Mistress Read Free Page A

either me or himself."
    "Whatever you say, my dear." Herbert arched one bushy brow in a knowing fashion. "I assure you, there's no need to go into the details of your connection to Masters with me. Everyone in Town is well aware of just what sort of friends you and Masters were."
    "Indeed." Iphiginia’s tone held the repressive note that she employed whenever someone grew too bold on the subject of the earl. She rarely needed to use that tone with Herbert. He was usually more discreet.
    She could hardly complain about the assumptions Herbert and the members of the
ton
had made concerning the nature of her relationship with Masters. Society had arrived at precisely the conclusions that she had wanted it to reach.
    Such assumptions and conclusions were part of the grand plan to gain entree into Masters's exclusive circle of acquaintances. The scheme had worked until tonight.
    "Regardless of your past association with Masters," Herbert said, "the question everyone is asking tonight is, what happens next? We have been led to believe that you and he had come to a parting of the ways, m'dear. But his presence here this evening indicates otherwise."
    Iphiginia ignored the questioning note in his voice. She could hardly provide him with an answer when she did not have one.
    Unable to think of anything else to do in the midst of the crisis, Iphiginia determined to do the only thing possible. She stuck to the story she had concocted when she had embarked on her perilous adventure.
    "Masters knows very well that our connection is finished unless he chooses to apologize for the quarrel he caused," she said smoothly.
    "One never uses the word
impossible
when one is discussing, Masters," Herbert said. "But in this instance, I think it is permissible. It's safe to say that no one in this room tonight can conceive of the earl apologizing to a lady who has humiliated him in front of the whole of Society."
    Iphiginia was horrified. "But I have done no such thing, Mr. Hoyt."
    "No?"
    Iphiginia fanned herself rapidly. She felt much too warm. "I merely indicated that he and I were no longer in charity with each other."
    "And that it was all his fault."
    "Well yes." Iphiginia swallowed."It certainly was all his fault. But I did not seek to humiliate him in front of his friends."
    Herbert gave her an odd look. "Come now, my dear. Let us he honest here. You have hinted that you and Masters had a violent quarrel, one that shattered your close
friendship
. You cannot tell me that you were not looking for a bit of revenge when you descended on Society. Everyone believes you to be searching for a suitable replacement for him."
    "That is not true." Iphiginia cleared her throat. "I mean, the earl does owe me an apology, but I never intended to, uh, obtain one from him."
One did not get apologies from dead men
.
    "Whatever your intention, you have made certain that everyone understood that you were the one who severe the connection. They believe that you actually had this temerity to give Masters his conge."
    It had all been part of her scheme to transform herself into an instant rage in the eyes of the
ton
, but Iphiginia, could hardly explain that to Herbert. "As to that slight misunderstanding—"
    "Misunderstanding?" Herbert gave her a pitying look. "For the past fortnight, Society has not been able to decide if you are the most daring lady in London or simply a candidate for Bedlam."
    "I am beginning to wonder myself," Iphiginia muttered under her breath. She must have been mad to get herself into this situation.
    "You know that the
ton
has been waiting on tenterhooks to see how Masters will respond to your notion of vengeance."
    "I have told you, Mr. Hoyt, that I have absolutely no interest in vengeance. There was a small tiff between us, that's all. It requires an apology, nothing more."
    "So now it's a minor tiff, is it? Heretofore you have termed it a major quarrel."
    "These things get enlarged out of all proportion under the influence of gossip,