Surrender (63 page)

Annabella said that he is no longer

circulating much in the higher levels of

the ton."

 
Perhaps
  
he
  
has
  
suffered
  
some
  
more

losses at the gaming tables," Lucas offered

mildly.

 
Lucas, you suggested once or twice that

he might have been involved in either the

carriage incident or the footpad attack.

Have you given any more thought as to

whether he might have been the one who

sent the pamphlet and note to me?"

 
I have thought about it." Lucas studied

the street outside the carriage window.
 
I

do not doubt for a moment that he would

not be at all concerned if I suffered an

unfortunate accident. But I cannot see

that it makes much sense to bother you.

Not unless he was paving the way for a

blackmail attempt."

 
But there has been no demand for

payment," Victoria said.

 
I know. As I said, it makes no sense.

Not yet, at any rate. Nevertheless, I intend

to start my inquiries with Edgeworth.
 
Tis

as good a place as any."

 
Shall we hire ourselves a runner?"

Victoria asked, growing excited by the

prospect.
 
The one I employed to track

down information on Lord Barton was

excellent."

Lucas met her eyes.
 
I would rather not

get involved in hiring a runner if I can

avoid it."

 
Why not?"

 
Because in doing so, I would run the

risk of bringing up awkward questions

about your stepfather's death, and those,

in turn, might lead to awkward questions

about you."

 
Oh." Victoria sat back in her seat.
 
Yes,

I see the problem. You are very clever,

Lucas. Always thinking ahead."

 
One tries."

 
How will you go about tracking down

Edgeworth?" Victoria asked.

 
I shall start by making a few inquiries

at my clubs. Someone is certain to know

something about a man who gambles as

much as Edgeworth does."

 
An excellent notion."

 
I am glad you approve. Because it

means that you will be obliged to go

straight home to bed after we have put

in a few appearances this evening."

 
What?" Her eyes darkened.
 
You cannot

mean that."

 
I fear so, madam. I cannot possibly

sneak you into my clubs. We both know

that. And since I do not want you running

about at night without me, that leaves us

with no option except to see you safely

tucked up in bed at home."

 
While you are out gathering information?"

Victoria was incensed.
 
That is not

fair, Lucas."

 
It is not a question of fairness. It is

a question of your safety. I will not risk

any more runaway carriages, footpads, or

ghosts who leave behind items marked with

a
 
W."

 
But, Lucas, I will stay in Aunt Cleo's

company or Annabella's. I will not be

alone," Victoria insisted.

 
Not good enough, Vicky. One cannot

expect your aunt or Annabella to be on

guard for a runaway carriage or a footpad,

especially since they do not know they

should be on guard for such things in the

first place. No, I want to know you are

safe at home while I am at my clubs."

Victoria's temper sparked as she sensed

his implacability.
 
You cannot shut me out

of this investigation. I will not allow you

to do so. We agreed that the chief reason

we would come back to London was to

pursue this matter. This is my affair."

 
I am not shutting you out. I'm simply

ensuring that I know exactly where you

are at a time when I cannot be with you.

The danger lies here in London, Vicky.

All the incidents occurred here. So while

we are in Town, I want you under either

my direct observation or lock and key,"

Lucas declared, his tone as definite as his

words.

Victoria bristled.
 
Lucas, I must tell

you that while you have made a tolerable

husband in some respects, I do not like

it at all when you assume the attitude of

a superior officer and start giving orders

to me. I am not under your command.

I am your partner, remember? We are in

business together."

 
Above all, you are my wife, and as

your husband I have certain responsibilities

toward you. I am sorry if I offend you with

the occasional command. I fear old habits

are sometimes hard to break."

Victoria gave him a withering look.
 
Do

not blame your old military habits. That is

nothing but an excuse, my lord, and you

are well aware of it."

