Do you swear to me that you did not
arrange for my aunt to discover us that
first time at the inn?"
Anger snapped to life within him, driving
out much of the contentment he had been
enjoying. He pushed himself up on one
elbow and scowled down at her.
Damn
it, Vicky, I set out to seduce you, not
humiliate you. How can you think I would
deliberately do such a thing?"
You said, yourself, you were determined
to marry an heiress."
I
was
determined
to
marry you,"
he
corrected roughly,
not just any heiress.
Furthermore, to be perfectly blunt about
it, my dear, I had no need to resort to
extreme measures such as arranging for
your aunt to discover us in compromising
circumstances."
Her brows came together in a swift
frown.
What do you mean by that?"
Only that I was doing a creditable job
of seducing you into marriage just fine
on my own. I did not require anyone
else's assistance. At the rate we were
going, it would have been only a matter
of time before you talked yourself into
marrying me."
Why, you arrogant beast." She tried to
push herself away from him and sit up.
Lucas grinned and threw one leg over
her bare thighs. He rolled back on top
of her, pinning her wrists to the floor on
either side of her head.
Tis true and you
know it, sweetheart. Admit it. Admit you
could not possibly have conducted the sort
of torrid love affair you wished for unless
we got married. It would have proved
impossible."
She glared up at him, struggling futilely.
It would have been possible. It merely
required planning."
I assure you, when it comes to planning
and strategy, I am very, very good and
even I could not have kept you content
or safe for long. Hell, I could not even
manage it that one time we tried to seclude
ourselves at the inn. And it would have
been impossible for you to steal away from
a soiree to run off to an inn in a strange
coach every time you wanted to make love.
Sooner or later someone would have been
bound to notice."
I would have been most discreet,"
Victoria insisted.
Is that right? And what would we have
done when the Season was over and there
were very few large parties from which you
could disappear without being noticed?"
She bit her lip in annoyance.
I would
have thought of something."
No, love. We were headed for trouble
right from the start."
And you knew it."
Of course I knew it. As you are far
from being an idiot, you would soon
have come to your senses and realized
it also. At that point I am convinced you
would have started to think seriously about
marrying me." He smiled deliberately.
To
be perfectly truthful, given your appetite
for intellectual inquiry, I do not believe I
would have had to wait too long."
She went still and looked up at him
through her lashes.
You were so sure of
me you took to carrying a special license
in your pocket."
I wanted to be prepared. We were
playing with fire, love."
Victoria closed her eyes to his satisfied
grin.
And I got burned."
Are the flames so bad?" he asked softly,
brushing his mouth across hers. His body
reacted immediately and he groaned.
I have given the situation much thought
during the past few days," she said, her
expression very serious now.
If the world
were a different place, I would never have
chosen marriage."
Her insistence on that point began to
annoy him. He scowled.
If the world
were a different place, I would not have
been obliged to capture an heiress."
True. Lucas, as I said, I have given
this much thought. We both did what
was required of us by our sense of honor
and now we have been forced to seal a
bargain. This is something of a business
arrangement. I have decided to think of
our marriage in that light. I see us as
two business associates who have invested
in the same enterprise."
Lucas frowned.
I do not like all this
talk of going into trade."
She shook her head restlessly.
Think
of it how you will; the point is, we are
investing together in a future, and as long
as we can find a way to work comfortably
together, I begin to believe we can be
reasonably content together."
Reasonably content," he echoed, think
ing seriously of putting her over his knee,
Is that how you felt a few minutes ago
when you were shivering in my arms?
Reasonably content?"
The flush on her face was more than
just the effect of the fire's warmth.
Really,
Lucas. A gentleman would not ask such an
intimate question."
How would you know? You haven't
been with any other gentlemen in such
circumstances."
I can hazard a guess," she retorted.
Besides, that is not the issue."
And what is the issue? You mean to
think of our marriage as a partnership?
