Surrender (31 page)

 
Yes, Lucas. I want this night with you

more than I have ever wanted anything in

my life."

His smile was enigmatic but tender.

 
Then you shall have it. Come with me."

A short time later Victoria found herself

sitting in front of a pleasant fire in a

comfortable upstairs room, sipping tea the

landlord's wife had brought her on a tray.

There was a decanter of sherry next to the

teapot. The good woman had addressed

her as
 
my lady" and Victoria knew it was

because Lucas had informed the innkeeper

that she was his wife. No one had thought

to question two obvious members of the

Quality who claimed such a relationship.

 
I've told the innkeeper that you are

weary and we plan to rest for a few hours,

but that we are in a hurry and must be on

our way before dawn," Lucas announced

as he walked into the room and shut the

door behind him.
 
That will give me time

to get you safely back to the last party on

your list of invitations tonight before most

of the guests have taken their leave. You

will be able to go home with Annabella

Lyndwood and her mother, just as you

had planned. No one will be the wiser."

 
Except, perhaps, myself?" Victoria smiled

tremulously over the rim of her cup.

Lucas's eyes gentled as he looked down

at her.
 
I think both of us are going to learn

a great deal tonight." He walked over to the

chair that stood across from hers near the

hearth. His eyes were gleaming as he sat

down and poured two glasses of sherry.

 
Here's to intellectual inquiry, Vicky."

She put down her teacup and took one

of the sherry glasses from his hand, aware

that her fingers were trembling slightly.
 
To

intellectual inquiry," she murmured, lifting

her glass in a small toast.

Lucas raised his glass in an answering

salute, his eyes never leaving hers. They

finished the sherry in a charged silence

and then Lucas removed the glass from

Victoria's fingers and set it down alongside

his.

Victoria remembered her gift and stood

up abruptly. She hurried to where she had

hung her cloak and reticule.

 
Vicky? What's wrong?" Lucas called

after her.

 
Nothing is wrong. I have something for

you. A small present." She turned back

toward him, clutching the little parcel in

both hands. It suddenly seemed like a

rather paltry gift.
 
It is not much, really.

I thought, hoped you might like it." She

smiled wistfully.
 
It seemed like the sort

of night one might want to remember with

a gift."

He stood up slowly.
 
It is exactly that

sort of night. I only wish I had a gift for

you. My lamentable military mind, I fear. I

was so concerned with the practical aspects

of this evening that I failed to think about

other, perhaps more important matters."

He came toward her and took the parcel

out of her hands. Then he led her back to

her seat by the fire and sat down to open

his present.

Victoria sat tensely as Lucas reverently

removed the paper wrapping and stared

thoughtfully down at Strelitzia reginae. She

realized she was in an agony of suspense.

It really was not much of a present, she

thought. Just a painting of a flower.

But when Lucas looked up again,

revealing a rare, intense emotion in his

eyes, she took a deep breath and relaxed

slightly. He was pleased.

 
Thank you, Vicky. It is beautiful and I

will hang it where I shall be able to look

at it daily. And whenever I do look at it,

I will remember this night."

I am glad you like it. Not every man

would care for a picture of a flower, you

know."

 
Just as well. I'd as soon you didn't

go around giving any other man your

paintings under similar circumstances." He

reached out and took her hand.

 
Lucas?"

 
Your fingers are cold," he observed,

cradling her palm. He turned her hand

in his and bent his head to kiss her bare

wrist. Her fingers curled.
 
You are very

tense."

 
I am nervous, if you must have the plain

truth," she admitted.

 
Would it make you feel any better to

know that I, too, am anxious about what

lies ahead?"

 
That I refuse to believe, my lord."

 
Then you sadly overestimate my forti

tude. I want you very much, Vicky, but

I do not want to hurt you or frighten

you or somehow spoil the magic with

clumsiness or a lack of self-control," Lucas

said quietly.

