avoid it in the future."

"It is fit only for . .."

"Madam Wife," he interrupted her swiftly, "will you allow me to escort you to the dining room?"

The wedding had taken place at noon and was followed by a reception that included what Lady Lavinia had erroneously described as, "A simple nuncheon, for you know, my dear, people will have dinner engagements and will not wish to be quite overeaten by the evening."

"This is Grandmere's idea of a simple buffet?" Danny choked as they reached the long, first-floor dining room. The tables groaned under the weight of souffles and syllabubs, stuffed quail, dishes of deviled eggs, capons and pigeons in a delicate wine sauce, dishes of artichokes, b.u.t.tered cauliflower, and mushrooms, interspersed with lobsters, b.u.t.tered crab, and several Scotch salmons.

"You know," she said suddenly, "when one has been truly hungry, painfully hungry, this seems a little ... a little too much. You understand, milord?"

"Perfectly," he said quietly. "Do you prefer not to eat now?"

"That would look a little churlish." She smiled. "Perhaps a morsel of the crab and some salmon."

"Come and sit with my mother whilst I procure you a plate and a gla.s.s of wine."

At three o'clock, Lady Lavinia, prompted by a quiet word from the groom, hastened to send her granddaughter upstairs to change her wedding gown. "Linton wishes to leave within the hour, my love," she explained. "If you are to reach Danesbury by dusk you must get ready now."

In Danielle's bedchamber, Lady Lavinia began with great hesitation on a mother's duty to a bride on her wedding day. "I do not know how much your mama may have told you, my love, about the duties of a wife .. ." She began hesitantly, but was instantly interrupted.

"Dear ma'am, pray do not. I understand much more than perhaps is seemly and what I do not, Milord had promised to teach me."

"Dear G.o.d!" the Lady Lavinia was betrayed into uttering. "You have talked of such things with Linton?"

"Indeed, ma'am," Danielle said coolly, resisting the mischievous urge to declare that more than talk had taken place between them.

"Well, he is, of course, a great deal older than you," her ladys.h.i.+p muttered uneasily, "And he has much experience of the world." That thought gave rise to another, much more difficult to explain to this eager creature who seemed to repose such utter trust in her husband. But it was a necessary, though unpleasant, task.

"Danielle, gentlemen frequently find that a wife is not always sufficient for certain ... uh ... certain needs . .."

"Grandmere." Danielle whirled from the mirror. "I have not the intention of being a complacent wife. If Linton sets up a mistress I shall most likely cut his throat in the night!" She crossed the room hastily to take her shattered relative in her arms. "Now I have shocked you, and I am truly sorry for it, but you must understand that I am rather different. I can promise you, Linton will have no need of a mistress whilst I am his wife."

"Oh Danielle, whatever is to become of you if you speak like that in Society?" Lady Lavinia moaned, more shocked than she had ever been.

"Why nothing at all, ma'am, because I shall not," her outrageous granddaughter rea.s.sured cheerfully. "Can you imagine Justin's reaction if I did?" Her lips curved in an impish smile. "Come, Grandmere, let us not discuss this further. It is embarra.s.sing for you and quite unnecessary, I do a.s.sure you."

With that Lady Lavinia was obliged to be satisfied. Reflecting that Linton certainly appeared to have the measure of his bride whose sophistication, while certainly shocking in one so young, perhaps boded well for a good understanding between husband and wife, she turned her attention thankfully to Danielle's toilette.

Radiant in a crimson traveling dress of her favorite velvet, Danielle descended the wide, shallow staircase to be received on the arm of her husband. "That hat, my love, is going to have to come off very soon," he whispered.

"Do you not care for it, my lord?" she questioned innocently. "I thought it monstrous pretty, myself."

"It is very fetching, but those ridiculous feathers will tickle my nose," he replied solemnly. "I do not find sneezing compatible with the activity I intend to pursue once we are away from this bear garden."

"Oh, infamous, Justin!" she whispered, laughing up at him. "How can you refer to this so elegant gathering in such a fas.h.i.+on?"

"Goodness me!" the Dowager Countess of Linton exclaimed in a low voice to her daughter. "I do believe Justin has made a love match. Do you not see the way he looks at the child?"

"And the way she looks at him, ma'am," Lady Beatrice replied, an uncomfortable stab of envy piercing her ample breast. Ten years of marriage and six children had, she thought, cured her of the romantic leanings of her youth-not so, it appeared.

The light traveling coach bearing the Linton arms stood at the door. Justin handed his bride into its upholstered interior after a slightly tearful farewell from her grandparents before entering himself and closing the door firmly.

"Now, my love," he said with satisfaction, seating himself beside her. "Let us rid ourselves of that hat."

"But, Justin, we have not yet left the square." She made half-laughing protest.

