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