Surrender (10 page)

saw that the would-be thieves had already

released their intended victim.

 
Good girl." He immediately turned his

attention back to forging ahead through

the mob.

He did not try to work his way back

against the driving force of the crowd.

Instead, Victoria realized, he chose to

ride the human flow, as if guiding a

boat through a strong current. He kept

maneuvering steadily toward the edge

of the wild, churning river, his pace

controlled and strong in spite of his limp.

He did not break out into a mad dash

and thereby jeopardize his balance and

hers. It was obvious he had long since

learned to compensate for the weakness

in his left leg.

Lucas's cool self-mastery amid the chaos

made it clear to Victoria that he was one

of those rare men who did not become

rattled under pressure. She felt safe with

him, even though the mob roiled around

her like a violent sea.

As they reached the fringes of the mass of

shouting, staggering, shoving humanity, the

crowd thinned. Lucas made a calculated

bid to escape it altogether; he had

apparently been watching for his chance.

In what seemed like an instant, he yanked

Victoria into a tunnel of darkness between

two buildings.

Victoria stumbled after him into the

relative safety of the pitch black alley.

Her boots skidded on slime and she caught

her breath against the terrible stench that

welled up from the confines of the narrow

stone walls.

She thought the danger was over until

she heard the crude drunken shouts from

the alley entrance.

 
Ere now, mate. Bring that light in" ere.

I saw" em go inter this little" hole, I tell

ye. Two of" um. Rich coves, by the look

of em."

 
Damn." Lucas swore with deadly soft

ness." Get behind me and stay down,

Victoria."

Not waiting for her to obey, Lucas flung

Victoria behind him with such force that

she fetched up against the brick wall of the

alley. She caught her balance and glanced

anxiously toward the entrance just as a

lantern appeared. In its pale light she saw

the faces of two young ruffians armed

with knives. They spotted their quarry and

moved forward expectantly.

 
What'er ye waitin" for, Long Tom?" the

second man asked his pal in an urgent

tone.
 
Urry up and spice the swells. There

be plenty o" work out" ere for the likes o'

us tonight."

stone vale stood his ground, shielding

Victoria. As she watched she saw him

remove a small, shiny object from his

greatcoat pocket.

 
Bloody" ell." E's got a pop," the first

man cursed as the lamplight fell on the

pistol lodged in stone vale's hand.

 
An excellent observation, gentlemen."

stone vale sounded faintly bored." Which

of you would like to test the accuracy of

my aim?"

The first young man into the alley

slithered to a halt and his companion

piled into him. They both toppled into the

muck. The lantern fell to the ground, glass

shattering in a shower of small sparks. The

weak flame continued to flicker a moment

longer, casting strange, menacing shadows

over the tense scene.

 
Bloody damn" ell," the first man said

again, clearly frustrated." Ye try to make

a decent livin" and look at what" appens."

He found his balance and scrambled back

toward the alley entrance.

The other would-be footpad needed no

further encouragement. There was a clatter

of boots on stone, muffled curses, and a

few seconds later Victoria and Lucas had

the alley to themselves.

But Lucas wasted no time. His long

fingers clamped around Victoria's wrist

once more and he hauled her through

the dark alley into the next street.

The mob had not yet spilled over in

this direction, and they were met with

blessed silence. Victoria tried to slow

her step in order to catch her breath

but stone vale refused to stop, and she

stumbled obediently after him, panting.

 
Lucas, I must say, that was very well

done of you back there in the alley."

Lucas tightened his grip on her wrist.

 
It would have been entirely unnecessary

if you had not taken it into your head to

attend the fair tonight."

 
Really, Lucas, must you"

 
We can only hope Lyndwood's coach

man followed orders," Lucas interrupted

as he continued pulling Victoria along at

a rapid pace.

I'm worried about Annabella and Bertie,"

Victoria got out between sharp, strained

breaths.

 
Yes. So you should be."

Victoria winced, aware he had no

compunction about pointing out her guilt

in the matter. The worst of it was he was

right; this had all been her idea.

Mercifully, stone vale said no more as he

guided her around the corner and into the

street where the coachman had been told

to wait in case of emergency. Victoria saw

the familiar lines of the Lyndwood coach

pulled up in front of the tavern and she

heaved a sigh of relief when she spotted

two people inside.

 
They're here, Lucas. They're safe."

Victoria flushed as she realized she had

unthinkingly been using stone vale's given

name since the excitement started.

