along the doctor in case he's needed."
Where is Jeremy?"
Right here." Jeremy Garfield, a short man with merry eyes and
a shock of blond hair, descended sedately from the carriage.
Morning, Colchester. I trust you'll get this over with quickly so
that I can go home to my bed. Been up all night. Why must these
affairs always be conducted at dawn? Ungodly hour of the day for
this sort of thing."
It's an ungodly business," Fairfax offered cheerfully." Well, at
least the fog has lifted sufficiently to allow Colchester to take
good aim at Vanneck. Assuming he shows, which ain't likely."
Matthias inclined his head toward the curricle in the distance.
It would seem that Vanneck is even more eager than I am to
conclude the matter."
Jeremy snorted at the sight of the small carriage." So he put in
an appearance after all. That's a bit of a surprise. Where are his
seconds?"
Fairfax eyed the curricle." His seconds gave me the impression
Vanneck would leave Town rather than face you."
Matthias started toward the curricle." Let us see what is keeping
him."
Fear, most likely." Jeremy trotted to catch up with Matthias.
Whole world knows Vanneck lacks bottom. Man's an out-and-out
coward. Must have spent the night pouring courage from a bottle."
Matthias did not respond. He glanced absently at the stable lad
as he strode past his carriage. The boy was watching him intently
from beneath the brim of his battered cap. The scarf was still
wrapped closely around his face to ward off the dawn air.
Awareness went through Matthias. A chill that had nothing to
do with the fog made him frown. He tried to place the stable lad.
He was suddenly very certain that he had not encountered this
particular boy in his stables. Yet there was something disturbingly
familiar about him. It had to do with his stance and the way he
held his head.
Very odd, if you ask me," Fairfax said.
Matthias was briefly distracted from the small, niggling puzzle
of the stable lad. He glanced at his friend." What's odd?"
Whole thing." Fairfax looked around." Jeremy and I met with
Vanneck's seconds last night. They both stated that if Vanneck did
not leave Town, they would be here to examine the pistols."
Matthias heard soft, hesitant footsteps behind him. He looked
back over his shoulder and saw that the stable lad had left the
horses to follow the three of them as they made their way toward
Vanneck's curricle.
" Ere now, where d'ye think yer goin', boy?" Shorbolt yelled.
Come back" ere. This ain't yer affair."
The lad halted and glanced uncertainly back at Shorbolt. The
sense of familiarity deepened within Matthias. He noticed the
elegant line of the boy's spine that not even the old coat could
disguise. For an instant he refused to believe what his eyes told
him. And then disbelief flashed into fury.
Hell's teeth," Matthias whispered.
Fairfax scowled at him in alarm." Something amiss, Colchester?"
He took a deep breath." No. Nothing." He pinned Imogen
briefly with his gaze, letting her see the anger that was seething in
him. Her eyes widened as she registered the fact that he had
recognized her.
You and Jeremy go talk to Vanneck," Matthias said softly to his
friend." Discover what's keeping him. I want to have a word with
one of my staff concerning the horses."
Be back in a moment," Fairfax promised." Come along, Jeremy.
Let us see if Vanneck's courage has evaporated already."
Matthias waited until the two were out of earshot. Then he
whipped around to find Imogen standing a short distance behind
him. He walked slowly, deliberately, toward her, reminding
himself with every step that above all, he must keep her identity a
secret from Vanneck and the others.
The flames of rage within him were not fed solely by the knowledge that Imogen had taken yet another risk with her reputation.
Matthias knew that his anger was based on a gathering sense of
anguished desperation. Imogen would learn the truth about him if
she saw him put a bullet into Vanneck. All her pretty illusions
about his delicate sensibilities and weak nerves would be shattered once and for all.
Imogen took a single step back as Matthias reached her. Then
she braced herself. Her chin rose." Matthias, please, I had to come
with you."
What the bloody hell do you think you're about?" He wanted
to shake her." Have you gone mad? Do you have any notion of
what would happen to your reputation if word of this charade got
out?"
My reputation has never been of particular importance to me,
sir."
Well, it is to me." It was the only logical argument he could
summon in that bleak moment." You're the Countess of
Colchester now, and you will damn well act like it. Get into the
carriage."
But, Matthias"
I said, get into the carriage and stay there until this is over, do
you hear me? I shall deal with you later."
Imogen drew herself up in a way that Matthias was coming to
know all too well." I will not allow you to go through with this
stupid duel."
Just how do you intend to stop it?"
She glowered." I shall convince Vanneck to apologize. If he does
so, you will be obliged to cancel the duel. I have studied the rules
for this sort of thing, and I know very well that an apology ends
the matter."
