Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt

by Mischief (lit)

  with Vanneck, but in the role of my fiance, you can certainly do

  so."

  What the devil are you talking about now?"

  It is quite simple, my lord." She gave him a blinding smile." You

  will tell Vanneck that you do not wish to risk a large portion of

  your own funds to finance an expedition. You will, however, allow

  him to become your partner. If he can come up with the money to

  secure his share of the bargain!

  Good God." Matthias was awed in spite of himself.

  Don't you see? The effect will be the same as I had originally

  intended. Vanneck will still need to form a consortium to get his

  hands on the money he needs. And he will still be ruined when the

  expedition fails."

  Matthias gazed at her in bemused wonder." Do you ever give

  up, Imogen?"

  Never, my lord. My parents taught me to persevere."

  Chapter 9

  I shall not beat about the bush, my lord." Light glinted angrily on

  the lenses of Horatia's spectacles as she confronted Matthias from

  the other side of his desk." I came here today to find out just what

  sort of game you are playing with my niece."

  Matthias steepled his fingers and gave her a deliberately quizzical smile." Game?"

  What would you call this announcement of an engagement?"

  I thought you would be pleased, madam. The engagement will

  put an end to her dangerous scheme. Is that not what you

  wanted?"

  Do not be so certain that it will end the matter," Horatia

  retorted." You know very well that she is already devising a way to

  go forward with her plans to ruin Vanneck."

  Yes, but her latest scheme requires more than just my assistance. It requires my complete cooperation in a false business

  venture. I do not intend to provide it."

  Horatia frowned." What do you mean?"

  I have no intention of luring Vanneck into a partnership. I

  doubt that he would consider such an alliance, even if I were will

  ing to offer it. Not even for the sake of the Queen's Seal. We are

  natural enemies, Vanneck and I, not allies. Calm yourself. All will

  be well."

  Don't tell me to calm myself. You sound just like Imogen when

  you say that."

  Matthias shrugged." The thing ends here, Horatia."

  Ends? For God's sake, you have announced a formal engage

  ment, Colchester. You know what that means. Where does that

  leave Imogen?"

  Engaged."

  She stared at him in mounting fury." Do not jest with me, sir. We

  are speaking of a young woman whose reputation has been

  savaged enough as it is. How do you think she will fare when you

  call off the engagement?"

  Something tells me that Imogen would survive the end of our

  engagement quite nicely. She is never without resources, is she?

  But as it happens, I do not intend to call it off. Nor do I plan to

  allow her to do so."

  Horatia's mouth opened and closed. And then it firmed into a

  straight line." Are you implying that your intentions are . are

  Honorable?"

  Well?" she challenged." Are they?"

  You needn't look so stunned. The answer is yes." Matthias

  briefly glanced down at the Zamarian scroll that he had been

  studying when Horatia was shown into the library a few minutes

  earlier. Then he met Horatia's eyes." I do believe they are."

  You intend to wed Imogen?"

  Why does that surprise you?"

  Sir, in spite of your unfortunate past and your even more

  unpleasant reputation, you are the Earl of Colchester. Everyone

  knows you possess a vast income and an impeccable lineage. To be

  blunt, you can look a good deal higher than a young woman of

  Imogen's birth and fortune when you set out to find a wife."

  You have assured me that through you she is connected to the

  Marquess of Blanchford."

  Don't be ridiculous." Horatia snorted." That connection is

  extremely remote and well you know it. She is not in line for a

  single penny of his money. Furthermore, thanks to her eccentric

  parents, she lacks the social skills one expects in a countess. And

  on top of everything else, she has been thoroughly compromised,

  first by Vanneck and now by you. How can you expect me to

  believe that you are serious?"

  I think she will make me an excellent wife. The only difficulty

  that I can see lies in convincing her of that fact."

  Horatia stared at him, clearly baffled." I don't understand you,

  sir."

  Then you must trust me. I give you my oath that I intend to

  marry Imogen. The engagement is not a charade. At least, not on

  my part."

  Is this another one of your famous promises, sir?" Horatia

  asked with deep suspicion." The sort you are said to keep at all

  costs?"

  Yes. It is." Matthias felt the conviction in his bones.

  He waited until the library door closed behind Horatia before he

  got to his feet. He carefully rerolled the scroll and set it aside.

  Then he walked around the edge of his desk and crossed the room

  to where the brandy decanter stood on the small inlaid table.

  He splashed brandy into a glass and raised it in a mocking toast

  to the statue of Zamaris." It won't be easy, you know. She has no

  intention of marrying me at the moment. But I have one clear

  advantage over her. I have very few scruples to hinder me and

  almost no gentlemanly instincts. Just ask anyone."

  Zamaris looked down on him with the complete understanding

  that only one male who lives in the shadows, surrounded by

  ghosts, could offer to another.

