Mistress - Amanda Quick [79]
“What utter nonsense.” Marcus swung around with an impatient air. “Do you fancy yourself a matchmaker?”
“You’ll see,” Iphiginia said in a very superior tone. “I have an instinct for these things.”
“Rubbish. You have an instinct for creating trouble.”
She glowered. “What is wrong with you today, sir? Are you still brooding about what happened at the Pettigrews’? I told you, nothing has changed. All will be well.”
“No, damn it, I am not brooding about that situation. There is nothing to brood about. What’s done is done.”
“Then what is affecting your temper?”
He lowered his large frame onto a claw-footed chair and regarded Iphiginia with a meditative expression. “Do you believe in coincidence?”
Iphiginia gave a small shrug. “Strange things do happen. Why do you ask?”
“Because a rather interesting coincidence has just turned up with regard to our blackmail problem.”
“What coincidence is that?”
“My friend, the other victim, had a companion in her employ at the time the events for which she is now being blackmailed occurred.”
“Stop right there.” Iphiginia held up a triumphant hand. “If you’re going to tell me that the companion’s name was Miss Todd and that you think she is the blackmailer, you may as well save your breath. Miss Todd has been dead for five years.”
“My friend’s companion was named Caroline Baylor,” Marcus said evenly. “The interesting coincidence is that she was also connected to the Wycherley Agency.”
Iphiginia considered that carefully. “It is not such a great coincidence, is it? After all, the Wycherley Agency has been around for years. At one time or another it has no doubt sent governesses or companions into many of the best families.”
“Nevertheless, it’s a connection.” Marcus glanced at the clock. “It’s only a bit after three. I intend to speak to Mrs. Wycherley myself this afternoon.”
“But Miss Todd is dead and you said your friend’s companion has disappeared. What do you hope to learn from the owner of the agency?”
“I am not certain yet, but I intend to ask a few questions concerning both Miss Todd and Miss Baylor.”
Iphiginia was intrigued. “I shall come with you to see Mrs. Wycherley.”
“There is no need,” Marcus said easily. “I shall report any information that I discover in the course of the interview.”
“On the contrary, my lord.” Iphiginia fixed him with a determined look. “We are partners in this venture, if you will recall.”
Marcus contemplated her for a moment. “Very well. I suppose you’ll only call on her by yourself if I do not take you with me.”
“You suppose correctly.” Iphiginia was pleased by the small victory. She picked up her teacup and took a sip. The trick to handling Marcus, she told herself, was to demonstrate firm resolve. He was the sort of man who naturally assumed command of a situation. A woman of weak spirit would be soft clay in his powerful hands.
“We shall deal with Mrs. Wycherley together in a while, then,” Marcus said. “But first there are a few other matters I wish to discuss with you.”
“What matters are those?” Iphiginia started to put her teacup down onto the saucer.
“The lack of a late Mr. Bright is the first item on the agenda.”
The delicate teacup slipped from Iphiginia’s grasp. It crashed against the edge of the saucer, tipped over, and spilled tea onto the polished mahogany desk.
“Good heavens.” Iphiginia jumped to her feet, snatched a gossamer white lace hankie from her pocket, and began to dab ineffectually at the spilled tea. “I thought we had already disposed of that subject, sir.”
“We certainly disposed of something in connection with the topic, but it wasn’t the late, unlamented Mr. Bright.”
Iphiginia tried desperately to control the blush that she knew must be turning her face a bright pink. “Really, Marcus.”
“Yes, really, Iphiginia.” Marcus withdrew a large, sturdy linen handkerchief from his pocket, got to his feet with leisurely grace, and blotted up the tea in a single swipe. “Furthermore, having delved into the subject at some depth,