Mistress

CHAPTER NINETEEN

WE TOLD MARYANNE DIRECTLY AFTER BREAKFAST. SHE WAS very quiet for the longest time." Zoe sniffed into a hankie. "I was terrified that she would hate us forever. She started to cry."

Iphiginia, seated behind her desk, exchanged a glance with Amelia. Amelia raised her brows but said nothing. Neither of them interrupted the tale.

"And then-" Otis blew into a large handkerchief she looked at me and said 'Papa. After all these years, she finally said 'Papa. She threw herself into my arms." "I vow, it was the happiest moment of my life." Zoe burst into more tears.

"And of mine, my dearest." Otis went to her and put his arm around her. "You cannot imagine what it means to me to he able to openly acknowledge my own dear daughter."

"We should have told her immediately after Guthrie died last year," Zoe said to Iphiginia. "Only think of the trouble it would have saved."

Iphiginia folded her arms on her desk and frowned. "What about the marriage to Sheffield?"

"Maryanne insists upon telling him the truth," Otis said, not without a touch of pride. "May as well, since the blackmailer will no doubt do so, anyway."

"I expect he'd cry off." Zoe sighed. "There's no help for it. The Earls of Sheffield have always been very high in the instep. Pity. It was such a fine match. But Maryanne is so lovely and charming that I am convinced that we'll find another equally suitable husband for her."

"I shall make it public knowledge that I intend to settle an inheritance upon her," Otis said stoutly. "Always intended to do so, of course, but planned to keep it a private matter. Now we can he open about it. That should help produce a good selection of candidates."

"Very true." Iphiginia picked up her pen and fiddled with it as she considered the situation. "Do you know, it strikes me that there might he an even simpler way of brushing through this entire affair."

"What's that?." Zoe asked.

"If you and Otis were to marry," Iphiginia said, "Maryanne would become Otis's stepdaughter in the eyes of the law."

"Married?" Zoe stared at her. "Married? But Otis and I are so happy the way we are. Isn't that so, Otis?"

"You have always been the delight of my life, my dear," Otis said gallantly. "You know that. You will continue to be my heart's truest friend regardless of whether or not we are wed."

Zoe smiled tremulously. "Otis, I do love you so," "The thing is," Iphiginia said briskly, "if Otis were to marry you, there would he no need to make the true facts of Maryanne's parentage public."

"Iphiginia is right," Amelia said.

Zoe frowned. "I do not comprehend."

Otis's brows formed a bristly hedge across his nose. "I say, she has a point, y'know."

Iphiginia saw the new light in his eyes. She smiled. "If you and Otis were to wed, he would become Maryanne's stepfather. She could call him Papa and no one would take any notice. He can refer to her as his daughter and people will merely assume that he has a genuine paternal affection for her."

"Which is no particular secret, anyway," Amelia pointed out. "Furthermore, the legalities of the situation settle rather nicely into place with regard to both the Guthrie money and the Otis fortune."

"Precisely," Iphiginia said. "Maryanne will no longer he a young lady with a respectable portion, but a great heiress. "

"No one will think to question the situation," Otis murmured. "Perfectly natural that I would provide for her'"

"Good Lord." Zoe was clearly struck by the possibilities. "She would have her pick of husbands."

Otis took her hand and kissed it. "And I would have the great pleasure at last of not only claiming my daughter without a scandal, but of being able to claim you, my sweet, as my wife.".

"Oh, Otis." Zoe looked up at him. "You have always been so good to me. You were the only thing that made my life bearable while Guthrie was alive."

"It was my greatest pleasure," Otis said. "And if you wish to continue our liaison as it is, I shall be honored to do so. But I want you to know that nothing would make me happier than to be able to call you my wife."

Zoe's eyes glowed. "How can I say no? I thought never to marry again after being freed of Guthrie. But in truth, you are the only man I have ever loved. The father of my child. My dearest friend."

"I shall obtain a special license this afternoon," Otis said. "We can he married tonight."

"Something tells me that Maryanne will be delighted," Amelia said.

Iphiginia tapped her pen against a sheet of foolscap. "And a bit more venom has been leeched from the blackmailer's fangs. I begin to perceive that Masters was right all along. He said the easiest way out of this situation was to call the villain's bluff by unveiling the secrets."

"It would, indeed, appear that he was correct," Amelia agreed.

"He very often is," Iphiginia muttered. "What worse, he knows it and does not hesitate to make one aware of that fact. I vow, it is vastly annoying at times."

