the butler his card.
The Earl of stone vale to see Lady
Nettleship and her niece."
The butler peered down a very long
nose." I will see if Lady Nettleship is
receiving this morning."
For one grim moment Lucas wondered
what he would do if Victoria had changed
her mind about allowing him to pay a call
this morning. It was entirely possible that
in the clear light of day she had sensed
danger.
He should have resisted the hot urge that
had driven him to kiss her last night. He
had never intended to do so, not this early
in the game. But for a short, perilous time
there in the dark garden he had broken his
own cardinal rule and allowed his emotions
inn
to dominate hiss actions. Lucas vowed he
would be more ccautious in the future.
The butler returned, and a moment later
Lucas experienced relief which melted into
triumph when he was shown into the
stately drawing room. With the discipline
of long practice, he made certain neither
emotion was visible in his expression, but
reminded himself that the first hurdle was
behind him; he had been admitted into the
home of his quarry.
An instant later his triumph turned to
irritation when he did not immediately
spot Victoria in the sunny room. He
realized he had not expected her to lose
her nerve this morning. But the lady who
had followed him fearlessly into that alley
last night had apparently had a few second
thoughts about meeting him in the light
of day. Lucas forced himself to give his
full attention to the striking middle-aged
woman seated on the elegant sofa.
Your servant, Lady Nettleship," he
murmured as he bowed over the be ringed
hand." I see now that Victoria's fine eyes
are a family trademark."
Very charming, my lord. Do sit down.
We've been expecting you. Victoria, do put
down those beetles, my dear, and come
greet your guest." Victoria's aunt turned
her head slightly in the direction of her
niece and smiled.
Satisfaction soared in him. The little
baggage had not changed her mind after
all. Lucas straightened with a smile and
turned to see Victoria standing quietly near
the window at the far end of the room. No
wonder he hadn't spotted her at once. She
was dressed in a yellow and white dress
that tended to blend with the gold drapery
behind her.
Her very motionlessness told him that
she had deliberately chosen her position
so that she would be able to study him
unobserved for a few minutes as he entered
the room. Lucas's brows rose faintly in
amused acknowledgment of her tactics.
There was no substitute for getting a close
look at one's opponent before facing him.
It was clear he was not the only one who
knew something about strategy.
Good morning, Miss Huntington. For
a moment I feared you had discovered
you had a conflicting social engagement
today."
She came forward smoothly, her soft
slippers making no noise on the carpet. She
was carrying a flat box in her hands and
her eyes were alight with mischief" How
could you possibly think I would forget
your visit to us this morning, my lord?"
One can never be completely certain of
a lady's memory." Lucas inclined his head
over the hand she gracefully extended. Her
fingers felt cold and he knew then that she
was not as composed as she appeared. This
pleased him.
I assure you my memory is excellent."
Unfortunately for a man, it is not always
a lady's memory that fails. Sometimes she
simply changes her mind," Lucas said.
Victoria tilted her head and studied
him." Not without good cause. Please sit
down, as my aunt suggested. Are you at
all interested in beetles?"
Beetles?" For the first time Lucas
glanced into the box and found himself
viewing an array of dead insects pinned
inside. They were carefully arranged in
rows according to size, with the largest, a
true monster, at one end." To be perfectly
truthful, Miss Huntington, I have never
paid much heed to beetles."
Oh, but these are very excellent beetles,
are they not, Aunt Cleo?"
A fine collection," Lady Nettleship
agreed enthusiastically." Lady Woodbury,
a member of our little society, collected
them."
Fascinating." Lucas sat down slowly, his
eyes on Victoria as she took a place on the
sofa next to her aunt." One wonders how
Lady Woodbury managed to kill so many
large insects."
In the usual manner, I presume," Cleo
said." Pinched them under the wings or
used camphor or a length of wire."
Do you collect insects. Miss Hunting
ton?" Lucas asked.
