Vale walked into the library a moment later. He crossed to where she stood at the window and bent gracefully over her hand.
“I received your message and came at once,” he said.
“I thought you might enjoy examining my new relic.” She handed it to him with a smile. “I know that you have a deep interest in such things.”
He took it from her and said nothing for a long time, content to study the piece.
At last he raised his eyes to Joan’s. “I congratulate you, madam, on your purchase.”
“Thank you. I am delighted with it. Do you know, I expected to have to compete with at least one other collector at the auction. But Mr. Nightingale informed me that I was the only one to place a bid. He said that his other client learned that I had made an offer for the bracelet and declined to do so, leaving the field to me.”
Vale smiled and went back to studying the bracelet.
“You were Mr. Nightingale’s other client, were you not, my lord?” she asked softly.
“I cannot think of anyone I would rather see take possession of such a fantastic piece than yourself, my dear.” He handed her the bracelet. “It is quite remarkable. And so are you.”
“Thank you.” She looked at the Medusa and thought about what it must have cost him to remove himself from the secret auction. “I find I have developed a serious interest in antiquities. I would like to apply for membership in the Connoisseurs Club.” She paused. “Assuming the club accepts ladies, that is.”
“I am the club’s founder. I make the rules.” He smiled slowly. “And I have no objection whatsoever to accepting ladies.”
She smiled and held the bracelet out to him. “My application fee, sir. I hereby present the Blue Medusa to the club’s private museum.”
“As the Keeper of the museum, I accept your application, madam.” He caught her hand and brought it to his lips a second time. Then he raised his head and looked into her eyes. “If you are interested, I can arrange for a private tour this very evening.”
“I would enjoy that.”
Thirty-three
A FORTNIGHT LATER, ON A SUNNY THURSDAY afternoon, Tobias motioned Mrs. Chilton aside and opened the door of the study himself. Lavinia was sitting in one of the oversize chairs in front of the hearth, a book open on her lap. The sunlight streaming through the window set fire to her hair.
“Good afternoon, my sweet,” he said. “You have a visitor.”
Startled by the interruption, she looked up with that abstracted expression she always wore whenever she was summoned summarily from one of her books of poetry.
Her eyes cleared when she saw him standing there in the opening. “I did not know that you intended to call this afternoon, Tobias. What brings you here? Have we a new case so soon?”
“Not a new one. Rather the conclusion to an old one.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“There is someone here who wishes to speak with you.”
He stood back and held the door for Lavinia’s visitor. The tall woman walked part way into the study and stopped.
“Good day, Mrs. Lake,” she said. “I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you again and under these circumstances.”
Lavinia stared, eyes very wide, lips slightly parted.
Tobias savored the expression. It was not often that he was afforded the opportunity to witness such a charming mix of astonishment and delight on Lavinia’s face.
“Mrs. Pelling. Jessica.” Lavinia fairly leaped out of the chair. She dropped the book on the table and rushed forward. “You’re alive.”
“Thanks to you, Mrs. Lake.” Jessica smiled. “Actually, I have not used the name Jessica Pelling since the day I staged the drama of my own suicide. I have been known as Judith Palmer these past two years.”
“Which is one of the reasons why it was so bloody difficult to find her.” Tobias went to the window. “I sent out my letters of inquiry the day after Lavinia told me her tale. You did an excellent job of covering your tracks, Mrs. Pelling.”
“I did my best,” she said. “I was quite certain that my life depended on it, you see. Oscar was becoming increasingly mad. The rages were occurring more often, and each time he seemed more out of control when they struck. I knew I had to get away. I took your advice, Mrs. Lake.”
Lavinia released her and stepped back. “You took it so well that I myself was convinced that you were dead. The only question in my mind was whether Pelling had murdered you or if you truly had taken your own life.”
“I cannot tell you how much I regret not being able to tell you the truth. I had hoped that you would reason it out for yourself.”
“The fact that your body was never found gave me some small hope, but I could not be certain.” She looked at Tobias. “What were these letters of inquiry you mentioned?”
He moved one hand in a negligent gesture. “I wrote letters to a number of my associates from the old days. They are scattered throughout the country.”
“Ah, yes, your fellow spies,” Lavinia said. “Very clever of you, sir.”
“I also asked Crackenburne to tap his extensive network of friends and acquaintances. You gave me a good description that day you told me the tale. The fact that Jessica was somewhat taller than average and that she had disappeared with an unusual family ring was extremely helpful.”
“Yes, of course,” Lavinia said. She gave him an admiring smile. “You reasoned that Jessica must have sold the ring to support herself in her new life, so you set out to trace it, didn’t you?”
“That was one of several strategies I employed. I also knew that we were looking for a single woman who would have turned up out of nowhere two years ago. Eventually, word came back that there was a person meeting all the particulars operating a school for young ladies in Dorset.”
Jessica gave him a wry smile. “It is fortunate for me that Oscar did not hire you to search for me two years ago, sir.”
Tobias shook his head. “I doubt that he was eager to find you. Your so-called suicide proved quite convenient in financial terms. He had your inheritance, after all.”
