"As you are apparently not one of the blackmailer's victims after all, you really do not have any obligation to assist me in my inquiries."

"I ceased doing anything out of a sense of obligation years ago. I found it rather pointless. However, occasionally I do things because I am cursed with a deep sense of curiosity about the oddest… Damnation." Marcus winced as his booted toe rammed a large, unyielding object.

"Do be careful, my lord." Iphiginia held her candle aloft. "This room is a bit crowded at the moment."

"So I see." The taper threw dancing shadows across a chamber full of broken statuary, sepulchral masks, strangely designed urns, and huge vases.

The furniture was even more bizarre. Chairs with clawed feet and griffin-headed arms were arranged near the windows. A massive Grecian-style sofa finished in green velvet and gold fringe sat grandly in front of the fireplace. It looked sensual and pagan in the candlelight. The tables placed on either side of the sofa were decorated with lions' heads and sphinxes.

"I told you that my cousin and I have only recently returned from a most educational tour of the Continent," Iphiginia said. "I purchased a great many antiquities during our journey."

Marcus peered down at the jagged chunk of marble which had marred the glossy polish on the toe of his black Hessian boot. here was just enough light from Iphiginia's candle to see that it was a portion of a statue of some mythical winged beast. "What the devil is this?"

"I bought it in a shop in Rome." Iphiginia set the candle down on her desk. There was a scratching sound as she fit a lamp. "Fascinating, is it not? I made several other equally interesting purchases at the same shop. I'm especially fond of this Roman centurion."

The centurion, Marcus saw, was nude, except for his helmet, sword, and shield.

"It looks as though you've transported a complete archaeological ruin into your library," Marcus said.

"Yes, I am rather pleased with the effect." Iphiginia glanced around with satisfaction. She drew her gloved fingertips lovingly along the arm of the naked centurion. "It both excites the senses and stimulates the intellectual faculties at the same time. Don't you agree?"

Marcus could not take his eyes off her fingers as they glided over marble muscles. He felt an instant and dramatic effect on his already stirring manhood, the centurion, he reflected, be was not made of stone.

"What do you intend to do with all of this, Mrs. Bright?"

She leaned pensively against the statue, one elbow propped on the warrior's shoulder. She rested her chin on the heel of her hand. "I'm not entirely certain yet. At the moment I am merely studying these items and making sketches."

"Studying them?" Marcus watched her skins drift over the statue's hare thigh. He could almost feel the silk on his own skin.

"My goal is to produce a pattern book of ancient motifs and designs that can be used as a guide to decorate both the interior and exterior of houses," she confided. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Oblivious to the effect she was having on Marcus, she nestled one hip intimately against the statue.

"I see." An almost overpowering restlessness came over Marcus. In a vain attempt to alleviate it, he untied his cravat and inhaled deeply to clear his head.

He promptly caught a whiff of Iphiginia's rose scented perfume and his senses became more clouded than ever.

"So much of what passes for accurate archaeological design these days is quite misguided and frequently wrong," she said.

"I've noticed." "Have you?" She gave him a pleased look. "Yes." His gaze slid over the gentle swell of Iphiginia's thigh where it fit warmly against the cold marble of the statue. He had not been pushed this close to the edge of his control in years.

"My pattern book of classical designs will be inspired directly from actual observations and sketches of genuine ruins such as these." Iphiginia waved a graceful hand to indicate the jumble of artifacts around the room. "That way fashionable people who wish to decorate in the antique manner will be assured that their architects and decorators adhere to the original version of whichever classical style they choose, whether it be Greek or Roman, Egyptian or Etruscan."

"It sounds an ambitious project, Mrs. Bright." "Yes, it is. But I am quite looking forward to it. I have spent the past year collecting these items and as you can imagine, I am very eager to get to work on my pattern book."

"Naturally." He studied the creamy color of her skin in the lamplight and wondered how it would taste. He started toward her.

"But first things first." Iphiginia straightened away from the centurion. "I must deal with my aunt's blackmail problem before I can begin my project. You're quite certain that my impersonation will not cause you any undue problems?"

"On the contrary. I'm certain it will cause me no end of trouble." Marcus reached out and took hold of her bare shoulders. Her skin was incredibly warm and soft beneath his hard, callused hands. She did not flinch from his touch. Indeed, she seemed momentarily mesmerized.

"Marcus? I mean, my lord?" She touched her lower lip with the tip of her small tongue. "I do not wish to cause trouble for you, sir." She sounded breathless again. Her eyes were deep and enticing whirlpools in a bottomless sea.

"I stand ready to put myself at your disposal, Mrs. Bright."

"That is very kind of you, sir. May I ask why you are willing to be so helpful if you do not entirely believe my explanations about the blackmailer?"

"As it happens, I am in need of a mistress." He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her as he had been aching to kiss her since he had first seen her in the Fenwicks' ballroom.

"Marcus? I mean, my lord?" She touched her lower hp with the tip of her small tongue. "I do not wish to cause trouble for you, sir." She sounded breathless again. Her eyes were deep and enticing whirlpools in a bottomless sea.

"I stand ready to put myself at your disposal, Mrs. Bright."

"That is very kind of you, sir. May I ask why you are willing to be so helpful if you do not entirely believe my explanations about the blackmailer?"

"As it happens, I am in need of a mistress." He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her as he had been aching to kiss her since he had first seen her in the Fenwicks' ballroom.

SHOCK LANCED THROUGH IPHIGINLA WITH THE FORCE OF lightning shooting through a cloud. She could not have been more startled if the marble centurion had suddenly sprung to life and taken her into his arms.

She was so astonished by the feel of Marcus's mouth on her own that she went absolutely rigid for a few disbelieving seconds.

Marcus was kissing her. His strong, powerful hands rested on the naked skin of her shoulders, sending small shivers of excitement down her spine.

This notorious man whom she had come to know so intimately and whom she admired so much, this man who had stridden through her dreams every night for nearly a month, was making love to her right here in her own library.

Marcus had occupied her every waking moment since she had returned to London. She had spent her days studying him so that she could turn herself into a believable illusion of a woman to whom he might conceivably make love.

She had garnered rumors, tales, and a few real facts from every available source. She had read everything that he had written that she was able to find. She had spent hours contemplating the smallest details that she had learned about him in an effort to comprehend him and make him seem more real.

In the process she had created a very private fantasy for herself, one she had not shared with anyone, not even Amelia or Aunt Zoe.