Mischief Read Online Free PDF Page A

With the possible exception of I. A. Stone, there is no finer scholar on the subject.”
    “There is
no
exception,” Matthias corrected her grimly. “Especially not I. A. Stone.”
    “If you insist, my lord,” Imogen murmured. “Every member of the Zamarian Society is aware of your qualifications.”
    Matthias brushed aside the obvious. “So?”
    “I would have thought it self-evident, sir. The simplest and most effective way to convince Vanneck that I have a genuine map to the Queen’s Seal is for you to indicate that you believe I possess such a map.”
    A short, sharp silence gripped the library.
    “Damnation.” Matthias sounded almost awed. “You want me to persuade Vanneck and the rest of the ton that I believe your uncle left you a map of ancient Zamar that shows the location of the seal?”
    “Yes, my lord.” Imogen was relieved that he had finally grasped the essentials of the scheme. “Your interest in the map will lend the necessary credibility to my tale.”
    “And just how am I expected to display this interest?”
    “That is the easy part, my lord. You will pretend to seduce me.”
    Matthias said nothing.
    “Oh, dear,” Horatia whispered. “I believe I feel a trifle faint.”
    Matthias gazed at Imogen with expressionless eyes. “I am to seduce you?”
    “It will be a pretense, of course,” she assured him. “All of Society will notice that you are pursuing me. Vanneck will conclude that there is only one reason you would do so.”
    “He will think that I am after the Queen’s Seal,” Matthias said.
    “Precisely.”
    Horatia heaved another heartfelt sigh. “We are doomed.”
    Matthias tapped one finger very gently against the rim of his teacup. “Why should Vanneck or anyone else conclude that I am intent only on seduction? Everyone knows that I have recently returned to England in order to assume my responsibilities to the title. Society will expect me to be hunting a wife this Season, not a mistress.”
    Imogen sputtered on a swallow of tea. “Do not concern yourself, my lord. You run no risk of finding yourself inadvertently engaged to me. No one will expect you to make me an offer.”
    Matthias searched her face. “What of your reputation?”
    Imogen set her cup down with great precision. “I see you do not know who I am. Not surprising, I suppose. You have been out of the country a good deal of the time during the past few years.”
    “Perhaps you will enlighten me as to your true identity?” Matthias growled.
    “Three years ago when I visited my friend Lucy in London, I acquired the nickname Immodest Imogen.” She hesitated. “My reputation was compromised beyond repair.”
    Matthias’s brows came together in a dark line. He glanced at Horatia.
    “It’s quite true, my lord,” Horatia said quietly.
    Matthias looked at Imogen. “Who was the man?”
    “Lord Vanneck,” Imogen said.
    “Bloody hell,” he said softly. “No wonder you want revenge.”
    Imogen straightened. “That incident has nothing to do with this. I do not give a fig for my own reputation. It is Lucy’s murder that must be avenged. I told you the story because I want you to understand that Society does not consider me a suitable candidate for marriage. No one would expect a man of your position to pursue me for anything other than a brief affair or the opportunity to acquire something valuable.”
    “Such as the Queen’s Seal.” Matthias shook his head. “Bloody hell.”
    Imogen stood up briskly and gave him an encouraging smile. “I believe you have the gist of the thing now, my lord. We can go over the details of my plan this evening at supper. In the meantime, we have an inventory to complete. As you are here, and there is really nothing else for you to do, perhaps you would care to assist us?”

Chapter 2
    Horatia sidled closer to Matthias as soon as they were alone in the library. “My lord, you have got to do something.”
    “Do I?”
    Horatia’s anxious expression congealed into one