chances." A knock on the library door interrupted Matthias." What
is it, Ufton?"
A Mister Hugo Bagshaw to see you, sir," Ufton said calmly.
Bagshaw?" Matthias scowled." That young man has a wretched
sense of timing. Tell him that I am not at home."
Hugo came to stand behind Ufton in the doorway. He was
dressed to the nines and he clutched a small bouquet in one hand.
He glowered furiously at Matthias. I knew you were only trying
to cozen me when you told me that I would be welcome to pay my
addresses to your sister. Why didn't you have the decency to be
honest about it? Why feed me all that rubbish about how you and
I had something in common?"
Hugo." Imogen smiled warmly and held out her hands in greet
ing as she hurried across the room." Do come in. We are delighted
to see you. Is that not so, Colchester?"
I have a few other matters to attend to at the moment,"
Matthias said evenly." Or have you forgotten our other small prob
lem?"
Of course not," she assured him." But I do feel that Hugo
should be made welcome."
Some other time," Matthias growled.
Hah." Hugo's brows were a solid line across his nose." You
don't mean that. You're just trying to get rid of me, Colchester."
Hugo" Patricia's delighted voice rang out from the top of the
stairs." I mean, Mister Bagshaw. What are you doing here? Have you
come to call?"
Yes, I have," Hugo said very loudly." But it seems I am not
welcome."
That is not true," Imogen said crisply." Ufton, please get out of
the way so that Mister Bagshaw can enter the library."
As you wish, madam." After a fleeting glance at Matthias, Ufton
stepped aside.
Oh, Hugo; Patricia cried as she pattered lightly down the
stairs." Of course you are welcome."
Imogen smiled at Ufton." Have a tray of tea brought into the
library, please."
Yes, madam." Ufton inclined his head in a stiff little bow and
started to retreat.
Don't bother." Hugo drew himself up proudly." It would appear
that I will not be staying."
On the contrary," Imogen cast a repressive look at Matthias
I have just explained that you are most welcome. Please be
seated, Hugo." She sharpened her tone." Now."
Hugo appeared slightly taken aback. He blinked once or twice
and then edged cautiously into the library.
Matthias resigned himself to the inevitable. He sat down behind
his desk and regarded the crowd in the doorway with a consider
ing expression." By all means, Bagshaw, take a seat. As it happens,
I have need of your assistance."
Assistance?" Hugo eyed him warily." What the devil are you
talking about, Colchester?"
Matthias smiled grimly." At the moment, Patricia has more use
for a bodyguard than she does a beau. I have been told that you
have been practicing your marksmanship quite diligently at
Manton's and that you have engaged Mister Shrimpton to teach you
the fine points of boxing."
Hugo turned a dull shade of red." What of it?"
I realize that you no doubt intended to use your new skills
against me, but I have a more practical suggestion. What do you
say, Bagshaw? Do you care to play the knight-defender for my
sister?"
Whatever are you talking about, Colchester?" Patricia
demanded.
Yes, what on earth do you mean?" Imogen asked.
It's very simple," Matthias said." I do not want either you or
Patricia to leave this house unless you are escorted by myself or
Bagshaw. Ufton will serve in a pinch, but he has a number of other
duties. I would prefer that he be left free to discharge his respon
sibilities."
Hugo stared at Matthias, clearly fascinated by this turn of
events." Are you saying that there is a threat to the ladies of this
household, Colchester?"
Yes," Matthias said." That is precisely what I'm saying. I do not
yet know how great the threat is. I intend to determine that at the
earliest possible moment. In the meantime, I want to enlist the
assistance of a man I can trust. Well, sir?"
Hugo glanced at Patricia, who blushed. He straightened his
shoulders and raised his chin." I would be honored to serve as
Lady Patricia's defender."
Patricia looked at him with a worshipful expression." Oh, Hugo!
How very brave and noble of you."
Hugo flushed. Then he apparently recalled the bouquet he held.
He thrust it toward her." For you."
Thank you." Patricia smiled as she came forward to take the
flowers.
Imogen sidled closer to the desk and gave Matthias an approving smile." Well done, my lord," she murmured out of the side of
her mouth." You have made two people very happy."
Thank you, my dear, but I assure you, it's all in a day's work for
a man who possesses my degree of delicate sensibilities and
exquisite depth of feeling."
Chapter 19
She was standing in Uncle Selwyn's black-draped library. Ebony
candles burned low. Dark hangings drifted over her head. The eyes
of the sepulchral masks watched her from the walls. The scene had
become chillingly familiar, but she realized that something was
different this time.
She turned, searching for Matthias in the shadows. Then she
noticed that there were two sarcophagi rather than one in the chamber. Both of the heavily carved lids had been removed. She froze in
horror as two figures sat up inside the coffins. Selena and Alastair.