There is nothing Vanneck can say that will convince me to let
him go unpunished for what he tried to do to you," Matthias said
very softly." Nothing at all."
But, Matthias"
Get into the carriage."
I cannot let you do this."
You cannot stop me."
Colchester," Fairfax shouted across the meadow." You'd better
come here and see this for yourself."
Matthias glanced impatiently at his friend." What is the problem, for God's sake?"
Bit of a muddle here, Colchester," Jeremy called." Changes
everything."
Damnation." Matthias turned briefly back to Imogen." Wait for
me in the carriage." He strode off without bothering to see if she
had obeyed him.
The gray geldings harnessed to the curricle continued to crop
grass as the small crowd gathered. Matthias saw that the horses'
reins had been secured to a fallen branch. Jeremy's face was troubled. Even Fairfax looked more sober than usual.
Where is Vanneck?" Matthias asked as he reached the curricle.
Jeremy cleared his throat." Inside."
What the devil is he doing? Writing his will?"
Not exactly," Fairfax said.
Matthias peered into the cab and saw the slumped figure
sprawled against the seat. Vanneck's head had fallen to one side.
His eyes were open, staring sightlessly at nothing. He wore a cloak
but he no longer needed any protection against the cold. A large
quantity of blood stained the front of his shirt.
One would hope," Matthias said," that he had already tended to
the matter of his will
."
But who shot him?" Imogen demanded as the Colchester carriage
set off from Cabot's Farm. She prided herself on possessing sturdy
nerves, but she was obliged to concede that the dizzying course of
events and emotions that she had endured during the past few
hours had left her feeling shaken.
How the devil should I know?" Matthias lounged in the corner
of the seat and contemplated Imogen with a dark, brooding
expression." Given his unpleasant nature, I suspect that there are
any number of candidates. I would send a bouquet to the appropriate party if I knew his identity."
Whoever it was must have known about the duel. The killer
went to the trouble of driving Vanneck's curricle all the way out
here to Cabot's Farm and left the body for you to discover."
The list of people who knew about the duel no doubt includes
half the ton."
But why would someone leave Vanneck's body at the scene of
his dawn appointment?"
Matthias shrugged." Fairfax no doubt had the right of it. He
suspects that Vanneck was attacked by a highwayman shortly after
he arrived at Cabot's Farm. Jeremy agrees with him. It's as sound
a speculation as any."
A highwayman. I suppose that is a possibility."
A distinct possibility."
Imogen considered that." It all seems very odd."
Indeed. Almost as odd as learning that one's bride has a
penchant for disguising herself as a stable lad."
She blinked." Really, Matthias, that is a very small matter
compared to Vanneck's murder."
Not to me."
I fail to see how you can concern yourself with such a trivial
incident, when we are faced with something so extremely serious
and perplexing."
You'd be astonished at how I can focus on the trivial."
Matthias's voice was laced with silky menace." I have a talent for
it."
Sympathy welled up in Imogen." I realize that you have been
through a great deal this morning, sir. We both have. I must
confess that even my nerves are somewhat disordered. It is
perfectly understandable that you, with your more anxious
temperament, are quite overset by all that's happened.
Nevertheless"
Overset?" Matthias's gloved hand flexed in a subtle movement
that resembled the motion of a hunting cat's paw." That does not
begin to describe my present mood, madam. In case it has escaped
your notice, I am bloody furious."
Imogen blinked." Furious?"
You seem to have no notion of the damage that could have
been done. Fortunately only my coachman realizes that you are not
a stable lad and, as he wishes to retain his post, he will keep his
mouth shut. But it was due to the devil's own luck that Fairfax and
Jeremy Garfield were so astounded by the sight of Vanneck's body
that they failed to notice that you were dressed for a masquerade.
Matthias, please"
It was even more fortunate that Vanneck was already dead and
that his seconds did not arrive on the scene. I can only imagine the
gossip, had you been discovered."
Realization finally settled on Imogen." So that is the problem."
He gave her a scathing look." You do not consider your eager
ness to play ducks and drakes with your reputation a problem?"
Imogen turned to gaze out the window. She tried and failed to
suppress the pain his words caused." Sir, you knew when you
married me that I was not concerned with social consequence or
position. Furthermore, I did not believe that you cared about
Society's opinion either."
Damnation, Imogen, this goes too far."
Hurt and angry, she whirled back around to face him." If you
truly desired a wife who would conform to the ton's notion of a
proper countess, you should not have wed Immodest Imogen."
Bloody hell, madam. The only wife I want is you." Matthias
moved so quickly that Imogen did not even realize his intent until
his hand closed around her wrist. He tugged her off the seat and
settled her against his chest.
