Amanda Quick - Mischief.txt Read online

  attributes were hardly unique. She had seen any number of well

  muscled men. She lived in the country, after all. Most of her neighbors were farmers who worked in their own fields. Many of them

  had developed broad shoulders and strong legs. In addition, she

  was not entirely without experience when it came to the male of

  the species. First, there had been Philippe D'Artois, her dancing

  instructor. Philippe had been as graceful as a bird in flight. And

  then there had been Alastair Drake. Athletic and handsome, he

  had certainly not required any help from his tailor in order to do

  justice to his attire.

  But Colchester was as different from those men as night was

  from day. The strength that emanated from him had nothing to do

  with his sleekly muscled shoulders and thighs. It radiated from

  some inner core of inflexible steel. The force of his will was palpable.

  There was also a great stillness about him that belonged more

  properly to the shadows than to the daylight. It was the patient

  stillness of the predator. Imogen tried to imagine him as he must

  have looked on that fateful day when he finally mastered the

  labyrinth beneath the ruined city of Zamar and discovered the

  hidden library. She would have sold her soul to have been with

  him on that memorable occasion.

  Colchester turned his head at that moment and gave her an

  inquiring, slightly amused glance. It was as though he had read her

  thoughts. Imogen felt a wave of embarrassed warmth go through

  her. The teacup she was holding rattled on its saucer.

  The dark library was chilly, but Colchester had obligingly built

  a fire on the hearth. The room, which was crowded with a variety

  of bizarre sepulchral artifacts, would soon warm.

  Once she had been assured that Colchester was not a ghost or

  a vampire, Bess had recovered sufficiently to retreat to the

  deserted kitchens. There she had prepared a pot of tea and a cold

  collation. The simple meal consisted only of leftover salmon pie,

  some bread pudding, and a bit of ham, but Colchester seemed

  content with it.

  Imogen certainly hoped he was satisfied. The food had not

  come from the mansion's empty cupboards. It had been packed in

  a hamper early that morning and brought along to sustain the

  women as they went about the business of cataloguing Selwyn

  Waterstone's collection. Judging by the efficient manner in which

  Colchester was demolishing the repast, Imogen doubted that

  there would be much left over for Horatia, Bess, or herself.

  I am, of course, delighted to make your acquaintance,"

  Matthias said.

  Imogen suddenly realized that his voice had an extremely odd

  effect on her senses. There was a dark, subtle power in it that

  threatened to envelop her. It made her think of mysterious seas

  and strange lands.

  More tea, my lord?" Imogen asked quickly.

  Thank you." His long, elegant fingers brushed hers as he

  accepted the cup.

  A curious sensation began at the point where he had touched

  her. It traveled along Imogen's hand, rendering her skin unac

  countably warm. It was as though she sat too close to the fire.

  Imogen hastily set the pot down before she dropped it.

  I am very sorry that there was no one here to greet you when

  you arrived last night, sir," she said. I sent the servants to their

  own homes for a few days while my aunt and I conduct the inven

  tory." She frowned as a thought struck her. I was quite certain that

  I directed you to come to Waterstone Cottage, not Waterstone

  Manor."

  No doubt you did," Matthias said softly. But then, there were a

  great many instructions in your letter. I may have forgotten one or

  two along the way."

  Horatia glared at Imogen. Letter? What letter? Really,

  Imogen, I must have an explanation."

  I shall explain everything," Imogen assured her aunt. She eyed

  Matthias warily. The cool mockery in his eyes was unmistakable.

  It cut her to the quick. My lord, I fail to see anything amusing

  about the contents of my letter."

  I was not particularly amused by it last night," Matthias admit

  ted. The hour was late. It was raining. My horse was exhausted. I

  saw no point wasting time in an attempt to locate a small cottage,

  when I had this vast house at my disposal."

  I see." Imogen gave him a determined smile. I must say, you

  appear remarkably unruffled by a night spent in a sarcophagus.

  My aunt and I have often remarked that Uncle Selwyn's notion of

  a proper bed was certainly not to everyone's taste."

  I have slept in worse places." Matthias helped himself to the

  last of the ham and surveyed his surroundings with a considering

  expression. I had heard tales of Selwyn Waterstone's collection.

  The reality is even more unexpected than the rumors implied."

  Briefly distracted, Horatia peered at him over the rims of her

  spectacles. I expect you are aware that my brother had an abiding

  interest in sepulchral art and tomb antiquities, sir."

  Matthias's arresting eyes lingered thoughtfully on an Egyptian

  mummy case propped in the corner. Yes."

  It is all mine now," Imogen told him proudly. Uncle Selwyn left

  his entire collection to me along with the house."

  Matthias gave her a speculative glance. You are interested in

  sepulchral art?"

  Only that which is Zamarian," she said. Uncle Selwyn claimed

  that he owned a few Zamarian artifacts and I have every hope

  that he did. But it will take time to find them." She gestured to

  indicate the heap of antiquities and funereal oddities that littered

  the library. As you can see, my uncle had no sense of organization.

