Lucas inclined his head politely to both
women and made his escape from the
ballroom.
This was not his first such escape in the
past few days. Lucas grinned as he hailed a
carriage. He had been studiously avoiding
Victoria's increasingly pointed attempts to
speak to him in private.
Strategy.
He was certain he knew what the topic
of discussion would be when he finally
allowed his heiress to pin him down.
He was almost positive that what Victoria
was working herself up for was a request for
more of the sort of intellectual inquiry that
he had introduced her to that night in the
carriage after the visit to the Green Pig.
Lucas cautioned himself for the thousandth
time that he must not give in easily.
After all, he thought wryly as the carriage
halted at the steps of his Saint
James Street
club, he wanted the lady to continue to
respect him in the morning.
But there was another, far more serious
consideration. Vicky was his responsibility.
As her future lord and husband, it was his
duty to protect her. Once he had made
love to her, a new risk arose. There was
every possibility she would get pregnant.
He supposed he should look upon that
possibility as another useful tactic. Perhaps,
back at the beginning of this strange
courtship he might have done so. Now,
however, it occurred to Lucas that he
would far rather have Vicky come to
him of her own free will. He wanted
her to want him, he realized. He wanted
her to want him enough to take the risk
of surrendering completely. He wanted her
to marry him because she loved him, not
because she had to.
Lucas shook his head ruefully. Some
thing about the wooing of Victoria Hunt
ington was threatening to turn his clear
headed, cool-thinking soldier's brain into
romantic mush.
The club's gaming room was far different
in outer appearances than the gaming hell
where Lucas had taken Victoria. Here,
only gentlemen of respectable birth and
reputation were allowed. The atmosphere
around the green baize tables was far more
subdued and aristocratic in tone. But the
stakes were higher here in Saint
James than
in the stews, and the potential for disaster
enormous.
The potential for profit was correspond
ingly higher, too, however, and since the
games were far more likely to be honest in
this environment, such clubs were where
Lucas habitually came to make his living.
I say, stone vale, been wanting to speak
to you." Ferdie Merivale got to his feet
and hastened forward as he saw Lucas
walk into the room.
Lucas picked up a bottle of claret and
poured himself a glass. He cocked a brow
at the young man and wondered if he was
about to be called out for his rescue efforts
at the Green Pig. Then he thought of how
he would explain such a situation to the
lady who had gotten him into the mess in
the first place. Oh, by the bye, Vicky, the
young pup you insisted I rescue has decided
to try to kill me tomorrow morning.
At least Molly the farm girl was safely
out of town and not likely to come back
anytime soon.
What is it, Merivale?"
Ferdie flushed and ran a finger under
the extremely high fold of his neckcloth.
But his gaze was determined and direct.
I wished to thank you, my lord."
Lucas narrowed his eyes in muted
surprise.
Do you, indeed? For what?"
For your interference the other night,"
Merivale plowed on gamely.
Don't believe
I was properly appreciative at the time.
Had a few glasses of claret before I got
into the game, you know."
Glasses or bottles?"
Bottles," Ferdie admitted ruefully.
At
any rate, I had no way of knowing what
sort of reputation Duddingstone had. I've
since learned that respectable men don't
sit down to cards with him."
Intelligent men don't sit down to cards
with him," Lucas corrected.
I am glad
you realize what he is. I will not bore
you with a lecture on your responsibility
to your name and estates, but I would urge
you to think twice about risking more than
you can afford to lose in a card game with
anyone, respectable or otherwise."
Merivale grinned.
Are you quite certain
you're not going to bore me with a lecture?
Completely unnecessary, you know. I
swear I have had three or four from
my mother."
Lucas grinned.
Sorry. I fear I spent too
long in the army. One gets accustomed
to issuing warnings to green officers. And
spare me your thanks, Merivale. To tell
you the truth, I had no real intention of
rescuing you that evening. I had other
things on my mind at the time."