"I suspect you feel that way because you are so accustomed to being correct most of the time yourself," Amelia said.

Iphiginia wistfully recalled her plan to solve the blackmail problem by discovering the owner of a phoenix seal and some black sealing wax. "I have never met a man who is right more often than I am. It is rather unnerving," she admitted.

It was even more unsettling to know that she was in love with a man who was convinced that he was intelligent enough to learn anything except how to fall in love again.

"What is Masters's latest hypothesis, Iphiginia? Who doe he believe is behind this nasty attempt to reveal everyone's secrets?" Amelia asked as she and Iphiginia walked up a flight of stairs that led to Adam Manwaring's office.

"He does not know the new villain's identity yet," Iphiginia said. "His most interesting theory is that Mrs. Wycherley may not have been the villain in this piece, after all."

Amelia shot her a startled glance. "Really? But who else could it have been?"

"As I said, Masters does not yet have a new suspect, merely a few doubts about the old one." Iphiginia reached the landing and started down the hall to Adam's door.

"What do you believe, Iphiginia?" "I no longer know what to make of the events. I am still stuck on black wax, phoenix seals, and the fact that whoever sent that first note to Aunt Zoe knew that Masters would be out of Town for an extended period of time."

,"I know how difficult it is for you to abandon your own notions. Well, I'm certain that Masters will soon get to the bottom of this."

Iphiginia wrinkled her nose. "Goodness, such faith in his intellect and talents. There was a time not so long ago when you spent a great deal of energy warning me off him."

"I still think that he will break your heart, but in the meantime, perhaps he will also solve the puzzle."

"You are always so very practical, Amelia. It is one of your most endearing qualities."

They came to a halt in front of the narrow door. Iphiginia raised her hand to knock and then noticed that the door was ajar. A man's voice, raised in blistering rage, boomed through the opening.

"I demand to meet with the principals of this venture, d'ye hear me, Manwaring?"

Iphiginia opened the door quietly. A large, thickset man was leaning over Adam's desk. Es face was contorted with anger. Adam sat quietly, his own expression one of cold disgust. Neither of them saw Iphiginia and Amelia in the doorway.

"I have told you, that is impossible," Adam said. "I insist upon it," the stranger roared. He slammed his meaty fist down on the desk with such force that the wax jack and pens shuddered. "I insist upon being allowed to speak with them. I won't take no for an answer."

Iphiginia heard Amelia's soft, choked cry of dismay. "Amelia?" Iphiginia touched her cousin's arm. "Are you all right?" she whispered. Amelia did not answer. She stood stock-still, her attention riveted on the man who was pounding on Adam's desk.

"I've told you that the principals behind this speculation venture are not interested in including you in the pool, Dodgson." Adam got to his feet, his jaw set as solidly as that of a bulldog. "And I told you the reason why."

"Lies. All lies told by a slut of a governess," Dodgson howled. "I cannot believe men of the world would listen to the creature."

Amelia took a step into the room. Her shoulders were rigid. "They are not lies. You are a nasty, vicious man, Dodgson. You know it and I know it."

Dodgson whirled around. "Who the devil are you?" he demanded.

"Don't you even remember me, Dodgson? I'm Amelia Farley. At one time I worked as a governess. But now I make my living in a much different fashion'

Dodgson's eyes glazed with the shock of recognition. He stared at Amelia, mouth agape. "It's you. You're the one who told the principals that I could not he trusted. How dare you? Why would anyone listen to you?"

"Miss Farley is one of the principals of the investment pool," Adam said with grim satisfaction.

"I don't understand." Dodgson's heavily jowled face swung back and forth between Amelia and Adam. "This is impossible."

"No, Dodgson," Adam said evenly. "It is far from impossible. You will not he allowed to join the investment pool."

"On the word of this… this pinch-faced little lightskirt?" Dodgson bellowed. "You cannot be serious."

Adam rounded the edge of his desk, drew back his fist, and slammed it straight into Dodgson's unsuspecting face.

Dodgson shrieked with pain, surprise, and fury. He reeled back against the wall, clutching at his nose.

Adam advanced on him with clenched fists. "One does not speak to a lady with such disrespect in my office."

"Damn you." Dodgson examined the blood on his hands with horror and disbelief. "Damn all of you. This is a nightmare. I am to be ruined be-cause of the whim of a silly little governess who should have been grateful that some man was willing to tumble her."

"I have news for you, Dodgson," Adam said softly. "Financial ruin is not all you face. You will meet me at dawn tomorrow morning in the park. Name your seconds."

