You really must watch your language while we are in Town,
dear," Horatia chided." I realize that you learned the habit of
swearing from your mother, but I must remind you that she was
considered unconventional."
Imogen glared at Horatia through her fingers." I beg your
pardon, Aunt. But bloody hell seems to be the only adequate
expression I can find at the moment."
Nonsense. A lady can always find the appropriate words for
any occasion."
A brief peremptory knock interrupted Imogen before she
could think of a suitable response. misses Vine opened the study
door. Her heavy face was set in its customary morose lines.
A message for ye, Miss Waterstone." She held a folded piece of
paper in one work-worn fist." A lad brought it round to the kitchen
a few minutes ago."
Imogen quickly lowered her hands and folded them on top of
her desk." Let me have it, please, misses Vine."
The housekeeper trudged into the room and put the note on
the desk. Then she turned around and lumbered back toward the
door.
Hold a moment, misses Vine." Imogen picked up the paper and
unfolded it." I may wish to send a reply."
As you wish, ma'am." Misses Vine waited stoically in the doorway.
Imogen glanced at the short message.
My Dear Imogen:
I shall arrive at five this afternoon to collect you for a
drive in the park. I look forward to seeing you. Do not allow
yourself to become overwrought about recent events. We
shall find a satisfactory way to deal with matters.
Yrs.
Colchester
It was too much." Overwrought?" Imogen growled." Me? I am
not the one with weak nerves."
Horatia gave her an inquiring look." I beg your pardon?"
Never mind." Imogen crumpled the note in her hand." Yes, misses
Vine, I definitely wish to send a reply."
Imogen snatched a sheet of foolscap from the drawer, dipped a
quill in ink, and scrawled a hasty message.
Colchester:
I received your note. I regret that I will be unable to join
you for a drive in the park today. I am otherwise engaged.
Yrs.
I. A. Waterstone.
PS. Unlike some people who are troubled by nervous weak
ness, my own temperament is not the sort that becomes over
wrought by unfortunate events.
Imogen carefully folded and sealed the letter and then held it
out to misses Vine.
Please see that this is delivered immediately."
Aye." misses Vine shook her head as she took the letter.
Messages comin" and goin', goin" and comin". Puts me in mind of
another tenant I had a few years back. A little demi-rep. Member
of the fancy set her up here for a few months. The two of" em was
always sendin" messages back and forth. When they weren't
tumblin" about in the bed, that is."
Imogen was briefly distracted." Someone's mistress once lived
in this house, misses Vine?"
Charming little thing, she was. But she was French, y'know.
Took a lover on the side. Another one of the fancy." misses Vine
sighed." She had good taste, I'll say that for her. But her first lover,
the one what paid the rent, found the pair of" em in bed. Had a fit.
Pulled a pistol out of her reticule and shot the bit o" muslin in the
shoulder. Terrible mess on the sheets. Next thing I know, her other
lover
One moment here, misses Vine." Horatia eyed her intently." Are
you saying that the member of the ton who paid the rent for the
little demi-rep was a lady?"
Aye. Lady Petry. Always paid the rent on time, she did."
What happened?" Imogen asked, fascinated.
Well, the little demi-rep weren't bad hurt. I fixed her up and
then all three of" em started crying and apologizin" and carryin" on.
The next thing I know they asked me to bring" em a tray of tea in
the parlor. By the time I got back from the kitchen, everything was
settled."
Settled?" Horatia asked.
Turns out that Lady Petry and Lady Arlon, that's the lady who
was in bed with Lady Petry's bit o" muslin, had both secretly been
in love with each other for years."
Good heavens," Horatia breathed." Lady Petry and Lady
Arlon?"
Neither of" em had ever told the other," misses Vine explained.
Well, in the end they gave the bit o" muslin a nice sum of money
and sent her on her way. She was happy enough with what she got
out of the whole thing. Set herself up in business as a dressmaker.
Madame Maud, she calls herself. Very exclusive."
The second note from Colchester arrived within the hour. When
misses Vine brought it into the study, Imogen eyed it askance.
Something told her that she did not want to read it. Slowly she
unfolded the crisp paper.
Dear Imogen:
I advise you to cancel the afternoon appointment that you
mentioned in your note. If you are not at home when I call
for you at five o'clock, I will assume that you have suffered
some terrible misfortune. Those of us plagued by weak
nerves and grave forebodings always assume the worst.
Indeed, I shall be unable to rest until I have located you and
assured myself that you are safe. Believe me, I will find you,
even if I am obliged to search the whole of London.
Yrs.
Colchester
Horatia looked up expectantly." From his lordship?"
