Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt

by Mischief (lit)

  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."