Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt

by Mischief (lit)

  Felix spread his hands." Ask it, my friend. If I know the answer,

  I shall be happy to supply it."

  What do you know of Alastair Drake?"

  Drake?" Felix scowled in thought." He appeared in Town about

  three years ago, I believe. Plays cards at The Lost Soul on occasion. Come to think of it, he has not been there much of late.

  Why?"

  Did you know that he is Lady Lyndhurst's brother?" Imogen

  asked.

  Felix quirked a brow." No. Is it significant?"

  We want to know why the pair of them have kept their connection a secret," Matthias said." For starters, I wish to discover where

  they lived before they took up residence in London."

  Imogen leaned forward eagerly." Were you by any chance

  acquainted with Lord Lyndhurst, Mister Glaston?"

  Felix exchanged glances with Matthias." I do not believe so," he

  said.

  Imogen looked at Matthias." Did you know him, Colchester?"

  No," Matthias said thoughtfully." I never met the man."

  How very odd. Between the two of you, I would have thought

  that you would have met most of the gentlemen in London at one

  time or another. I am told that sooner or later they all show up at

  The Lost Soul." Imogen paused." Do you suppose that there ever

  was a Lord Lyndhurst?"

  Felix's eyes creased at the corners." An excellent question."

  Yes, it is," Matthias said." Should have thought of it myself."

  Indeed." Felix steepled his fingers." You have married a very

  clever lady, Colchester. My congratulations. I am delighted to see

  that you have found yourself someone who can bring you up to

  scratch on occasion."

  I most certainly will not be bored," Matthias murmured.

  Imogen gave Matthias a warm smile." Colchester and I have a

  great deal in common."

  I can see that you do." Felix settled more comfortably into the

  depths of his chair." Well, then, it should not be difficult to learn

  the answers to your questions. I shall look into the matter immediately."

  Imogen's eyes lit with gratitude and excitement. That would be

  wonderful, Mister Glaston. How can we ever thank you?"

  Felix eyed her thoughtfully." By staying for a cup of tea, Lady

  Colchester. I have never taken tea with a countess."

  I'm certain that it will not prove nearly so entertaining as tea

  with the owner of a gaming hell," Imogen said." Indeed, when

  Colchester informed me that we were to call upon you, I confess

  I rather hoped that we would be paying a visit to your place of

  business. I have never seen a hell."

  Felix stared at her in amazement. Then he looked at Matthias.

  Matthias shrugged.

  Felix turned back to Imogen." Perhaps some other time, Lady

  Colchester," he began smoothly.

  Imogen brightened." That would be lovely. Would tomorrow be

  convenient?"

  Don't even think about it," Matthias said grimly.

  Imogen smiled at Felix." Pay no attention to him, Mister Glaston.

  My husband suffers from an overanxious temperament. Delicate

  sensibilities, you know."

  Felix gave her his most cherubic grin." I suspect that you will

  have a bracing effect upon his nerves, madam."

  The message from Bow Street was waiting when Imogen and

  Matthias returned home. Ufton delivered the news as he ushered

  them into the hall.

  The runner you seek was killed nearly three years ago, m'lord.

  Shot dead by a highwayman whom he was attempting to arrest."

  Matthias glanced at Imogen." More likely murdered by Alastair

  Drake."

  A chill went through Imogen." Yes. After Lucy died, the runner

  would have been the only other person who knew his secret. He

  would have had to get rid of him."

  Horatia glanced across her cozy parlor and smiled at the sight of

  Patricia and Hugo. The pair were seated at a small table, absorbed

  in a game of cards.

  I must say, they make a handsome couple," Horatia murmured

  to Imogen." But I find it amazing that Colchester has given Mister

  Bagshaw permission to pay his addresses to Patricia. The whole

  world was certain that Hugo and Colchester were fated to engage

  in a duel before the end of the Season."

  It only goes to show how often Society misjudges a situation,"

  Imogen said.

  Hugo had taken his new responsibilities very seriously. For the

  past few days he had made himself available to escort Patricia

  and, on those occasions when Matthias was otherwise occupied,

  Imogen, wherever they wished to go. He had endured hours of

  shopping, afternoon drives in the park, and endless evenings spent

  in stuffy ballrooms.

  Patricia had confided that her gallant defender had taken to

  carrying a small pistol on his person." Just in case," she explained

  to Imogen. The information had made Imogen somewhat uneasy,

  but she supposed it was wise for Hugo to go about armed. She

  wondered if Matthias did the same.

  It should have all been quite exciting, Imogen reflected, but,

  in fact, life had quickly become exceedingly tedious and confining. Patricia seemed happy enough to have Hugo escort her

  everywhere, but Imogen was beginning to chafe beneath the

  restrictions Matthias had imposed. She had never been obliged

  to wait upon a gentleman's convenience before she made plans.

  She did not care for the experience.

