A Beguiling Intrigue

by Jane Toombs

  She became aware of another voice, a man's voice, loud and insistent. Quentin, still holding her in his arms, turned his head.

  "The race,” John Willoughby said. “When shall we start the race?"

  "The devil take the race,” Quentin told him, obviously annoyed at the interruption. He looked at her. “Unless you...?"

  She shook her head. “From this day forward I intend to help you, not compete with you."

  He drew her closer, his hand caressing her back as it slid up to the nape of her neck.

  "For the most part,” she added with a smile.

  As he leaned to her, just before his lips found hers, Quentin said, “I wouldn't want it any other way."

  * * * *

  Rodgers sat at a table in the Baldwin drawing room, his pen poised above the Society journal, as the four members of the Matrimonial Recruitment Society began their meeting. Glancing from one Society member to another, Rodgers smiled to himself. As matchmakers, they had proven themselves to be complete and utter failures. Fate and love had brought Lord Devon and Justine together, not the misdirected efforts of the members of the Society. On the other hand, Rodgers was forced to admit, those efforts had produced a variety of unusual and rather wonderful side effects.

  Although Prudence Baldwin still complained at times of alarming symptoms, she was quickly distracted by the ever increasing attentions being paid her by Gerard Kinsdale. As for Gerard, he was now enjoying his first visit to London in many years. Rodgers had learned, from reliable sources on the Kinsdale staff, that Gerard had begun applying his undoubted talents to the refurbishing of both the grounds and house at Kinsdale Manor as well as directing his inventive genius into more practical channels.

  Ogden Stewart still occasionally professed a disdain for women, but the flirtatiousness of Daphne Gautier had a salutary effect in that Ogden spoke less and less of the glories of the past and more and more of the promise of the future, a future that Rodgers suspected might include a liaison with, if not marriage to, the vivacious astrologer.

  Rodgers abandoned his musings and turned his attention to the meeting when he heard Daphne ask, “And when will Justine's marriage to Lord Devon take place?"

  "On the week before Christmas,” Prudence informed her. “After a short visit to Brighton, they plan a trip to Paris and the French Mediterranean coast."

  "I do believe we can congratulate ourselves on the felicitous outcome,” Gerard said. “Though for a time we considered Mr. Gavin Spencer to be the best prospect for Justine, we did set in motion the series of events, beginning with the Eclipse Party, leading to her betrothal and the happiness certain to follow her marriage to Devon."

  Ogden cleared his throat. “Hear, hear,” he cried, raising his glass. “I propose a toast to the Matrimonial Recruitment Society."

  They touched glasses and sipped their wine.

  "My only regret,” Daphne said, “is that the engagement brings our work to an end."

  "Must it be so?” Prudence glanced at the others. “Should we allow such a worthy activity to languish and die? There must be scores if not hundreds of other young ladies who could benefit from our assistance in finding the men of their dreams."

  "How true.” Gerard pursed his lips in thought.

  "Emeline Willoughby for one. And that other young lady who sang at our musical evening. What was her name?"

  "Phillippa,” Daphne told him. “And there are many, many more. We could ask Rodgers to make a list for us and then choose the one most in need of our assistance."

  "God help us all,” Rodgers murmured.

  "What was that, Rodgers?” Ogden asked. “What did you say?"

  Rodgers looked at him, an expression of pious earnestness on his face. “I was praying for the help of the Lord in your new endeavor."

  "Thank you, Rodgers,” Ogden said. “We thank you, one and all."

  Jane Toombs

  Snowbird Jane Toombs, along with the Viking from her past and their grandcat, Kinko, spend the warm months in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior, and the cold months among the lakes in Central Florida. Award-winning author of eighty-plus published books, Jane also has sixteen novellas or short stories in anthologies. Her favorite genre to read and write is paranormal romance. Jane has nearly a dozen books scheduled for release from Amber Quill Press in 2006 and 2007 in a variety of genres.