Amelia gasped. She gripped the handle of her parasol with such force that her knuckles went white. Iphiginia stepped closer to her.

"Seconds?" Dodgson appeared dazed. "You're issuing a challenge because of that ridiculous creature? This is insane."

"I shall expect to see you at dawn," Adam said. "Or all of London will know you for the coward you clearly are.

"If you have not already chosen your own seconds, Manwaring," Marcus said calmly from the doorway, "I would he honored to act as one of them."

"Marcus." Iphiginia turned quickly. A rush of relief went through her at the sight of him.

Marcus Idled the doorway. His broad shoulders nearly brushed the sides. He was so tall that he'd been obliged to remove his gray, curly-brimmed hat.

He studied the scene in the office with his usual unruffled air, but there was an ominous gleam in his amber eyes.

Adam inclined his head brusquely in Marcus's direction. "Thank you, sir. I shall take you up on your offer to act as a second."

"Masters?" Dodgson stared first at Marcus and then at Adam. "Have you both gone mad?"

"No," Marcus said. "But we are in danger of becoming quite bored. I suggest that you take your leave."

"An excellent notion," Amelia said. "My friends and I have some matters of business to discuss."

Dodgson turned to her with a desperate look. "Amelia, for God's sake, you cannot do this to me. There is too much at stake. Please, my dear, you must allow bygones to he bygones."

"Get out of here," Adam said.

Amelia looked at Dodgson. "You heard Mr. Manwaring. Remove yourself from these premises immediately. The very sight of you makes me ill."

"Amelia." Dodgson went toward her as though to take her hands in his. "I cannot believe you would he so hardhearted. You were once such a sweet creature."

"Do not touch me." Amelia stepped back quickly. "Do not ever touch me, Dodgson."

"You heard Miss Farley." Adam came up behind Dodgson, grabbed him by the collar, and propelled him toward the door.

Marcus politely got out of the way.

Adam shoved Dodgson out into the hall and slammed the door.

He turned and looked straight at Amelia. "I regret that you were obliged to come face-to-face with the bastard, Miss Farley. I assure you, it will be the last time."

Amelia stared at him. "Mr. Manwaring, you must not meet him tomorrow at dawn. I forbid it."

Adam gave her a crooked smile. "Think nothing of it. As it happens, I am a rather good shot. Hobby of mine, you know."

"But you might he injured. Even killed. Dodgson is a liar and no doubt a cheat. There is no telling what he might do in a duel. You cannot trust him."

Marcus stirred. "Do not concern yourself, Miss Farley. As Manwaring's second, it will be my privilege to keep an eye on Dodgson. There will be no cheating."

"No," Amelia blurted. "You must not do this, Mr. Manwaring." She dropped her parasol and ran toward him. "You cannot risk your life."

She hurled herself into Adam's arms. "It's all right, my dear," Adam said. He held her close. "I do not mind in the least."

"If it's any comfort to you, Miss Farley," Marcus said, "I believe that I can say with some certainty that Dodgson is highly unlikely to appear for-his dawn appointment. I expect he will be halfway to Scotland by then."

Amelia raised her head from Adam's shoulder. "Do you really think so?"

"Yes." Marcus smiled. "I really think so."

"I'd rather he showed himself," Adam said. "I quite relish the notion of lodging a bullet in, him."

"That is very gallant of you, sir." Amelia blotted tears from her eyes. "But I fear I would be devastated if anything were to happen to you."

"Do you truly mean that?" Adam asked.

"Yes." Amelia gave him a tremulous smile.

The two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, obvious of Iphiginia and Marcus.

Iphiginia smiled to herself. She glanced at Marcus. I told you so, she mouthed silently. Made for each other.

He raised one brow in silent acknowledgment.

It suddenly occurred to Iphiginia that he had no business being there.

"What are you doing here, sir?" she asked in a low tone.

"What do you think? I came to request that I be allowed to purchase shares in the investment pool that is being formed to finance Bright Place."

She gazed at him in amazement. "You know about the pool?"

He gave her a smile of superiority. "Of course." "You know that Amelia and I are the principals?" "Naturally."

"You think you know everything, don't you?" Marcus's eyes were brilliant with amusement. "I believe in keeping myself informed on a wide variety of topics."

"He thinks he is so very clever," Iphiginia grumbled an hour later as she and Amelia got out of the white and gilt carriage. "Quite arrogant about it, in fact."

"Who?" Amelia cast her a distracted glance as they went up the steps of the town house. "Masters?"

"Yes.»