Then why did you bother, sir?" Merivale
asked.
My, uh, companion took pity on you
and suggested I do something. I obliged.
That was all there was to it."
I do not believe that for a moment, sir.
You were kind enough to get me out of a
situation in which I could have lost a great
deal and I want you to know I am in your
debt." Ferdie Merivale bowed slightly and
went back to join his friends at the bar.
Lucas shook his head in silent amaze
ment. Victoria had been correct. Ferdie
Merivale wasn't such a bad lot after all.
If he continued to grow up at this pace,
the young man might very well become a
credit to his title and his family.
None of that, however, made up for the
fact that because he had been occupied
with stuffing Merivale into a carriage,
Victoria had nearly been run down. Every
time he recalled the terrible scene, Lucas's
insides went cold.
Deliberately he shook off the chill. He
had business to do tonight. He picked up
the claret bottle and went across the room
to see who was playing cards. He needed
to augment his financial reserves. It cost
a staggering amount to move in Victoria's
social circles.
The one truly irksome thing about this
courtship was that the money he was
spending on the social trappings he needed
for camouflage was money that could
not be sunk into the hungry lands of
stone vale.
Lucas consoled himself with the knowledge
that one sometimes had to take risks
in order to secure a greater profit.
He soon found what he was looking
for a game of whist where the play would
be deep enough to suit his current financial
needs. He was invited to sit down at
once. Lucas did so, putting the bottle on
the table.
In reality, he would actually drink very
little this evening. He had learned long
ago that a clear head gave him a distinct
advantage in a game where his opponents
usually preferred to fortify themselves with
endless bottles of claret and port. The
bottle of claret sitting at his elbow was
simply more camouflage.
A long time later, after nearly four hours
of steady play, Lucas finally decided he
had enough to placate his tailor and his
bootmaker as well as sufficient to keep his
small staff satisfied for a few more weeks.
He excused himself from the game and
went to collect his hat and coat.
He realized he was tired. The intensity
and concentration he brought to his card
playing often left him feeling exhausted.
But he knew it was precisely that intensity
and concentration that helped him win on
a reliable basis.
It was the fashion among the men
of the ton to play wildly and without
much thought or analysis. Gaming was
just one more way of displaying one's
wealth and style, a method of enhancing
one's sense of power and masculinity and
impressing one's companions with one's
sangfroid.
Huge losses were handled with casual
disdain as if money meant nothing. But it
was no secret that some men went home
and put a pistol to their own heads after
a disastrous night at the tables.
Lucas much preferred winning and he
took great care to do so. Indeed, a man
who was good at strategy could prosper at
the gaming tables.
He was halfway to the door when he
spotted Edgeworth watching him from the
hearth. The other man's sullen dislike was
palpable, but Lucas was not particularly
concerned. The feeling was mutual. He
had not minded in the least relieving
Edgeworth of a sizable sum a fortnight
ago. Lucas also had no intention of ever
getting into another game with the man.
Good evening, stone vale. Enjoying your
outrageous little heiress?" Edgeworth spoke
just loudly enough to catch Lucas's
attention.
A very interesting young lady,
is she not?"
Lucas contemplated Edgeworth's taunt
ing expression and wondered if he could
simply ignore the man. Probably not.
Young Merivale and his friend had
overheard the remark. They were already
turning their heads to see how Lucas would
respond.
I do not discuss respectable women
with your sort, Edgeworth," Lucas said
mildly.
Now that I think of it, I do not
believe I would discuss women of any kind
with you."
Tis said the lady in question has no
intention of ever marrying," Edgeworth
continued, ignoring the clear warning in
Lucas's voice.
Since matrimony is not a
possibility, may we assume you have other
goals in mind for Miss Huntington? After
all, the two of you are seen together so
frequently one cannot help but speculate
on the nature of your association."
This was what came of having a
reputation for being slow to anger, Lucas