Lucas thought.
Where were you planning
to walk?"
I am not certain. I had not really
thought about it."
He considered quickly, trying to re
member what he had seen during the
past few days as he had ridden over
his lands.
There is an empty cottage
not far from here. I believe it belonged
to the gamekeeper back in the days when
stone vale had a gamekeeper. Why don't
we walk there and back?"
All right." She fell silent.
It is a lovely night, is it not?"
I find it rather chilly," she told him
distantly.
Yes," Lucas agreed thinking swiftly.
There was some old firewood stacked
outside the cottage, he recalled. Too bad
he had not ordered the place cleaned
yesterday when he'd examined it. He
stumbled slightly over a nonexistent stone
and stifled a small groan.
What is the matter with you?" Victoria
asked, frowning in annoyance.
Nothing important. My leg is acting up
a bit tonight." He tried to sound stoic and
brave.
Really, Lucas, I should think you would
have learned by now not to go about in
the cold night air when it is paining
you."
You are undoubtedly correct about that,
madam. But you seem to favor running
about at night and that leaves me with
little choice but to accompany you."
You should have gone after an heiress
who is not fond of this sort of sport," she
told him.
The Perfect Miss Pilkington
would have done nicely for you."
Do you think so? I admit she was
on Jessica Atherton's list, but somehow
I could not seem to work up much
enthusiasm. There was something a bit
boring about the prospect of being married
to Miss Pilkington. As you and Annabella
said, she was a bit too much like Lady
Atherton."
Victoria retreated deeper into the hood
of her cloak until her voice was muffled.
You are right on that account. If you
think Lady Atherton has grown somewhat
dull over the years, you should see Miss
Pilkington. Do not mistake me. She is very
nice but she's only nineteen and she told
me herself, she believes she may have a
religious calling."
I see. We would not have suited each
other at all. I cannot imagine taking her
to a gaming hell. Nor can I envision
her using a walking stick on a brothel
butler."
On the other hand, she probably
wouldn't have given you any trouble. I
am certain she would have made a most
dutiful wife. Speaking of duty
."
He sighed.
Yes?"
Lady Atherton did warn me that I must
be prepared to do mine and provide you
with an heir."
I wouldn't mind throttling Lady Atherton."
She was only trying to help. After all,
you did ask her to assist you in finding
an heiress."
You need not remind me."
Lucas?" Victoria asked shyly.
Hmmm?"
Lady Atherton pointed out that if I
thought doing my duty was going to be
difficult for me, I should only consider how
very hard it was going to be on you to have
to pretend some degree of affection in the
marital bed."
God damn it to hell and back." Lucas
came to a halt and swung her around
to face him. He glared down at her
incredulously.
You cannot tell me you
believed her? After that night we spent
together at the inn?"
She faced him staunchly, her eyes
glittering within the shadow of the cloak.
I have learned from both my mother and
my aunt that men do not seem to have
any great degree of difficulty pretending
that sort of physical affection when it suits
them."
Men are not the only ones who can
manage the trick," Lucas muttered, and
then added ruthlessly,
Some would say I
have good cause to question the depths of
your feelings that night."
Anger flashed in her gaze.
How dare
you question my feelings that night? I was
painfully honest with you about the depth
of my emotions, as I recall."
He shrugged.
If your feelings ran as
deep as you imply, I doubt you could
have buried them so quickly afterward."
I buried them quickly because I felt
ill-used. Damn you, I had no choice but
to suppress my foolish affection. I feel
nothing but humiliation whenever I recall
my actions that cursed night."
I must say you have done an excellent
job of suppressing your feelings. One would
never guess you ever held me in anything
but complete dislike."
Yes, well, that is certainly
She broke
off as he stumbled and winced.
What's
wrong now?" she demanded impatiently.
I told you, my leg is troubling me
somewhat this evening."
There are times, Lucas, when you
display very little common sense." She
took his arm to steady him.
I suppose
we ought to return to the house before
you take a bad fall."
I don't believe I can make it that far.
The cottage is closer. If I could just rest
inside it for a while, I am certain I will
be all right."
Very well," she muttered irritably.
Here,
you had better let me assist you."
Thank you, Vicky. You are very kind."
Leaning rather heavily on her, Lucas
allowed himself to be assisted into the
dark confines of the small gamekeeper's
cottage.
Strategy.
Lucas settled himself on the floor of the
cottage, his arm propped on one up-drawn
knee, his sore leg stretched out straight.
He watched cheerfully as Victoria busied
herself building a fire. She had refused to
allow him to carry the wood, insisting he
rest, instead.
This is a pleasant little place, is it not?"
she asked, glancing about as the fire she
had just built blazed into existence and
revealed the interior of the cottage.
It
looks like someone has lived here fairly
recently. The chimney is clear and the
floor is not nearly as dusty as one would
expect."
I wouldn't be surprised if some evicted
tenant took up residence here until we
arrived. My uncle was extremely prone to
evictions."
A nasty man."
Bear in mind that I descend from a
slightly different branch of the family," he
pointed out.
Instead of smiling, she took that very
seriously.
We are certainly not responsible
for the actions of other members of our
family. Here, let me rub your leg for
you."
Lucas did not protest. His mind was on
fire with images of what had happened the
first time she had rubbed his throbbing leg.
Thank you. I would appreciate it."
She folded her cloak on the floor and
knelt on it. Keeping her eyes focused on
his leg, she went to work, massaging
gently. Lucas groaned at the first touch
of her hands.
Am I hurting you?"
No. That feels wonderful." He closed
his eyes and leaned his head back against
the wall.
You can have no idea."
It must have been terrible."
Lucas opened his eyes and studied his
wife.
What must have been terrible?"
That day when you were wounded."
I will admit it was not the highlight
of my life. A little higher, please. Yes.
Right there. Thank you." Her hand was
mere inches from his groin. He wondered
how she could be unaware of the rapidly
growing bulge in his snug breeches.
That
fire feels good,"
Lucas?" There was a short, poignant
pause.
Lucas saw the intent look on Victoria's
face.
Yes?"
Did you love her very much?"
He closed his eyes again as he struggled
to follow her train of thought.
Who?"
Lady Atherton, of course."
Oh, her. Well, I must have thought I
did at the time, else why would I have
bothered to ask her to marry me?"
Why, indeed?" Victoria muttered.
But looking back on it, I find it hard
to believe I was that much of an idiot."
She still loves you."
She loves the idea of suffering from a
star-crossed love and the feeling of being a
gallant martyr to duty far more than she'll
ever love any man. I do not envy Lord
Atherton one bit." Atherton's bed must be
a very cold one, Lucas thought.
Forgive me, my lord," Victoria said
wryly,
but that is a remarkably perceptive
comment for a man."
He opened one eye.
You think women
are the only ones who can make remarkably
perceptive comments?"
Well, no, but
."
He closed his eye.
Some of us males
are capable of learning from our mistakes
and of gaining a measure of perception in
the process."
Is that right?"
Lucas inhaled sharply.
Ah, Vicky, could
you possibly go a bit easier on that portion
of my leg? Perhaps if you moved your
hands a bit higher?"
Like this?" She slid her fingers up his
thigh a few more inches.
Lucas did not trust himself to speak. Her
touch was now so intimate he was afraid