Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt

by Mischief (lit)

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