“I have already noticed a marked change in the monotonous routine of my daily affairs,” he assured her.

Hah, Louisa thought. Nothing about his life could possibly be routine, let alone monotonous.

“I can well imagine that,” Miranda murmured. “One hears that after you returned from your extensive travels abroad a few years ago you immersed yourself in the business of managing your family’s finances.”

Startled, Louisa looked at Anthony for confirmation.

“It is dull work,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, it became painfully clear that I was the only one in the family with a head for investments.”

Miranda chuckled. “By all accounts you are, indeed, exceptionally skilled in that regard. One hears that you saved the entire Stalbridge clan from bankruptcy.”

“Our fortunes have historically tended to fluctuate somewhat,” he said politely.

Miranda winked. “Not since you took the helm. I trust your family is suitably grateful for your financial talents.”

He smiled. “Very few members of my family pay any attention whatsoever to finances. They only notice if there is suddenly no money conveniently at hand.”

Louisa felt the heat rush into her face. To think she’d once imagined that he had restored the family fortune via a career as a jewel thief.

She cleared her throat. “Thank you for seeing us, Miranda,” she said in a businesslike manner. “It was very kind of you.”

“Nonsense. I’ve been looking forward to it.” Miranda smiled. “I do so enjoy our little conferences.”

Anthony looked at her. “May I ask how you and Mrs. Bryce came to form your interesting association?”

“Hasn’t she told you?” Miranda raised her brows. “The truth is, sir, I am very much in her debt. Several months ago she came to me because she discovered that I was about to invest a considerable sum of money in an investment scheme that was being concocted by two socially prominent gentlemen.”

Anthony looked at Louisa.

“The California Mine Swindle,” she said.

“Ah, yes.” Anthony leaned back in his chair. “I remember it well. Grayson and Lord Bartlett were the two men behind the swindle. In the wake of the reports in the press, they were forced to retire to their estates.”

“The scheme was a complete fraud, of course,” Miranda said coldly. “It was designed to take advantage of people like me. People who possess money but who do not move in Society.”

“Yes,” Anthony said quietly. “I know.”

Miranda made a soft sound of disgust. “Grayson and Bartlett would never have dreamed of ruining any of their high-ranking acquaintances in the Polite World, but they did not hesitate to destroy those whom they felt were beneath them. I was not the only intended victim.”

Louisa gripped her muff very tightly. “They laughed about it.”

Anthony contemplated her with an enigmatic expression. “How did you come to learn of the scheme in time to warn Miss Fawcett?”

“It was a matter of the sheerest chance,” she said. “Emma and I attended an art exhibition one evening. The hall was very warm. I stepped outside to get some fresh air, and I overheard part of a conversation that was taking place between Grayson and Lord Bartlett. I did not catch all the details, but it was enough to know that they were plotting some villainy involving Miss Fawcett.”

“She came to me with the story,” Miranda added. “As soon as I heard the names of the two men I realized immediately that they must have been discussing my investment. I couldn’t understand what they were about. I have no head for that sort of thing, you see. So I mentioned it to a very good friend of mine who has an excellent brain for business. He grasped the implications at once and made some inquiries.”

“Miranda contacted me to thank me and to tell me what her friend had uncovered,” Louisa concluded. “I determined to inform the world about the swindle because there were a number of other victims. I made an appointment with the publisher and editor of the Flying Intelligencer and overnight I became I. M. Phantom.”

“And I became one of I. M. Phantom’s secret informants.” Miranda twitched her skirts into even more perfect, graceful folds and regarded Anthony with an expectant expression. “Now, then, Louisa said in her message that you wish to ask me some questions.”

“They are related to our investigation of Hastings,” Anthony said. He spoke deliberately. “We found some evidence indicating that he pursued a career as a blackmailer.”

Miranda made a soft, disgusted sound. “I have always considered blackmail one of the lowest of crimes.”

“Most of the items we found were personal possessions of young ladies that contained rather passionate references to a handsome lover,” Louisa said. “What we do not understand is how the items came into Hastings’s hands.”

Miranda nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose you can tell me the names of any of the victims?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” Louisa said. “We feel an obligation to protect their identities.”

“I quite understand,” Miranda said. “I would like to help you, but I’m not entirely sure what you want from me.”

Anthony looked at her. “You seem to know a fair amount about Hastings. You were able to tell Louisa the names of some of his business associates and that he might have a financial interest in a brothel.”

“Yes,” Miranda said. She winked at Louisa. “I, too, have my informant.”

“We do not believe that Hastings put together the blackmail scheme on his own,” Louisa said. “We know that he had at least one other employee, a man of business named Phillip Grantley, but Grantley put a pistol to his head two weeks ago.”

“What we would like to know,” Anthony said, “is whether Hastings has any other people working for him. Specifically a handsome, blond-haired man in his late twenties. We believe there is such a person and that he was the one who compromised the young ladies whose relatives were later blackmailed.”

“Ah, yes, now I understand,” Miranda said. “I do not know the answer offhand, but I will be happy to make inquiries. Will you give me a day or so?”

“Certainly,” Louisa said. “Thank you so much. Mr. Stalbridge and I are very grateful.”

“Nonsense.” Miranda waved one hand in a graceful gesture. “You know I quite enjoy our little adventures.”

“There is one more thing,” Anthony said.

Miranda gave him an inquiring look. “Yes, Mr. Stalbridge?”

“Forgive me if I am being overly personal, but Louisa tells me that you and Clement Corvus are well acquainted.”

Miranda’s laugh was low and sultry. “Indeed, we are, sir. For more than twenty years now.”

Anthony took an envelope out from an inside pocket of his coat. “In that case may I ask that you give him this with my compliments the next time you see him?”

Anthony handed Louisa up into the carriage. He had hired a cab for the afternoon rather than use his own vehicle. There was no need to advertise to the world that he and Louisa were calling on the retired actress.

When he sat down across from her, he realized that Louisa was fairly shimmering with suppressed curiosity. It occurred to him that no matter what her mood, he was fascinated by her. Whenever he was in her presence he was aware of a deeply sensual, mysteriously feminine energy that compelled all that was male in him. He felt drawn to her by invisible bonds. It had never been like this with any other woman.

“What was in that envelope?” she demanded.

He made himself pay attention to the question. “Some papers relating to the investment consortium that Hastings recently formed with Hammond and Wellsworth,” he said.

“I don’t understand. Why do you think Mr. Corvus would be interested?”

“Because according to those papers, he is the fourth investor in the consortium.”