  He never bothered to catalogue the items in his collection. There

  may be any number of rare treasures waiting to be unearthed in

  this house."

  It will certainly take a great deal of work to find them,"

  Matthias said.

  Yes, it will. As I said, I plan to keep any antiquities that I can

  positively identify as Zamarian in origin. I shall offer the remain

  der to other collectors or perhaps give them to a museum."

  I see." Matthias sipped tea and studied the library more closely.

  Imogen followed his gaze. There was no denying that her eccen

  tric uncle had possessed a very strange taste for artifacts associ

  ated with death.

  Ancient swords and armor taken from Roman and Etruscan

  burial chambers were strewn about in a careless fashion. Sphinxes,

  chimeras, and crocodile motifs copied from Egyptian tombs

  adorned the furniture. Bits of statuary and cloudy glass bottles

  that had been discovered in antique sepulchral monuments

  reposed in the cupboards. Grim death masks stared down from

  walls.

  The bookcases were stuffed with dozens of worn volumes that

  dealt with ancient entombment practices and the embalming arts.

  Several large crates were stacked on the far side of the room.

  Imogen had not yet opened them. She had no idea what was

  inside.

  The situation was no better in the upstairs chambers, all
of

  which were crammed with the tomb antiquities that Selwyn

  Waterstone had spent his life acquiring.

  Matthias finished his brief survey and looked at Imogen. What

  you choose to do with Waterstone's oddities is your affair, of

  course. Let us return to the business at hand. Would you mind

  telling me why you sent for me?"

  Horatia uttered a small, faint gasp. She whirled to confront

  Imogen. I cannot believe that you have done this. Why on earth

  didn't you tell me?"

  Imogen gave her a placating smile. The thing is, I sent for his

  lordship a few days before you arrived here in Upper Stickleford.

  I was not entirely certain he would put in an appearance, so I saw

  no reason to mention it."

  This is folly," Horatia snapped. Now that the initial shock had

  passed, she was apparently regaining her usual spirits. Do you

  realize who this is, Imogen?"

  Of course I know who he is." Imogen lowered her voice to a

  properly reverential tone. He is Colchester of Zamar."

  Matthias raised his brows but made no comment.

  As you said, my lord," Imogen continued, it is time to get to the

  heart of the matter. You were a good friend of Uncle Selwyn's, I

  believe."

  Was I?" Matthias asked. That is certainly news to me. I was not

  aware that Selwyn Waterstone had any friends."

  Alarm shot through Imogen. But I was led to believe that you

  owed him a great favor. He claimed that you had vowed to repay

  him if it were ever possible to do so."

  Matthias regarded her in silence for a moment. Yes."

  Imogen was vastly relieved. Excellent. For a second there I

  thought I might have made a dreadful mistake."

  Do you make many such mistakes, Miss Waterstone?" Matthias

  asked gently.

  Almost never," she assured him. My parents were great believ

  ers in education, you see. I was trained in logic and philosophy,

  among other subjects, from the cradle. My father always said that

  when one thinks clearly, one rarely makes mistakes."

  Indeed," Matthias murmured. As to your uncle, it's true that I

  considered myself to have been in his debt."

  Something to do with an ancient text, was it not?"

  Years ago he came across a very old Greek volume in the

  course of his travels," Matthias said. It contained some oblique

  references to a lost island kingdom. Those references, together

  with others I had discovered, gave me some of the clues I needed

  to locate Zamar."

  That is just what Uncle Selwyn told me."

  I regret that he died before I could repay him," Matthias said.

  You are in luck, sir." Imogen smiled. As it happens, there is a

  way for you to fulfill your promise."

  Matthias regarded her with an unreadable expression. I fear

  that I do not entirely grasp your meaning, Miss Waterstone. You

  have just told me that your uncle is dead."

  He is. But in addition to his collection of tomb artifacts, my

  uncle also left me a respectable inheritance and the promise that

  you owed him."

  There was a heartbeat of silence. Horatia stared at Imogen as if

  she had gone mad.

  Matthias watched her with enigmatic eyes. I beg your pardon?"

  Imogen cleared her throat delicately. Uncle Selwyn

  bequeathed me the promise that he claimed you made to him. It

  is quite clear in his will."

  It is?"

  This was not going as smoothly as she had hoped, Imogen

  reflected. She braced herself. I wish to collect on that promise."

  Oh, dear," Horatia whispered. She sounded resigned to a

  dreadful fate.

  Just how do you propose to collect the debt that I owed to your

  uncle, Miss Waterstone?" Matthias finally asked.

  Well, as to that," Imogen said, it is somewhat complicated."

  Somehow that does not surprise me."

  Imogen pretended not to hear that unencouraging remark. Are

  you acquainted with Lord Vanneck, sir?"

  Matthias hesitated. Cold disdain appeared briefly in his gaze.

  He is a collector of Zamarian antiquities."

