Mistress - Amanda Quick [127]
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, oblivious 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 while you were out. He returned a book he said you had lent to him.”
“Grayson’s Illustrations of Classical Antiquities, yes, of course.” Iphiginia untied her bonnet and handed it to 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.