Matthias."
His arms closed around her with the force of iron bonds." What
you did this morning did far more to overset my nerves than the
prospect of meeting Vanneck. Do you comprehend me?"
All you seem to care about is my reputation, my lord."
Do you think it so odd that a man might object to having his
wife attend a duel?"
I knew it." Imogen felt tears form in her eyes." You should have
married a more suitable lady. We are doomed, you and I, and it is
all your fault, sir. I tried to warn you."
Doomed?"
Oh, do stop interrupting, Colchester. I have had quite enough
of your pithy little lectures." She fumbled in the pockets of the
unfamiliar trousers, searching unsuccessfully for a handkerchief.
You have chained yourself for life to a female who will cause you
nothing but scandal and humiliation."
He yanked a square of white linen from one of his own pockets
and thrust it into her hands." It is not scandal and humiliation that
I fear."
Yes, it is. You have just said so. You told me that we had passion
and Zamar in common, but that is obviously not enough." Imogen
blew into the handkerchief." Not nearly enough."
Imogen, you don't understand."
I am well aware that I must take some of the blame for this
disaster. I ought to have had the courage and the common sense
to refuse your offer. But I allowed my heart to rule my head, and
now I must pay the price."
Matthias's eyes hardened." So you regret our marriage, then?"
As I said, my lord, we are doomed. As doomed as ancient
Zamar."
Enough." Matthias seized her arms." I lied when I said that I
feared for your reputation."
She looked up warily." What do you mean?"
His jaw could have been hewn from stone." Listen to me,
Imogen, for I am going to explain this once and once only. I was
forced to challenge Vanneck after what he did to you. I had no
choice. But in truth, I believed that he would be too much of a
coward to show this morning. I fully expected to be able to return
to you with the news that there had been no duel."
She frowned." I see."
I thought myself quite clever, if you must know. I had anticipated that Vanneck would have been forced to leave London
because of the day's events. He would have been ruined in Society,
just as you had originally intended. And the whole thing would
have been accomplished with no risk to your person."
Good heavens," Imogen said, awed." That was indeed very
clever of you, Matthias."
But when I saw Vanneck's curricle, I assumed my scheme was
in a shambles. I knew I would have to proceed with the duel. And
then I realized that you were present in the guise of a stable lad. I
faced both death and the prospect of a great scandal and, well, I
fear you were right. It was all too much for my delicate nerves. I
lost my temper."
Death and scandal." She softened at once." Oh, Matthias, I do
understand. I should have real
ized how much you had on your
mind." She managed a wan smile." I must confess, I have been
more than a little anxious myself for the past day or so."
Matthias touched her cheek." If Vanneck did kill Lucy, she has
been avenged. It's over, Imogen."
Yes. It is, isn't it?" The realization seemed strange, almost
unreal. She had lived with the desire to avenge Lucy for so long
that it was difficult to believe that vengeance, in the form of a
highwayman, had finally been delivered." I never intended that
you risk your life to help me punish Vanneck, however."
I know." Matthias put his arm around her and drew her against
him.
I wanted to protect you."
I am quite safe, my dear."
But it was a very near thing, my lord."
Not really."
Yes, it was," she insisted." For all we know, Vanneck intended to
show up for his dawn appointment. His curricle was there at
Cabot's Farm, after all. He must have meant to"
Hush." Matthias brushed his mouth against hers." We will never
know what he intended and it no longer matters. As I said, it's
over."
Imogen was about to argue the point, but at that moment the
carriage rumbled to a halt in front of the town house." We're
home."
With any luck, the household will still be asleep and we can go
quietly back to bed," Matthias said." I for one could use a nap to
restore my rattled nerves."
Perhaps a cup of tea would help calm you." Imogen glanced out
the carriage window and saw the door open at the top of the steps.
Ufton appeared." Oh, dear."
Ufton was not alone. Two footmen, the cook, the housekeeper,
and a maid crowded close behind him. They all wore expressions
of anxious foreboding as they waited for the occupants of the
carriage to descend.
Hell's teeth," Matthias said as one of the footmen raced down
the steps to see to the carriage door." The whole bloody lot of
them are awake."
Patricia appeared amid the cluster of servants. Imogen saw the
look of fearful anticipation on her face as she waited for the
carriage door to open.
Your sister is obviously very anxious about your welfare, my
lord," Imogen said with warm satisfaction." I knew she would be."
More likely she's anxious about the future of her quarterly
allowance and the roof over her head. She no doubt feared that
she would be forced to move back into her uncle's house if I
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 23
