Mischief by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-31T00:24:18+00:00

My parents were happy," Imogen said softly.

True. I fear that you grew up with a very distorted sense of reality, my dear.

In any event, there were no more children after Matthias was born. Thomas and Elizabeth lived apart most of the time. For several years Thomas kept a string of mistresses here in Town. Elizabeth contented herself with lavish house parties at the Colchester country estate. The year she died, Thomas apparently fell in love with a young widow named Charlotte Poole They were married soon after Elizabeth's death."

Imogen rested her arms along the back of the sofa and gazed into the fire." And Patricia was born."

Yes."

Patricia told me tonight that everyone is saying that Matthias is doomed to the same fate as his father," Imogen said quietly.

Horatia glanced at her." Patricia is a very young lady who has had little experience of the world."

I, on the other hand, am a mature woman who knows very well what she is about."

Meaning?"

Imogen met Horatia's eyes." Meaning that I cannot allow Matthias to marry me if he does not truly love me. I could not bear to live with the knowledge that I had forced him to repeat his father's mistake."

A sad comprehension appeared in Horatia's eyes." How long have you been in love with Colchester, my dear?"

Imogen smiled ruefully" Since I read his first article in the Zamarian Review, I suspect."

What a tangle this has all become."

Yes." Imogen took a deep breath." And as I am the one who created this Gordian knot, it is up to me to unravel it."

Two nights later Imogen stood unnoticed behind a massive potted fern in Lord and Lady Wellstead's ballroom and watched Patricia slip out into the hall.

Imogen frowned, wishing that Matthias were present to deal with this new dilemma. Unfortunately he had again managed to avoid putting in an appearance. His dislike of social events was swiftly becoming a problem because Patricia resented the chaperones he had assigned to her.

Patricia had grudgingly consented to being accompanied by Imogen and Horatia to and from various social affairs because Matthias gave her no choice. But once she had arrived at a soiree or ball she made it a point to put as much distance between herself and her companions as possible. It was clear that she was embarrassed by her brother's fiancee, and some of that attitude spilled over to include Horatia.

Imogen sighed as she watched her charge leave the ballroom.

There was nothing for it, she would have to go after Patricia.

Imogen put down the glass of lemonade she had just taken from a passing tray. There was no reason to be overly concerned, she told herself. It was not as if Patricia had gone out into Wellstead's extensive gardens, where a young, innocent lady might conceivably get herself into serious trouble. A number of couples had already vanished into that shadowy world of high hedges and dark paths.

Imogen made her way along the wall to the door through which Matthias's sister had escaped. It

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