“And shortly after that he became occupied with his quest for the Medusa bracelet,” Lavinia said. “He had sold it in his youth after murdering his aunt. But as his madness grew, he came to believe that he needed to recover the bracelet to ward off her vengeful spirit.”
Jessica shuddered. “I knew that he was sinking into his madness.”
Lavinia smiled at her. “I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you.”
“You are not the only one who is pleased to know that Mrs. Pelling is very much among the living.” Tobias smiled. “Pelling’s lawyer is equally delighted. Jessica is officially a widow now, and a wealthy one, at that.”
“I must tell you, the money will come in handy,” Jessica said. “There is not much profit in operating a school for young ladies.”
“How do you come to be in London?” Lavinia asked.
“Mr. March sent me a letter introducing himself and informing me of the very good news that Oscar Pelling was dead. He offered to pay my expenses to come to London to visit you and assure you that I was alive and well. I believe he planned this reunion as a surprise for you.”
Lavinia looked at Tobias. He felt the warmth of her smile throughout his entire body. Pleasure and a deep sense of certainty flowed through him.
“Mr. March feels that he has no talent for grand, romantical gestures,” Lavinia said to Jessica. “But in truth, he possesses a distinct and most remarkable ability to select just the right gift for me.”
Thirty-four
THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON LAVINIA PUT THE finishing touches on her advertisement, sanded and blotted the foolscap, and sat back to savor her clever wording.
The door of the study opened just as she was about to read the lines aloud to herself to hear how it sounded. Tobias walked into the room.
Sometimes, she thought, his timing was uncanny.
She eyed him warily. “Wh
at are you doing here?”
“The warmth of your welcome never fails to lift my spirits and brighten my day, my sweet.”
“I thought you said at breakfast that you planned to discuss another investment with Crackenburne today.”
“Crackenburne can wait. He won’t be going anywhere. I told you, the man never leaves his club.” He looked down at the paper in front of her. “What is that?”
“I have finished my advertisement. My only regret is that I was unable to find a way to use the word intrigue. Nevertheless, I intend to send this off to the newspaper today. Would you care to hear it?”
“You are determined to ignore my advice on this matter, are you not?”
“Yes, of course I am.” She cleared her throat and read the advertisement.
Persons wishing to commission an expert for the purpose of conducting inquiries of a personal and private nature may send word to the address below. Exclusive references are available upon request. The utmost discretion is assured.
“Hmm,” Tobias said.
She narrowed her eyes in warning. “Do not bother to criticize. I am quite satisfied that it sounds extremely professional and I am not interested in your opinion.”
“It certainly sounds professional,” he agreed. “But I could not help but notice that you make no mention that you work with a partner.”
“You are entirely against the notion of placing a notice in the papers. Why would you want to be mentioned in it?”
“I suppose it is a matter of pride,” he admitted. “We are occasional partners, after all. But that advertisement makes it sound as though you always work alone.”
“Well—”
“If you are determined to advertise, I would think that you would want to draw attention to the unique nature of the services you offer. Surely anyone wishing to employ a professional for the purposes of making private inquiries would be more inclined to do so if he thought that he would be gaining the experience of not one but two experts in the field.”
He had a point, she thought. “Well, I suppose I could rewrite it to bring out that aspect.”
“Excellent notion.” He reached out, caught hold of the page between thumb and forefinger, and twitched it out of her grasp. “I shall be happy to assist you. Tomorrow morning at breakfast we can discuss the new wording. It may take a while, but I’m sure that, together, we shall come up with a very enticing advertisement.”
“Pray, do not trouble yourself, sir.” She snatched the paper back from him and gave him a cool smile. “With a minor change or two, this one will work perfectly well. I shall make the modifications this afternoon and send it around to the paper today.”
“Damnation, Lavinia—”
The door opened behind him. He broke off and glared at Mrs. Chilton over his shoulder.
Lavinia turned quickly toward the door. “Yes, what is it, Mrs. Chilton? A visitor?”
“No, ma’am.” Mrs. Chilton fixed Tobias with an unreadable look. “Miss Emeline’s gone out with Mr. Sinclair, and now I’m off to shop for currants. Just wanted to let ye know that I’ll be gone for a while.”
“More currants?” Lavinia frowned. “But we cannot possibly have run out so soon. I fail to comprehend why we are going through so many currants lately.”
“It’s the jam.” Mrs. Chilton backed out into the hall. “Takes a lot of currants to make good currant jam. Well, now, I’ll be off. Expect I’ll be back at three.” She paused, one hand on the doorknob, and gave Tobias a sharp look. “And not a minute later.”
Tobias smiled slowly. “Take your time, Mrs. Chilton. No need to hurry back.”
Mrs. Chilton closed the door very firmly and went down the hall. Lavinia could have sworn she heard her chuckling.
“I simply cannot comprehend how this small household can go through so much currant jam,” Lavinia muttered.
Tobias took her into his arms. “Mrs. Chilton is experienced in the preparation of jam. You must allow her to make the decisions pertaining to the quantity of the ingredients needed.”
“Well, I suppose so. Nevertheless—”
“You and I are expert in another line, are we not?” he asked very softly.
