Surrender (58 page)

part, but it does make for some awkward

moments between us."

 
It seems to me that you have tried to

manipulate and control me right from the

start," Victoria said quietly.
 
You even told

me you were doing it that first night in

my aunt's garden when you said I would

be unable to resist you because you would

give me what no other man ever had."

 
So I did."

 
Well? Aren't you going to apologize

for that?"

 
There's not much point, is there? I

don't regret it." He eased her mouth down

to his.
 
I would have done whatever I had

to do in order to get you."

A small chill went through Victoria.

Lucas had meant to get himself an heiress

at whatever cost. There had been no love

involved in the bargain, at least not on

his side. He had been quite ruthless, right

from the start. She had to keep reminding

herself of that fact, especially when she lay

in his arms. It was so easy to pretend that

all was well between them at times like

this, so easy to pretend that he was not

plotting her surrender.

 
Isabel Rycott once told me that weak

men are more useful to a woman than

strong ones because they are easier to

control/ Victoria mused against his lips.

 
Look at me, my sweet. I am utterly

at your mercy. A helpless slave to your

wicked, carnal desires. How much more

useful can a man be?"

 
There is that. I must admit, you are not

the least bit stingy when it comes to this

area of our marriage." Victoria parted her

lips and drew her tongue along the edge

of his hard mouth.

Lucas groaned and set about proving

just how willing he was to serve his lady

in this area of their marriage.

Victoria awoke once more shortly after

dawn, aware that Lucas was shifting about

restlessly in his sleep. She put her hand

on the ragged scar on his thigh and began

to massage the taut muscles. He relaxed

almost at once and fell back into a calm

slumber.

She lay awake beside him for a few

minutes, thinking that she had not been

troubled with nightmares since her first

night here at stone vale. But the faint,

nagging sense of unease had not completely

vanished. Victoria could not completely

escape the feeling that something dark and

menacing was slowly closing in on her.

She cuddled closer to Lucas's hard,

warm body and his arm went around her.

She reached up and absently touched the

amber pendant at her throat as she often

did these days. A moment later she relaxed

and fell asleep.

 
You won't believe this, ma'am, but they're

sayin" the /ghosts were seen again last

night. Fair gives one the shivers, don't

it? Except that nobody around here seems

to mind havin" these two particular ghosts

runnin" about. But I reckon that's how

country folk are. Peculiar." Nan finished

fastening the bodice of Victoria's yellow

printed muslin gown and reached for the

silver hairbrush.

Victoria watched her maid in the mirror.

 
Is this the Amber Knight and his lady you

are talking about, Nan?"

 
Yes, ma'am. So they be sayin" in the

kitchens, at any rate."

 
Are they saying precisely where the

ghosts were seen?" Victoria asked carefully

just as the connecting door opened and

Lucas walked into her bedchamber. She

was relieved to note he was fully dressed

and even more pleased to see that he

did not appear to be favoring his bad

leg unduly.

 
Mornin', your lordship." Nan dropped

a quick curtsy and went back to work

brushing Victoria's short curls into

fashionable, casual disarray.

 
Good morning," Lucas said easily. He

met Victoria's gaze in the mirror and

smiled with lazy satisfaction.
 
Finish your

tale, Nan. Where were the ghosts seen?"

Nan's eyes brightened.
 
Ridin" down one

of the lanes, just as bold as you please. Can

you imagine? What would a couple of self

respectin" ghosts be doing riding horseback

in the middle of the night, I ask you? The

tales some people come up with."

 
I agree with you," Lucas remarked, his

eyes gleaming as they continued to hold

Victoria's in the mirror.
 
I cannot for

the life of me imagine why a couple of

intelligent ghosts would be out riding at

that hour. Who saw them?"

 
Well, as to that, I am not sure exactly,

sir. I had the story from one of the kitchen

girls who had it from a new stable lad. He

just started work this mornin". Don't know

where he got it," Nan said.

 
Probably made the whole thing up,"

Victoria said.
 
That will be all for now,

Nan. Thank you."