They laughed silently, their eyes cruel and mocking. Then they
pointed skeletal fingers toward the cloaked figure of a man sprawled
on the carpet. Imogen went forward with a sense of dread, afraid of
what she would discover. His face was turned away from her but
she could see the swath of silver in his night-dark hair.
It's entirely your fault, you know," Alastair said as he got out of
the coffin." He would never have been dragged into this amusing
little play if you had not assigned him a role in it."
Entirely your fault," Selena concurred. She rose from her
sarcophagus and stepped on to the carpet.
Imogen came awake very suddenly. Ghostly fragments of the
terrifying dream clung to her thoughts. Her skin was damp. So
were her eyes. She took several deep breaths in an attempt to
quell the sense of panic that assailed her. Strong nerves, she
reminded herself. She had very sturdy nerves.
For a moment she lay motionless in the darkened bed.
Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Then she realized that
she was alone. She could not feel the familiar, comforting heat of
Matthias's large body or the weight of his muscled arm across her
breasts. Fear seized her.
Matthias."
I'm right here, Imogen."
She sensed rather than heard him move. She sat up quickly,
clutching the sheet to her throat. Matthias was silhouetted against
the window. He came toward her through the darkness, his face
concealed in shadow. There was just enough moonlight to reveal
t
he streak of silver in his hair. It looked exactly as it had in the
dream.
I'm so sorry," she whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut in an
effort to blot up the remainder of the dream and the tears." This is
all my fault. I should never have brought you into it."
What damnable nonsense is this?" Matthias sat down on the
edge of the bed and gathered her into his arms." Calm yourself, my
dear. Are you all right?"
I had a dream. A nightmare." She rested her face on his shoulder. The woven silk of his black dressing gown was reassuringly
rough against her cheek." It was similar to one I've had on previous occasions, but this time Selena and Alastair were in it."
Not surprising under the circumstances." Matthias stroked her
hair." I've had a few unpleasant visions concerning that pair myself
tonight. The only difference is that mine occurred while I was
lying awake in bed. But such dreams will end once I've located
Drake and his sister."
Matthias, I never meant to put you in danger. It was wrong of
me to ask you to help me. I had no right"
Hush." He bent, his head and kissed her into silence.
Imogen trembled and clung to him.
Matthias lifted his mouth from hers and smiled slightly." I shall
tell you something now, Imogen. Something very important, so
listen closely." He framed her face between his hands." You could
not have kept me out of this."
I don't understand. If I had not held you to that promise that
you made to Uncle Selwyn, none of this would have happened.
You would have been safe."
From the moment I met you, nothing could have kept me from
becoming involved in your life, do you understand?"
But, Matthias"
Absolutely nothing."
But if I had not summoned you to Upper Stickleford"
I would have found you soon thereafter. I had already determined to discover the identity of I. A. Stone. It would not have
taken me long. So you see? It would all have been the same in the
end."
Oh, Matthias, you are so kind, but I"
No," he interrupted roughly." I'm not kind. But I want you more
than I have ever wanted anything in my life."
His mouth came down on hers again, overwhelming her
protests with the potent force of his sensual hunger. Imogen strug
gled briefly and then, with a small sigh, allowed herself the rare
luxury of surrender.
Sometimes it was very pleasant to let Matthias take charge, she
reflected. Then again, sometimes she had little choice. He did
seem to have a natural tendency to take the lead in a number of
activities besides the waltz. And as she was inclined to do the
same, it was safe to say that their lives together would not be dull.
When Matthias raised his head, his eyes were fierce." You will
not speak of regrets or guilt again, do you understand? I regret
nothing and I will not allow you to feel any regret either."
Imogen shivered and nestled closer. He wrapped her in the
cloak of his strength and warmth.
Do you think that you will be able to find the Bow Street
runner Lucy hired?" she asked after a while.
I hope to hear something tomorrow, but I have decided not to
invest all of my expectations in that quarter. It would be extremely
useful to interview the runner, but there are other ways to obtain
information. In the morning I shall explore one of them."
What do you plan to do?"
Pay a call upon Felix Glaston."
Your former partner?"
Yes. Information flows through The Lost Soul the way the
River Styx flows through Hades, and Felix is an adept fisherman.
He might be able to catch something of interest in his net."
Imogen raised her head." I shall look forward to making Mister
Glaston's acquaintance. He must be a most interesting individual."
You wish to meet Felix?" Matthias was startled." Impossible.
Your aunt would surely murder me if I introduced you to him.
And no one would condemn her."
My aunt has nothing to say about the matter."