 
Yes. It appears we are to be favored

with some luck tonight, after all." He said

nothing else as they neared the carriage.

 
Good God, we were worried about you,"

Lyndwood said, pushing open the carriage

door." Thought for certain you'd been run

down by the mob. Hurry. We don't want

to hang out in this street for long. No

telling when the crowd might take a notion

 
to come this way."

 
Rest assured, Lyndwood, I have no

intention of dawdling." Lucas tossed Vic

toria up into the carriage and followed

quickly, slamming the door behind him.

The carriage took off at once and none

too soon. In the distance the shouts of the

mob filled the night air.

Victoria looked anxiously at Annabella.

 
Are you all right, Bella?"

Annabella
  
clasped
  
her
  
friend's
  
hand.

I.

 
I'm fine. Bertie and I were on the fringes

of the crowd when the trouble broke out.

We managed to get out of the way almost

at once. But I was so worried about you

two. You were right in the heart of the

throng, were you not?"

 
It was a near thing," Victoria said. A

wave of euphoria was washing over her

now, rapidly replacing the tension that had

gripped her a moment earlier." We were

accosted in an alley by two men intent

on robbing us. But stone vale produced a

pistol and stopped them instantly. He was

magnificent."

 
Good heavens," Annabella whispered,

shocked.

 
Damme, stone vale." Lyndwood frowned

with obvious concern." A near thing, is

right. Neither of you was hurt, I take it?"

 
We are both perfectly fit, Lyndwood, as

you can see." Lucas dismissed the inquiry

with a deceptively neutral tone." Although

Miss Huntington's disguise appears to have

suffered somewhat."

Victoria belatedly checked her hair and

realized something was amiss." Oh, dear,

I've lost my hat."

 
You are extremely lucky not to have lost

more than a hat, Miss Huntington." Again

stone vale's voice seemed far too calm.

Victoria slanted a sidelong glance at his

hard profile and realized that Lucas was

in a blazing fury. For the first time since

the riot had erupted around her, she felt

a trickle of genuine fear.

Lucas glanced out at the empty side

street as the carriage drew to a halt.

 
You intend to be set down here. Miss

Huntington? We are nowhere near your

front door."

 
It will do," she said calmly, collecting

her handsome walking stick.

 
And how do you intend to get into

the house if not through the front door?"

stone vale asked, annoyed.

 
I shall go over the garden wall and

back through the conservatory, the same

way I left earlier. Don't worry, my lord,

I know my way." Victoria was already

stepping down from the carriage as the

door was opened. She hoped he wouldn't

feel obliged to follow.

" Good night, Vicky," Annabella called

softly." It turned out to be a most

interesting adventure, did it not?"

 
It certainly did," Victoria replied.

Lucas followed Victoria through the

carriage door." Wait here, Lyndwood," he

instructed over his shoulder." I shall return

as soon as I have escorted our reckless little

dandy back over the garden wall."

Victoria turned toward him in alarm.

 
There is no need to see me home, my

lord. I assure you, I am perfectly capable

of finding my own way."

 
I wouldn't hear of it. Miss Huntington."

He must have spotted the new uneasiness

in her because he smiled knowingly.

 
Excellent," he murmured, grasping her

arm and propelling her into the shadows.

 
I see you understand me well enough now

to realize that I am not in a good temper. It

is always best not to argue with me when I

am in this mood."

 
My lord," she began, her chin lifting

imperiously," if you think to hold me

accountable for what happened this even

ing, you can think again."

 
But I do hold you accountable, Miss

Huntington." He glanced up at the high

stone wall covered with thick ivy." How

do we get inside the garden?"

She tried to retrieve her arm. When he

took no notice of her small struggle, she

gave up and nodded toward the far end

of the walk." There is a way over there."

He hauled her along in the indicated

direction until she pointed out the heavy

vines which concealed a few chinks in the

bricks. Without a word, Victoria wedged

the toe of her boot into the first opening

and grabbed a vine.

Beneath her, Lucas shook his head in

grim disapproval as he watched her climb

the garden wall. Victoria felt awkward and

clumsy under his close scrutiny. She had

not as yet had much practice scaling

garden walls. She could only hope the

fitful moonlight hid the shape of her snugly

clad derriere as she went over the top.

Behind her, Lucas grabbed a trailing bit

of ivy, found the chink in the wall with the

toe of his boot, and followed.