Yes, m'lady." Nan bobbed another

curtsy and left the room.

Lucas grinned as the door closed behind

the maid.
 
Ten to one Billy Simms has put

a nice twist on the events of last night."

 
No doubt." Victoria laughed.
 
It is

getting to be a great joke, is it not,

Lucas?"

 
I fear it will not be quite so amusing

when someone finally realizes that the

ghosts are merely the current Earl of

stone vale and his hoyden of a countess.

But we shall face that problem when it

arises. Are you ready to go down to

breakfast?" /

 
Yes, indeed. In fact, I find myself with

an excellent appetite this morning."

 
I cannot imagine why," Lucas murmured

as he opened the door for her.

Victoria stepped forward and looped her

arm into his.
 
Nothing like a little exercise

to work up an appetite, is there? What are

your plans for the day, my lord?"

 
I am going to meet with the vicar to go

over some ideas I have been studying for

the new irrigation system. And your plans,

my dear?"

She smiled serenely as they started down

the stairs.
 
Oh, I thought I would spend

the morning going over the interest rates

offered by certain moneylenders I may

need to consult in the event I should

ever happen to find myself placed on a

strict allowance."

 
Save your energy, madam. The day I

allow you to go to a moneylender will be

the day I have truly abandoned the fight

and raised the white flag of defeat."

 
An interesting notion. Somehow I

cannot quite imagine you admitting defeat

in anything, stone vale."

 
You are getting to know me well,

Vicky."

The three letters arrived just as they were

finishing breakfast. Victoria recognized her

aunt's seal on one of them and Annabella

Lyndwood's on the another. She tore

Annabella's note open first.

My Dearest Vicky,

What a fine stir you have caused.

Everyone is having a wonderful time

discussing what is being termed the Great

Romance of the Year. Lady Hesterly's

daughter even went so far as to suggest

that Byron scribble a verse or two to

celebrate the event. That notion, of course,

is reported to have sent Carol Lamb flying

up into the boughs. It is well known she

does not like being cast into the shade by

someone more outrageously romantic than

herself.

Be that as it may, the rest of the

gossip pales in comparison to talk of

your marriage. Do hurry back, Vicky. I

assure you that you will be heralded as

a mythic goddess of love straight out of

a classic tale of romance. And I must

say, life has become rather boring without

you. The only recent excitement is that

I have succeeded in persuading Bertie to

definitely refuse Viscount Barton's offer.

He is presently moping (Lord Barton,

that is, not Bertie) but shows every sign

of perking up and turning his attentions

elsewhere.

Affectionately yours,

Annabella

 
So much for poor Barton," Lucas

muttered.
 
Foiled by females."

 
So much, indeed," Victoria agreed with

relish. She opened her aunt's note next and

scanned the contents quickly before giving

a small shriek of dismay.
 
Dear heaven, of

all the wretched luck."

Lucas looked up from the newspaper

that had arrived with the letters.
 
What's

wrong?"

 
Everything. This is terrible. A disaster."

Lucas folded the newspaper and put it

down beside his plate.
 
Has something

happened to your aunt? Is she ill?"

 
No, no, no, it is nothing like that. The

disaster has happened to us. Oh, Lucas,

what on earth are we to do? How do we

get out of this horrible situation? This is

intolerable."

 
Perhaps I could be of greater assistance

if you would give me a few more

details concerning this intolerable, horrible

disaster."

Victoria glanced up, her brows snapping

together in a severe frown.
 
This is not

funny, Lucas. Aunt Cleo writes that Jessica

Atherton called upon her and suggested

that it would be wise for you and me to

put in an appearance in London before

the Season ends. Lady Atherton has very

kindly stated that she will honor us with

a reception."

Lucas looked thoughtful. Then he

shrugged.
 
Perhaps she's right. It might

not be a bad idea. It would serve to enforce

the notion that ours is a love match."

Victoria was appalled.
 
Lucas, are you

listening? It is none other than Jessica

Atherton who is proposing to give us this

reception."

 
Who better? As we both know, her