attributes were hardly unique. She had seen any number of well
muscled men. She lived in the country, after all. Most of her neighbors were farmers who worked in their own fields. Many of them
had developed broad shoulders and strong legs. In addition, she
was not entirely without experience when it came to the male of
the species. First, there had been Philippe D'Artois, her dancing
instructor. Philippe had been as graceful as a bird in flight. And
then there had been Alastair Drake. Athletic and handsome, he
had certainly not required any help from his tailor in order to do
justice to his attire.
But Colchester was as different from those men as night was
from day. The strength that emanated from him had nothing to do
with his sleekly muscled shoulders and thighs. It radiated from
some inner core of inflexible steel. The force of his will was palpable.
There was also a great stillness about him that belonged more
properly to the shadows than to the daylight. It was the patient
stillness of the predator. Imogen tried to imagine him as he must
have looked on that fateful day when he finally mastered the
labyrinth beneath the ruined city of Zamar and discovered the
hidden library. She would have sold her soul to have been with
him on that memorable occasion.
Colchester turned his head at that moment and gave her an
inquiring, slightly amused glance. It was as though he had read her
thoughts. Imogen felt a wave of embarrassed warmth go through
her. The teacup she was holding rattled on its saucer.
The dark library was chilly, but Colchester had obligingly built
a fire on the hearth. The room, which was crowded with a variety
of bizarre sepulchral artifacts, would soon warm.
Once she had been assured that Colchester was not a ghost or
a vampire, Bess had recovered sufficiently to retreat to the
deserted kitchens. There she had prepared a pot of tea and a cold
collation. The simple meal consisted only of leftover salmon pie,
some bread pudding, and a bit of ham, but Colchester seemed
content with it.
Imogen certainly hoped he was satisfied. The food had not
come from the mansion's empty cupboards. It had been packed in
a hamper early that morning and brought along to sustain the
women as they went about the business of cataloguing Selwyn
Waterstone's collection. Judging by the efficient manner in which
Colchester was demolishing the repast, Imogen doubted that
there would be much left over for Horatia, Bess, or herself.
I am, of course, delighted to make your acquaintance,"
Matthias said.
Imogen suddenly realized that his voice had an extremely odd
effect on her senses. There was a dark, subtle power in it that
threatened to envelop her. It made her think of mysterious seas
and strange lands.
More tea, my lord?" Imogen asked quickly.
Thank you." His long, elegant fingers brushed hers as he
accepted the cup.
A curious sensation began at the point where he had touched
her. It traveled along Imogen's hand, rendering her skin unac
countably warm. It was as though she sat too close to the fire.
Imogen hastily set the pot down before she dropped it.
I am very sorry that there was no one here to greet you when
you arrived last night, sir," she said. I sent the servants to their
own homes for a few days while my aunt and I conduct the inven
tory." She frowned as a thought struck her. I was quite certain that
I directed you to come to Waterstone Cottage, not Waterstone
Manor."
No doubt you did," Matthias said softly. But then, there were a
great many instructions in your letter. I may have forgotten one or
two along the way."
Horatia glared at Imogen. Letter? What letter? Really,
Imogen, I must have an explanation."
I shall explain everything," Imogen assured her aunt. She eyed
Matthias warily. The cool mockery in his eyes was unmistakable.
It cut her to the quick. My lord, I fail to see anything amusing
about the contents of my letter."
I was not particularly amused by it last night," Matthias admit
ted. The hour was late. It was raining. My horse was exhausted. I
saw no point wasting time in an attempt to locate a small cottage,
when I had this vast house at my disposal."
I see." Imogen gave him a determined smile. I must say, you
appear remarkably unruffled by a night spent in a sarcophagus.
My aunt and I have often remarked that Uncle Selwyn's notion of
a proper bed was certainly not to everyone's taste."
I have slept in worse places." Matthias helped himself to the
last of the ham and surveyed his surroundings with a considering
expression. I had heard tales of Selwyn Waterstone's collection.
The reality is even more unexpected than the rumors implied."
Briefly distracted, Horatia peered at him over the rims of her
spectacles. I expect you are aware that my brother had an abiding
interest in sepulchral art and tomb antiquities, sir."
Matthias's arresting eyes lingered thoughtfully on an Egyptian
mummy case propped in the corner. Yes."
It is all mine now," Imogen told him proudly. Uncle Selwyn left
his entire collection to me along with the house."
Matthias gave her a speculative glance. You are interested in
sepulchral art?"
Only that which is Zamarian," she said. Uncle Selwyn claimed
that he owned a few Zamarian artifacts and I have every hope
that he did. But it will take time to find them." She gestured to
indicate the heap of antiquities and funereal oddities that littered
the library. As you can see, my uncle had no sense of organization.
