It was not a general announcement, I
assure you. He was most discreet. After
all, his sister is involved, is she not? If you
must know the truth, I believe Lyndwood
confided in me because he was feeling the
strain of the situation."
Strain? What strain? There is absolutely
nothing about any of this that should make
him anxious. He is simply going to escort
Annabella and me to the park where the
fair is being held. What could be simpler?"
she snapped.
As I understand it, you and his sister
applied a certain degree of pressure on
Lyndwood to get him to agree to your
plans. The poor boy is still green enough
to be manipulated by such feminine tactics.
Fortunately, he is also wise enough to
regret his weakness and smart enough to
seek assistance."
Poor boy, indeed. What nonsense. You
make it sound as though Annabella and I
coerced Bertie into this."
Didn't you?" stone vale shot back.
Of course not. We merely impressed
upon him that we have every intention of
going to the fair tonight and he insisted
on accompanying us. Very gallant of him.
Or so we thought."
You left him little choice as a gentleman.
He could hardly agree to let you go on your
own and you knew it. It was blackmail.
Furthermore, I suspect it was largely your
idea, Miss Huntington."
Blackmail" Victoria was now furious.
I
resent that accusation, my lord."
Why? it is little more than the truth. Do
you think Lyndwood would have willingly
consented to escort you and his sister
to such a disreputable event unless you
threatened to go on your own? Miss
Lyndwood's mama would have a fit of
the vapors if she got word of this little
escapade tonight, and so, I imagine, would
your aunt."
I assure you. Aunt Cleo is far too sturdy
to indulge in a fit of the vapors," Victoria
declared loyally. But she knew stone vale
was perfectly correct about Annabella's
mama. Lady Lyndwood would indeed have
hysterics if she discovered her daughter's
plans for this evening. Proper young ladies
of the ton did not go to the fair-grounds
at night.
Your aunt may be a sturdy character. I
will take your word for it, as I have not yet
had the honor of meeting Lady Nettleship.
But I sincerely doubt she would approve of
your plans for this evening/ stone vale said.
I shall throttle Lord Lyndwood when
I see him. He is no gentleman to have
betrayed a confidence in this manner."
It was not entirely his fault he confided
in me. I spent enough years as an officer to
know when a young man is agitated about
something. It was not that difficult to press
him for the details."
Victoria narrowed her eyes.
Why?"
Let us say I had a great curiosity about
the matter. When Lyndwood discovered
I was only too happy to come to his
assistance tonight, he confessed all and
pleaded for a companion."
You have not answered my question.
Why was your curiosity so great?"
My reasons are not particularly im
portant," stone vale's long fingers rippled
easily through the deck of cards again.
It
seems to me we have a more immediate
problem."
I see no problem." Other than getting
rid of you, Victoria added silently. Her
first instincts had been correct. She should
have run when she had the chance. But it
was beginning to appear as though she'd
never had the opportunity in the first
place. Everything suddenly seemed to be
proceeding according to some master plan
that had been set in motion and over which
she had less and less control.
We should go over the details of the
evening's adventure, don't you think?"
The details have already been taken care
of, thank you." Victoria did not like the
feeling of not being in charge.
Please understand. Perhaps it is the
ex-soldier in me or perhaps it is mere
curiosity, but I like to know exactly what
is involved in a venture before it begins.
Would you be so good as to outline the
schedule of events more clearly for me?"
stone vale asked innocently.
I do not see why I should. I did not
invite you along."
I merely wish to be of assistance, Miss
Huntington. Not only is Lyndwood grateful
for my help tonight, but you, yourself,
might also find it very convenient to
have an extra escort on hand. The mob
can become very boisterous and rowdy at
night."
i'm not in the least concerned with the
rowdy crowds. That is part of what will
make the entire venture exciting."
Then I'm sure you will at least be
grateful for my continued silence on the
matter should I happen to be introduced
to your aunt this evening."
Victoria studied him mutely for a short,
taut moment.
It would seem that Lord
Lyndwood is not the only one in danger
of being blackmailed. It appears I am also
slated to become a victim."
You wound me, Miss Huntington."
Not fatally, unfortunately, else I would
be rid of my problem, wouldn't I?"
I urge you to look upon me as a solution
rather than a problem." stone vale smiled
his slow smile. It did not affect the ghosts
in his eyes.
I ask only to serve you in the
capacity of escort this evening when you
venture out into the dangerous streets of
the city. I am most anxious to discharge
my gaming debt."
And if I decline to collect my winnings
by accepting your escort, you will tell my
aunt what is planned, is that it?"
stone vale sighed.
It would be most
unpleasant for all concerned if Miss
Lyndwood's mama or your aunt discovered
your scheme for tonight, but one can never
tell what topics of conversation will arise in
the course of an evening, can one?"
Victoria snapped her closed fan against
the table.
I knew it. This is blackmail."
A nasty word for it, but, yes, I suppose
in a manner of speaking, it is blackmail."
Fortune hunter. That was the only
explanation. She had never before encountered
one quite so bold and aggressive. The
type generally tended to be extremely well
mannered and gracious, at least initially.
But Victoria trusted her instincts. She
locked eyes with stone vale for an instant,
fascinated by the waiting, expectant gleam
in his hard, gray gaze. When she started
to rise from the card table, the earl got to
his feet to assist her.
I shall look forward to seeing you later
this evening," he murmured in her ear as
she rose.
If you are fishing for a fortune, my
lord," Victoria drawled,
cast your lures
elsewhere. You are wasting your time with
me. I will grant that your technique is a
novel one, but I do not find it at all
attractive. I assure you, I have resisted far
more agreeable bait."
So I have been told."
He paced beside her as they moved into
the glittering, crowded ballroom. Victoria
became aware again, as she had earlier, of
stone vale's curiously balanced, but uneven
stride. The elegant black evening clothes,
finely tied cravat, close-fitting breeches,
and polished boots did not disguise the
limp that marred the movement of his
left leg.
What, precisely, have you been told, my
lord?" Victoria demanded.
He shrugged.
It is said you have little
interest in marriage, Miss Huntington."
Your sources are wrong." She smiled
thinly.
I do not have even a little interest
in the married state. I have absolutely no
interest in it, whatsoever."
stone vale slanted her a considering
glance.
A pity. Perhaps if you had a
husband and a family to occupy your time
in the evenings, you would not be obliged
to amuse yourself with risky adventures
such as the one you have planned for
tonight."
Victoria's smile widened.
I am certain
that the sort of adventure I have planned for
this evening will be vastly more entertaining
than the evening duties of a wife."
What makes you so certain of that?"
Personal history, my lord. My mother
was married for her fortune and it
destroyed her. My dear aunt was also
married for her money. Fortunately for her
my uncle had the grace to die early on in a
hunting accident. But since I cannot count
on similar good fortune, I have chosen not
to take the risk of marriage."
You do not fear that you might be
missing an important part of a woman's
life?" he ventured.
Not in the least. I have seen nothing
of marriage to recommend it." Victoria
opened her gilded fan to conceal a shudder.
Memories of her stepfather's casual little
cruelties and drunken acts of violence
toward her mother were never far below
the surface. Even the bright lights of the
ballroom could not entirely banish them.
She fanned herself languidly once or
twice, hoping stone vale would gain the
impression that she was acutely bored with
the direction of the conversation.
Now, if
you will excuse me, my lord, I see a friend
I must speak to."
He followed her glance.
Ah, yes, the
intrepid Annabella Lyndwood. She is no
doubt anxious to discuss the evening's
plans, too. It appears, since you are