  He was also the husband of my good friend Lucy Haconby."

  Lady Vanneck died some time ago, did she not?"

  Yes, my lord. Three years ago, to be precise. And I am

  convinced that she was murdered."

  Murdered?" For the first time, Matthias actually showed a trace

  of surprise.

  Oh, Imogen, surely you do not intend Horatia broke off and

  closed her eyes in dismay.

  I believe she was murdered by her husband, Lord Vanneck,"

  Imogen said forcefully. But there is no way to prove it. With your

  help, sir, I intend to see that justice is done."

  Matthias said nothing. He did not take his eyes off Imogen's

  face.

  Horatia rallied. My lord, surely you will talk her out of this wild

  scheme."

  Imogen scowled at Horatia. I dare not wait. An acquaintance

  has written to tell me that Vanneck is preparing to marry again.

  He has apparently suffered some serious financial reverses."

  Matthias shrugged. That much is true. A few months ago

  Vanneck was forced to sell his large town house and move into a

  much smaller residence. But he still manages to keep up appearances."

  I suspect that he is even now prowling the ballrooms and draw

  ing rooms of London in search of a wealthy young heiress,"

  Imogen said. He might very well murder her too, once he has his

  hands on her fortune."

  Imogen, really," Horatia said weakly. You must not make such

  accusations. You have absolutely no proof."

  I know that Lucy feared Vanneck," Imogen insisted. And I

  know that Vanneck was frequently cruel to her. When I visited

  Lucy in London just before her death, she confided to me that she

  was afraid he might someday murder her. She said that he was

  insanely jealous."

  Matthias set his cup down and rested his elbows on his thighs.

  He loosely clasped his hands between his knees and regarded

  Imogen with an expression of reluctant interest. Just how do you

  intend to carry out your scheme, Miss Waterstone?"

  Horatia was horrified. Good heavens, you must not encourage

  her, my lord."

  I find myself somewhat curious," Matthias said dryly. I would

  like to hear the details of this plan."

  Then all is lost," Horatia muttered. Imogen has a way of

  sweeping others up into her schemes."

  I promise you that I am not easily swept along by much of

  anything unless I so choose," Matthias assured her.

  I pray you will remember those bold words later, sir," Horatia

  muttered.

  My aunt is inclined to be overanxious at times, my lord,"

  Imogen said. Do not worry, I have planned this out very carefully.

  I know what I am doing. Now then, as you just observed, Lord

  Vanneck is an extremely zealous collector of all things Zamarian."

  So?" Matthias's mouth twisted humorlessly. Vanneck may

  fancy himself an expert, but in truth he would not know a genuine

  Zamarian artifact from the hindquarters of a horse. Even

  I. A. Stone displays more perception."

  Horatia set her cup d
own with a small crash. Her eyes darted

  from Matthias to Imogen and back again.

  Imogen took a very deep breath and composed herself. You

  have frequently argued with I A. Stone's conclusions in the pages

  of the Zamarian Review, I believe."

  Matthias was politely amused. You have kept up with our little

  squabbles?"

  Oh, yes. I have maintained a subscription to the Review for

  several years, my lord. I always find your articles extremely

  enlightening."

  Thank you."

  But I also find I. A. Stone's writings to be quite thought

  provoking," she added with what she hoped was a bland smile.

  Horatia frowned in warning. Imogen, we seem to be straying

  from the subject. Not that I am particularly desirous of returning

  to that other topic, however"

  I A. Stone has never even been to Zamar," Matthias said

  through his teeth. A flare of genuine emotion lit his ghostly eyes

  for the first time that morning. He has no firsthand knowledge of

  his subject, yet he feels free to make observations and reach

  conclusions based upon my work."

  And the work of Mister Rutledge," Imogen pointed out hastily.

  The warm emotion died in Matthias's eyes as swiftly as it had

  appeared. Rutledge died four years ago on his last trip to Zamar.

  Everyone knows that. His old writings are sadly out of date. I A.

  Stone should know better than to use them in his researches."

  I was under the impression that I. A. Stone's papers were quite

  well received by the members of the Zamarian Society," Imogen

  said tentatively.

  I will admit that Stone has a certain superficial familiarity with

  Zamar," Matthias allowed with gracious arrogance. But it is the

  sort of knowledge one gleans from studying the work of a more

  informed expert."

  Such as yourself, my lord?" Imogen asked politely.

  Precisely. It is obvious that Stone has read virtually everything

  I've written on Zamar. And then he has the incredible gall to

  disagree with me on any number of points."

  Horatia coughed discreetly. Er, Imogen?"

  Imogen resisted the urge to pursue the matter. Horatia was

  right. She had other priorities. Yes, well, back to Vanneck.

  Regardless of his intellectual limitations, you must admit that he

  is known to be consumed with a passion for Zamarian artifacts."

  Matthias looked as though he would have preferred to continue

  the heated discussion of I. A. Stone's lack of expertise. But he