"True," he concurred and pulled the blinds over the windows. "Now we are free of prying eyes, so I will have no more excuses, if you please." The hat left her head to be tossed carelessly onto the opposite seat and the Countess of Linton found herself ruthlessly crushed against a broad chest as imperative fingers lifted her face to receive a kiss, at first gentle and exploratory, then increasing in demand and possession as the earl, for the first time, truly gave rein to his pa.s.sion.

When finally he released her lips she remained in the circle of his arm, sobbing for breath and composure as the pulsing heat in her body slowly receded. "You . .. you have kissed me many times before, milord, but never quite like that," she stammered in wonder.

"Before, my little love, I had to keep myself in check." He smiled gently, running a long finger over the bridge of her tip-tilted nose. "Today, I may antic.i.p.ate a little."

Danielle absorbed this slowly. There was so much that she still did not understand about this business of lovemaking, particularly its effects on her mate.

"How soon before we reach Danesbury?" she asked carefully. It seemed a natural enough question in the circ.u.mstances.

"We are not going to Danesbury today" came the totally unexpected reply.

"But why is that?" Danielle pushed her hands against his chest in a quite unsuccessful attempt to right herself.

"I do not wish to spend unnecessary hours of my wedding day boxed up in a chaise," he replied placidly. "And neither do I wish you to become tired, my love. Not yet, at least."

"But . . . but you told the other chaise with my abigail and all the luggage to go straight to Danesbury.' I heard you."

"I have dressed and undressed you before, Danielle. Will you not allow me to do so again? Surely, I was not so very unskilled," he teased, running soft fingers through the lightly powdered curls resting against his shoulders.

"You were most skilled, milord," she murmured mischievously. "I seem to remember remarking on how very experienced you were."

"But you will be a little more discreet today, my brat?"

She laughed softly and possessed herself of his hand, examining the long beringed fingers with frowning concentration. "But I have no clothes, Justin, no toilet articles. Is it to be as it was that first evening in Paris?"

"Not quite. I have everything you will need for one night, which, I take leave to inform you, madam, will be very little! Now try to sleep a while, I wish you rested when we arrive at our destination."

Their destination turned out to be a pretty, whitewashed inn on the banks of the River Thames about fifteen miles from London. An apple-cheeked woman enveloped in a voluminous white ap.r.o.n came to the door to greet them, wreathed in smiles as she bobbed a curtsy.

"My lord, you made good time, indeed. My felicitations, sir, and to you, my lady. Welcome to the Swallow's Nest. As you instructed, my lord, you and her ladys.h.i.+p are the only guests and everything is prepared exactly."

"My love, may I introduce Mrs. MacGregor? To me she has always been Biddy." Iinton smiled.

"And to you too, I hope, my lady. I've known His Lords.h.i.+p since before he was in leading strings."

Danielle gave the woman her smile. "Then, Biddy, you shall tell me some stories of that time. I have a great desire to know what manner of child My Lord was."

"A real imp, m'lady." Biddy laughed, totally won by this frank, open manner. "Now many's the time I've ..."

"Biddy, not now, please," His Lords.h.i.+p interrupted, anxious to forestall a long catalog of reminiscences which would probably not reflect too favorably on his boyhood character.

"Goodness me, what can I have been thinking of?" Biddy recollected herself briskly. "You must be tired, my lady, after your journey and such an exciting day. I'll show you to your apartments and you need have no fear you'll be disturbed. There's a cold supper waiting for you and Jed's best burgundy." She bustled ahead of them into the inn, up a flight of oak stairs, and along a pa.s.sageway to open a door at the end. Danielle walked into a long, sunny room running the length of the inn. It was both bedchamber and parlor with a bright fire in the grate, an oak piecrust table set for dinner, flanked by two carved wooden chairs, tapestry-covered armchairs, and an enormous canopied bed, fluffy with feather pillows and a patchwork comforter. A worked screen stood to one side of the fire and a pink-cheeked girl emerged from behind at their entrance.

"Your bath's all ready, m'lady." She curtsied. "If you'd like me to help you . . . ?"

Danielle glanced up at Iinton and his lips curved. "I think, Maggie, that My Lady would appreciate your a.s.sistance," he said calmly. "Ah, here is the luggage. You will find everything you need in the portmanteau, my love. I shall go and talk to Jed for a while-it's been many months since we met. I shall join you in about half an hour." He pinched her cheek lightly, smiling rea.s.suringly into her suddenly anxious eyes and left her.

With Maggie's help she got out of the crimson traveling dress, the wide hoop, petticoats, stockings, corset, chemise, and pantalettes and stepped behind the screen into the sloping-backed tub of hot water. It had been typical of Justin that he had sensed she would feel more comfortable this first time preparing herself alone and Maggie did not intrude on her thoughts, merely busied herself tidying the discarded clothing and unpacking the portmanteau.

"I have laid everything ready on the bed, m'lady," she called softly from the other side of the screen. "Will there be anything else?"

