blue, she sent for Imogen."
What happened in London?"
For a time all went well. Imogen got involved in the Zamarian Society. She has been passionate about Zamar since the age of seventeen. That was the year you and Rutledge returned from your first expedition. She joined the Zamarian Society shortly after it was formed, but she had not had an opportunity to meet any of the members until she went to London."
I regret to say that the Zamarian Society is composed largely of amateurs and dilettantes." Matthias set his jaw. Unfortunately, Zamar has become fashionable."
Perhaps. But for the first time, Imogen was able to mingle with others who shared her interests. She was very excited. You must remember that she was alone following the death of her parents.
Lucy had been her only friend, and after Lucy went off to London and married Vanneck, Imogen was very lonely. I fear that the study of Zamar became everything to her. Meeting others of a like-minded nature was very exciting for her."
Whom, precisely, did she meet?" Matthias asked warily. The fascination with Zamar had brought into the ranks of the Zamarian Society an assortment of dangerously bored young bloods, debauched rakes, and others seeking excitement.
Lucy introduced Imogen to a nice young man named Alastair Drake." Horatia hesitated. It was the only truly decent thing Lucy ever did for Imogen. Mister Drake shared Imogen's enthusiasm for ancient Zamar."
Did he, indeed?"
The pair got along famously from all accounts. I heard from friends that Mister Drake developed a tendre for Imogen. There was even talk of an offer of marriage. But then the disaster struck."
Matthias abandoned any pretence of continuing with the inven tory. He propped one shoulder against the bookshelf and folded his arms. Disaster in the form of Lord Vanneck, I presume?"
Horatia's eyes were bleak behind the lenses of her spectacles.
Yes. Imogen had not the faintest notion of how to deal with a hardened rake hell bent on seduction. There was no one to guide her or advise her." She stopped talking abruptly, yanked a hankie from the pocket of her apron, and dabbed at her eyes. It is diffi cult to even speak of the incident."
I must ask you to finish the tale, madam," Matthias said ruth lessly. I cannot decide how to proceed until I know everything there is to know about this situation."
Horatia slanted him an uncertain glance and then appeared to come to a decision. She stuffed the hankie back into a pocket.
Very well, sir. It is no secret after all. Everyone in Town knew of the incident, and when Imogen returns, the gossip will no doubt be resurrected. The long and the short of it is that Imogen was discovered in a bedchamber with Vanneck."
For some reason, Matthias felt as though he had just been kicked in the stomach. He was puzzled by the violent reaction. It took him a moment to realize that he had not been expecting to hear quite such a dramatic ending to the tale.
He had imagined something a good deal more innocent. After all, it took very little to ruin a young woman's reputation in Society. An indiscreet kiss, venturing out alone to shop or ride without a maid, too many waltzes with the wrong man, any number of such harmless lapses could make a woman notorious.
Appearances were everything among the ton.
But being discovered in a bedchamber with a man, any man, let alone one of Vanneck's stripe, was more than a minor indiscretion, Matthias thought. Immodest Imogen had apparently earned her title. She was fortunate that the epithet had not been worse.
Was it Vanneck's bedchamber?" Matthias made himself ask.
Or did she invite him to her house?"
Of course not." Horatia averted her gaze. But in the end it might have been better if the incident had occurred at some such private location. Unfortunately, Imogen and Vanneck were discovered together in an upstairs bedchamber during the course of a ball given by Lord and Lady Sandown."
I see." Matthias had to exert an effort to quell
What happened in London?"
For a time all went well. Imogen got involved in the Zamarian Society. She has been passionate about Zamar since the age of seventeen. That was the year you and Rutledge returned from your first expedition. She joined the Zamarian Society shortly after it was formed, but she had not had an opportunity to meet any of the members until she went to London."
I regret to say that the Zamarian Society is composed largely of amateurs and dilettantes." Matthias set his jaw. Unfortunately, Zamar has become fashionable."
Perhaps. But for the first time, Imogen was able to mingle with others who shared her interests. She was very excited. You must remember that she was alone following the death of her parents.
Lucy had been her only friend, and after Lucy went off to London and married Vanneck, Imogen was very lonely. I fear that the study of Zamar became everything to her. Meeting others of a like-minded nature was very exciting for her."
Whom, precisely, did she meet?" Matthias asked warily. The fascination with Zamar had brought into the ranks of the Zamarian Society an assortment of dangerously bored young bloods, debauched rakes, and others seeking excitement.
Lucy introduced Imogen to a nice young man named Alastair Drake." Horatia hesitated. It was the only truly decent thing Lucy ever did for Imogen. Mister Drake shared Imogen's enthusiasm for ancient Zamar."
Did he, indeed?"
The pair got along famously from all accounts. I heard from friends that Mister Drake developed a tendre for Imogen. There was even talk of an offer of marriage. But then the disaster struck."
Matthias abandoned any pretence of continuing with the inven tory. He propped one shoulder against the bookshelf and folded his arms. Disaster in the form of Lord Vanneck, I presume?"
Horatia's eyes were bleak behind the lenses of her spectacles.
Yes. Imogen had not the faintest notion of how to deal with a hardened rake hell bent on seduction. There was no one to guide her or advise her." She stopped talking abruptly, yanked a hankie from the pocket of her apron, and dabbed at her eyes. It is diffi cult to even speak of the incident."
I must ask you to finish the tale, madam," Matthias said ruth lessly. I cannot decide how to proceed until I know everything there is to know about this situation."
Horatia slanted him an uncertain glance and then appeared to come to a decision. She stuffed the hankie back into a pocket.
Very well, sir. It is no secret after all. Everyone in Town knew of the incident, and when Imogen returns, the gossip will no doubt be resurrected. The long and the short of it is that Imogen was discovered in a bedchamber with Vanneck."
For some reason, Matthias felt as though he had just been kicked in the stomach. He was puzzled by the violent reaction. It took him a moment to realize that he had not been expecting to hear quite such a dramatic ending to the tale.
He had imagined something a good deal more innocent. After all, it took very little to ruin a young woman's reputation in Society. An indiscreet kiss, venturing out alone to shop or ride without a maid, too many waltzes with the wrong man, any number of such harmless lapses could make a woman notorious.
Appearances were everything among the ton.
But being discovered in a bedchamber with a man, any man, let alone one of Vanneck's stripe, was more than a minor indiscretion, Matthias thought. Immodest Imogen had apparently earned her title. She was fortunate that the epithet had not been worse.
Was it Vanneck's bedchamber?" Matthias made himself ask.
Or did she invite him to her house?"
Of course not." Horatia averted her gaze. But in the end it might have been better if the incident had occurred at some such private location. Unfortunately, Imogen and Vanneck were discovered together in an upstairs bedchamber during the course of a ball given by Lord and Lady Sandown."
I see." Matthias had to exert an effort to quell
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