She started to argue, and then it struck her that he had just called her an expert. It was one of the few times he had paid tribute to her professional skills. The accolade gave her a glow of pleasure.
“Very true,” she murmured.
“We are also partners.” He brushed his mouth deliberately across hers. “And I think that now would be an excellent time to discuss some of the details of our business association.”
“What details would those be, sir?”
His eyes held hers with all the power of a brilliantly accomplished mesmerist. “The most pressing matter at the moment is that I am in love with you, Mrs. Lake.”
She thought at first that she had misunderstood him. Her second thought was that her imagination had run wild. And then a glorious sense of happiness blossomed deep inside her. He was, she thought, the only man she had ever met who could truly entrance her.
She slid her arms around his neck. “This is an extremely fortunate turn of events, Mr. March. Because I seem to have fallen in love with you too.”
He smiled slowly, deepening the enchantment without saying a single word.
“It will not be easy, you know,” she said a trifle anxiously. “I mean, we do tend to quarrel a lot and the business aspect complicates things and I expect there will be any number of problems in the future—”
He put his fingertips against her mouth, silencing her. And then he smiled again.
“You and I never do things the easy way,” he said.
And then he kissed her.
The advertisement could wait, she thought. Some things were vastly more important.
A Main Selection of Rhapsody Book Club and a Featured Alternate Selection of Doubleday Book Club
PRAISE FOR AMANDA QUICK’S DON’T LOOK BACK
“Mesmerizing mystery . . . Delightful mix of mystery, sensuality, and the historical detail that makes Quick’s Regencies such a pleasure.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Quick pulls the reader along with her eminently readable blend of humor, sharp dialogue and well-paced plotting. Readers can only hope that they have not seen the last of Lake and March.” —Publishers Weekly
“The romantic charm that makes Quick so revered is much in evidence here—her Regency-era characters are worldly beyond their time, and yet they fit the period exquisitely.” —Booklist
“The beguiling and conniving realm of mesmerism shines in Amanda Quick’s latest sparkling Regency suspense.” —BookPage
“A witty, gripping, ABSOLUTELY MUST-READ for those who love mystery with a passion!” —Elizabeth Lowell
“I had a wonderful time reading [Don’t Look Back]. . . . What fun, what fun, what fun! This action-packed tale, brimming with witty characters, vivid historical detail, and tautly woven intrigue kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the book and can’t wait to brag to my mother that I’ve already read the latest Amanda Quick.” —Lisa Gardner
“Amanda Quick delivers a heady and satisfying mix of romance and suspense. Nobody does it better!” —Kay Hooper
“Everything Amanda Quick writes is an instant classic. . . . I love this author!” —Iris Johansen
“If you start an Amanda Quick book in the late afternoon, you’ll probably spend the night with it.”—The Denver Post
Lavinia and Tobias are in for more exhilarating and passionate adventures in Amanda Quick’s next tempting novel
Late For The Wedding
Available in hardcover
May 2003
Read on for a preview . . .
THE FIRST INDICATION HE GOT THAT HIS CAREfully laid plans for the night were doomed came when he opened his bedchamber door and found Cleopatra standing in the hallway.
“Bloody hell,” he said very softly. “I was expecting Minerva.”
His long-anticipated vision of a
night of passion spent in a comfortable bed with his lover and occasional business partner, Lavinia Lake, faded into a hazy mist.
His past had come back to haunt him at a most inconvenient moment.
“Hello, Tobias.” The woman in the hall lowered the green and gilt mask attached to the little gold post in her hand. The cobra diadem that graced her long, elaborately braided black wig gleamed in the light of a nearby wall sconce. Wry amusement lit her dark eyes. “It has been a long time, has it not? May I come in?”
It had, in fact, been three years since he had last seen Aspasia Gray, but she had changed very little. She was still a stunningly beautiful woman with a classical profile that was well-suited to her guise as the queen of Egypt. He knew that her real hair was a deep, rich brown. Her tall, elegantly proportioned figure was displayed to advantage in a pale green gown trimmed with gold embroidery.
The last thing he wanted to do tonight was renew old acquaintances, Tobias thought. But the sight of Aspasia Gray had definitely shattered the mood. Memories from that very dark time three years ago crashed over him with the force of storm-driven waves.
He collected his wits with an effort and quickly surveyed the darkened hallway behind Aspasia. There was no sign of Lavinia. Maybe, if he acted swiftly, he would be able to rid himself of his unwelcome visitor before his evening was entirely ruined.
“I suppose you’d better come in.” Reluctantly, he stepped back.
“You have not changed, sir,” she murmured. “Still as gracious as ever, I see.”
She entered the firelit room with a soft rustle of silken skirts and a whisper of exotic perfume. He closed the door and turned to face her.
He had not noticed any Cleopatras at the costume ball earlier in the evening, but that was not surprising. Beaumont Castle was a huge, sprawling monstrosity of a house, and tonight it was crammed with people. He had been interested in only one particular guest.
The invitation to the house party had come through the auspices of Lord Vale. Tobias’s first, automatic inclination had been to decline the offer. He had little interest in such affairs. House parties, in particular, struck him as tedious at best, albeit his experience of them was limited.