"Well, he is quite clever. What do you expect him to do? Conceal his intelligence? You rarely bother to hide yours."

"He could practice being a bit more discreet about it."

Amelia nibbled uneasily on her lower lip. "Personally, I pray that he is correct in his belief that Dodgson will flee rather than confront Mr. Manwaring at dawn."

Guilt swept through Iphiginia. Here she was complaining about a minor annoyance while poor Amelia was burdened with a very genuine fear. It struck her that if she were in her cousin's shoes, she would have been hysterical.

"I'm sure Masters has the right of it," Iphiginia said soothingly as Mrs. Shaw opened the front door. "As I was just telling you, he is always right."

"Yes, I know." Amelia seemed to take heart from that. Her face brightened a bit.

Iphiginia smiled at her housekeeper. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Shaw. All is well?"

"Aye, Mrs. Bright. Oh, that very nice Mr. Hoyt called in while you were out. He returned a book he said you had lent to him."

"Grayson's Illustrations of Classical Antiquities, yes, " Iphiginia untied her bonnet and handed it to of course. Mrs. Shaw. "Anything else of import?"

"No, madam. Everything has been very quiet." "Excellent. Would you please send a tray of tea into the library?"

"Immediately, Mrs. Bright."

"Thank you." Iphiginia paused at the door of the library. "By the bye, you may expect both Mr. Manwaring and his lordship, the Earl of Masters, shortly before five o'clock. They will be calling to take Amelia and myself driving in the park."

"Very. good, Mrs. Bright." Mrs. Shaw smiled and went down the hall toward the kitchen.

Iphiginia followed Amelia into the library. She glanced at the copy of Illustrations of Classical Antiquities on her desk as she sat down. Then she turned her attention to Amelia.

"Try not to worry too much, Amelia. I trust Masters to know about these things. If he feels there will be no duel, then there very likely will not he one."

Amelia clasped her hands in front of her and stared out the window into the street. "I cannot believe that Mr. Manwaring actually challenged Dodgson because of me."

"I can. I have known for some time that Mr. Manwaring was quite enamored of you, Amelia."

Amelia slanted her a wryly amused glance. "As I noted a moment ago, you can be just as arrogant in your conclusions as you say Masters is."

Iphiginia chuckled. "Masters and I do have a great deal in common, do we not?"

"Yes." Amelia's smile faded. "What are you going to do about him, Iphiginia? You know very well that you cannot go on forever as his mistress."

"I know."

The clatter of carriage wheels interrupted Amelia's reply. The vehicle came to a halt in front of the town house.

"I wonder who that could be," Iphiginia said. "It is only three o'clock. Masters said he and Mr. Manwaring would not come by until five."

Amelia peered out the window. "I do not recognize the carriage. I cannot see who is getting out."

Iphiginia and Amelia waited expectantly as Mrs. Shaw responded to the knock on the front door. There was a murmur of voices in the hall.

A moment later the library door opened.

"Mr. Bennet Cloud is inquiring to see if you are at home, Mrs. Bright," Mrs. Shaw said.

"Good heavens," Iphiginia muttered. "Marcus's brother. I wonder what he wants. You'd better send him in, Mrs. Shaw."

Bennet, his expression grim and intent, appears the doorway. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Bright. Thank for seeing me."

"Come in, Mr. Cloud." Amelia gave him a reassuring smile. "This is my cousin, Miss Farley."

"A pleasure, Miss Farley." Bennet nodded to Amelia.

Amelia stirred. "Perhaps you would prefer to in private."

"If-if you don't mind," Bennet stammered. not wish to be rude, but my business is of a personal nature."

"Of course." Amelia walked out of the library closed the door quietly behind her.

Iphiginia folded her hands on top of her d "Won't you have a scat, Mr. Cloud?"

"What? Uh, no. No, thank you." Bennet began to pace restlessly in front of her. "This is very awkward me, Mrs. Bright."

Iphiginia sighed. "Allow me to make it easier for as you no doubt wish to give me a long lecture consisting of all the many and varied reasons why I should not marry your brother. Rest assured, Mr. Cloud, that I am also aware of all those reasons."

"No."

Iphiginia blinked in surprise. "I beg your pardon Bennet stopped his pacing and swung around to her. "I am here to tell you that I wish to withdraw all my objections to the marriage."

"You do?"

Bennet grimaced. "Not that my brother would give a damn whether I objected or not. He always does as Pleases."

