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time a woman's kiss had
    produced such a lingering effect on his senses. He tried to will
    away the desire that had flared within him. When that failed, he
    pictured Imogen with Vanneck in the bedchamber above the
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    Sandowns" ballroom. His gut turned to ice.
    Matthias knew what was happening, and it worried him as noth
    ing else had for a long while. He wanted Imogen for himself. The
    vision of her in Vanneck's debauched embrace was almost enough
    to make him contemplate murder.
    He took a deep breath, gazed into the heart of the fire, and
    searched for the ghosts. They were there, as they always were,
    reaching out for him as though to draw him down into the flames
    to join them. So damn many of them.
    Matthias had been ten years old when his father, Thomas, had
    raged through the house for the last time, shouting at Elizabeth,
    who was, as usual, in tears.
    Matthias had witnessed the final battle through the posts of the
    upstairs balustrade. The awareness of his own inability to stop the
    dreadful words or stem the flood of his mother's tears had made
    his hands shake. He wanted to run and hide. Instead, he had made
    himself watch as the father he had never been able to please did
    battle with the mother he could never comfort.
    He had heard the same terrible accusations hurled back and
    forth between his parents many times, but this was the first occasion on which he had actually
    understood them.
    After all these years the words still burned in his brain.
    You trapped me, you conniving, coldhearted bitch," Thomas had
    shouted as he faced his wife in the front hall. You used your body
    to seduce me and then you deliberately got yourself pregnant."
    You told me that you loved me," Elizabeth had flung back. I
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    was an innocent, but you had no scruples about bedding me, did
    you?"
    You lied to me. You told me that you knew how to keep from
    getting yourself with child. Damn you, I never intended to marry
    you. I never felt anything but a fleeting lust for you. No more than
    I would feel for a whore."
    You talked of love," Elizabeth wailed.
    Bah. I have had enough of this loveless marriage. You wanted
    the title, well, you have it, but, by God, Elizabeth, that is all you
    shall have from me."
    You cannot leave me, Thomas."
    I cannot rid myself of you by any legal means. Divorce is out of
    the question. But I refuse to condemn myself to a lifetime of
    unhappiness. Enjoy the title you used your body to obtain. You
    shall have this house and an allowance, but I shall never step foot
    in this hall again. I shall take up residence in London. If you must
    communicate with me about any matter of grave importance, you
    will do so through my solicitors."
    What of Matthias?" Elizabeth asked desperately. He is your
    son and heir."
    I have only your word for that," Thomas said harshly. For all I
    know, you slept with half the members of my club."
    He's your son, you bloody bastard. The law will not allow you
    to deny it."
    I am well aware of that, madam," Thomas said. But one day I
    shall learn the truth concerning just how badly I was deceived.
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    Every man in my family develops a streak in his hair by the age of
    twenty."
    So will Matthias. You'll see. In the meantime, you cannot
    ignore him."
    I shall do my duty by him," Thomas vowed. It is past time that
    Matthias was sent away to school. If he stays in this house a
    moment longer, you will no doubt bind him to you so tightly with
    your damned tears and apron strings that he will never become a
    man."
    You cannot send him away. He is all I have. I will not allow it."
    You have no choice, madam," Thomas had retorted. I have
    already made the arrangements. His tutor has been dismissed.
    With any luck Eton and Oxford will undo the damage you have
    tried to