in his hair.
I shall bid you both good evening." He stepped back and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
turned away. The footman closed the door.
Imogen watched Matthias disappear into the shadows that
gathered in the street. Then she glanced at the front door of the
large town house. Vanneck emerged onto the front step. His eyes
met hers for an instant before the movement of the carriage broke
the connection.
Imogen sat very still against the cushions. This was the first
glimpse she'd had of Vanneck since the funeral. Three additional
years of intemperate living had not been kind. He appeared to
have grown more malevolent.
I must say, nothing is ever dull when Colchester is in the vicinity." Horatia raised her lorgnette to peer at
Imogen. And as the
same can be said of you, my dear, I suspect we are in for a lively
time of it." She did not appear pleased by the prospect.
Imogen drew her thoughts back from the problem of Vanneck.
Who was the lady who fainted at the sight of Colchester?"
He does have a peculiar effect on certain females, does he not?
First Bess, and now Theodosia Slott."
Bess's reaction was understandable, given the circumstances.
She took him for a ghost or a vampire. But what of this Theodosia
Slott? What is her excuse?"
Horatia gazed out into the crowded street. It's an old tale and,
as is the case with so many of the old stories concerning
Colchester, I have no notion of how much of it is true and how
much is fiction."
Tell me what you know, Aunt Horatia."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Horatia glanced at her. I thought you did not wish to hear
gossip about his lordship."
I have begun to wonder if perhaps it would be wiser to be more
fully informed. It is difficult to know how to respond to a situation
when one does not know what is going on."
I see." Horatia settled back with a thoughtful expression.
Theodosia Slott was the reigning belle of her Season. She
contracted an excellent marriage to Mister Harold Slott. His family
was in shipping, I believe. Mister Slott was somewhat elderly, as I
recall."
Imogen grew impatient. Yes, yes. Do go on. What happened?"
Nothing all that unusual. Theodosia did her duty by her
husband. Gave him an heir. And then she promptly formed a
connection with a dashing young man named Jonathan Exelby."
Are you saying Theodosia and Exelby were lovers?"
Yes. Exelby frequented the most notorious gaming hells. One
in particular, The Lost Soul, was said to be his favorite haunt. It
was very popular with the young bloods of the ton. Still is, for that
matter. In any event, one night he encountered Colchester there
and the two men got into a violent quarrel. A dawn meeting was
arranged."
Imogen was horrified. Colchester was in a duel?"
That is the story." Horatia made a small, dismissing movement
with one hand. No one will ever confirm it, of course. Dueling is
illegal. The parties involved rarely discuss the matter."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
But he could have been killed."
From all accounts, it was Exelby who was killed."
I don't believe it." Imogen felt her mouth go dry. Horatia gave
a small shrug. To my knowledge, Exelby was never seen again
following the events of that dawn. He simply disappeared. Dead
and buried in an unmarked grave, people say. He had no family to
raise questions."
There must be more to the story."
There is, actually." Horatia warmed to her tale. Theodosia
claims that to add insult to injury, Colchester showed up on her
doorstep later that same morning to claim her favors."
What?"
Colchester apparently told her that she had been the subject of
the quarrel and, as he had won the duel, he naturally expected to
take her lover's place in her bed. She claims she had him thrown
out into the street."
Imogen was speechless for a second. When she managed to
I shall bid you both good evening." He stepped back and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
turned away. The footman closed the door.
Imogen watched Matthias disappear into the shadows that
gathered in the street. Then she glanced at the front door of the
large town house. Vanneck emerged onto the front step. His eyes
met hers for an instant before the movement of the carriage broke
the connection.
Imogen sat very still against the cushions. This was the first
glimpse she'd had of Vanneck since the funeral. Three additional
years of intemperate living had not been kind. He appeared to
have grown more malevolent.
I must say, nothing is ever dull when Colchester is in the vicinity." Horatia raised her lorgnette to peer at
Imogen. And as the
same can be said of you, my dear, I suspect we are in for a lively
time of it." She did not appear pleased by the prospect.
Imogen drew her thoughts back from the problem of Vanneck.
Who was the lady who fainted at the sight of Colchester?"
He does have a peculiar effect on certain females, does he not?
First Bess, and now Theodosia Slott."
Bess's reaction was understandable, given the circumstances.
She took him for a ghost or a vampire. But what of this Theodosia
Slott? What is her excuse?"
Horatia gazed out into the crowded street. It's an old tale and,
as is the case with so many of the old stories concerning
Colchester, I have no notion of how much of it is true and how
much is fiction."
Tell me what you know, Aunt Horatia."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Horatia glanced at her. I thought you did not wish to hear
gossip about his lordship."
I have begun to wonder if perhaps it would be wiser to be more
fully informed. It is difficult to know how to respond to a situation
when one does not know what is going on."
I see." Horatia settled back with a thoughtful expression.
Theodosia Slott was the reigning belle of her Season. She
contracted an excellent marriage to Mister Harold Slott. His family
was in shipping, I believe. Mister Slott was somewhat elderly, as I
recall."
Imogen grew impatient. Yes, yes. Do go on. What happened?"
Nothing all that unusual. Theodosia did her duty by her
husband. Gave him an heir. And then she promptly formed a
connection with a dashing young man named Jonathan Exelby."
Are you saying Theodosia and Exelby were lovers?"
Yes. Exelby frequented the most notorious gaming hells. One
in particular, The Lost Soul, was said to be his favorite haunt. It
was very popular with the young bloods of the ton. Still is, for that
matter. In any event, one night he encountered Colchester there
and the two men got into a violent quarrel. A dawn meeting was
arranged."
Imogen was horrified. Colchester was in a duel?"
That is the story." Horatia made a small, dismissing movement
with one hand. No one will ever confirm it, of course. Dueling is
illegal. The parties involved rarely discuss the matter."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
But he could have been killed."
From all accounts, it was Exelby who was killed."
I don't believe it." Imogen felt her mouth go dry. Horatia gave
a small shrug. To my knowledge, Exelby was never seen again
following the events of that dawn. He simply disappeared. Dead
and buried in an unmarked grave, people say. He had no family to
raise questions."
There must be more to the story."
There is, actually." Horatia warmed to her tale. Theodosia
claims that to add insult to injury, Colchester showed up on her
doorstep later that same morning to claim her favors."
What?"
Colchester apparently told her that she had been the subject of
the quarrel and, as he had won the duel, he naturally expected to
take her lover's place in her bed. She claims she had him thrown
out into the street."
Imogen was speechless for a second. When she managed to
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