  Matthias went to stand in front of the fire. He did not know

  precisely when the notion of marrying Imogen had formed in his

  mind. He only knew that he wanted her with a passion that was

  equaled only by his feelings for lost Zamar.

  Imogen was his Anizamara, his lady of sunlight, life, and

  warmth. She was the one who could hold the ghosts at bay.

  And thus my investigations have shown that while there were

  certainly some Greek and Roman influences on the manners and

  customs of ancient Zamar, much of the literature and architecture

  of the people of that island was unique."

  Matthias tossed aside the last of his notes with a sense of relief.

  He gripped the edges of the podium and looked out over the large

  audience that had gathered to hear him." That concludes my talk

  on lost Zamar." He forced himself to add politely," I shall be happy

  to answer a few questions."

  Polite applause rang out across the crowded lecture hall. With

  the exception of Imogen, who sat in the front row, no one clapped

  with a great deal of enthusiasm. Matthias was not surprised. He

  had not gone there to entertain. He had been intent only on

  impressing the one person in the crowd who could appreciate his

  research and conclusions: I. A. Stone.

  Imogen, he noted, was applauding with gratifying energy.

  As a rule, Matthias dreaded these events. Ever since Zamar had

  become fashionable, the crowd that gathered to hear him speak

  had been increasingly composed of the dabblers, amateurs, and

&n
bsp; dilettantes he detested. He was well aware that the interest of the

  vast majority of the people sitting in front of him was superficial,

  at best. But that day he had lectured to a worthy rival, and

  Matthias was already anticipating Imogen's rebuttal.

  He glanced down at her as the applause diminished. She glowed

  in her seat, a bright, lively beacon in a chamber filled with dim,

  sputtering candles. Desire crashed through Matthias with the

  force of lightning. He would have her for his own. All he had to do

  was play his cards carefully. In her innocence and naivete, she

  stood no more chance of evading him than Anizamara did of elud

  ing Zamaris. He took a deep breath. His hands flexed on the sides

  of the podium. He would take the lead in this waltz. Whatever

  happiness he was fated to discover in life depended upon it.

  Imogen was wearing another of her Zamarian-green gowns and

  a matching green pelisse trimmed with dolphins and shells. Her

  heavy hair was anchored beneath a massive green bonnet.

  Matthias allowed himself to bask in the admiration he saw in

  her wide, intelligent eyes. Intelligent, but so innocent. He reflected

  on the fascinating accusations she had made during the drive

  through the park yesterday. Rather than admit to the passion that

  flared between them whenever they kissed, Imogen had actually

  convinced herself that he had employed secret Zamarian love

  making techniques.

  The last of the applause finally dissolved. Imogen leaned

  forward slightly in her chair, clasped her hands in her lap, and

  watched Matthias with rapt attention as he prepared to take questions from the audience. He had a fleeting, highly imaginative

  vision of her gazing up at him with a similar expression from the

  depths of the Zamarian dolphin sofa in his library. He was

  abruptly and profoundly grateful for the large wooden podium

  that shielded the lower portion of his anatomy from the view of

  the audience.

  A portly man seated toward the back of the room hove to his

  feet and cleared his throat very loudly." Lord Colchester, I have an

  inquiry."

  Matthias stifled a groan." Yes?"

  You said nothing in the course of your lecture on the possible

  influence of Chinese society on the manners and customs of

  ancient Zamar."

  Matthias saw Imogen roll her eyes. He knew precisely how she

  felt. Few things were more annoying than foolish questions.

  That is because there is no discernible influence," he said

  unequivocally.

  But wouldn't you say, sir, that the characteristics of the

  Zamarian script bear a striking resemblance to Chinese writing?"

  None whatsoever."

  The questioner grumbled and sat down.

  Another man rose. He scowled at Matthias." Lord Colchester, I

  could not help but notice that you failed to discuss the notion put

  forth by Watley that Zamar was actually an ancient English

  colony."

  Matthias endeavored to hold on to his patience. It was not easy.

  Sir, the theory that Zamar was a lost English colony is as

  misguided, wrongheaded, and idiotic as the notion that Egypt was

  also an ancient outpost of this nation. No respectable scholar gives

  credence to either of those two opinions."

  Imogen jumped to her feet. Her elbow caught the large reticule

  of the lady seated next to her and sent it flying. Matthias watched

  with interest as a brief flurry of activity ensued in the front row.

  Oh, dear," Imogen muttered. She bent down to retrieve the

  fallen reticule." Do forgive me, madam."

  Quite all right." the lady said." Quite all right."

  Imogen straightened and turned her attention back to

  Matthias. Her eyes gleamed with determination." Lord Colchester,

  I wish to ask a question."

  Of course, Miss Waterstone." Matthias leaned negligently

  against the podium and smiled down at her with anticipation.

