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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
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    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
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    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
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    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 the whip of anger
    that had uncurled in him. What the devil was wrong with him?