On the other side of the wall, Victoria

dropped lightly to the ground and looked

up to see that Lucas was almost on top

of her. She stepped back quickly as he

dropped down in front of her. She noticed

he took most of his weight on his strong

right leg and did not stumble as he caught

his balance.

 
My lord," she hissed," y u should

be getting back to the carriage. The

Lyndwoods will be waiting."

 
I have one or two things to say to

you first." He stood in the midst of

the fragrant, deeply shadowed garden, a

tall, lean, menacing figure as dark and

dangerous as the night.

Victoria summoned up her courage." I

must tell you, stone vale, that I have no

wish to endure a lecture for what happened

this evening. I am already quite aware that

none of us would have been in jeopardy if I

had not insisted upon going to the fair."

 
In that, Miss Huntington, you are

correct."

The total lack of emotion in his voice

was far more unnerving than a scolding

would have been. But Victoria suddenly

remembered the way he had defended her

in the alley. Impulsively she touched his

sleeve.

 
I know I am deeply indebted to you, my

lord, but I must tell you quite truthfully

that up until the moment the crowd turned

violent, I was having a fine time. I cannot

remember when I have enjoyed an outing

more." She took a deep breath when there

was no response and rushed on." I would

also have you know, my lord, that I

thought you were quite wonderful. Very

cool under fire, as they say. You got us

free of the mob and I assure you I shall

never forget the way you handled those

two footpads in the alley. For that, my

thanks."

 
Your thanks," he repeated in a consider

ing tone." I am not certain that is sufficient

reward under the circumstances."

Victoria looked up at him, suddenly

aware that Aunt Cleo's botanical garden

was a very dark and lonely place at this

hour of the night. She wondered for one

awful moment if stone vale was going to

lose his grip on the reins of his temper,

and then she started wondering what she

should do if he did. Belatedly she took a

step back.

My lord?"

 
No," he said, as if having reached a

conclusion." Your paltry thanks are not

enough for what I have been through and

what I undoubtedly have yet to endure."

Without any warning Lucas's hands

closed around her shoulders, and in one

smooth, swift motion he backed her up

against the garden wall.

Before Victoria could react, Lucas moved

in close, so close that the hard, unforgiving

length of his body pressed against her much

softer frame.

Lucas's booted foot slid between her

legs. Victoria froze for an instant, held

still by the shock of his muscled thigh

alongside her own leg. Her eyes widened

in the moonlight as she looked up into

stone vale's starkly etched face.

 
You are a hotheaded, reckless hoyden; a

little shrew who is badly in need of taming

 
before she lands in serious trouble. If I had

any sense, I would end this here and now,"

Lucas rasped.

Victoria licked her dry lips." End what,

my lord?"

 
This." His mouth came down on hers

with a fierce, plundering heat that made

her fully aware, at last, of the true extent

of his dangerous mood.

She had been prepared for his anger but

nothing could have readied her for the

masculine arousal that poured over her in

a searing conflagration.

stone vale wanted her.

Victoria was momentarily stunned by the

sensual assault. She had been kissed a few

times by daring or desperate suitors and

once or twice because her own curiosity

had gotten the better of her. But she had

never known anything like the rough, deep,

demanding kiss that held her now.

She trembled and her fingers clenched

around Lucas's upper arms. He responded

with a husky groan and then he was

crushing her into the ivy, his thigh forcing

her legs further apart. Victoria felt the small

jabs of the vines and inhaled the fragrance

of crumpled leaves and the musky scent of

Lucas's body. Her head spun as if she were

being whirled about on a dance floor.

When she felt Lucas's tongue slide along

her lower lip, she opened her mouth for

him in the same instinctive, unquestioning

manner in which she had earlier followed

him to safety.

She flinched when his hands circled her

waist, but she did not struggle as she knew

she should, not even when she felt his

thumbs glide up to rest just under the

weight of her small breasts.

 
My lord," she managed in a ragged

voice as he freed her mouth to catch the

lobe of her ear between his teeth." My lord,

I don't know
  
that is, you ought not to be

doing this."

 
I want you to have good cause to

remember me, Victoria," Lucas whispered.

Victoria swallowed hard, trying to collect

herself" I assure you, I am not likely to

forget you."

 
Excellent."

His teeth grazed her tender earlobe,

causing no real pain but leaving her with a

disquieting sensation of vulnerability. The