Surrender (16 page)

still out there? Don't get too carried away

or you will bore Lord stone vale. Not

everyone enjoys an extended tour of the

conservatory, you know."

Lucas turned to see Lady Nettleship

standing in the doorway, beaming at him.

 
I assure you, madam, I have never been

less bored in my life."

 
One rarely is around Victoria."

Lucas glanced at Victoria's satisfied

expression and then be looked once more

at the yellow-gold bloom he had been

examining earlier." Before we leave the

conservatory. Miss Huntington, I would

appreciate it if you would tell me the

name of this strange plant."

 
Strelitzia reginae. Everyone was thrilled

when the first one flowered at Kew. Aunt

Cleo and I were very fortunate to have

this one bloom, too. Magnificent, isn't it?"

Victoria said excitedly.

Lucas looked at her. She was glowing

with life in her yellow-gold gown. Her

amber eyes were brilliant." Yes," he said.

 
Magnificent."

One week later Victoria put on her

new yellow-trimmed brown riding habit,

adjusted the dashing little military-style hat

with its yellow feather at a rakish angle over

one eye, and called for her favorite horse

and groom. It was five o'clock and nearly

everyone would be riding in the park.

Everyone today had better include the

Earl of stone vale. Last night, during

the five minutes she'd had with him

at the Bannerbrook rout, Victoria had

given him very strict instructions to put

in an appearance. She had a few things

to say to him.

The problem in dealing with Lucas,

Victoria had discovered, was that although

he appeared unfailingly obedient when it

came to receiving her instructions, he had

a nasty habit of carrying them out in his

own way. Enough was enough.

Cleo was crossing the hall into the library

when Victoria came down the stairs. She

peered at her niece in mild astonishment.

 
Going riding this afternoon, my dear?"

 
Yes, I am. I feel in need of a little

exercise." Victoria paused briefly to kiss

Cleo's cheek before hurrying toward the

door." Don't worry, I shall be home in

plenty of time to dress for Grimshaw's little

lecture on recent agricultural improvements

in Yorkshire."

 
Excellent." Cleo smiled benignly." I am

quite looking forward to it and so is

Lucas."

Victoria halted on the threshold and

whirled around." I beg your pardon?"

 
I merely said I was quite looking forward

to Grimshaw's lecture."

 
You said Lucas was looking forward

to it."

 
Oh, yes, I did, didn't I? And so he is.

Told me so himself Well, it's only natural

he'd be interested, isn't it? His estates are,

after all, somewhere in Yorkshire, I believe.

I invited him on Wednesday when I was

showing him my new dahlia plants. I must

say the earl seems to be developing more

than a passing interest in horticulture and

related matters," Cleo remarked.

Yes, the earl did seem to be developing

more than a passing interest in the subject,

Victoria thought grimly, adjusting her small

hat with a quick yank. Lately, in fact,

his interest in matters of horticulture and

agriculture had begun to border on the

keen. She was beginning to feel she was

running a poor second to such fascinating

topics as methods of manuring and crop

rotation.

For a man who only a week ago had

seemed bent on seduction, he had certainly

veered off course recently. Victoria did not

know whether to be incensed or relieved.

A few minutes later she entered the

park at a brisk trot, her groom following

discreetly behind her on a pony. The

public trails were thronged with elegantly

attired riders, curricles, and small, open

carriages. At this time of day the social

world went into the park to see and be

seen, not to actually ride for pleasure or

exercise. That sort of riding was done in

the early-morning hours.

Victoria automatically smiled and greeted

her myriad acquaintances while keeping an

eagle eye out for Lucas. She was beginning

to think he had deliberately avoided the

meeting altogether and was wondering what

his excuse would be, when he materialized

at her elbow on a spectacular chestnut. For

a moment she forgot her annoyance.

 
What an excellent animal, Lucas. He's

beautiful."

Lucas smiled faintly." Thank you. I'm

rather fond of old George, myself. We've

been through a lot together, haven't we,

George?"

Victoria wrinkled her nose." Did you

name him after the king?"

