A great stillness settled on the interior of the carriage. It was as
if a magician had worked a spell, freezing the moment. Imogen
was dimly aware of distant voices and the din of carriage wheels
and horses" hooves in the street. Lamps from passing coaches
occasionally winked in the darkness. Outside the carriage the
world was in motion. But inside nothing moved.
You love me?" Matthias repeated very softly.
Yes."
Then marry me tomorrow by special license."
Imogen's mouth dropped open." How can you talk about
marriage when your life is at stake?"
Somehow," Matthias said as he gathered her back into his arms,
marriage is the only thing that seems important enough to discuss
at the moment."
But, Matthias"
Say you will wed me before I go to meet my fate." He brushed
a kiss across her damp eyes and dropped another into her tangled
hair." It is all I ask, my sweet."
I will give you anything you want if you will cancel your dawn
appointment."
I cannot do that, Imogen. I can only assure you that I expect to
live through it and join you for breakfast afterward."
Imogen heard the implacable note in his words and knew that
further protest was useless. She pummeled his shoulders with
small fists." Matthias, I beg you"
Marry me. Tomorrow."
She subsided against him, exhausted by her own helpless
outrage. She turned her face into his coat to blot the new flood of
tears." If that is truly your wish."
It is my only wish. It is all I ask."
She could deny him nothing at that moment." Very well." Her
voice was muffled by his coat." I will marry you tomorrow."
You do not have to sound as though you are about to be trans
ported to the colonies."
Oh, Matthias."
I know." He stroked her loosened hair." I understand."
Another silence descended. Imogen allowed herself only a
moment more to wallow in despair. Oddly soothed by the feel of
his powerful hands in her hair, she composed herself and turned
her attention in a more productive direction. She had to devise a
plan to stop the duel.
But before she could conceive of anything clever enough to be
effective, her thoughts were distracted by something even more
pressing.
Good heavens, I almost forgot." She straightened so quickly
that the top of her head collided with Matthias's jaw." Ouch."
Vanneck never really stood a chance, did he?" Matthias winced
and rubbed his jaw." If you had not brained him with the picture
frame, I'm sure you would have found another way to save your
self."
Sir, I am so sorry. I did not mean to hurt you."
I know." His teeth flashed in a brief, startlingly playful grin.
Now then, what was it that you suddenly recalled?"
Patricia. Where is she?"
Patricia is safe and sound with Horatia. I saw them both just
before I went upstairs to the picture gallery to find you. I shall
send the carriage back for them after I get you safely home."
Your sister is with my aunt?"
Yes/
A grim realization dawned on Imogen." Sir, how did you know
to search for me in the picture gallery?"
Patricia told me that she had noticed you going upstairs to
view the paintings."
I see," Imogen whispered.
She mulled that over as the carriage rumbled through the
streets. There was nothing to be gained by confiding her new
suspicions to Matthias. He had enough to concern him at the
moment. It would only overset his already strained nerves to learn
that his sister had very likely conspired with Vanneck to lead her
into the picture gallery.
Imogen leaned against Matthias and stared out the carriage
window, her thoughts in fresh turmoil. She decided to make one
more attempt to talk Matthias out of the duel.
Sir, promise me that you will reconsider this ill-conceived
notion of meeting Lord Vanneck. I comprehend that some gentle
men feel that a duel is the only way for men to resolve a point of
honor, but I believe it to be the height of idiocy. And you are
surely no idiot. Therefore"
Enough, Imogen," he said very quietly." The business is settled.
Furthermore, you are not to speak of this to anyone, do you
understand?"
But"
This is a matter for men. The gentlemen involved are obligated
to keep the entire thing a secret. You are not to turn it into a tidbit
of gossip for the ton."
Imogen was appalled." I would not dream of gossiping about
such a . a featherbrained, addlepated, nonsensical piece of
masculine stupidity."
Excellent." He wound his fist into her rumbled hair." I knew I
could rely upon you to keep your mouth closed, my dear."
Imogen, must you pace so?" Horatia poured tea into two cups." I
vow, you make me quite dizzy."
What else am I to do?" Imogen reached the window of her
study and paused to gaze moodily out into the small, rainswept
garden." I feel as if I were a bundle of fireworks about to explode
over Vauxhall Gardens. It is a dreadful sensation."
Nerves, my dear. Your first real case of overwrought nerves, I
suspect."
Rubbish. You know very well that I am not prone to nervous
weakness."
You have never before faced the prospect of marriage."
Horatia made a tut-tutting noise. I do not know why his lordship
is insisting upon going about things in this hurried fashion, but I
suppose, given the situation, he feels it's for the best."