 
Well, then, to be perfectly truthful,

Vicky, I must admit there are times when

nothing else except a direct order will

suffice in dealing with you. Tonight is

one of those times. Now stop looking at

me as though you would like to strangle

me and try to look like a loving bride. I

believe we have arrived at the FoxtonsV

 
Lucas, I warn you I will not tolerate

being treated like a witless child."

 
I would not dream of doing so." He

glanced out the window as the carriage

drew to a halt.
 
It looks as if we have

helped Lady Foxton draw a sizable crowd

tonight. She will undoubtedly be feeling

suitably grateful. Ready, my dear?"

 
Damn it, Lucas, you are not going

to get away with acting like this." She

glared at him as he stepped out of the

carriage and reached back to take her

hand.
 
Just because you can seduce me

virtually anytime you please does not mean

I have become a weak-willed, fluff-brained

female whom you can order about as it

suits you."

His hand tightened roughly around her

fingers and sudden laughter filled his eyes.

 
I do not believe I heard that properly.

Would you care to repeat that, madam?"

 
You heard me. Oh, look, there's Anna

bella and Bertie, now." She summoned up

a brilliant smile.
 
I cannot wait to talk to

them." Victoria rushed off, dragging Lucas

along with her into the throng of people

clustered on the front steps of the Foxtons'

town house.

His wife's sense of timing was, as

always, devastating. Lucas grinned ruefully

to himself as he got out of the carriage in

front of one of his clubs. Her admission

that he had the power to seduce her at will

was enough to make him want to carry her

straight back home and take her to bed.

Instead he had been obliged to escort her

into the Foxtons" ballroom, where he had

been forced to spend his time fending off

a lot of Victoria's old admirers. Every last

one of them had felt it necessary to profess

heartfelt anguish at the news that she

had accepted another's hand in marriage.

Victoria had enjoyed herself immensely

and had flirted so outrageously that Lucas

was determined to exact retribution when

he returned home.

Just what form his retribution would

take was a matter to which he intended

to give considerable attention. But in the

meantime there were other matters that

needed his full concentration.

The first person Lucas saw when he

walked into the club was Ferdie Merivale.

The young man smiled in welcome.

 
Congratulations on your marriage. stone vale.

Cannot say I was terribly surprised.

Wish you the best and all that. You

are a lucky man. Lovely lady, your new

countess."

 
Thank you, Merivale." Lucas poured

himself a glass of claret.

 
Come to play a few hands of cards?"

Merivale inquired.

 
Unfortunately, I fear my gaming days

are behind me. I'm a married man now.

Cannot spend all night playing cards

anymore."

Merivale chuckled.
 
I expect Lady Stone

vale would have a few words to say about

that, wouldn't she?"

 
My wife is rarely at a loss for words,"

Lucas agreed.
 
Any news of interest?"

 
That's right, you have been spending the

last few weeks rusticating in the country,

haven't you? Since you had that bit of a

scene with Edgeworth shortly before you

left Town, you might be interested to

know that he is rarely seen in the clubs

these days. He was obliged to resign from

this one, in fact."

 
I cannot imagine Edgeworth giving up

his gaming."

 
Oh, don't think he has. But word has it

he's carrying on his business in somewhat

less respectable surroundings. Heard he

was seen in that same gaming hell you

rescued me from a while back. The Green

Pig. Nasty place. Rather suits him, though,

don't you think?"

 
I am sure he will feel very much at

home there," Lucas agreed.

It was another two hours before Lucas

walked into the Green Pig. Nothing had

changed since the night he had brought

Victoria here. It was still the same

oppressive, noisy place it had been when

he'd deliberately chosen it with a view to

shocking Victoria into realizing she did not

really want to frequent gaming hells. Not

that it had achieved its purpose, Lucas

thought with an inner grin. Victoria had

had a great time that night.

Edgeworth was sitting at a card table

with a group of well-dressed young dandies

who were clearly deeply into their cups.

They had apparently set out to spend an

evening savoring the dregs of town life.

Lucas got a pint of beer from a passing