Isabel's catlike grace, her sleek black hair,
and faintly slanted eyes. She was one
of a handful of other women in the
room besides Victoria who had defied
the current style by wearing a strong
color rather than demure white or pastel
tonight. Her riveting deep emerald green
gown shimmered brilliantly in the light of
the ballroom.
But it was not Isabel's unusual looks that
made Victoria regard her with a certain
wistful envy. It was the freedom conferred
upon her by her age and her status as a
widow that Victoria secretly admired. A
woman in Lady Rycott's position was far
less subject to the close scrutiny of the ton
than Victoria was. Lady Rycott was even
free to indulge in discreet affairs.
Victoria had never met a man with
whom she had wanted to have an affair,
but she would have liked very much to
have had the freedom to do so if she
chose.
Good evening. Lady Rycott." Victoria
looked down at the woman who stood
several inches shorter than she.
Are you
acquainted with the earl?"
Isabel shook her exquisitely shaped
head.
We have not yet been introduced,
unfortunately. He has only recently entered
Society, although I hear he has been active
at the gaming tables in the clubs for some
time now.
I
heard
the
same
thing,"
Annabella
said.
Bertie says the man is an excellent
gamester. Very coolheaded."
Really?" Isabel glanced across the room
to where the earl was still standing with
Lady Atherton.
He's not at all in the way
of being handsome, is he? Still, there is
something quite intriguing about him."
Handsome? Victoria could have laughed
aloud at the notion of using such an
insipid word to describe stone vale. No,
he was not handsome. His face was strong,
harsh even, with a sharp blade of a nose,
an aggressive jaw, and an unrelenting
awareness in those gray eyes. His hair
was the color of a moonless night sky, shot
with silver at the temples, but none of it
added up to handsome. When one looked
at stone vale, one saw quiet, controlled,
masculine power, not a fine dandy.
You must admit," Annabella said,
that
he certainly wears his clothes well."
Yes," Isabel agreed softly.
He wears his
clothes exceedingly well."
Victoria did not like the assessing look
Isabel was employing as she surveyed
the earl, but there was no denying that
stone vale was one of those rare men who
was not dominated by the elegant tailoring
that was so fashionable. His powerful
shoulders, flat waist, and strongly molded
thighs needed no padding or camouflage.
Perhaps he will turn out to be rather
amusing," Isabel said.
Yes, indeed," Annabella agreed cheer
fully.
Victoria glanced again at the tall, dark
figure beside Lady Atherton.
Amusing may
not be quite the right word." Dangerous was
the right word.
But Victoria was suddenly willing to
experiment with this dash of danger; the
social whirl of the ton, which lately she
depended upon more and more to fill up
the long hours of the night, was no longer
enough. She needed something else to help
her hold the restless nightmares at bay.
The Earl of stone vale might be just the
tonic for which she had been searching.
Dearest Lucas, what did you think of
her? Will she do?" Lady Atherton gazed up
at stone vale with an anxious expression in
her beautiful, gentle eyes.
I think she will do nicely, Jessica." Lucas
sipped champagne from the glass in his
hand, his eyes moving across the crowd.
I know she is a bit old."
I, myself, am a bit old," he pointed
out dryly.
Nonsense. Thirty-four is an excellent
age for a man intent on marriage. Edward
was thirty-three when I married him."
Yes, he was, wasn't he?"
Jessica
Atherton's
eyes
were
instantly
filled with a heart-wrenching contrition.
Lucas, I am so sorry. How clumsy of
me. You must know I did not mean to
hurt you."
I'll survive," Lucas finally spotted Vic
toria in the crowd. He kept his gaze
on the tall figure of his quarry as she
stepped out onto the dance floor with a
plump, elderly baron. Victoria obviously
enjoyed dancing, although she appeared to
restrict her partners to very young, socially
awkward males or those much older than
herself. She probably viewed such men as
harmless.
