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that."
    It's true, madam, I always keep my promises. But I do so in my
    own fashion. In any event, my debt was to Selwyn Waterstone, not
    to his niece."
    Sir, if you would repay that debt to my dear, departed brother,
    you must keep Imogen from coming to grief."
    Imogen expects another sort of assistance entirely from me,
    madam. She seems hell-bent on coming to grief and, given her
    fortitude and determination, I expect she will achieve her goal."
    She is amazingly strong-minded," Horatia admitted.
    She puts both Napoleon and Wellington to shame." He inclined
    his head toward the shelves full of books. Take my present occu
    pation, for example. I have no clear notion of precisely how I
    come to find myself assisting Miss Waterstone with the inventory
    of her uncle's collection."
    That sort of thing happens frequently around my niece,"
    Horatia said ruefully. She has a tendency to take charge of a situ
    ation."
    I see." Matthias glanced at the title of the book in his hand. An
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    Account of the Strange and Unusual Objects Found in Tombs
    Discovered in Certain South Seas Islands. I believe this goes on
    your list."
    Books on tomb artifacts, do you mean?" Horatia bustled over
    to the desk and frowned at a page in the open journal. She dipped
    a quill into the ink and made a note of the book. Very well, you
    may put it with the others."
    Matthias set the volume down on top of a growing pile of similar titles. He surveyed the remaining
    volumes absently, his brain
    busy with the more important problem of Imogen Waterstone. He
    told himself that he needed information before he could decide
    upon a course of action.
    How did Vanneck compromise your niece, madam?"
    Horatia's mouth tightened. It is a very unpleasant story."
    If I am to take any sort of action, I must know the facts of the
    matter."
    Horatia eyed him with some hope. I suppose you may as well
    hear the details from me rather than one of the London gossips.
    And it is not as though you were not saddled with a somewhat
    nasty reputation yourself, is it, my lord?"
    Matthias met her eyes. That is very true, misses Elibank. Your
    niece and I have that much in common."
    Horatia suddenly became keenly interested in an ancient
    Etruscan death mask. Yes, well, three years ago Lucy asked
    Imogen to come to see her in London. Lady Vanneck had been
    married for over a year at that point, but that was the first time she
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    had bothered to invite Imogen to visit."
    Did Imogen stay with Lord and Lady Vanneck?"
    No. Lucy claimed that she could not invite her to stay in the
    mansion because Lord Vanneck would not tolerate guests in the
    household. She suggested that Imogen take a small house for a
    few weeks. Lucy made all the arrangements."
    Matthias frowned. Imogen went off to London by herself?"
    Yes. I was unable to join her because my husband was extremely
    ill at the time. Not that Imogen considered that she needed a
    companion, of course. She has a very independent nature."
    I noticed."
    I lay the blame squarely at the feet of her parents, God rest
    their souls." Horatia sighed. They loved her dearly and meant to
    do their best, but I fear that they gave her an extremely uncon
    ventional upbringing."
    How is that?" Matthias asked.
    My brother and his wife were considerably advanced in years
    when Imogen was born. Indeed, they had both abandoned any
    hope of having children. When Imogen came along, they were
    thrilled."
    She has no brothers or sisters?"
    No. Her father, John, who was my eldest brother, was a philosopher who had radical notions
    concerning the education of young
    people. He saw in Imogen a golden opportunity to test his theories."
    And her mother?"
    Horatia grimaced. Alethea was a most unusual lady. She
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    created something of a stir in