Imogen, be reasonable. Felix operates a gaming hell. A lady
does not pay social calls upon men who own business enterprises
such as The Lost Soul."
You operated that same hell yourself at one time."
That was several years ago, and I can assure you that in those
days you would not have been able to call upon me either." His
mouth twisted." At least not without damaging your reputation
beyond any hope of repair."
Do you think that would have stopped me?"
Matthias groaned." Knowing you, no. But that is not the point.
It is simply not done for a lady to enter the residence of a man
who runs a gaming hell."
Rubbish. When did you become such a keen arbiter of proper
behavior and good manners, my lord?"
Imogen"
Cold-blooded Colchester and Immodest Imogen have certain
reputations to maintain. I trust that you do not intend to turn into
a stuffy, straitlaced prig now that you have assumed the duties of
a husband, Matthias. It would be a dreadful disappointment."
Would it, indeed?"
You know very well that I do not care what the Polite World
thinks. Why should I, when it has always thought so little of me?"
Matthias laughed in the darkness." Once again my common
sense is undone by your bold logic, madam. Very well, I shall take
you with me to meet Felix on the morrow. Something tells me that
the two of you will get along famously."
Matthias was thoroughly amused by the stunned expression on
the face of Felix's butler. The poor man swallowed heavily several
times before he managed to repeat the names of the visitors.
Lord and Lady Colchester, did you say, sir?"
You heard me, Dodge," Matthias replied dryly.
Lady Colchester?" Dodge repeated very carefully." Are you
quite certain, sir?"
Dodge, are you implying that I do not know the identity of my
own wife?"
No, of course not, m'lord," Dodge stammered.
Imogen gave him a blinding smile.
Beg pardon." Dodge was transfixed by Imogen." I shall
announce you both at once. If you will excuse me.
Dodge bowed himself back into the hall, turned, and promptly
slammed the door in Matthias's and Imogen's faces.
Mister Glaston's butler seems a trifle unnerved," Imogen
observed.
He's seen me standing on Felix's doorstep often enough,"
Matthias said," but I can assure you, he's never before opened the
door to a countess."
Imogen gazed at the closed door." He did not actually open it, if
you will note. At least not for long."
He was flustered. No doubt he will soon realize that he left us
standing on the front step and rush back to make amends."
At that moment Dodge yanked the door open again. He was
sweating profusely." Beg your pardon. So sorry. Accident. Wind
caught the door. I pray you will both come in out of the cold. Mister
Glaston will see you at once."
Thank you, Dodge." Matthias took Imogen's arm and escorted
her into Felix's grand front hall.
This way, madam." Dodge went to stand in the doorway of a
firelit library. He cleared his throat very loudly." Lord and Lady
Colchester to see you, sir."
Colchester." Felix rose from his chair with the aid of his cane.
This is a surprise." He turned a speculative gaze on Imogen.
Dodge tells me that your new bride has accompanied you."
Allow me to present my wife." Matthias was aware of a surge of
satisfaction as he said the simple words." Imogen, this is my old
friend, Felix Glaston."
I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mister Glaston."
Imogen held out her hand as though she had just been introduced
to a high-ranking gentleman of the ton." Colchester has told me a
great deal about you."
I see." Surprise flared in Felix's eyes. For a few seconds he
looked as though he did not know quite what to do with Imogen's
hand. Then he swiftly took it and bent over her gloved fingers with
the air of a cultivated courtier." I am honored. Please, won't you
both be seated."
Matthias saw Imogen into a chair near the fire and then sat
down across from her. He watched Felix wince as he lowered
himself cautiously into his own chair. He noticed that his friend
had his gnarled hands wrapped very tightly around the head of the
cane.
Leg acting up?" Matthias asked quietly.
It's the weather." Felix sighed heavily as he leaned the cane
against the arm of his chair." I think I can safely forecast rain in the
next few hours."
My aunt has an excellent remedy for rheumatism and other
pains in the extremities," Imogen said conversationally." I shall ask
her to write out the recipe for you."
Felix blinked." That is very kind of you, Lady Colchester."
Not at all." Imogen smiled." It is Aunt Horatia's own personal
recipe. She created it herself."
Very kind," Felix repeated. He looked as dazed as Dodge had
appeared a few moments earlier.
Matthias concluded that it was time to take command of the
situation. If he did not act quickly, his old friend was likely to turn
into a blithering idiot.
We have come upon a matter of some urgency," Matthias said.
Felix tore his attention away from Imogen's face." Urgency?
What sort of urgency?"
A matter of life and death," Imogen announced.
Matthias grimaced." My wife has a somewhat lurid turn of
phrase on occasion, but I assure you the matter is serious enough.
I have a question for you, Felix."
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 34