  Unfortunately, in spite of Felix's predictions, it had proven

  considerably more difficult to obtain information on Alastair

  Drake and Selena than anyone had suspected. It was as though

  the pair had simply materialized upon the London scene three

  years earlier. They had the money to keep up appearances and the

  social polish to ensure themselves a welcome in the best drawing

  rooms. No one had questioned their pasts.

  Four days had passed with no firm word of the pair. Rumors

  abounded, however, and Felix Glaston had sent several messages

  imparting tidbits of information. None of it could be confirmed.

  The strain was beginning to affect the entire household.

  Matthias had become increasingly restless and irritable. He

  prowled his library and growled at the servants. At night he spent

  hours at the bedchamber window, gazing out into the darkness. It

  was only in the moments immediately after he had made love to

  Imogen that he seemed to find some peace. And that contentment

  was short-lived.

  For her part, Imogen had begun to dread falling asleep. Her

  dreams of blood and sarcophagi had grown more frequent and

  more disturbing. She awoke, shivering, two or three times a night

  to find herself wrapped tightly in Matthias's arms.

  The entire affair had become quite maddening, even for some

  one with strong nerves.

  That morning Matthias had announced at breakfast that he

  intended to meet with Felix at The Lost Soul. When Imogen had

  mentioned that she would like to accompany him, he had

  adamantly refused to even consider the notion.

  Trapped at home, Imogen and Patricia immediately made plans

  to escape the house for a few hours. Imogen suggested that they

  both go to the m
useum at the Zamarian Institution. She longed to

  lose herself in her researches for a time. Patricia had complained

  that she would collapse from boredom if she was forced to spend

  an entire afternoon among the dusty relics of ancient Zamar.

  After a spirited discussion of the alternatives, they had agreed

  to pay a visit to Horatia. Patricia had sent a message to Hugo

  informing him that his services as an escort were required. He had

  dutifully appeared at the appointed time and had whisked them

  off to Horatia's town house.

  What will you do if Colchester is unable to locate Lady

  Lyndhurst and Mister Drake?" Horatia asked with a troubled frown.

  The situation cannot go on forever," Imogen said." I certainly

  do not intend to endure much more of this imprisonment."

  Imprisonment?" Horatia's brows rose above her spectacles.

  That rather overstates the case, don't you think?"

  It would be different if Matthias would allow Patricia and me

  the same freedom to come and go that he has accorded himself,"

  Imogen complained." But that is not the case."

  Ah, well, I'm certain that it will all be over soon."

  I trust so. Colchester has promised to escort me to the

  Zamarian museum on two different occasions during the past four

  days and both times he has broken the engagement because his

  friend Mister Glaston sent him a message. It is very irritating."

  Horatia hesitated and then lowered her voice." The current situ

  ation aside, are you happy in your marriage, my dear?"

  I beg your pardon?" Imogen pulled her thoughts away from

  Matthias." What an odd question. Why do you ask?"

  You are an unusual woman, Imogen. And Colchester is hardly

  a typical gentleman of the ton. I had some understandable

  concerns."

  I am well content with my marriage. The only thing that

  warrants concern is finding Alastair and Selena. Until that is done,

  no one in our household will sleep well."

  It is rather unsettling to think that there is a murderer running

  about," Horatia said.

  Knew a murderer once," misses Vine announced matter-of-factly

  as she came through the doorway with a tray of tea." Rented this

  house five, maybe six years ago. Right proper gentleman, he was.

  Very clean in his habits compared to some of the tenants I've had

  here."

  Everyone in the parlor turned to stare at misses Vine.

  Imogen found her voice first." You kept house for a murderer,

  misses Vine?"

  I did indeed. Didn't know it at first, of course." She set the tray

  down on a table and began to arrange the cups." Always paid his

  rent on time, he did. I was sorry to lose him as a tenant."

  How did you learn that he was a murderer?" Hugo demanded,

  fascinated.

  Unfortunate confrontation in the hall one night," misses Vine

  said with a sigh of sincere regret." It was me night off and I'd been

  to visit me sister that evening. But instead of stayin" with her until

  mornin" as I generally did, I decided to come back here. Ran into

  Mister Leversedge in the hall, I did. Unexpected like, y'see. He had

  just returned home a few minutes afore me. He was draggin" a

  body down into the basement."

  Good Lord," Horatia breathed, transfixed." He hid the bodies

  in the basement?"

  Did his work on the nights I was off visitin" me sister. Took the

  bodies down into the basement to cut" em up so's they'd fit nice

  and neat into boxes. Then he hauled the boxes out of the city and

  got rid of" em."

  My God." Patricia covered her mouth with one hand. Her eyes

  widened in horror." What did you do when you found him in the

  hall with his victim, misses Vine?"

  Weren't nothin" for it, what with the body there and all." misses

  Vine shook her head sadly." Couldn't ignore it, even if he had been

  the best tenant I'd ever had. Had to trot right back down the steps

  and summon the watch. I'll never forget Mister Leversedge's last

  words to me though."