No, I fear I have not the stomach for
it." She glanced down into the box." The
poor things do not always die quickly, you
know."
He watched her profile." The will to
survive can be amazingly strong."
Yes." She put the lid on the box of
beetles.
I fear my niece is a bit too softhearted
for certain areas of intellectual inquiry,"
Cleo said with a smile.
I will admit I prefer botany and
horticulture to the study of insects."
Your interests appear to be quite varied,
Miss Huntington," Lucas observed.
Did you think them limited?" She
glanced at him through her lashes, her
eyes gleaming with a mocking innocence.
Lucas recognized a trap when he saw
one." Not at all. In the course of our brief
association it has become quite clear to me
that you are a woman with a most unusual
mind."
Cleo glanced at him with interest." Are
you a student of horticulture and botany,
sir?"
As you may have heard, I have only
recently acceded to my title. I find that
coming into my inheritance has greatly
expanded my range of interests. It seems
to me that I shall need to learn something
about horticulture and similar subjects if
I am to implement improvements on my
estate," Lucas said.
Cleo looked pleased." Excellent. Then
you will no doubt be interested in Victoria's
watercolors and her drawings of plants."
Victoria turned a bright shade of pink,
which amazed Lucas." Aunt Cleo, I'm
sure his lordship would not be in the
least interested in my dabbles."
I assure you, I would be most inter
ested," Lucas said quickly. Anything that
could make Victoria blush was bound to
be fascinating.
She has a wonderful ability." Lady
Nettleship said as she jumped to her
feet and went to a nearby table to fetch
a sketchbook." Take a look at these."
Aunt Cleo, really
."
" Now, no false modesty, Vicky. Your
work is lovely and so wonderfully true to
life. I have been telling you for ages that
you should get some of it published. Here
you are, my lord. What do you think of
these?" Cleo thrust the book into Lucas's
hands with an air of expectant triumph.
Aware that Victoria was watching him
in a resigned silence, Lucas took his time
examining the sketchbook. He opened it
expecting to find the usual assortment of
amateurish artwork a man associated with
females. It was considered quite fashionable
for young ladies to learn to sketch and paint
flowers.
But Lucas was startled at the clarity and
liveliness of Victoria's work. Her plants
bloomed on the pages of the sketchbook,
glowing with exuberant energy. They were
not just artistically beautiful, they were
precise in every detail.
Lucas was fascinated as page after page
full of roses, irises, poppies, and lilies came
to life in front of him. Each one was
labeled in a fine hand with its formal,
botanical name: Rosa provincialis, Passiflora
alata.
Cyclamen linearifolium.
He looked up to find Victoria still
watching him with an oddly anxious
expression. He realized then that her art
was a vulnerable subject for her. He closed
the sketchbook." These are excellent, Miss
Huntington, as I'm sure you've been told.
Even to my untrained eye these sketches
and watercolors are beautiful."
Thank you." She smiled suddenly, very
brilliantly, as if he had just told her
that she, not her art, was beautiful. Her
amber eyes were almost gold." You're very
kind."
I am rarely kind, Miss Huntington," he
told her quietly." I am merely telling you
the truth. I will admit, however, that I
don't recognize all of these plants. Where
did you get your subjects?"
From the conservatory," Cleo explained.
Together, Victoria and I have established
what I like to believe is a most creditable
botanical garden. Nothing on the scale of
Kew, of course, but we're rather proud of
it.
Would you care to view the conservatory?
Victoria would be happy to give you a
short tour."
Lucas nodded." I should very much like
to see it."
Victoria rose gracefully." This way, my
lord."
Run along, then," Cleo said." Perhaps
you will join us for a dish of tea when
you have finished viewing the plants, my
lord?"
Thank you." Lucas smiled to himself
as he followed Victoria out into the hall
and down a short passageway that led to
the back of the house. Matters were going
well, he decided as she led him into a large
glass gallery filled with plants and the rich,
humid scent of soil. Already he was alone