Surrender (14 page)

with his quarry.

He looked around and realized that

today he would be doing his hunting

in a real jungle. He examined the view

through the glass. Beyond the conservatory

windows was a large, charming garden

with a familiar-looking brick wall covered

in ivy.

 
I wondered what the garden looked like

by day," Lucas remarked.

Victoria's brows snapped together in

an admonishing frown." Hush, my lord.

Someone might overhear you."

 
Not likely. We appear to have the

place to ourselves." He examined the lush

greenery and the array of exotic blooms

that filled the glass room." You and your

aunt are, indeed, interested in horticulture,

aren't you? This is amazing."

 
My aunt had the conservatory built

some years ago," Victoria said as she started

down one green-shrouded aisle." She has

friends who travel all over the world and

send us cuttings and small plants. Recently

Sir Percy Hickinbottom, one of her many

admirers, sent a new variety of rose he

discovered on an expedition in China. He

named it Cleo's Blush China in her honor.

Wasn't that sweet? Last month he sent

the most beautiful chrysanthemum plant.

We are quite hopeful it will survive. Are

you at all familiar with chrysanthemums,

my lord?"

 
No, but I do know what it means when

a person suddenly becomes excessively

chatty. Relax, Victoria. There is no need

to be so anxious."

 
I am not at all anxious." Her chin

lifted proudly as she paused beside a large

tray of strange, lumpish-looking plants that

were covered in thorns." Do you care for

cacti?"

Lucas glanced down curiously at the

assortment of spiny plants that were unlike

anything he had ever seen. Experimentally

he touched one of the thorns and

discovered it was needle sharp. He glanced

up and met Victoria's gaze.

 
I am always interested in an adversary's

defenses," Lucas said.

 
Is that because it is your instinct to find

a way past those defenses?"

 
Only when the prize promises to be

worth the battle." He was going to enjoy

fencing with her, Lucas thought. She was

no coward.

 
How can you estimate the value of the

prize in advance of the battle?"

t had not been a mistake after all to

kiss her last night, Lucas decided. He knew

from the way she was watching him that

she had been thinking a great deal about

the embrace they had shared," Sometimes

one is allowed a small sample of the goods.

The bit I was allowed to taste last night

was very promising."

 
I see. And do you go around sampling

a great many potential prizes before you

determine which ones you will pursue?"

She glared at him.

His mouth quirked as he saw the hauteur

flash in her eyes." One must have some

basis for comparison."

The hauteur changed almost imperceptibly

into disgust. She turned away and

started down the aisle again." I rather

suspected that might be the case."

Lucas was suddenly annoyed. She had

started this. He reached out and clamped

a hand around her wrist, drawing her to a

sudden halt. She swung around to fix him

with a defiant gaze.

 
What is it, Victoria? You don't like the

fact that there have been other prizes in my

life? They have not been very important."

 
I do not like the fact that you may

have been very indiscriminate in selecting

and pursuing those prizes, nor the fact that

you have been casual about the matter."

 
I assure you, I have never been

indiscriminate and rarely casual. In truth,

there have not been all that many prizes.

I have spent most of my life in the army,

and one does not keep expensive mistresses

on an officer's pay." He deliberately exerted

enough pressure on her wrist to draw her

closer." What about you? You fence very

skillfully. Is it because you have had a great

deal of experience at this game?"

 
I have had a great deal of practice at

playing the role of cactus, my lord."

 
And tell me," Lucas said smiling,"
 

has anyone ever gotten past the spines?"

 
That is none of your affair, is it?"

He saw the bright warmth in her cheeks

but her eyes never wavered." Forgive me.

I cannot help but entertain a certain

curiosity under the circumstances. After

all, I fully intend to get past the thorns

and claim the treasure for myself. I told

you that much last night."

 
You are not subtle, are you, stone vale?"

she said.

 
I am when subtlety is required, but I

think I can be completely honest about

my intentions in this case. You're not

a silly young girl straight out of the

schoolroom. I do not think you are the

type to be easily frightened by an honest

man's intentions."

Victoria straightened and peered at him.

 
Speaking of honesty, just what are your

intentions, my lord? You were not quite

clear on that subject last night. I must

know."

 
I thought I had made myself very

plain. You must be aware by now that

I want you. I will do what I must to

claim you."

 
Last night
  
she began urgently, and

then broke off, hunting for the right words.

 
Last night I warned you not to think in

terms of marriage."

 
I
 
heard your warning.
 
You
 
issued
 
it

several times in a variety of ways, as I

recall."

 
You do understand, then, that I am

not playing a game when it comes to that

subject? I have no interest in marriage."

 
I understand." Lucas smiled faintly at

the earnest expression in her eyes. She

might not think she was playing a game,

but that fact would not save her from

losing it." You do want to play other

games, though, do you not, Victoria?

Midnight games?"

She was silent for a moment, but Lucas

noticed that her fingers trembled ever so

slightly as she reached up absently to

touch a broad leaf that draped over her

shoulder." You were right last night, my

lord. I would dearly love a companion to

share my evening adventures. Someone I

can trust to keep his silence, someone

who can take me into the sort of places I

cannot go alone or even with friends such

as Annabella Lyndwood and her brother. I

admit that what you offered in the garden

last night is very tempting. What worries

me most is that you seem to be aware of

just how tempting I find it."

 
You hesitate because you are not certain

you can take what I offer and get away

without paying for it. Is that the problem,

Victoria?"

She nodded, her mouth curving wryly.

You are quite correct, my lord. You have

gone straight to the heart of the matter.

I am not at all certain you will remain

satisfied with whatever payment I choose

to bestow."

Lucas drew a long breath and folded

his arms across his chest." The problem,

it would seem, is mine. As long as I am

satisfied with the bargain, why should you

worry?"

 
Because, quite frankly, my lord, I do

not see you remaining content with a few

stolen kisses taken in the garden, and I

promise you that is all you will get from

me by way of payment. There. Have I

made myself perfectly clear?"

 
Perfectly."

She waited for him to argue, and when

he politely examined the unusual cacti

instead, she lost a measure of her self

control, just as Lucas had known she

would. The lady was swimming far out of

her depth and she did not yet realize it.

 
There will be no talk of marriage?" she

demanded.

 
None." He tested the spine of another

of the curious cactus plants and found it

as sharp as the first." But I feel compelled

to warn you that my guarantee not to speak

of marriage does not mean I will not do

my best to lure you into my arms. You

are right, Victoria. I would like more than

a few stolen kisses from you."

 
You are far too bold, my lord."

 
I see no need to dance around the truth.

You know what I want in exchange for my

companionship at midnight."

 
Then the price is too high. I will never

pay it," she said.

 
I said you would know the price I seek,

I did not say I will force you to pay it."

He looked at her, enjoying the storm of

emotion and curiosity that lit her eyes.

 
You need have no fear of me, Victoria.

You have my word of honor I will not

force your surrender."

 
Pray, do not use that word again," she

said through her teeth.

Lucas shrugged." Surrender? Very well.

Use whatever word you wish to describe

my goal, but do not deceive yourself about

the nature of that goal."

Her mouth pursed with strong dis

approval." Your goal, my lord, is a most

dishonorable one."

 
You leave me little choice. You have

forbidden me to speak of a more honorable

one."

 
It seems to me you agreed very quickly

not to speak of it," she pointed out tartly.

She toyed thoughtfully with the leaf that

hung over her shoulder." One would almost

think, my lord, that you are not interested

in marriage, after all."

Not every man is, Victoria. Why should

a sane man rush to sacrifice his freedom

if he can claim the woman he wants

without giving her his name?" he pointed

out dryly.