 
No. I named him George because

George seemed a simple enough name

for me to remember."

 
No one's likely to forget a horse like

that, regardless of his name. Have you any

colts by him?" Victoria asked.

 
Not yet, but George has big plans for

the future."

At this, she grinned." I see. You expect

him to sire a dynasty?"

 
Why not? The male of the species has

certain obligations when he bears the sort

of bloodlines old George here bears. We

men do what we must, don't we, old

boy?" He patted the stallion's neck and the

horse ducked his head and blew through

his nose.

Victoria's grin faded. She was sorry

she had raised the topic of dynasty

founding. Lucas occasionally made an

oblique reference to the little matter of

his future obligations to his name and title

and she had discovered she preferred to

avoid the subject. The idea of the present

Earl of stone vale someday taking a wife

and getting himself an heir was becoming

strangely unpalatable.

 
Well, he's a lovely animal, but that

is not what I wish to discuss with you,

Lucas," she said quickly.

 
I regret to hear that. I enjoy talking

about horses." Lucas nodded politely

toward a middle-aged man and woman

in a handsome carriage. They smiled back

and glanced pointedly at Victoria.

Victoria summoned up a regal smile for

Lord Foxton and his lady and urged her

horse to a slightly faster pace. Lucas and

George promptly fell behind. She glanced

back over her shoulder and scowled.

 
Really, Lucas, do stop dawdling. I told

you I specifically wish to speak to you

today."

 
Then don't rush ahead without warning

like that."

 
I was trying to avoid having to speak

to Lady Foxton. She was giving me a very

knowing look. And she's not the first to do

so. That's one of the things I wanted to

discuss with you, Lucas. People are starting

to notice our, uh, association."

 
What did you expect? You know as well

as I do that if two people dance more

than twice together at a ball, someone will

wonder if there's a marriage offer brewing,"

Lucas said.

 
But we do not dance together."

 
Details. We've been paired off at a few

routs and that's enough." He tipped his

hat to another elderly lady, who smiled

archly.

 
Never mind that. It can't be helped. I

specifically asked to speak to you today

because I was afraid I would not get

another chance tonight to speak to you

privately and I have a few matters I want

to clarify."

 
I was afraid of that."

 
There's no need to adopt the attitude of

a martyr. You agreed to our adventuring.

In fact, you insisted on accompanying

me on our midnight tours. This bargain

between us was made at your instigation,

Lucas," Victoria said.

Lucas narrowed his eyes." I sense a

complaint about my performance to date.

I'm crushed. Haven't you enjoyed yourself

on the two occasions I risked life and limb

to climb your garden wall?"

 
Don't look at me like that. You know

very well I found those two occasions

this past week quite interesting. But they

weren't what I expected, Lucas."

 
What did you expect to find when you

went spying on a man's world?"

Victoria chewed her lower lip thought

fully. I'm not sure, precisely. More

adventure, I think. More excitement."

 
Didn't you get adventure and excite

ment enough on Wednesday night?"

 
The late-night supper at the restaurant

was amusing, I'll admit. At least I found

it so until those two young men got sick all

over the skirts of their little opera dancers."

Recalling the scene she had witnessed and

how it had completely put her off her own

food, Victoria made a face.

 
I hate to disillusion you, Vicky, but the

unfortunate truth is men don't do very

edifying things when they get together late

at night and start drinking. How about

the excursion to Vauxhall? You liked that,

didn't you?"

 
For heaven's sake, Lucas, you cannot

fob me off with trips to Vauxhall. Much

too tame. Too respectable. I could have

gone there with Annabella or any of my

other female acquaintances and no one

would have thought it amiss."

 
Be fair. Dressed as a man, you saw a

whole different side to the place."

 
You are missing my point, Lucas,"

Victoria said firmly." Deliberately, I think."

 
What is your point?"

 
My point is that thus far you have not

taken me to any of the places on my list."

 
Ah, yes, the famous list. I was afraid this

conference today was going to focus

on that damned list."

 
You promised, Lucas. You said you

would take me wherever I wanted to go.

Instead, you've been deliberately trying to