Victoria looked up at him in surprise and

was suddenly overwhelmed with a need to

reassure him.
 
I should have realized this

would be as awkward for you as it is for

me. We are very much alike in many ways,

are we not?"

Lucas nodded.
 
I like to think so."

 
You are doing this because I asked it of

you. I have forced you to go against your

own code of honor."

He smiled faintly and his hand tightened

around her fingers.
 
Do not credit me with

too many fine scruples and sensibilities,

Vicky. You cannot know how much I

have wanted to hold you naked in my

arms and feel you shiver when I enter

you, how much I have longed to have you

cling to me and draw me deep inside you.

I am here tonight because you have made

it clear that this is the only way I will ever

learn how hot you will burn and I cannot

live the rest of my life without discovering

the answer to that question."

Victoria stared at him, unable to look

away from the intensity of his gaze. She

felt the heat of the flames on her skin, but

it was nothing compared to the warmth

that was pooling within her. She knew her

fingers were trembling within his.

 
Lucas, I have something to tell you."

 
What is that, my sweet?" His voice was

indulgent as his fingers trailed along the

inside of her arm.

 
I
  
I think I have fallen in love with you,"

she blurted.

 
Only think?" He glanced up, eyes

gleaming.

 
Oh, Lucas."

He tugged her gently out of her chair

and down onto his thighs, where he held

her tightly against his chest. He speared

his fingers through her curls, gripped her

head, and kissed her.

Victoria thought she would drown under

the impact of his mouth. At the touch of

his tongue against her lips all her qualms

and fears vanished as if he had waved a

magic wand. Of course he wanted her.

There could be no doubt of that. And

she wanted him. Dear God, how she

wanted him.

The next few minutes were a haze of

small movements and tender, stroking

caresses that somehow combined to remove

Victoria's gown and petticoats along with

most of her remaining inhibitions. It

occurred to her that she ought to be

feeling at least somewhat embarrassed.

But all she could really feel was her

own stirring passion and a sense of

wonder that this man should want her

so much that he would risk his reputation

to please her.

 
You are very good to me." She touched

his cheek with gentle fingers.
 
You give me

so much. All those nights of adventure and

now this very special night."

 
Just remember that from now on all

your adventures must be with me." His

hand stroked her slowly from breast to

thigh until she moaned against his shirt.

The heat in his eyes sent flames through

her.

He set her on her feet and then led her

over to the bed. When they reached it,

she snuggled under the covers, watching

in fascination as he doused the candles.

When only the flames of the small fire lit

the room, Lucas sat down on the edge of

the bed, putting a considerable dent into

it. A moment later one highly polished

Hessian hit the floor. The second soon

followed.

Victoria unconsciously clenched the sheet

in her hands as she watched Lucas undress.

The firelight turned his skin to bronze

and underscored the smoothly muscled

contours of his broad shoulders. His belly

was hard and flat. Something gleamed in

the mat of dark curls on his chest and

Victoria looked more closely.

 
What is that pendant, Lucas? Is it made

of gold?"

He touched it absently.
 
Amber. There's

a small carving on it. It's been in the family

for years, I was told."

 
And you wear it always?"

He shrugged.
 
I have worn it constantly

since it was given to me by my uncle."

Lucas smiled.
 
I like to think it brings me

good luck, and it must work, otherwise I

would not be here with you." His fingers

suddenly tightened around it.
 
But I think

it would suit you better than it does me."

He removed the chain from around his

neck and moved closer.

 
No, Lucas, I could not possibly take

your pendant. It is a family heirloom. You

cannot give it away."

 
I can do anything I want with it." He

placed it carefully around her throat and

nodded in satisfaction. The amber glowed

like honey-colored fire against her skin.

The small figures of the knight and his lady

were visible in all their exquisite detail.
 
It

looks right on you. I want you to have it,

Vicky.
 
Tis a symbol of what we will share

between us tonight. As long as you wear

it, I will know you care for me and that

you think you might be in love with me."