  What were they?" Imogen asked.

  He said, Don't worry about the blood in the hall, misses Vine.

  I'll clean it up." As I said, a very tidy gentleman."

  The following morning Matthias stood with Imogen in the center

  of the Zamarian museum and surveyed the dusty antiquities

  heaped before them. Imogen's smile of satisfaction hid a goodly

  measure of triumph. Matthias knew it was because she had won

  the small skirmish that had taken place at the breakfast table.

  He had been opposed to wasting the morning there in the

  museum, but he had not been able to come up with a suitable

  excuse for avoiding it. Felix had sent no word of any new rumors.

  Furthermore, as fond as she appeared to be of the pair, it was

  obvious that Imogen was not about to tolerate another day of

  shopping or visiting in the company of Patricia and Hugo. In the

  end, Matthias had surrendered. It occurred to him to wonder if he

  would ever be able to deny Imogen anything once she had set her

  heart upon it.

  We shall start on the far side of the room, Matthias." Imogen

  tied a white apron around her waist." Would you care to take

  notes, or shall I?"

  I'll take the notes while you examine the items," Matthias said

  as he removed his greatcoat." You may as well be the one to get

  your hands dirty. I'm already convinced that there is nothing of

  great importance buried in this rubble that Rutledge sent back."

  Now, Matthias, you cannot be certain of that until it is all prop

  erly catalogued." She made her way through the broken statuary

  and stone coffins toward the heavy wooden crates stacked against

  the wall." Who knows? Perhaps we shall find the Queen's Seal in

  one of those boxes."

  Not bloody likely," Matthias said softly. He hung his greatcoat

  on a hook. There was a soft clank as the pocket brushed against

  the wall.

  What was that noise?" Imogen asked.

  I put a pistol in the pocket of my coat," Matthias explained as

  he rolled up the sleeves of his white linen shirt.

  Imogen frowned." You've taken to carrying a pistol too?"

  It seems a reasonable precaution under the circumstances."

  Matthias, you don't really believe that Alastair will return to

  London, do you? Surely he and Selena will stay as far away from

  us as possible. I'll wager that they have fled to the Continent."

  I don't know what they will do, and neither do you." Matthias

  met her eyes." It would appear that they have murdered three

  times already. We cannot be certain that they will not attempt to

  kill again."

  But what would be the point of killing us?"

  If we are dead, there is no one to link them to the murder of

  Lord and Lady Vanneck, let alone to that runner. They would be

  free to resume their life here in Town. And I have told you before

  that Drake and his sister are creatures of the ton. They will not

  willingly give up the style of life to which they have become accustomed."

  But surely they cannot simply resume their places in Society

  after all that has happened. There may no
t be any proof of their

  guilt, but there will be a great deal of gossip."

  They can survive a little gossip about murder." Matthias smiled

  faintly as he sat down on the edge of an open sarcophagus." I did."

  You have a point." Imogen yanked a large square of canvas off

  a jumble of clay tablets. She tossed the shroud aside and picked up

  the first tablet in the heap." Still, I must tell you that I cannot possibly live such a restricted life for much longer. Patricia does not

  seem to mind, but it will soon drive me into Bedlam."

  Matthias was amused." It may interest you to know that the sort

  of restrictions I have placed upon you and Patricia this past week

  amount to no more than the ordinary limitations most ladies

  accept readily enough here in Town."

  Well, I certainly do not intend to accept them for long." Imogen

  bent over at the waist to examine a tablet." Matthias, there is

  something I have been intending to ask you."

  He studied the enticingly rounded curves of her derriere." Ask,

  madam. I am at your service today." He contemplated the prospect

  of lifting her skirts while she was in such an inviting position. He

  could always explain that it was another exotic Zamarian love

  making position.

  Do you know what actually did happen to Rutledge?"

  The question sent a jolt of surprise through him. It took a

  moment to recover. He drew a deep breath." Yes."

  I thought that might be the case." Imogen straightened and

  began to stack the tablets with great precision." Well, my lord? Are

  you going to tell me?"

  Matthias gazed thoughtfully at the notebook he had brought

  along to record Imogen's observations." Rutledge tried to murder

  me. He died in the attempt."

  Good heavens." Imogen swung around so quickly that her

  elbow struck the stacked tablets. She reached out quickly to

  steady the pile. Her eyes were fixed on his face." You do not jest,

  do you?"

  Not about this. We were exploring one of the corridors in the

  labyrinth. I had taken the lead. Rutledge always said that I was far

  better at that sort of thing than he was."

  Matthias had come upon the stone staircase without any warning.

  One moment he was in the narrow confines of the cramped

  underground corridor, the next he was hovering on the brink of an

  endless flight of stairs hewn from solid rock.

  What is it?" Rutledge demanded from behind him. He sounded

  hoarse and out of breath.