Mistress - Amanda Quick [62]
“Yes.” Iphiginia moved one hand back and forth along the scrolled arm of the sofa. “It is an interesting theory, my lord, but I doubt that we shall discover that the same woman worked in both households.”
“Still, it’s worth looking into,” Marcus said. “My hypothesis is a good deal more sound than your own. That business of rummaging through gentlemen’s desks in search of a black wax and seal never did make much sense to me.”
Iphiginia glared at him. “I disagree, sir. My theory is infinitely more reasonable and logical than yours. And unlike yours, it has some supporting evidence. After all, we have established that there are a handful of men who are connected to both your circle and Guthrie’s. Your notion, on the other hand, is pure conjecture.”
“It may be unproven,” Marcus said, “but it has a great deal more to recommend it than yours does.”
“That’s not true. Furthermore, I would like to point out—”
Amelia held up a hand for silence. “Once again, may I request that we avoid these useless squabbles? They do not do us any good.”
Marcus smiled coolly. “Miss Farley, you are the voice of common sense. Iphiginia is not thinking clearly tonight. Only to be expected, considering what she has been through.”
“I resent that,” Iphiginia said. “My thinking is every bit as clear as your own, Masters.”
“You must admit that our areas of expertise differ somewhat,” Marcus said politely. “Yours is in the field of classical antiquities, a subject far removed from what we are dealing with here. My own interests, on the other hand, have always been of a scientific and technical nature. In the pursuit of those interests I have obviously had occasion to develop the skills of reason and logic more fully than you have.”
Iphiginia bounced up off the sofa. “Of all the arrogant, condescending, presumptuous things to say.”
“Please,” Amelia begged. “If the two of you do not stop this idiotic quarreling, we shall never get anywhere.”
“I could not be more in agreement,” Marcus said smoothly. “We shall proceed in a logical fashion. As I said, I’ll have Barclay make inquiries into the ownership of that sepulchral grotto in Reeding Cemetery as soon as he returns to Town. In the meantime, you will ask your aunt if she had a companion in her employ several years ago who might have suspected her secret. I shall ask my friend the same question.”
“Hmm,” Iphiginia muttered.
Marcus ignored her fulminating gaze. “We shall see what we learn from that avenue of inquiry. In the meantime, I think it would be best to remove you from London for a few days, madam.”
“Certainly not.” Iphiginia was outraged. “Why would I wish to leave London? I have far too much to do here.”
Marcus shook his head. “The blackmailer is obviously becoming more dangerous. His actions tonight indicate that he is not above harming you.”
“He didn’t harm me. He merely gave me something of a scare.”
“His lordship is right.” Amelia clasped her hands together in her lap. “His note says quite clearly that locking you in the grotto was a warning, Iphiginia. Who knows what he will do next?”
“Precisely,” Marcus said. “I think it would be best for me to keep a close eye on Iphiginia until Barclay has had an opportunity to make a few inquiries.”
“Rubbish,” Iphiginia said.
Amelia ignored her. She gazed intently at Marcus. “And just how do you propose to do that, my lord?”
Marcus ran through the very short list of possibilities in his head. “I suppose Iphiginia could return to her home in the country for a while.”
“Absolutely not,” Iphiginia said very loudly. “Utterly impossible. I will not go home and that is final.”
Marcus made a private note of her vehemence on the subject. It would be interesting to see what Barclay learned in Devon. “Then in that case, I suggest that we take Lady Pettigrew up on her invitation to spend a few days at her country house in Hampshire this week.”
Iphiginia considered that. “It would give me an opportunity to search Pettigrew’s library.”
Marcus stifled