  What is it you wish to ask?"

  In your book on the manners and customs of ancient Zamar

  you include several sketches which you copied from the walls of

  the Zamarian library."

  Indeed."

  One of those sketches distinctly shows a wedding ritual. In it

  the bride and groom appear to be receiving tablets inscribed with

  poetry. Would you say that the scene implies that Zamarian

  marriages were founded upon a notion of true equality between

  the sexes and that a strong metaphysical communion existed

  between husbands and wives?"

  No, Miss Waterstone, I would not draw any such conclusion,"

  Matthias said." The scene on the wall of the Zamarian library was

  a metaphorical painting of the Zamarian goddess of wisdom

  giving the gift of writing to the ancient Zamarians."

  Are you quite certain that it was not a wedding ritual? It seems

  to me that the inscription on the tablets in the lady's hand consti

  tute a wedding contract of some sort."

  As it happens, Miss Waterstone, I was fortunate enough to

  discover an actual Zamarian marriage scroll."

  A murmur of interest went through the crowd.

  Imogen's eyes widened with excitement." What was contained

  in the scroll, sir?"

  Matthias smiled. The inscriptions were more in the nature of

  instructions. They were accompanied by some extremely detailed

  drawings."

  Imogen's brows drew together in a quizzical frown.

  Instructions? On the respective rights and obligations of

  husbands and wives, do you mean?"

  Not exactly," Matthias said." The text provides directions and

  practical advice on certain delicate matters pertaining to the intimate side of the married state. Personal matters, if you take my

  meaning, madam."

  Titters, chuckles, and a few embarrassed laughs broke out

  across the crowd. Several older ladies frowned. A number of

  younger ones displayed a fresh interest in the discussion.

  Imogen fitted her hands to her hips and began to tap the toe of

  one little kid half-boot. She glowered at those around her and

  then at Matthias." No, my lord, I do not take your meaning.

  Precisely what sort of advice is on that scroll?"

  The inscriptions advise married couples on specific techniques

  designed to ensure that both husband and wife find happiness and

  satisfaction in the marital bedchamber. And that is all I intend to

  say on the matter, Miss Waterstone."

  There were several shocked gasps from the crowd. The titters

  and chuckles in the back row grew louder. Imogen lowered her

  brows and looked as if she were preparing to fire another question. Matthias moved quickly to forestall it.

  He drew his watch from his waistcoat pocket and surveyed the

  time with an air of surprise." Ah, I see that the hour is concluded.

  I thank you all for your kind attention." He scooped up his notes

  and started to descend from the podium.

  Imogen met him as he reached the last step. Her eyes were

  sparkling with determination." A very exciting talk, my lord."

  Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

  Oh, I did. Immensely. I was particularly taken with your obser

  vations concerni
ng the pictures on the walls of the Zamarian

  library. How I wish I could have accompanied you when you

  discovered it."

  I would have liked to have had your opinions," he said honestly.

  About that marriage scroll you mentioned, I would very much

  like to view it, if I may."

  I have never made it available to other scholars," he said with

  slow deliberation." But I might be willing to make an exception in

  your case."

  Imogen brightened." Would you, Matthias? That would be

  wonderful. When may I see it?"

  I'll let you know when it's convenient."

  Her face fell." I trust you will not delay too long, sir. I am impatient to study it."

  A charming thought."

  I beg your pardon?"

  Never mind." Matthias smiled." In the meantime, you might

  find a private tour of the Zamarian Society's museum interesting."

  Extremely interesting," Imogen said." But it has been closed to

  the public since I arrived in London."

  That is because the trustees of the Zamarian Society are

  preparing to move the collection into a larger chamber. At the

  moment the museum is actually more of a storage room. But I

  have a key. I shall be happy to serve as your guide."

  Imogen's face lit up once more." That would be thrilling."

  He glanced around the rapidly emptying room. Only a handful

  of people remained and those few would soon be gone. He

  removed a key from his pocket.

  I see no reason why we cannot tour the museum now." He

  paused." If you are free, that is."

  Yes, indeed. Perfectly free, sir."

  The door to the museum is just around the corner." Matthias

  indicated the direction with a slight inclination of his head.

  Beneath the staircase.

  How exciting." Imogen set off toward the museum entrance at

  such a brisk pace that the skirts of her gown whipped about her

  ankles.

  Matthias barely managed to grab hold of her arm before she

  vanished around the corner." I fear you must wait for me, my dear.

  I've got the key."

  I hope you will not dawdle, sir."

  No, but neither do I intend to gallop across the hall."

  She sighed." I keep forgetting that you are not inclined toward

  athletic activity."

  I try to compensate in other areas." Matthias guided her around

  the corner and beneath the broad staircase that gave access to the

  upper floors of the Zamarian Institution.

  When they reached the door to the museum, he drew Imogen