He regretted he did not dare risk asking
her out onto the floor. It would be
interesting to see if she followed him
there as easily as she had followed him
into the card room. But he was not certain
how well she would tolerate the lack of
grace in his damned left leg, and at this
juncture he could not take any chances.
He sensed no streak of cruelty in her,
though. She definitely had a temper,
but he knew she would not stoop to
insults or cutting remarks about his limp.
Nevertheless she might very well tread quite
forcefully on his toes if he managed to goad
her as he had in the card room. The image
made Lucas smile.
It was quite outrageous of her to
accompany you into the card room, of
course," Lady Atherton said.
But, then,
I fear that is our Miss Huntington. She
does have a tendency to come very close to
the edge of what is considered proper. But
under a husband's guidance, I am certain
that regrettable element of her nature could
be controlled."
An interesting notion."
And she does have a noticeable pre
dilection for that rather overbright shade
of yellow," Lady Atherton added.
It's clear Miss Huntington has a mind
and a will of her own. But I must allow
that the yellow looks attractive on her. Not
many women could wear it successfully."
Lucas studied Victoria's tall, willowy
figure in the high-waisted gown. The
yellow silk was a ray of honeyed sunlight
in the crowded room. It gleamed with a
warm richness amid the array of classical
white and watery pastels.
The only real problem with the gown
as far as he was concerned was that the
bodice was cut far too low. It revealed
entirely too much of the gentle, high slopes
of Victoria's breasts. Lucas had an almost
irresistible urge to borrow some matron's
shawl and wrap it firmly around Victoria's
upper torso. Such an impulse was so out of
character for him that he was momentarily
astonished.
I fear she has a reputation for being
something of an Original. Her aunt's doing,
no doubt. Cleo Nettleship is most unusual
in her own right," Lady Atherton said.
I would much prefer a lady who is
out of the common run. Makes for more
interesting conversation, wouldn't you say?
One way or another, I suspect I shall have
to endure a good many conversations with
the woman I eventually marry. No getting
around it."
Jessica sighed softly.
Tis unfortunate,
but there simply is not a large selection
of heiresses around this Season. But, then,
there rarely is. However, there is still Miss
Pilkington. You really should meet her
before you make up your mind, Lucas. I
vow she is a very admirable female. Always
perfectly correct in her behavior, whereas,
I fear, Miss Huntington has a certain
tendency to be somewhat headstrong."
Never mind Miss Pilkington. I'm quite
content with Miss Huntington."
If only she weren't very nearly five and
twenty. Miss Pilkington is only nineteen.
Younger women tend to be more amenable
to a husband's influence, Lucas."
Jessica, please believe me when I tell you
Miss Huntington's age is not a problem."
You are quite certain?" Lady Atherton
eyed him uneasily.
I would far rather deal with a woman
of a certain age who knows what she's
about than a young chit straight out of
the schoolroom. And I would have to say
that Miss Huntington does, indeed, know
what she is about."
You mean because she has managed
to stay single so long? You are probably
right. She's made it very clear she has
no interest whatsoever in turning over her
inheritance to a husband. Everyone but the
most desperate of fortune hunters has quite
given up on her."
stone vale flashed a crooked smile.
Which narrows the field for me."
Don't misunderstand me. She is an
engaging creature, rather refreshing in some
ways, like her aunt. Victoria does have her
share of admirers. But they all seem to be
relegated to the status of friends."
In other words, they have all learned
their places and they stay in them."
If they overstep themselves, she drops
them immediately. Miss Huntington is
known for being kind for the most
part, always has a smile and a charming
word. Quite willing to dance with the less
attractive men in the room. But she is
very firm with all of the gallants who hang
around her," Jessica added.
That did not surprise him. Miss Hunt
ington would not have remained her own
mistress this long unless she had learned
the trick of manipulating the males in her
orbit. He was going to find himself walking
a very narrow line during this courtship.
She is well educated, I take it?" Lucas