interesting female who has crossed my path in some time. However, this morning when I learned the truth, I decided that you were no longer nearly so amusing, madam."
"No longer amusing? Of all the stupid, idiotic, offensive things to say. You clearly do not know what you are talking about. I will not stand here and listen to your accusations, sir." Iphiginia turned on her heel. She could bear the tittering laughs of the lounging dandies.
Marcus put out a hand and caught her arm. "Not so fast. I have one or two questions to put to you, Iphiginia'"
"I have better things to do than answer your insulting questions."
"Such as?"
"Such as find the blackmailer," Iphiginia hissed. "Let me go, my lord, or I promise you, I shall scream."
"They'd take it, we are not in Drury Lane. Kindly cease the theatrics." Marcus brought her forcibly around so that she was once again obliged to face him. "Unless, of course, you want news of this little scene to be all over Town this evening?"
"Why should that concern me? Everyone in Town is already talking about us, my lord."
"You must believe me when I tell you that the gossip can get a great deal worse than it already is. If you persist in quarreling with me in the middle of a public thoroughfare, I promise you that it will."
Iphiginia flushed. "Is that a threat, Masters?"
"It is. If you do not maintain at least the pretense of being a lady, I am not going to continue acting the gentleman. I swear, if you try to walk away from me, I shall put you over my shoulder and carry you off to someplace where we can continue this discussion without an audience."
Iphiginia was seething. "You would not dare."
"Would you care to place a wager on that, Iphiginia?" he asked much too softly. "It was one thing for me to carry a swooning lady out of the Fenwicks' ballroom last night. It will be quite another if I haul you off as though you were a sack of coal this afternoon."
Iphiginia contemplated her options for a few seconds. She was acutely aware of the growing number of stares aimed in her direction. More than one head had turned. More than one ear was discreetly cocked in an attempt to overhear the fascinating exchange that was taking place between Masters and his new paramour.
It was obvious from the ruthless set of his jaw and the unyielding line of his mouth that Marcus was in a dangerous mood. He was apparently willing to stage a humiliating quarrel for the entertainment of the fashionable shoppers in Pall Mall if Iphiginia did not accede to his wishes.
"Very well, my lord." She gave him a brittle smile as she placed her gloved fingertips lightly on his arm. "If you insist on playing the role of the wicked troll, so be it."
"An excellent decision. I have often been cast in the role of the troll and I assure you I am capable of giving a truly electrifying performance."
"I do not doubt it for a moment. I would have you know, sir, that during my travels on the Continent this past year I was never once obliged to deal with this sort of ungentlemanly conduct. There was a nasty little street thief in Rome who had better manners."
"Perhaps one day I shall have the opportunity to take lessons. They do say that travel is broadening. Come, we have drawn enough attention." Marcus's fingers closed more tightly around her arm. He resumed the brisk pace along Pall Mall.
"People are staring at us."
"I should think you would be accustomed to it by now. Tell me why I should not conclude that you are the blackmailer."
"First tell me why you came to the conclusion that I was.
Marcus slanted her an unreadable glance. "You are an exceedingly clever female. You have made a study of me that was so astute it enabled you to fool the
ton
into believing that you are my mistress."
"We all have our little skills."
"Your particular skills convince me that you could have delved just as deeply into the background of others and perhaps come up with suitable material for blackmail."
Iphiginia nearly choked on her
"No longer amusing? Of all the stupid, idiotic, offensive things to say. You clearly do not know what you are talking about. I will not stand here and listen to your accusations, sir." Iphiginia turned on her heel. She could bear the tittering laughs of the lounging dandies.
Marcus put out a hand and caught her arm. "Not so fast. I have one or two questions to put to you, Iphiginia'"
"I have better things to do than answer your insulting questions."
"Such as?"
"Such as find the blackmailer," Iphiginia hissed. "Let me go, my lord, or I promise you, I shall scream."
"They'd take it, we are not in Drury Lane. Kindly cease the theatrics." Marcus brought her forcibly around so that she was once again obliged to face him. "Unless, of course, you want news of this little scene to be all over Town this evening?"
"Why should that concern me? Everyone in Town is already talking about us, my lord."
"You must believe me when I tell you that the gossip can get a great deal worse than it already is. If you persist in quarreling with me in the middle of a public thoroughfare, I promise you that it will."
Iphiginia flushed. "Is that a threat, Masters?"
"It is. If you do not maintain at least the pretense of being a lady, I am not going to continue acting the gentleman. I swear, if you try to walk away from me, I shall put you over my shoulder and carry you off to someplace where we can continue this discussion without an audience."
Iphiginia was seething. "You would not dare."
"Would you care to place a wager on that, Iphiginia?" he asked much too softly. "It was one thing for me to carry a swooning lady out of the Fenwicks' ballroom last night. It will be quite another if I haul you off as though you were a sack of coal this afternoon."
Iphiginia contemplated her options for a few seconds. She was acutely aware of the growing number of stares aimed in her direction. More than one head had turned. More than one ear was discreetly cocked in an attempt to overhear the fascinating exchange that was taking place between Masters and his new paramour.
It was obvious from the ruthless set of his jaw and the unyielding line of his mouth that Marcus was in a dangerous mood. He was apparently willing to stage a humiliating quarrel for the entertainment of the fashionable shoppers in Pall Mall if Iphiginia did not accede to his wishes.
"Very well, my lord." She gave him a brittle smile as she placed her gloved fingertips lightly on his arm. "If you insist on playing the role of the wicked troll, so be it."
"An excellent decision. I have often been cast in the role of the troll and I assure you I am capable of giving a truly electrifying performance."
"I do not doubt it for a moment. I would have you know, sir, that during my travels on the Continent this past year I was never once obliged to deal with this sort of ungentlemanly conduct. There was a nasty little street thief in Rome who had better manners."
"Perhaps one day I shall have the opportunity to take lessons. They do say that travel is broadening. Come, we have drawn enough attention." Marcus's fingers closed more tightly around her arm. He resumed the brisk pace along Pall Mall.
"People are staring at us."
"I should think you would be accustomed to it by now. Tell me why I should not conclude that you are the blackmailer."
"First tell me why you came to the conclusion that I was.
Marcus slanted her an unreadable glance. "You are an exceedingly clever female. You have made a study of me that was so astute it enabled you to fool the
ton
into believing that you are my mistress."
"We all have our little skills."
"Your particular skills convince me that you could have delved just as deeply into the background of others and perhaps come up with suitable material for blackmail."
Iphiginia nearly choked on her
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