An investment? A business arrangement
in which the associates happen to sleep
together?" His eyes caught hers in a
burning gaze.
But is that not precisely what it is? Isn't
that what you wanted?"
No, damn it.
Tis not at all what I
wanted."
I see. Perhaps you do not care for the
notion of me being an equal partner?
Perhaps you just wanted my money and
would prefer I stay out of the matter
entirely, except insofar as I am needed
to provide your heir."
Vicky,
Vicky,
calm
yourself.
You
are
twisting my words and getting everything
wrong."
I am trying to do as everyone says I
must. I am attempting to find a sensible,
intelligent way to deal with this matter.
I thought you would be pleased that
I am finally being so reasonable about
everything."
Lucas fought to quell his outrage.
I
don't want a business associate, I want
a wife."
What is the difference, other than the
fact that as your wife I shall share your
bed occasionally?"
It will be more than occasionally and
the difference is that you love me, madam.
You said so yourself."
Her eyes widened.
I did not."
Yes, you did. That first night at the inn.
I heard you."
I only said I thought I was in love with
you. In any case, all that is naturally
changed by what happened."
The devil it is." His fingers tightened
on her wrists.
Vicky, stop talking all this
nonsense about a business arrangement.
We are man and wife."
Are you saying there is more to our
relationship than a bargain?"
Of course there is."
Her eyes narrowed.
Are you claiming
to be in love with me, then, my lord?"
You would not believe me if I told you I
was." He released her and sat up, adjusting
his clothing.
Who knows? Why don't you try it
and see?"
He looked at her and did not quite know
what to make of the look in her eyes. But
she was challenging him, of that much he
was certain.
What do you want from me,
Vicky?"
What I imagine every new bride wishes
to hear/ she said coolly.
A declaration
of undying love and a promise of eternal
devotion. But I am not likely to get it,
am I?"
Bloody hell." He stood up, sensing the
treacherous sand beneath his feet. Women
were the very devil with words and a
woman like this one would know how
to take full advantage of any leverage he
gave her. He'd already had ample proof
of how skillfully she could maneuver him
into going against his own better judgment.
Just the memory of those dreadful nights
climbing Lady Nettleship's garden wall was
enough to start his leg aching again.
You
tease me at your peril, madam."
Does that mean you cannot give me
what I want?"
I do not trust your mood, Vicky, nor
whatever is behind your request. I believe
you are looking for a way to manipulate
me. If I gave you a declaration of undying
love and eternal devotion, you would hurl
it in my face every time I refused to
indulge one of your whims. You would
say I had lied about loving you."
Does that mean you do not love me?"
It means it was a goddamned mistake to
indulge you so much initially in London.
You have come to expect that with very
little effort you can keep me on a leash,"
he said through his teeth.
I see." She got slowly to her feet and
concentrated on arranging her clothing.
Lucas stared at her slender, rigidly held
back, feeling hunted. A few minutes ago
they had been sharing a passion unlike
any he had ever known. Now the fragile
relationship seemed to have been shattered
by mere words. For the life of him he could
not figure out where everything had gone
wrong.
Vicky, don't do this to yourself." He
turned her around and pulled her into
his arms. He thought he heard a small
sniff and he immediately felt helpless. He
did not like the feeling at all.
You are no
green girl, damn it."
She hesitated and then nodded reluctantly
against his shoulder, her face buried
in his shirt.
You are right. I am behaving
like a silly little chit straight out of the
schoolroom who cannot face the world as
it is." She pulled back and looked up at
him with renewed determination.
As I
said, Lucas, I do believe this marriage
can work if we both agree to act logically
and reasonably. I vow I will uphold my
end of this bargain."
He looked down into eyes that still
shimmered with tears and he did not
know what to say. He realized he wanted
to hear the sweet, tentative words of love
he had heard from her that first night, but
he sensed that now was not the time to
demand them.
Vicky?"
Yes, my lord?"