Iphiginia stared at him with sudden concern. you feeling well, Mr. Cloud? My housekeeper will bringing tea any moment now. Perhaps a cup will tea revive you.

"Damnation, I do not need any tea. You must marry any brother, Mrs. Bright."

Iphiginia eyed him warily. Why?

"Because I believe that he needs you." "He needs me?"

"Devil take it, how can I explain?" Bennet resumed his fevered pacing. "Mrs. Bright, I have known my brother all of my life."

"Obviously."

"But I have never fully understood him. Perhaps I never tried to understand him. He didn't seem to require understanding, if you see what I mean."

"No, I do not."

"He was always there." Bennet moved his hand in a vague, and encompassing motion. "Rather Re a mountain or the sea or some other force of nature. Oh, he can he bloody stubborn and quite set in his ways. And he insists on living by his own damnable rules. But he has always seemed so strong."

"Being strong does not mean that one doesn't need a bit of understanding from others now and then," Iphiginia said gently.

"I have recently begun to comprehend that." Bennet reached a wall of bookcases, turned, and started back across the room. "Last night I realized that Marcus has depths that I have not, until now, even suspected existed within him. I recognize that he has certain needs. Needs which he believes only you can fulfils, Mrs. Bright."

"Masters told you this?"

"In a manner of speaking. I gained the impression that he wants you very badly."

"In the same way that you want Juliana Dorchester?" "Good Lord, no, of course not." Bennet scowled.

"The feelings that I bear for Miss Dorchester are really quite extraordinary. I am in love with her, Mrs. Bright. And she is in love with me."

"I see."

Bennet was momentarily overcome by his favorite subject. "Our mutual affection is characterized by sublime emotions and a truly metaphysical communion of the senses.»

"How nice for you."

"There is a noble grandeur to our love that leaves me floundering for words."

"I had not noticed."

"She engenders within my breast the most elevated of passions."

"Quite understandable."

"Frankly," Bennet concluded, "it is difficult to speak of Dorchester 's exquisite sensibilities, her refined mind, or even her gracious manner without resorting to poetry."

"Your feelings are, indeed, extraordinary. You do not believe your brother capable of such emotions?"

"If he was ever capable of the more delicate and exalted emotions, his experience of marriage destroyed ad such inclinations within him." Bennet shrugged. "To be perfectly truthful, I am not certain he was ever the sort to surrender to the higher sentiments. His is an intellectual nature, you understand."

"Yes." Iphiginia propped her chin on her hand. "Forgive me, sir, but your change of heart on the subject of your brother's marriage has left me somewhat confused."

"It is important that you marry him, Mrs. Bright. Please believe me. I would not he here today if I did not think that it was a necessity. I think it should he a quiet wedding. Special license, preferably. You will not want a formal engagement of the sort that Miss Dorchester and I intend to have."

"You've asked Miss Dorchester for her hand?" "I've spoken to her about it. I'm pleased to say that we have agreed to announce our betrothal at the end of the Season. We shall he married in the spring. Miss Dorchester and I wish to spend the next few months becoming better acquainted with each other. And there are so many plans to he made, you know."

"Yes, of course." Marcus would be relieved, Iphiginia thought. He had at least bought some time for Bennet to make certain that he was doing the right thing.

"She was willing to elope with me," Bennet confided proudly. "During that brief span of time when she thought I would have nothing, she said that she would go to Gretna Green with me. She loves me as much as I love her."

"I believe she does. I have met her, you know." "Have you?7

"Yes. And I found her quite charming." Miss Dorchester really was a nice young lady, Iphiginia thought, even if her parents were a trifle over ambitious.

Bennet glowed with enthusiasm. "She is most charming, indeed. Very likely the most charming woman on the face of the earth."

Marcus would require some convincing of that fact, but Iphiginia had a bunch that all would he well between Bennet and his beloved Miss Dorchester.

"Our situation is quite different from your own, however," Bennet continued. "You and my brother needn't bother with a long engagement. No offense, Mrs. Bright, but it's not as though you were a young chit fresh out o the-schoolroom. And God knows my brother is not getting any younger."

"True."

Bennet frowned. "Cannot ever remember my brother being young. Even when I was a lad, he seemed something of an antiquity. But that's neither here nor there. The important thing is your marriage."

"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Cloud. However-" Iphiginia broke off frowning at the sound of another carriage halting in the street. "More visitors?"

The knock on the front door was followed by the sound of familiar voices in the front hall.

"Good grief," Iphiginia whispered. "Corina and Richard. And Aunt Zoe and Lord Otis What is going on here? Pray excuse me, Mr. Cloud."

