married for over a year at that point, but that was the first time she
had bothered to invite Imogen to visit."
Did Imogen stay with Lord and Lady Vanneck?"
No. Lucy claimed that she could not invite her to stay in the
mansion because Lord Vanneck would not tolerate guests in the
household. She suggested that Imogen take a small house for a
few weeks. Lucy made all the arrangements."
Matthias frowned. Imogen went off to London by herself?"
Yes. I was unable to join her because my husband was extremely
ill at the time. Not that Imogen considered that she needed a
companion, of course. She has a very independent nature."
I noticed."
I lay the blame squarely at the feet of her parents, God rest
their souls." Horatia sighed. They loved her dearly and meant to
do their best, but I fear that they gave her an extremely uncon
ventional upbringing."
How is that?" Matthias asked.
My brother and his wife were considerably advanced in years
when Imogen was born. Indeed, they had both abandoned any
hope of having children. When Imogen came along, they were
thrilled."
She has no brothers or sisters?"
No. Her father, John, who was my eldest brother, was a philosopher who had radical notions concerning the education of young
people. He saw in Imogen a golden opportunity to test his theories."
And her mother?"
Horatia grimaced. Alethea was a most unusual lady. She
created something of a stir in her younger days. Wrote a book that
seriously questioned the value of marriage to females. My brother
fell in love with her the instant he read it. They were wed immediately."
In spite of the lady's views on marriage?"
Alethea always said that John was the only man in the entire
world who could have made her a suitable husband." Horatia hesitated. She was right. In any event, Alethea also had developed a
host of strange notions about the education of females. Indeed,
she wrote another book describing them."
Matthias was briefly amused. In other words, Imogen is the
product of a radical philosophical experiment?"
I fear that is precisely the case."
What happened to your brother and his wife?"
They both succumbed to lung infections the year Imogen
turned eighteen." Horatia shook her head. I had often warned
them that their habit of smoking that vile American tobacco was
most unhealthy. Fortunately, Imogen did not adopt the practice."
You were about to tell me what happened three years ago
when Imogen went to London." Matthias paused at the sound of
brisk footsteps in the hall.
Imogen stuck her head around the edge of the door and gave
Matthias and Horatia an inquiring look. How is the inventory
going in here?"
Matthias held up a bound volume of the Quarterly Review of
Antiquities which he had just come across. I believe we are
making satisfactory progress, Miss Waterstone."
Excellent." Imogen glanced down at a list in her hand. I have
devised a schedule which, if we adhere to it, should see us finished
with the inventory of the first floor before we leave for London on
Thursday. Aunt Horatia and I will finish the rest of the house at
our leisure when we return in a few weeks" time. Keep up the good
work." She lifted one hand in a cheerful wave and hurried off
down the hall.
Matthias gazed thoughtfully after her. What an amazing creature."
I fear that nothing can dissuade her from her purpose, my lord,"
Horatia said forlornly.
Matthias set the Quarterly Review of Antiquities down on a
table. You were telling me about how she came to be compromised three years ago."
If only I had been able to join her in London. Imogen consid
ers herself a woman of the world, but you know as well as I do, sir,
that after a lifetime spent here in Upper Stickleford, she was
woefully unprepared for London Society. Furthermore, her
parents both detested the Polite World. They taught her a great
many useless subjects such as Greek and Latin and logic, but they
did not teach her anything helpful such as how to survive in
Society."
A lamb among wolves," Matthias murmured. But a lamb with
some teeth, I think."
Her friend Lucy was certainly no help," Horatia said bitterly.
Lady Vanneck definitely bore some of the responsibility for the
incident. But that was Lucy for you. I know Imogen counted her a
dear friend, but the truth is, Lucy never cared a jot for anyone but
herself."
You knew Lucy?"
I met her on occasion when I visited my brother and his family.
She was very beautiful and she could be charming. But she used
her beauty and charm to manipulate others. She broke the hearts
of several of the young farmers here in Upper Stickleford. As far
as I'm concerned, she became friends with Imogen only because
there were no other young ladies in the vicinity. She did not even
bother to correspond with Imogen after she moved to London
until a full year had passed. And then, out of the blue, she sent for
Imogen."
What happened in London?"
For a time all went well. Imogen got involved in the Zamarian
Society. She has been passionate about Zamar since the age of
seventeen. That was the year you and Rutledge returned from
your first expedition. She joined the Zamarian Society shortly
after it was formed, but she had not had an opportunity to meet
any of the members until she went to London."
I regret to say that the Zamarian Society is composed largely
of amateurs and dilettantes." Matthias set his jaw. Unfortunately,
Zamar has become fashionable."
