The captain of that vessel held possession of it next, his name unconfirmed. He didn’t keep it long, though, turned it over to the owner of his ship, because after he took it home with him, his wife then threatened to leave him if he didn’t get it out of her house.

This was information picked up on the docks, so not really dependable. It made a good tale for seamen to pass about once they heard of the erotic nature of the painting, but was suspect because the names of the ship, its captain, and its owner were never the same twice. Apparently each old salt who wanted to tell the tale made sure it was about a captain or ship he knew or had sailed on.

Yet it was the closest Vincent had come to finding out anything about La Nymph. And Peter Markson really did leave the country in disgrace, having lost everything he owned on the turn of a card. That was the only fact that Vincent was inclined to depend on.

As for Jonathan’s sudden keen interest in Larissa, that was understandable. She’d had the same effect on Vincent when he’d first seen her, of wanting her at any cost. But with Jonathan, he couldn’t take it seriously, because he knew the man’s preferences where women were concerned.

So he gave him a thoughtful look and said, “I suppose her price would be marriage.”

He had thought that would put Jonathan off, since he was a confirmed bachelor who preferred not to dabble with innocents, when there were so many well-experienced ladies more than willing to entertain him for a pretty bauble or two. And Jon didn’t look too happy with the “price.”

“Hmmm, hadn’t planned to marry,” Jonathan complained. “What need when I’ve all the women I could ask for, and a few carts full of bastards as well to pick an heir from? Marriage never struck me as being a fun thing to do. But I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try it.”

That gave Vincent pause. “You aren’t serious.”

“Why not?”

“For the very reasons you’ve stated. You’ve become accustomed to variety in your women. A wife doesn’t provide that.”

“Mistresses do.”

“Then why marry?”

“To have her.”

“Then why have mistresses?”

Jonathan frowned. “For the variety—and why are you trying to talk me out of it?”

“Because you merely want to possess her. You have no intention of devoting yourself fully to her. Having come to know her since she has been staying here, I think she deserves better than that in a marriage.”

“Or you planned to marry her yourself,” Jonathan all but accused.

“No.”