She leaped to her feet, dashed across the room, and flung open the library door before Mrs. Shaw could announce the new arrivals.

"Iphiginia," Zoe exclaimed. "You will never guess who has just arrived in Town,"

Corina, dressed in a charming blue gown that nicely complemented her golden hair and blue eyes, turned toward Iphiginia with an expression of grave concern on her lovely face.

"Iphiginia. Are you all right? What is going on?" "Good afternoon, Corina. Richard."

Richard Hampton, his handsome features set in lines of WOMY inclined his head. "Good afternoon, Iphiginia. We set out for London the moment we received the message.

"What message?"

Corina shuddered. "The strange one that said you had become the… Well, never mind. It is too dreadful to repeat. I knew it could not he true, of course. But I had to find out what was going on. We arrived an hour ago." "And came straight to my house." Zoe gave Iphiginia

a wry, apologetic look. "Otis and I told them that they must ask their questions of you, not us."

Richard's warm, brown eyes were deeply troubled. "I shall he blunt, Iphiginia. We received an extremely alarming message informing us that you had become the paramour of the Earl of Masters."

Zoe rolled her eyes.

"Richard, really, must you say such things aloud?" Corina flushed. "We are in mixed company, you know."

"I apologize, my dear, but we must get to the bottom of this," Richard said with considerable determination. "This is no time to he mealy-mouthed or delicate."

Bennet came up to stand behind Iphiginia. "What you have beard is a damned lie."

"Who are you?" Richard demanded.

"Bennet Cloud, Masters's brother. And I am pleased to inform you that Mrs. Bright is not my brother's mistress. Far from it. She is his fiancée."

Chaos erupted in the crowded hall. Everyone tried to talk at once.

«Fiancee,» Corina gasped. "Iphiginia, do you mean to tell me that you are engaged?"

,Richard looked startled. "To an earl?"

"I say," Otis murmured. "I hadn't heard about this development. Congratulations, m'dear."

Zoe rounded on Iphiginia. "Good Lord. So Masters has decided to do the proper thing by you, has he?"

"Yes, he has," Bennet said staunchly. "The problem is that Iphiginia does not wish to marry him." I

Amelia appeared. "That is perfectly ridiculous. She will most certainly have to marry him."

"Of course she will," Corina decreed. "If my sister's name has been linked to Masters's in a fashion which has cast even the smallest shadow over her reputation, she has no choice but to marry him."

Richard nodded soberly. "Quite right. If he fails to come UP to scratch, I shall call him out."

"Call Masters out?" Otis looked at him with alarm. "Silence." Iphiginia raised her hand to get everyone's attention. "I said, silence." When that faded, she made a fist and pounded loudly on the wall. "If you please."

Silence finally descended. Everyone looked at her. "Now, then," Iphiginia said quite forcefully, "let us be clear about this matter. My connection with the Earl of Masters is no one's business but my own. And his."

Zoe sighed. "You may as well be realistic about this, Iphiginia. If he has made you an offer, you will have to accept it."

"And be grateful for it," Corina added bluntly. "Especially if your reputation has, indeed, been sullied."

"Quite right," Richard said.

"Enough." Iphiginia put her hands on her hips and glowered at the lot. "I will say this once and for all. I have absolutely no intention of marrying a man who, as Mr. Cloud here has just pointed out, is incapable of the higher sentiments."

"What higher sentiments?" Amelia asked.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Zoe demanded.

"Man's got a fortune and a title," Otis pointed out logically. "Should think that would compensate for any number of elevated feelings."

"MY brother will make you an excellent husband, Mrs. Bright," Bennet said loyally. "Shouldn't think the more refined emotions would be very important in your marriage. After all, you and Masters are both of an intellectual nature."

"Bloody hell, what does that matter?" Iphiginia could have wept, she was so angry and overset. "Listen to me, all of you. I will not marry a man who has a rule against falling in love."

A short, stark silence fell.

And then a large, familiar figure moved in the doorway.

"You have taught me to break most of my other rules, Iphiginia," Marcus said quietly. "Teach me to break this one, too.»

Everyone turned, dumbfounded, toward Marcus. They had all been so busy arguing that none of them had beard him come up the steps and open the front door.

Iphiginia met his eyes. A rush of longing went through her. She loved him so much, she thought. She had always known that they had been meant for each other.

She had to believe that he could learn to love her. "Oh, Marcus."

She flew toward the doorway and sailed into his arms. Marcus caught her close and held her very tightly.