Mistress - Amanda Quick [130]
“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 worry, 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 be 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 be 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 be mealy-mouthed or delicate.”
Bennet came up to stand behind Iphiginia. “What you have heard 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 fiancee.”
Chaos erupted in the crowded hall. Everyone tried to talk at once.
“Fiancée,” Corina gasped. “Iphiginia, do you mean to tell me that you are engaged?”
Richard looked startled. “To an earl?”
“I say,” Otis murmured. “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.”
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 failed, 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