Thank you for making up your mind to
make the best of this marriage," he heard
himself say gently.
I am grateful."
You are welcome, my lord."
He grimaced a little at the excruciating
formality of her tone but managed a
reassuring smile. As he stood looking down
at her the amber pendant glowed in the
firelight and Lucas relaxed slightly.
It would be all right, he decided. She
would find the words again in her own
good time.
Do not tie yourself in knots
trying to dissect your feelings, Vicky. Or
mine." He touched the gold chain of the
pendant and smiled.
Everything will come
right in time. Let's go home."
She
nodded
in
swift
agreement
and
stood back as he shook out her cloak.
The garment was dusty but otherwise
unharmed. He put it around her, thinking
that even though she was tall for a woman,
she was still considerably smaller than he
was. He was aware again of a fierce need
to protect her and keep her safe.
Lucas," she said thoughtfully as he put
out the fire,
if you did not arrange for
us to be discovered that night at the inn,
who did?"
He shrugged.
Who knows?"
Lady Atherton, perhaps? In her never
ending zeal to assist you in your quest for
an heiress?"
He grinned, relieved to hear the returning
edge of impudence in her voice.
Tis
possible, I suppose. Does it matter? What's
done is done." He took her arm and led
her toward the door.
You are quite right," she said slowly.
What's done is done. But there were one
or two rather odd things that happened to
me recently in Town and combined with
the mystery of wondering who had been
spying on us, I began to think."
About what?"
Never mind.
Tis just my imagination."
Lucas went cold. He dragged her to
an abrupt halt just outside the cottage.
Victoria, what in hell are you talking
about? What odd things happened?"
Really, Lucas, it was nothing, I'm sure."
I would like an answer, madam."
Do you know, Lucas, when you talk
in that particular tone, there is a strong
tendency for everyone in the vicinity to
jump through the nearest hoop. Did you
learn that in the army?"
He prayed silently for patience.
Enough,
Victoria. Tell me what made you ask me
about who might have spied on us. Tell
me now, wife, or we will stand here until
you do."
It occurs to me that on the two occasions
when we have conducted our intellectual
inquiries, you have not been particularly
affectionate afterward. The first time I
will grant there was the extenuating
circumstance of my aunt's presence. But
this time there is no excuse. Is it this way
with all men?"
You cannot resist goading me, can you?
One of these days you really will push too
far. Answer me or we are likely to discover
that this is the day."
Victoria shrugged.
Very well, but it
really does not amount to much. It is
just that on two occasions in Town I
came across objects that did not belong
to me. They were both marked with a
W." One was a scarf that had been left
on the conservatory door. I found it that
night we went to the gaming hell."
The night you were nearly run down by
that carriage." Lucas frowned.
What was
the other object?"
A snuffbox, of all things. I found it in
my paintbox."
And no one ever claimed either object?"
No." She shook her head and resumed
walking back toward the house.
He fell into step beside her, trying to
think.
When did you find the snuffbox?"
She muttered a response that he did not
quite catch.
He flicked an impatient glance at her
averted face.
What was that?"
I said I found it the morning after our
last, fateful interview in my aunt's garden.
You may recall the evening, my lord. It
was the night I asked you to arrange for
us to, uh
."
Oh, yes. That night. Fateful, indeed."
He turned her words over in his mind,
looking for a pattern that was not there.
Tis strange."
Why do you say that?"
I was attacked by a footpad that night
on my way back to the carriage," he
explained briefly.
I wondered at the time
if the man might have been deliberately
waiting for me, but I dismissed it as
unlikely."
Victoria whirled around, her eyes wide
with shock.
You were attacked? By a
footpad? Why didn't you tell me? For
heaven's sake, Lucas, you should have
said something."
Such as?" Her renewed concern for his
safety pleased and reassured him.
Do not be flippant. This is a very
serious matter. You could have been hurt.
Did he take your money or your watch?"
No, he did not."
No, of course not," she agreed quickly.