Situation?" Imogen got out in a strangled voice. For a moment
she wondered if Horatia knew about the duel." What do you
mean?"
No offense, my dear, but one does not plan a large, fashionable
wedding under these circumstances. And his lordship is not much
interested in such social affairs, in any event."
Imogen relaxed slightly." No, he is not."
She continued to gaze out into the garden. The entire world
seemed to have turned gray overnight. A heavy fog had blanketed
the streets at dawn. Her fitful sleep had been shattered by another
of the disturbing dreams that plagued her of late. In it she had
been attempting to save Matthias from some unseen peril, but
time had run out. She had found him in the stone sarcophagus.
There had been blood everywhere.
Panic nibbled at the edges of her brain as she studied the mist
shrouded garden. She had less than a day to find a way to stop the
madness.
Imogen?"
I beg your pardon?" Imogen glanced at her aunt over her
shoulder." What did you say?"
I asked if you had instructed your maid to see to the packing."
I must have said something to her. I'm sure I did." Imogen
scowled." But, in truth, I have been thinking of other things. Now
that you mention it, I am not certain that I told her that I would
be moving into Colchester's town house this evening."
Horatia gave her a reassuring smile as she got to her feet." Sit
/> down and have your tea, dear. I shall go upstairs and deal with the
maid."
Thank you." Imogen went across the room to where the tea
waited on a small table. She seized the cup and took a large, forti
fying swallow.
The door closed behind Horatia, leaving Imogen alone in the
study. The ticking of the tall clock was very loud in the quiet room.
When Imogen could not abide the sound any longer, she started
to pace again.
Over the years she had heard occasional rumors of duels. She
had not paid much attention, having had no reason to concern
herself with the subject. She was fairly certain that there were a
number of people involved in addition to the two principals. The
gentlemen's seconds and sometimes a doctor were present,
according to one account Imogen had heard. And there had to be
others, she thought. The men who drove the carriages. Perhaps a
groom or two. Gentlemen rarely did anything alone in Society.
They were always accompanied by coachmen and grooms and one
or two close friends.
misses Vine knocked once and opened the door." There be a lady
to see you, Miss Waterstone."
Imogen swung around so quickly that tea sloshed over the edge
of the cup into the saucer." Who is it?"
Lady Patricia Marshall, she calls herself, ma'am."
Imogen put down her cup with a bang." Send her in at once, misses
Vine."
Yes, ma'am." misses Vine heaved a sigh and took herself off.
A moment later Patricia appeared. She hovered in the doorway,
looking very different from the vivacious young lady she had been
last night. Her pretty face was drawn taut with tension. Her gray
eyes were filled with anxiety. She was obviously close to tears.
I must speak with you," Patricia whispered as misses Vine closed
the study door.
Sit down," Imogen said brusquely. She went behind her desk
and sank into her own chair. She folded her hands on the polished
mahogany and regarded Patricia closely." What is it you wish to
say?"
Matthias told me at breakfast that he is going to marry you
today."
Did he?"
Yes. And tomorrow morning he intends to risk his life in a
duel." Patricia's voice broke on a sob. She groped for a hankie in
her small reticule." It was not supposed to happen like that."
Imogen was dumbfounded." How did you learn of the duel?"
I have just come from Lady Lyndhurst's house." Patricia sniffed
into the hankie." She told me that the news is all over Town."
So much for the supposed ability of the gentlemen involved to
keep their ridiculous secrets, Imogen thought. Someone had obvi
ously talked. Perhaps one of the seconds, whose task it was to
arrange the details of the dawn appointment.
And they have the gall to complain that women are inclined to
gossip," Imogen muttered.
Patricia gave her a quizzical look." I beg your pardon?"
Never mind. Patricia, since you seem to be fully apprised of the
dire straits in which we find ourselves, perhaps you will be good
enough to tell me what the bloody hell you were doing last nightT
Patricia flinched. Then a resentful anger pinched the corners of
her mouth. I was only trying to save my brother from your
clutches. But it all went wrong somehow."
Ah." Imogen closed her eyes and sagged back in her chair." I
wondered if that might have been your goal. It all begins to fall
into place now."
Lady Lyndhurst said that if Colchester discovered you in a
compromising position with another man, he would have grounds
to end the engagement. She said it would be simple to arrange."
Indeed. So this was Lady Lyndhurst's notion?"
Patricia blew into her hankie and then raised furious eyes to
meet Imogen's gaze." I did precisely as I was instructed. I knew
you would follow me from the ballroom up to the gallery. You are
always attempting to play the chaperone even though you your
self have no more notion of proper behavior than a . a flea."