He never bothered to catalogue the items in his collection. There
may be any number of rare treasures waiting to be unearthed in
this house."
It will certainly take a great deal of work to find them,"
Matthias said.
Yes, it will. As I said, I plan to keep any antiquities that I can
positively identify as Zamarian in origin. I shall offer the remain
der to other collectors or perhaps give them to a museum."
I see." Matthias sipped tea and studied the library more closely.
Imogen followed his gaze. There was no denying that her eccen
tric uncle had possessed a very strange taste for artifacts associ
ated with death.
Ancient swords and armor taken from Roman and Etruscan
burial chambers were strewn about in a careless fashion. Sphinxes,
chimeras, and crocodile motifs copied from Egyptian tombs
adorned the furniture. Bits of statuary and cloudy glass bottles
that had been discovered in antique sepulchral monuments
reposed in the cupboards. Grim death masks stared down from
walls.
The bookcases were stuffed with dozens of worn volumes that
dealt with ancient entombment practices and the embalming arts.
Several large crates were stacked on the far side of the room.
Imogen had not yet opened them. She had no idea what was
inside.
The situation was no better in the upstairs chambers, all
of
which were crammed with the tomb antiquities that Selwyn
Waterstone had spent his life acquiring.
Matthias finished his brief survey and looked at Imogen. What
you choose to do with Waterstone's oddities is your affair, of
course. Let us return to the business at hand. Would you mind
telling me why you sent for me?"
Horatia uttered a small, faint gasp. She whirled to confront
Imogen. I cannot believe that you have done this. Why on earth
didn't you tell me?"
Imogen gave her a placating smile. The thing is, I sent for his
lordship a few days before you arrived here in Upper Stickleford.
I was not entirely certain he would put in an appearance, so I saw
no reason to mention it."
This is folly," Horatia snapped. Now that the initial shock had
passed, she was apparently regaining her usual spirits. Do you
realize who this is, Imogen?"
Of course I know who he is." Imogen lowered her voice to a
properly reverential tone. He is Colchester of Zamar."
Matthias raised his brows but made no comment.
As you said, my lord," Imogen continued, it is time to get to the
heart of the matter. You were a good friend of Uncle Selwyn's, I
believe."
Was I?" Matthias asked. That is certainly news to me. I was not
aware that Selwyn Waterstone had any friends."
Alarm shot through Imogen. But I was led to believe that you
owed him a great favor. He claimed that you had vowed to repay
him if it were ever possible to do so."
Matthias regarded her in silence for a moment. Yes."
Imogen was vastly relieved. Excellent. For a second there I
thought I might have made a dreadful mistake."
Do you make many such mistakes, Miss Waterstone?" Matthias
asked gently.
Almost never," she assured him. My parents were great believ
ers in education, you see. I was trained in logic and philosophy,
among other subjects, from the cradle. My father always said that
when one thinks clearly, one rarely makes mistakes."
Indeed," Matthias murmured. As to your uncle, it's true that I
considered myself to have been in his debt."
Something to do with an ancient text, was it not?"
Years ago he came across a very old Greek volume in the
course of his travels," Matthias said. It contained some oblique
references to a lost island kingdom. Those references, together
with others I had discovered, gave me some of the clues I needed
to locate Zamar."
That is just what Uncle Selwyn told me."
I regret that he died before I could repay him," Matthias said.
You are in luck, sir." Imogen smiled. As it happens, there is a
way for you to fulfill your promise."
Matthias regarded her with an unreadable expression. I fear
that I do not entirely grasp your meaning, Miss Waterstone. You
have just told me that your uncle is dead."
He is. But in addition to his collection of tomb artifacts, my
uncle also left me a respectable inheritance and the promise that
you owed him."
There was a heartbeat of silence. Horatia stared at Imogen as if
she had gone mad.
Matthias watched her with enigmatic eyes. I beg your pardon?"
Imogen cleared her throat delicately. Uncle Selwyn
bequeathed me the promise that he claimed you made to him. It
is quite clear in his will."
It is?"
This was not going as smoothly as she had hoped, Imogen
reflected. She braced herself. I wish to collect on that promise."
Oh, dear," Horatia whispered. She sounded resigned to a
dreadful fate.
Just how do you propose to collect the debt that I owed to your
uncle, Miss Waterstone?" Matthias finally asked.
Well, as to that," Imogen said, it is somewhat complicated."
Somehow that does not surprise me."
Imogen pretended not to hear that unencouraging remark. Are
you acquainted with Lord Vanneck, sir?"
Matthias hesitated. Cold disdain appeared briefly in his gaze.
He is a collector of Zamarian antiquities."
