Adam glanced up from his notes with a quizzical frown. "She was nearly seventy. Did you know the lady?"

"No. No, I did not." Iphiginia recovered her aplomb. "But an acquaintance of mine is under the impression that she is still very much alive. This news will certainly come as a surprise. Did you learn anything else?"

Adam looked at his notes. "Miss Todd died a spinster. She was horn in a small village in Sussex and worked as a governess or companion most of her life."

"A dead end," Iphiginia murmured. "I told him so." Adam looked at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's not important," Iphiginia said. "Is that all of it?" "Yes, other than the fact that she spent most of her career with the-"

A crisp knock on the library door interrupted Adam before he could complete his sentence.

Iphiginia glanced at the clock. One minute until three. She glanced out the window and saw the black phaeton that had halted in front of her door. Her pulse quickened. Anticipation heightened all of her senses.

his was madness, she thought. She could not allow Marcus to affect her so acutely. She struggled to infuse her voice with an appropriately unconcerned tone.

The library door opened. Mrs. Shaw appeared. "Yes, Mrs. Shaw?" Iphiginia inquired.

"The Earl of Masters is here to see you, madam. Are you home?"

"Of course she's home. Any idiot can see that." Marcus strode into the library without waiting for the housekeeper to finish announcing him in a proper fashion. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Bright. Miss Farley."

"My lord," Iphiginia said very coolly. "You're early." "By one minute. I trust you will forgive me." Marcus walked toward the desk, took her hand, and brought it to his mouth. Amusement gleamed in his eyes, as though he was well aware of the chaotic condition of Iphiginia's senses.

"Allow me to introduce my man of affairs, Mr. Manwaring," Iphiginia said.

Marcus gave Adam a narrow look. "Manwaring." "Sir." Adam rose politely. "I was just leaving."

"Were you?" Marcus asked in an encouraging tone. "Do not allow me to delay you."

Adam flushed.

Iphiginia scowled at the ill-concealed rudeness. "Mr. Mainwaring has not quite finished his business, have you, Mr. Manwaring?"

Adam gathered up his notes. "As I said, there isn't anything else to add, except that Miss Todd was associated with the Wycherly Agency throughout most of her professional career."

"Damn," Marcus said very quietly.

Iphiginia looked at him, surprised by his reaction. "Is something wrong, my lord?"

"No." Marcus wandered over to the window, "Something just occurred to me, that's all."

Iphiginia turned back to Adam. "Thank you very much, Mr. Manwaring. You've been most helpful, as always. That will be all for today."

Marcus spoke without turning around. "A moment, Manwaring."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Did you inquire after Miss Todd at the Wycherly Agency?"

"Yes, I did, as a matter of fact," Adam said. "I spoke with Mrs. Wycherly herself yesterday. She has owned and operated the agency for over twenty years. She was the one who informed me that Miss Todd had-died five years ago."

"I see."

Iphiginia glared at Marcus's broad back. Adam was her man of affairs, not his. "Would you see Mr. Manwaring out, Amelia?"

Amelia rose quickly. "Yes, of course."

Adam blushed. "It's not necessary. I can see myself out, Miss Farley."

"I shall be happy to escort you to the door, Mr. Manwaring," Amelia said.

"If you insist."

Iphiginia waited until the library door had closed behind the pair. Then she chuckled with satisfaction. "Those two were made for each other, you know."

"Which two?" "my cousin and Mr. Manwaring. I have every hope that they will soon realize that they are an ideal couple. They have so much in common in terms of personality and intellect."

"What utter nonsense." Marcus swung around with an impatient air. "Do you fancy yourself a matchmaker?"

"You'll see," Iphiginia said in a very superior tone. "I have an instinct for these things."

"Rubbish. You have an instinct for creating trouble." She glowered. "What is wrong with you today, sir?

"Are you still brooding about what happened at the Pettigrews? I told you, nothing has changed. All will be well."

"No, damn it, I am not brooding about that situation. There is nothing to brood about. What's done is done."

"Then what is affecting your temper?" He lowered his large frame onto a claw-footed chair and regarded Iphiginia with a meditative expression. "Do you believe in coincidence?"

Iphiginia gave a small shrug. "Strange things do happen. Why do you ask?"

"Because a rather interesting coincidence has just turned up with regard to our blackmail problem."

"What coincidence is that?" "My friend, the other victim, had a companion in her employ at the time the events for which she is now being blackmailed occurred."

"Stop right there." Iphiginia held up a triumphant hand. "If you're going to tell me that the companion's name was Miss Todd and that you think she is the blackmailer, you may as well save your breath. Miss Todd has been dead for five years."

"My friend's companion was named Caroline Baylor," Marcus said evenly. "The interesting coincidence is that she was also connected to the Wycherley Agency."

Iphiginia considered that carefully. "It is not such a great coincidence, is it? After A, the Wycherley Agency has been around for years. At one time or another it has no doubt sent governesses or companions into many of the best families."

"Nevertheless, it's a connection." Marcus glanced at the clock. "It's only a bit after three. I intend to speak to Mrs. Wycherly myself this afternoon."

"But Miss Todd is dead and you said your friend's companion has disappeared. What do you hope to learn from the owner of the agency?"

"I am not certain yet, but I intend to ask a few questions concerning both Miss Todd and Miss Baylor."

Iphiginia was intrigued. "I shall come with you to see Mrs. Wycherly."

"There is no need," Marcus said easily. "I shall report any information that I discover in the course of the interview."

"On the contrary, my lord." Iphiginia fixed him with a determined look. "We are partners in this venture, if you will recall."

Marcus contemplated her for a moment. "Very well. I suppose you'll only call on her by yourself if I do not take you with me."

"You suppose correct." Iphiginia was pleased by the small victory. She picked up her teacup and took a sip. The trick to handling Marcus, she told herself, was to demonstrate firm resolve. He was the sort of man who naturally assumed command of a situation. -A woman of weak spirit would be soft clay in his powerful hands.

"We shall deal with Mrs. Wycherly together in a while, then," Marcus said. "But first there are a few other matters I wish to discuss with you."

"What matters are those?" Iphiginia started to put her teacup down onto the saucer.

"The lack of a late Mr. Bright is the first item on the agenda."

The delicate teacup slipped from Iphiginia's grasp. It crashed against the edge of the saucer, tipped over, and spilled tea onto the polished mahogany desk.

"Good heavens." Iphiginia jumped to her feet snatched a gossamer white lace hankie from her pocket: and began to dab ineffectually at the spilled tea. I thought we had already disposed of that subject, sir."

"We certainly disposed of something in connection with the topic, but it wasn't the late, unlamented Mr. Bright."

Iphiginia tried desperately to control the blush that she knew must be turning her face a bright pink. "Really, Marcus."

"Yes, ready, Iphiginia." Marcus withdrew a large, sturdy linen handkerchief from his pocket, got to his feet with leisurely grace, and blotted up the tea in a single swipe. "Furthermore, having delved into the subject at some depth, so to speak, I find there is a great deal more to it than was apparent at first."