Yes." Imogen crushed the second note in her fist." Who would
have thought that a man who suffered from a weakness of the
nerves would be so good at intimidation?"
Patricia returned from her first round of social calls at four-thirty
that afternoon. Matthias was in his library. He was in the process
of concluding some notes for a lecture he was scheduled to deliver
to an audience at the Zamarian Society. He heard Ufton open the
front door and greet his sister.
A moment later Ufton rapped once on the library door.
Matthias put down his quill." Enter."
Ufton opened the door. Patricia, dressed in one of her new
afternoon gowns, hurried into the room. She looked distraught.
Matthias, I must speak with you."
Can it wait? I'm about to leave for an appointment. Miss
Waterstone and I are to drive in the park this afternoon."
It is Miss Waterstone I wish to discuss," Patricia said with
surprising firmness.
Matthias leaned back in his chair and surveyed his sister." You
no doubt have some questions pertaining to my engagement."
In a manner of speaking." Patricia removed her bonnet and
clutched it very tightly in front of her with both hands." I have just
come from Lady Lyndhurst's. She was kind enough to invite me to
call upon her this afternoon."
I know. I trust you enjoyed yourself."
Very much. She conducts a salon, you know. The members are
studying Zamar. It is really quite interesting. I have been asked to
join them."
Indeed."
But that is not what I wish to speak to you about." Patricia took
a deep breath, obviously bracing herself for what sh
e had to say
next." I must tell you, sir, that today I heard some extremely
distressing news about Miss Waterstone."
Matthias stilled." I beg your pardon?"
I am sorry to tell you this, Colchester, but Miss Waterstone was
a topic of conversation at the salon. I felt you should know."
A topic of conversation." Matthias wrapped his hands around
the carved arms of his chair." Do you mean to say that you listened
to gossip about my fiancee?"
Patricia blanched at his tone." I thought you should know that
her name is on everyone's lips. Apparently she has a certain
history. You will not believe it, but they actually call her Immodest
Imogen."
No one calls her that in my presence."
Matthias, everyone is saying that you felt obliged to announce
your engagement because Miss Waterstone compromised herself
with you last night."
What transpired between Miss Waterstone and myself last
night is no one else's business but our own," Matthias said very
softly.
I don't understand." Patricia looked genuinely baffled." I
thought you would be as shocked as I am by the news that Miss
Waterstone has a blemished reputation."
As far as I'm concerned, her honor is untarnished and anyone
who says otherwise will answer to me. Is that quite clear?"
Patricia took an uneasy step back, but she raised her chin." Very
well, you must do as you see fit."
Precisely." Matthias got to his feet and started around the
corner of the desk.
If you wish to be engaged to a woman of questionable virtue,
that is your affair," Patricia said defiantly." But you cannot expect
me to continue to go about with Miss Waterstone and her aunt. I
have my own reputation to consider."
Anger flashed through Matthias." As long as you choose to
remain under my roof, you will show respect to Miss Waterstone
and her aunt."
But, Matthias
By the bye, since we seem to be dealing with the subject of suitable associations, I may as well tell you that I do not want you to
become friends with Hugo Bagshaw. Do not encourage him."
Patricia was stunned." Mister Bagshaw is a perfect gentleman. He
is entirely above reproach."
Hugo Bagshaw hates me. He may very well attempt to use you
to take revenge on me for something he believes that I did years
ago. Stay away from him, Patricia."
But
Matthias was already at the door." You must excuse me. I have
an appointment."
Imogen was seething. Matthias wondered that she did not set fire
to his coat as she fumed beside him in the carriage. He smiled
ruefully to himself as he drove the well-matched grays through the
stone pillars that marked the entrance to the park.
The paths were already crowded with elegant equipages. Five
o'clock was the fashionable hour to see and be seen. Matthias did
not enjoy Society, but he knew its ways. He understood, even if
Imogen did not, that it was crucial for the two of them to appear
together that afternoon. The entire ton would be watching for
them.
I trust you appreciate precisely what your anxious nature has
done to my plans," Imogen said brusquely.
I regret any inconvenience our engagement has caused you."
She shot him a fulminating look." Do you, sir? I wonder. It has
occurred to me that last night's debacle might very well have been
deliberately perpetrated by you. A blatant attempt to nip my
plans in the bud."
What makes you think that?" Matthias inclined his head a bare
half inch at an acquaintance in a passing carriage.
It is very simple. I came to that conclusion when I realized that
you had practiced secret Zamarian methods of lovemaking upon
my person."
Matthias nearly dropped the reins." What the bloody hell are
you talking about?"