"No thank you, Maggie. You have been most helpful." The door clicked shut and she was truly alone.

The gown on the bed took her breath away. It was of ivory silk, caught under the bosom to fall in a straight line to her feet. The low, wide neckline was threaded through with a dull gold ribbon to be drawn and tied above the cleft of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She slipped it over her warmed nakedness and the soft material rustled against her skin, and clung most immodestly to the curves of her body. It was the sort of garment to cause raised eyebrows and gasps of shock from the likes of Lady Lavinia, but her husband clearly knew what pleased him when it came to the bedchamber. She sat at the dresser to brush the powder out of her curls, allowing the ringlets to fall as they pleased around her face and on the nape of her neck. She decided that she was, on the whole, pleased with what she saw. Her eyes carried an unusual brightness which, if anything, made them seem even bigger, and her skin glowed with an inner light that she knew reflected the trepidation and antic.i.p.ation surging somewhere in the pit of her belly.

The door opened and she whirled from the mirror, unable to restrain the slight, startled gasp as Linton came in. He said nothing at first, merely removed his coat and shoes before crossing toward her.

"You must not be nervous, Danielle," he whispered, sweeping the hair from the back of her neck and bending to kiss the soft, vulnerable skin.

A slight shudder ran through her as his lips burned against her bent neck and his tongue stroked smoothly upward into the indentation of her skull.

"Come, my love. It is time for me to show you just how enjoyable this matter of loving can be." His hands cupped her elbows, lifting her off the dresser stool, drawing her toward the long pier gla.s.s where he positioned himself behind her as she faced her image.

"First you must understand the beauty of your body and see something of the effects desire will have." His hands reached in front of her, cupping the soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the heel of his palm lifting the nipples under the thin silk, before he untied the ribbon at the neck of the gown and slowly bared her shoulders and b.r.e.a.s.t.s, catching them in his hand as they fell free.

Danielle looked at them in the gla.s.s, their whiteness startlingly blue-veined, their tips suddenly small and hard under his caressing fingers. "Do you think I am perhaps a little inadequate, milord?" she asked hesitantly.

Laughter sprang in the depths of those black eyes as they met hers in the mirror. "Were you any better endowed, my sweet, you would be, to use your own inelegant expression, positively top-heavy! See how comfortably they fit in my hands?" But those hands were now pus.h.i.+ng the gown further, sliding it to her waist. She gasped in soft protest as one long finger played in the small, tight bloom of her navel, but her protest went unheeded as, with a deft movement, Justin slipped the fine silk over her slender hips to fall in a whisper around her ankles.

She stood, long-legged, clean-limbed before her reflection and the tall figure behind her allowed a whisper of contentment to escape his lips as he began to stroke over her belly, her hips, and down her thighs.

"Ah, but you are perfection, Danielle. Do you see how straight and slim your legs are, how flat your belly, and how sweetly round your little bottom?" He turned her sideways slightly, running his hand down the long length of her back, meandering lazily over the curve of her hips and down the backs of her thighs.

Danielle swallowedrUnder the soft caress of his fingers, the honeyed warmth of his voice, a deep tension was building, sending fluttery s.h.i.+vers across her skin and the blood pounding through her veins. He drew her against him, one arm circling her waist and a curious hardness stirred against her b.u.t.tocks. She stiffened suddenly and then moaned involuntarily as his hand curled itself in the springy triangle of fair hair at the base of her belly. She moved her own hand, pus.h.i.+ng him away, but he shook his head slightly and continued to finger the mound beneath. His breath whispered across her neck and the fingers reached further.

"You must not," she pleaded softly, unable to withstand the moist weakness filling her secret places.

"Oh, but I must," he insisted gently. She clenched her thighs and b.u.t.tocks against the invasion, but he pushed with firm determination between them, parting the silky, swollen petals to bring tears of shame and delight to her eyes as her entire body s.h.i.+vered and shook beneath an onslaught of heat and icy cold that misted her skin with a fine sheen of sweat.

"See how heavy your eyes are, my love?" he whispered. "How your breath comes fast when I touch you like this. See how your b.r.e.a.s.t.s swell and stand out? Don't resist your desire. It will bring only exquisite pleasure, I promise you."

"Is there pleasure for you?" she whispered.

"Can you not feel it, my love?" He pressed her against him again and the hard bulge of his awakened manhood burned against her flesh.

"Come, Danielle. I will show you the extent of my pleasure." Lifting her easily, he carried her to the bed, laying her down tenderly.

Slipping out of his britches, undergarments, and stockings, he reached for Danielle's hand and drew her to her feet. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she gazed at his nakedness, unable to look away from the slender trail of black hair curling from his navel down to the evidence of his pa.s.sion. The thought of allowing him inside a body that she still thought of as belonging only to herself sent a thrill of fear down her spine.

"Touch me, Danielle," he commanded quietly. "If you learn the shape and the feel of me, you will not be frightened."