Mistress - Amanda Quick [39]
A bare fifteen minutes later Marcus walked up the wide steps of the Lartmore mansion. The footman on duty in the hall bowed and did not ask to see his invitation. He headed straight for the balcony that overlooked the crowded ballroom.
Marcus planted both hands on the railing and looked out over the glittering scene. He searched the crowd for a glowing figure dressed in virginal white.
“I believe you’ll find her in the statuary hall, Masters. Lartmore invited her to, ah, survey his antiquities.” Herbert Hoyt chuckled as he came up behind Marcus. “I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. She assured me that she can handle Lartmore.”
Marcus turned to study Herbert’s amused face. He did not know the man well, but he knew the type. Hoyt was a harmless sort. “How do you know where Mrs. Bright is at this particular moment?”
Herbert lounged his well-padded thigh against the railing and took a sip of champagne from the glass in his pudgy hand. “Because I was with her when she asked Lartmore for a tour.”
“I see.”
“Mrs. Bright is an authority on classical statuary and architectural design, you know.”
“Yes, I know.”
“She and I have had numerous enthralling discussions on the subject of ancient architecture. She recently loaned me her copy of Grayson’s Illustrations of Classical Antiquities. Have you read it, sir?”
“No, I have not.” Marcus was in no mood to listen to another man, even harmless Herbert Hoyt as he chattered on about his close friendship with Iphiginia. “Excuse me.”
Herbert gave him an apologetic look. “I did try to hint to her that she might not want to view Lartmore’s statuary collection, but she was adamant. In my experience it’s almost impossible to stop Mrs. Bright from doing exactly as she wishes.”
“So it would seem.” Marcus made to move past the other man.
“I congratulate you, sir. Mrs. Bright is a most fascinating lady. But then, I am always captivated by a female who gives one the impression that she is not quite what she appears to be.”
Marcus stopped and turned back. “What the devil do you mean by that, Hoyt?”
Herbert held up a hand and hastily swallowed his mouthful of champagne. “Beg pardon. No offense intended, I assure you. It’s the element of mystery she projects, you see. Gives the lady an enticing elusive quality, don’t you think?”
“Mrs. Bright is a mystery only to some,” Marcus said very softly. “To me she is an open book. We understand each other very well.”
“I see.” Herbert’s brow wrinkled in a perplexed expression. “Then you were no doubt already aware of her keen interest in Lartmore’s statuary. I must admit, it came as something of a surprise to me.”
Whether Herbert Hoyt was harmless or otherwise, Marcus had an almost overpowering urge to toss him over the railing. He told himself that it would be a futile exercise. Hoyt had not stated anything that everyone else who knew of Iphiginia’s visit to Lartmore’s statuary hall was not already thinking.
Marcus turned on his heel and walked away without a word. He knew where to find Iphiginia. Lartmore’s collection of erotic statuary was famous among the males of the ton.
SIX
THIS ONE IS CALLED ECSTASY. YOU WILL NOTICE THE BOLDLY modeled curves of the female form, my dear Mrs. Bright.” Lord Lartmore stroked the extraordinarily large breast of a stone figure with his skeletal hands. “Only the ancients could invest their work with such lush power.” He tweaked a nipple. “What a pity that today’s artists have lost that vitality.”
Iphiginia swallowed and stared at the statue. She fought to conceal her shock. She had more than a passing familiarity with the work of the ancient sculptors. But she had never seen anything to compare with the figures in Lartmore’s statuary hall.
It was not that the large-bosomed statue which Lartmore fondled with such a lascivious touch was nude that startled Iphiginia. She had seen any number of unclad classical statues. It was the odd