Mistress - Amanda Quick [128]
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, appeared in the doorway. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Bright. Thank you 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 stiffly at Amelia.
Amelia stirred. “Perhaps you would prefer to speak in private.”
“If—if you don’t mind,” Bennet stammered. “I do not wish to be rude, but my business is of a personal nature.”
“Of course.” Amelia walked out of the library and closed the door quietly behind her.
Iphiginia folded her hands on top of her desk. “Won’t you have a seat, Mr. Cloud?”
“What? Uh, no. No, thank you.” Bennet began to pace restlessly in front of her. “This is very awkward for me, Mrs. Bright.”
Iphiginia sighed. “Allow me to make it easier for you. 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 already aware of all those reasons.”
“No.”
Iphiginia blinked in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”
Bennet stopped his pacing and swung around to face her. “I am here to tell you that I wish to withdraw all of 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 he pleases.”
Iphiginia stared at him with sudden concern. “Are you feeling well, Mr. Cloud? My housekeeper will be bringing tea any moment now. Perhaps a cup will revive you”
“Damnation, I do not need any tea. You must marry my 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, all-encompassing motion. “Rather like a mountain or the sea or some other force of nature. Oh, he can be 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