Quick, Amanda by Mischief Read Free Book Online Page B

the past. Facts are facts. If Vanneck seduced you once,
    he will surely attempt to do so again. And unless you intend to use
    your very charming person to lure him into your plot"
    Bloody hell. Vanneck did not seduce me three years ago, sir. He
    compromised me. There is a vast difference."
    There is?"
    One is reality, the other is merely a matter of appearances."
    Imogen sniffed disdainfully. I would have thought that a man of
    your intelligence would have been able to detect the essential
    distinction between the two."
    Matthias's temper flared without warning. Very well, split hairs,
    if you will. It changes nothing. The problem remains. You are not
    going to find it easy to handle a man of Vanneck's nature."
    I assure you, I can and will handle him. But I am beginning to
    think that you are correct in one regard, sir. Perhaps I do not
    require your services. When I initially formed my plan, I thought
    you would be extremely useful, but now I begin to wonder if you
    might prove more of a hindrance than a help."
    For some reason that Matthias could not fathom, Imogen's
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    scathing retort served only to further fan the flames of his anger.
    Indeed?"
    Obviously you are not the man I had believed you to be, my
    lord."
    Hell and damnation. Just what sort of man did you believe me
    to be?"
    I had assumed, incorrectly it seems, that you were a man of
    action, the sort of man who does not flinch from danger. A man
    capable of going forth into adventure without a second's hesitation."
    Where did you gain that peculiar notion?"
    From your articles on ancient Zamar. I concluded from the
    thrilling accounts of your travels and explorations that you had
    actually lived through those adventures." She gave him a scornful
    smile. Perhaps I was mistaken."
    Miss Waterstone, are you implying that I base my articles on
    secondhand researches, as that damnable L. A. Stone does?"
    L. A. Stone is entirely honest about the sources of his information, sir. He does not claim to have
    observed firsthand all that he
    writes about. You do. You pass yourself off as a man of action, but
    now it seems that you are not that sort of man at all."
    I do not pass myself off as anything but what I am, you exasperating little"
    Apparently you write fiction rather than fact, sir. Bad enough
    that I thought you to be a clever, resourceful gentleman given to
    feats of daring. I have also been laboring under the equally
    mistaken assumption that you are a man who would put matters
    of honor ahead of petty considerations of inconvenience."
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    Are you calling my honor as well as my manhood into question?"
    Why shouldn't I? You are clearly indebted to me, sir, yet you
    obviously wish to avoid making payment on that debt."
    I was indebted to your uncle, not to you."
    I have explained to you that I inherited the debt," she retorted.
    Matthias took another gliding step into the grim chamber. Miss
    Waterstone, you try my patience."
    I would not dream of doing so," she said, her voice dangerously
    sweet. I have concluded that you will not do at all as an associate
    in my scheme. I hereby release you from your promise. Be gone,
    sir."
    Bloody hell, woman. You are not going to get rid of me so
    easily." Matthias crossed the remaining distance between them
    with two long strides and clamped his hands around her shoulders.
    Touching her was a mistake. Anger metamorphosed into desire
    in the wink of an eye.
    For an instant he could not move. His insides seemed to have
    been seized by a powerful fist. Matthias tried to breathe, but
    Imogen's scent filled his head, clouding his brain. He looked down
    into the bottomless depths of her blue-green eyes and wondered
    if he would drown. He opened his mouth to conclude the argument with a suitably repressive remark,
    but the words died in his
    throat.
    The outrage vanished from Imogen's