Perhaps. But for the first time, Imogen was able to mingle with
others who shared her interests. She was very excited. You must
remember that she was alone following the death of her parents.
Lucy had been her only friend, and after Lucy went off to London
and married Vanneck, Imogen was very lonely. I fear that the
study of Zamar became everything to her. Meeting others of a
like-minded nature was very exciting for her."
Whom, precisely, did she meet?" Matthias asked warily. The
fascination with Zamar had brought into the ranks of the
Zamarian Society an assortment of dangerously bored young
bloods, debauched rakes, and others seeking excitement.
Lucy introduced Imogen to a nice young man named Alastair
Drake." Horatia hesitated. It was the only truly decent thing Lucy
ever did for Imogen. Mister Drake shared Imogen's enthusiasm for
ancient Zamar."
Did he, indeed?"
The pair got along famously from all accounts. I heard from
friends that Mister Drake developed a tendre for Imogen. There was
even talk of an offer of marriage. But then the disaster struck."
Matthias abandoned any pretence of continuing with the inven
tory. He propped one shoulder against the bookshelf and folded
his arms. Disaster in the form of Lord Vanneck, I presume?"
Horatia's eyes were bleak behind the lenses of her spectacle
s.
Yes. Imogen had not the faintest notion of how to deal with a
hardened rake hell bent on seduction. There was no one to guide
her or advise her." She stopped talking abruptly, yanked a hankie
from the pocket of her apron, and dabbed at her eyes. It is diffi
cult to even speak of the incident."
I must ask you to finish the tale, madam," Matthias said ruth
lessly. I cannot decide how to proceed until I know everything
there is to know about this situation."
Horatia slanted him an uncertain glance and then appeared to
come to a decision. She stuffed the hankie back into a pocket.
Very well, sir. It is no secret after all. Everyone in Town knew of
the incident, and when Imogen returns, the gossip will no doubt be
resurrected. The long and the short of it is that Imogen was discovered in a bedchamber with Vanneck."
For some reason, Matthias felt as though he had just been
kicked in the stomach. He was puzzled by the violent reaction. It
took him a moment to realize that he had not been expecting to
hear quite such a dramatic ending to the tale.
He had imagined something a good deal more innocent. After
all, it took very little to ruin a young woman's reputation in
Society. An indiscreet kiss, venturing out alone to shop or ride
without a maid, too many waltzes with the wrong man, any
number of such harmless lapses could make a woman notorious.
Appearances were everything among the ton.
But being discovered in a bedchamber with a man, any man, let
alone one of Vanneck's stripe, was more than a minor indiscretion,
Matthias thought. Immodest Imogen had apparently earned her
title. She was fortunate that the epithet had not been worse.
Was it Vanneck's bedchamber?" Matthias made himself ask.
Or did she invite him to her house?"
Of course not." Horatia averted her gaze. But in the end it
might have been better if the incident had occurred at some such
private location. Unfortunately, Imogen and Vanneck were
discovered together in an upstairs bedchamber during the course
of a ball given by Lord and Lady Sandown."
I see." Matthias had to exert an effort to quell the whip of anger
that had uncurled in him. What the devil was wrong with him? He
barely knew the lady. Your niece certainly does not do things by
halves, does she?"
It was not her fault," Horatia said with touching loyalty.
Vanneck lured her to that bedchamber."
Who discovered them?"
Horatia heaved another sigh of regret. Mister Drake, the nice
young man who was on the verge of making an offer. He was
accompanied by a companion. Naturally, there was no more talk
of marriage after the incident. One could hardly blame Mister Drake
for losing interest."
Drake could at least have kept his mouth shut about what he
had seen."
I expect he did," Horatia said. But as I said, he had a companion with him that night. The other man was obviously not such a
gentleman."
Matthias released a deep breath that he had not realized he had
been holding. I take it the incident, as you term it, put an end to
the friendship between Miss Waterstone and Lady Vanneck?"
Lucy took her own life the day after Vanneck was discovered
with Imogen. She left a note saying that she could not endure the
knowledge that her best friend had betrayed her with her
husband."
Matthias considered that briefly. How did she kill herself?"
She took a great quantity of laudanum."
Then there is no question but that she committed suicide?"
None so far as the rest of the world is concerned. Imogen is the
only one who believes that Vanneck murdered Lucy. I fear my
niece's view of the matter is clouded by her own dreadful experience at his hands. Perhaps she feels a measure of guilt. But what
happened in that bedchamber was Vanneck's fault. I have no
doubt of that."
