Mistress - Amanda Quick [77]
“We do not even know if she is the one behind this. But it’s a place to start.” Marcus pulled his watch out of his pocket and glanced at the time. It was two-thirty. He had a three o’clock appointment with Iphiginia. “I must be on my way, Hannah. I shall see that you get the five thousand pounds as soon as possible. My man of affairs can arrange to deliver it.”
“It is very kind of you to help me again after all these years,” Hannah whispered. “I do not know what I would do without you.”
“We are friends. There is no need to thank me.” Marcus reached out to open the carriage door.
“Marcus, wait.” Hannah touched his arm. “Forgive me for asking, but are you on your way to meet Mrs. Bright?”
Marcus paused. “Why do you ask?”
“Speaking as your friend, I must tell you that I have been hearing the oddest rumors. Are they true?”
“The rumors concerning me are always odd, Hannah, you know that.”
“Yes, but these are different. I have heard that your new mistress is really quite extraordinary.”
Marcus fought back a violent desire to tell her that Iphiginia was not his mistress, that she occupied a far more important role in his life. But there was nothing he could say at this point, not even to Hannah.
He retreated behind one of his well-known rules. Never explain.
“Hannah, you know that I never discuss such matters.” He smiled humorlessly. “As the one who taught me how to conduct myself in Society, you would be the first to condemn me for ungentlemanly behavior were I to make any comment at all on the subject of my association with Mrs. Bright.”
Hannah quickly withdrew her gloved hand from his sleeve. “I taught you how to eat with the proper fork and how to dance the waltz, but I certainly did not teach you how to become a figure of legend. You managed that on your own with your famous rules and your enigmatic ways.”
“Do not concern yourself with my affairs, Hannah. I shall take care of myself.”
“Yes, of course. I am sorry. I did not mean to pry. You are the best friend I have, Marcus. I cannot help but worry about you.”
“It is your husband who should be your best friend now, not I.” Marcus opened the door and got out of the carriage.
Adam Manwaring set his papers down on Iphiginia’s library desk and took a seat. He looked intently at Amelia. “Before I give you the results of my inquiries concerning Lady Guthrie’s old companion, I should first tell you that I have talked to Mr. Dodgson.”
Amelia tensed. “I trust that you informed him that he is not welcome to join the investment pool?”
“I did.” Adam’s expression was surprisingly grim. “And I told him why.”
“Excellent,” Iphiginia said. She glanced at Amelia and thought she saw a brief flicker of satisfaction in her cousin’s eyes.
“I informed Dodgson that the investment pool is composed primarily of widows and spinsters, many of whom have worked as governesses and companions,” Adam said. “I told him he no doubt understood why such ladies would not wish to do business with a man of his unfortunate reputation.”
“What did he say?” Iphiginia asked.
Adam shrugged. “He was incensed, naturally. Claimed he had been grossly insulted and insisted on a meeting with the principals so that he could explain the misunderstanding.”
Amelia looked down at her folded hands. “What did you tell him?”
“Simply that the principals had no intention of meeting with him,” Adam said. “He then said that he had no recollection of any improper incident involving a young female employee in his or anyone else’s household.”
“Did he say that?” Amelia asked softly.
Adam raised his brows. “He then proceeded to undermine his entire defense by flying into an apoplectic rage. He said everyone knew that the sort of females who became governesses were all bent on seducing the gentlemen in the households in which they were employed. He said that they were not to be trusted.”
Amelia exchanged a sharp glance with Iphiginia. “He specifically mentioned governesses?”
“Yes,” Adam said. “He did.”
“Then he most certainly does remember,” Amelia whispered.
“Obviously.” Iphiginia hurried