He was also the husband of my good friend Lucy Haconby."
Lady Vanneck died some time ago, did she not?"
Yes, my lord. Three years ago, to be precise. And I am
convinced that she was murdered."
Murdered?" For the first time, Matthias actually showed a trace
of surprise.
Oh, Imogen, surely you do not intend Horatia broke off and
closed her eyes in dismay.
I believe she was murdered by her husband, Lord Vanneck,"
Imogen said forcefully. But there is no way to prove it. With your
help, sir, I intend to see that justice is done."
Matthias said nothing. He did not take his eyes off Imogen's
face.
Horatia rallied. My lord, surely you will talk her out of this wild
scheme."
Imogen scowled at Horatia. I dare not wait. An acquaintance
has written to tell me that Vanneck is preparing to marry again.
He has apparently suffered some serious financial reverses."
Matthias shrugged. That much is true. A few months ago
Vanneck was forced to sell his large town house and move into a
much smaller residence. But he still manages to keep up appearances."
I suspect that he is even now prowling the ballrooms and draw
ing rooms of London in search of a wealthy young heiress,"
Imogen said. He might very well murder her too, once he has his
hands on her fortune."
Imogen, really," Horatia said weakly. You must not make such
accusations. You have absolutely no proof."
I know that Lucy feared Vanneck," Imogen insisted. And I
know that Vanneck was frequently cruel to her. When I visited
Lucy in London just before her death, she confided to me that she
was afraid he might someday murder her. She said that he was
insanely jealous."
Matthias set his cup down and rested his elbows on his thighs.
He loosely clasped his hands between his knees and regarded
Imogen with an expression of reluctant interest. Just how do you
intend to carry out your scheme, Miss Waterstone?"
Horatia was horrified. Good heavens, you must not encourage
her, my lord."
I find myself somewhat curious," Matthias said dryly. I would
like to hear the details of this plan."
Then all is lost," Horatia muttered. Imogen has a way of
sweeping others up into her schemes."
I promise you that I am not easily swept along by much of
anything unless I so choose," Matthias assured her.
I pray you will remember those bold words later, sir," Horatia
muttered.
My aunt is inclined to be overanxious at times, my lord,"
Imogen said. Do not worry, I have planned this out very carefully.
I know what I am doing. Now then, as you just observed, Lord
Vanneck is an extremely zealous collector of all things Zamarian."
So?" Matthias's mouth twisted humorlessly. Vanneck may
fancy himself an expert, but in truth he would not know a genuine
Zamarian artifact from the hindquarters of a horse. Even
I. A. Stone displays more perception."
Horatia set her cup d
own with a small crash. Her eyes darted
from Matthias to Imogen and back again.
Imogen took a very deep breath and composed herself. You
have frequently argued with I A. Stone's conclusions in the pages
of the Zamarian Review, I believe."
Matthias was politely amused. You have kept up with our little
squabbles?"
Oh, yes. I have maintained a subscription to the Review for
several years, my lord. I always find your articles extremely
enlightening."
Thank you."
But I also find I. A. Stone's writings to be quite thought
provoking," she added with what she hoped was a bland smile.
Horatia frowned in warning. Imogen, we seem to be straying
from the subject. Not that I am particularly desirous of returning
to that other topic, however"
I A. Stone has never even been to Zamar," Matthias said
through his teeth. A flare of genuine emotion lit his ghostly eyes
for the first time that morning. He has no firsthand knowledge of
his subject, yet he feels free to make observations and reach
conclusions based upon my work."
And the work of Mister Rutledge," Imogen pointed out hastily.
The warm emotion died in Matthias's eyes as swiftly as it had
appeared. Rutledge died four years ago on his last trip to Zamar.
Everyone knows that. His old writings are sadly out of date. I A.
Stone should know better than to use them in his researches."
I was under the impression that I. A. Stone's papers were quite
well received by the members of the Zamarian Society," Imogen
said tentatively.
I will admit that Stone has a certain superficial familiarity with
Zamar," Matthias allowed with gracious arrogance. But it is the
sort of knowledge one gleans from studying the work of a more
informed expert."
Such as yourself, my lord?" Imogen asked politely.
Precisely. It is obvious that Stone has read virtually everything
I've written on Zamar. And then he has the incredible gall to
disagree with me on any number of points."
Horatia coughed discreetly. Er, Imogen?"
Imogen resisted the urge to pursue the matter. Horatia was
right. She had other priorities. Yes, well, back to Vanneck.
Regardless of his intellectual limitations, you must admit that he
is known to be consumed with a passion for Zamarian artifacts."
Matthias looked as though he would have preferred to continue
the heated discussion of I. A. Stone's lack of expertise. But he
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 2