A flea?"
I led you to the gallery and then made my way back to the ball
room with Lady Lyndhurst. When Matthias arrived and inquired
after you, I told him you were viewing the pictures. He went in
search of you. Lady Lyndhurst said that everything transpired just
as we planned it." Patricia's voice rose." But Matthias did not end
the engagement as she said he would."
You silly twit." Imogen shot to her feet and slammed her palms
flat on the desk." Have you any idea of the harm you have done?"
But I was only trying to save him." Fresh tears flowed down
Patricia's cheeks." I did not want him to suffer the same fate that
Papa suffered. I did not want him to ruin his life."
I trust you are satisfied with the damage you have wrought."
Imogen came around the edge of the desk." It would appear that
your good friend Lady Lyndhurst must share a large portion of
the blame."
She was only trying to help me."
Rubbish. Something tells me that Lady Lyndhurst is not the
type to go out of her way to help anyone but herself. She is play
ing some game."
That is not true. She has been most kind to me. I consider her
a true friend."
She has certainly proved herself to be a very unusual sort of
friend." Imogen pondered the implications." I wonder what there is
in this to interest her. Perhaps she, too, is after the seal."
I have no notion of what you are muttering about," Patricia
said petulantly." But you must do something. What if Matthias is
killed in the duel with Lord Vanneck?"
Calm yourself, Patricia. I will think of a plan."
Patricia hesitated." You could refuse to marry my brother. I
realize that people would talk, but I do not see how jilting him
could do any more damage to the reputation of a lady who is
already known as Immodest Imogen."
You may be correct, but I assure you that my refusal to go
through with the marriage would not stop Colchester from meet
ing Vanneck."
Why would he fight a duel over a lady who has refused to wed
him?"
You do not know your brother very well, do you?" Imogen
said." Believe me, he intends to proceed with the duel regardless
of the circumstances. He has committed himself. His sense of
honor will ensure that he meets Vanneck. In any event, I have
given him my word that I will marry him today. It was Colchester's
only request. I could not deny him."
Lady Lyndhurst said that you would do anything to gain the
title," Patricia blurted out.
Imogen shot her a fulminating glance." The next time you are
tempted to quote Lady Lyndhurst's opinions, you might recall that
she is the one who got us all into this tangle."
Patricia stared at her, briefly speechless. She found her voice on
another sob." No, that is not true. She never intended this result.
She wished only to help me."
I do not have the time to argue the matter. Lady Lyndhurst will
have to wait. I have more import
ant things to attend to at the
moment." Imogen went to the door, opened it, and called down the
hall." misses Vine? Would you please come here at once?"
Patricia gazed at her, bewildered." What are you about?"
Do not concern yourself," Imogen snapped, angry and
disgusted." You have caused enough trouble. I suggest you return
home and try to stay out of mischief until this is finished."
What do you intend to do?"
Be gone, Patricia. I have a great deal to accomplish before I
marry your brother this afternoon."
Patricia succumbed to another spate of tears." If Matthias dies
tomorrow morning, you will be an extremely wealthy widow. It is
not fair."
Imogen whirled around and strode back across the room. She
grabbed Patricia by her elbows and yanked her to her feet." Is that
what this is all about? Are you worried about your brother only
because you fear that if he is killed tomorrow morning I shall
inherit his fortune and you will be left penniless?"
Patricia looked stunned. Her eyes widened." No, that is not what
I meant. I do not want anything to happen to my brother because
he is all that I have left in the world. I am terrified that he will be
killed in the duel."
Are you?" Imogen searched her face intently." Do you truly
care about him?"
If you are asking me if I love him the way a sister ought to love
her brother, then I must admit that I do not." Patricia twisted her
hankie between her fingers. Her mouth curved bitterly." How can
I love Matthias when I know that whenever he looks at me he sees
his own unhappy past?"
I'm certain that is not true, Patricia. Perhaps, when you first
arrived on his doorstep, he was taken aback, but"
You know perfectly well that he took me into his home only
because he felt he had to honor the promise he gave Papa. How
can I have a deep affection for him when I know that his goal is to
marry me off as quickly as possible?"
He is not going to force you into marriage."
Papa always told me that if worse came to worst, Matthias
would look after me. But if he dies in a duel I shall be forced to
return to my uncle's house. And . and my dreadful cousin will be
there. He will try to touch me and, oh, dear God, I cannot bear to
contemplate what will happen."
Hmm." Imogen absently patted Patricia's shoulder while she
tapped one toe on the carpet.
Patrjcia wiped her eyes." What are we to do?"
You will do nothing. I shall handle this. Good day, Patricia."
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 21