Matthias glanced at the empty doorway of the library. And
now, three years later, Miss Waterstone has hit upon this crazed
notion of avenging her friend."
I thought she had put it all behind her," Horatia confided. But
through her membership in the Zamarian Society, she corre
sponds with a vast number of people. A few weeks ago one of
them conveyed the information that Lord Vanneck was hanging
out for an heiress. My brother had just died and left Imogen this
house and its contents and your, er, promise to him. Imogen was
suddenly inspired."
Inspired is not quite the word I would have chosen." Matthias
straightened away from the bookcase. He paused as he caught
sight of a recent volume of the Zamarian Review. He scowled
when he noticed the date. Damnation."
Is something wrong, my lord?"
No." He picked up the copy of the Review and flipped through
the pages. This just happens to be the issue in which the editors
published two articles on the interpretation of Zamarian inscriptions. One written by me and one by I. A. Stone. The fellow haunts
me."
I see." Horatia busied herself with a funeral urn.
For some reason, the editors gave Stone's article considerable
attention even though any dolt can see that he is completely
wrong-headed in his conclusions. I shall speak to them about it."
You're going to speak to the editors about publishing I. A.
Stone's papers?"
Why not? I founded that damned journal. I have a responsibility to ensure that only the most scholarly articles are printed in it."
I take it I A. Stone's conclusions about Zamarian inscriptions
did not agree with your own, my lord?" Horatia asked very dryly.
No, they did not. It was especially irritating because, as usual,
Stone based his conclusions on the results of my own published
researches." Matthias took a grip on his outrage. He generally
regarded the work of other Zamarian scholars with complete
disinterest and disdain. He knew better than anyone else that
since Rutledge's disappearance, he had no equal in the field.
There had been no real challenge to Matthias's authority on the
subject until I. A. Stone had exploded upon the scene eighteen
months earlier in the pages of the Review.
To Matthias's increasing annoyance and total bemusement, I A.
Stone was proving to be the first person in years who was capable
of kindling any kind of strong response in him. He did not under
stand it. He had never even met Stone. Thus far, Matthias knew his
new rival only by his writings. Soon, he promised himself, he
would track Stone down and have a word with the upstart.
My lord?" Horatia said cautiously. About our little problem?"
Forgive me, madam, Stone is a sore point with me."
I can see that, sir."
Ever since I returned to England a few months ago I have been
made increasingly aware of his encroaching articles in the Review.
Members of the Zamarian Society actually take sides now when
Stone and I disagree in print."
I can certainly understand your feelings on the subject, sir,
given your unquestioned position in the field," Horatia said diplo
matically.
Unquestioned position? I A. Stone questions my position at
every opportunity. But that is another issue. It is Imogen and her
mad scheme that we are discussing."
Horatia searched his face. Yes, it is."
I suppose it is unlikely that the incident three years ago will
make it impossible for her to re-enter Society?"
Do not pin your hopes on the possibility that she will not
receive the proper invitations," Horatia advised. I fear Society will
find her vastly entertaining. The combination of my connection to
Blanchford, her own respectable inheritance from Selwyn, and
her tale of a map that will lead someone to a Zamarian treasure
will all combine to captivate the jaded interest of the ton."
She will not be considered marriageable, but she will definitely
be entertaining," Matthias said softly.
I fear that sums it up rather nicely."
It is a recipe for disaster."
Yes, my lord. You are my only hope. If you do not find a way to
alter her course, Imogen will surely sail straight into the sea of
catastrophe." Horatia paused just long enough to add weight to
her next words. It seems to me that if you truly mean to repay
your debt to my brother, you must save Imogen. That is what
Selwyn would have wanted."
Matthias raised his brows. You have a rather concise way of
summing up matters yourself, misses Elibank."
I am desperate, sir."
You must be, if you think to manipulate me toward your own
ends with that promise that I gave your brother."
Horatia gasped, but she held her ground. My lord, I beg you
will prevent my niece from pursuing this folly."
Matthias held her eyes with his own. You claim to be
acquainted with my reputation, misses Elibank. If that is so, then you
must know that I am more inclined to destroy others than to save
them."
I am well aware of that, sir." Horatia spread her hands. But
there is no one else. She will not listen to me. And you did make
that promise to my brother. The whole world knows that Cold
blooded Colchester always keeps his promises."
Matthias turned away without responding. He walked out the
door and crossed the hall to the staircase. He took the steps two
at a time.
When he reached the landing he stopped to listen. A loud crash
followed by several muffled thumps told him that his quarry was
Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Page 4