Do not try to cozen me, my lord. It will not work." Imogen's
gloved hands clenched fiercely around her folded fan. She stared
straight ahead." I am not a fool. I am well aware that you used
certain mysterious techniques designed to throw my senses into
complete disarray."
I see. And you believe I learned these, uh, exotic techniques in
the course of my study of ancient Zamar?"
Where else? They were certainly not normal methods of love
making. I perceived that fact immediately."
A reluctant fascination took root in Matthias." Is that so? What
makes you so certain?"
She shot him a disgruntled look." I am not without experience,
my lord."
Indeed."
I have been kissed any number of times and I know that your
kisses are not the normal sort."
Precisely how do my kisses differ from the others you have
experienced?"
You know very well how they differ, sir." Imogen's tone turned
distinctly frosty." They affected my knees so that I could scarcely
stand. And they made my pulse race in a most unnatural manner.
Furthermore, I am certain that they induced a temporary fever."
A fever?" Matthias thought wistfully of the way she had shiv
ered in his arms.
I felt much too warm." She scowled ferociously at him." But the
most damning evidence is that your kisses completely destroyed
my capacity to think logically. One moment I was feeling perfectly
rational, concentrating on my plans to trap Vanneck, and the next,
my brain was in chaos."
Matthias gazed at the tips of his horses" ears." You say you have
never experienced these same reactions when other men have
kissed you?"
Absolutely not."
How many men have kissed you, Imogen?"
That is a personal matter, sir. I would not dream of giving you
a number. A lady does not discuss such things."
Forgive me. I respect the fact that you are not the type to kiss
and tell. But if you're using Alastair Drake as your only basis of
comparison, I feel I must tell you
Mister Drake is not my only basis of comparison." Imogen whirled
about on the seat." For your information, my lord, I have been
kissed by another man."
Have you, indeed?"
And he was a Frenchman," she added triumphantly.
I see."
The whole world knows that the French are very skilled in
lovemaking."
How did you meet this Frenchman?" Matthias asked.
If you must know, it was Philippe D'Artois, my dancing
master."
Ah, yes, the dancing master. That does put a slightly different
face on the matter. I suppose I shall have to concede that you do
have some basis for comparison."
I certainly do," Imogen retorted." And I know perfectly well
that the strong feelings I experienced last night were not the result
of ordinary lovemaking methods. Admit it, sir. You used exotic
Zamarian techniques to disorder my senses."
Imogen There was a sharp crack. Matthias broke off to
glance at her fan. He saw that she had been gripping it so tightly
that she had accidentally snapped the delicate sticks." I was about
<
br /> to say that there is another explanation for the strong feelings you
say you experienced last night."
Rubbish. What would that other explanation be?"
It's possible that the reason you reacted as you did was that
you have developed what Society likes to call a tendre for me," he
suggested gently." In other words, a degree of passion has developed between us."
Nonsense." She suddenly became extremely interested in a
passing carriage." How could there be such a . an intense degree
of passion without love?"
That is an extremely naive thing to say, Imogen."
Hooves clattered on the path. Vanneck came up alongside the
phaeton. Out of the corner of his eye Matthias saw Imogen paste
a strained smile on her face.
Good day to you both," Vanneck said grimly. He tightened the
reins of his prancing bay stallion. The horse flattened its ears as
the bit ravaged its mouth." I understand that congratulations are in
order."
They are," Matthias said.
Thank you, Lord Vanneck," Imogen murmured stiffly. She
began to tap the broken fan against her knee.
Vanneck's smile was thin. The expression did not reach his eyes,
which flicked back and forth between Matthias and Imogen.
There was an element of sly, hungry watchfulness in that gaze. He
reminded Matthias of a ferret.
Some are saying that your future bride brings a most interest
ing dowry, Colchester," Vanneck observed.
Miss Waterstone does not need a dowry to make her interest
ing," Matthias said." She is quite riveting all on her own."
I have no doubt of that. Until later, sir." Vanneck nodded
brusquely and cantered off down the path.
Hell's teeth," Imogen whispered." I was so close. He had fallen
into my trap. It remained only to shut the door on him."
Matthias scowled." Give it up, Imogen. It's finished."
Not necessarily," she said slowly.
Matthias was suddenly wary of the new expression in her eyes.
Imogen
It has just struck me, Colchester. Mayhap there is a way to
salvage something of my initial plan."
Impossible. You cannot form a partnership with Vanneck now
that you are engaged to me. Such things are not done."
It's true that you have ruined my first scheme."
I am sorry, Imogen, but I feel it was for the best."
All is not lost," she said as though she had not heard him." I
have this very moment come up with another plan."
Bloody hell."
It is true that I am no longer in a position to form a partnership
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 16
