Lucas asked bluntly, all traces of restless
ness vanishing instantly.
Fine animal fodder. Good for your
poorest soil, of course, but I'm more
in favor of oats, wheat, and corn where
possible."
I have heard buckwheat can be eaten
by humans in times of wheat shortages."
Only by those who live on the continent.
Doubt you'd get an Englishman to eat it
unless he was frightfully hungry."
I see your point. I have also become
quite interested in marl as opposed to
manure of late," Lucas said.
What is your
opinion?"
As it happens, I have done a bit of
investigation on the subject," the vicar said,
glowing with enthusiasm.
Tried marl out
on my wife's rosebushes. Also peat, ground
bone, and fish. Kept a detailed log. Would
you care to hear the results?"
I certainly would." Lucas stood up.
Why don't we go to the library where
I have some maps of the estate we can
look at?" He turned belatedly to Victoria.
You will excuse us, my dear?"
Of course."
Come along, vicar, I have several
questions to put to you. Now, about
manure. I must admit it has the advantage
of being readily available."
True. And when one does run short,
one can always have it brought in from
London. Several thousand horses stabled
in London, you know. Something has to
be done with all that manure. Have you
by any chance read Humphrey Davy's
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry?"
No," said Lucas.
But I did get hold of
a copy of Marshall's The Rural Economy of
Yorkshire. Marshall is very fond of marl."
It has its merits, I'll grant you. I shall
loan you my copy of Davy's Elements, if
you like. The man takes a very scientific
approach to the subject of manuring. I
believe you will find it most interesting."
I would appreciate that very much,"
Lucas said.
The two men moved out of the room,
talking intently.
Victoria looked at her guest.
More tea,
misses Worth?"
Thank you, my lady." She gave her
hostess an apologetic look.
Please forgive
my husband. I fear he is quite impassioned
in his studies of horticulture and agriculture."
Victoria grinned.
Believe me, he is in
good company. My husband's interest has
grown just as strong of late. You may have
noticed."
misses Worth relaxed. Her small chuckle
was delightful.
I did. Imagine discussing
manure in a drawing room. But, then, that
is life in the country."
It is not altogether different from life
at my aunt's home in London. My aunt
is very much interested in matters of
intellectual inquiry and I fear I have
followed in her footsteps. I quite enjoy
such discussions."
The vicar's wife beamed enthusiastically.
Perhaps you and Lord stone vale would
be interested in attending some of the
meetings of our local Society for the
Investigation of Curious Matters. We meet
every week on Monday afternoons in our
home. Quite a large crowd attends, I am
pleased to say." The good lady suddenly
flushed and began to stammer.
Of course
our meetings would probably not be of
great interest to you. I am certain you are
already far ahead of us since you have had
the advantages of being in Town."
Not at all. The prospect of attending
your next meeting sounds quite delightful.
I shall look forward to it."
misses Worth's smile returned in full
force.
How kind of you. I cannot wait
to tell my friends."
You say you grow roses, misses Worth?"
misses Worth began to beam, and said
shyly.
They are my passion, I fear."
I would dearly love to discuss some
plans for the gardens here at stone vale.
I cannot live without a proper garden
and Lucas is far too busy with farming
problems to help me. Would you care to
examine the grounds with me?"
I should be delighted."
Excellent. And while we're about it, we
can get on with our discussion of the most
pressing charity needs in the area. In all
truth, I am far more anxious to get started
on that project than I am the gardens."
The vicar's wife smiled with genuine
approval.
It is easy to see why the villagers
are so eager to believe their Amber Lady
has returned."
Victoria laughed.
You refer to my
preference for a certain shade in clothing,
I imagine. Pure coincidence, I assure you."
She glanced down at her yellow and white
afternoon dress with a wry smile.
misses Worth was startled and then
embarrassed that her hostess would think
she had made such a personal remark.
Oh, no, madam, I was not referring to
your lovely dress, although I will allow the
color is stunning on you and does create a
sort of amber effect. No, I was referring to
the legend. It holds that the knight's lady
was very kind and gentle."
Victoria wrinkled her nose and grinned.
Then it cannot have been referring to me.
I am certainly no paragon. Just ask my
husband."
A week later Victoria sat in front
of her dressing-table mirror while Nan
finished preparing her for bed. Her maid
was handing her a dressing gown when
the connecting door between Lucas's
room and her own was opened after a
perfunctory knock. Lucas sauntered in with
a proprietary air that Victoria was learning
to expect from him. She glared at him in
the mirror and nodded to her maid, who
bobbed a small curtsy to Lucas.
You may go now, Nan. Thank you."
Yes, ma'am. Shall I have a tea tray
sent up?"
Victoria met Lucas's sinfully amused
eyes in the mirror and shook her head.
No, thank you, Nan. I will not be wanting
any tea tonight."
Very well, ma'am. Good night to you
and yer lordship." She made her way
quickly to the door.
Lucas waited until the door had closed
behind the maid and then he moved
with lazy menace to stand directly behind
Victoria. He leaned forward and planted
both hands on her dressing table, effectively
caging her. His eyes continued to hold hers
in the mirror.
Victoria could not repress a small thrill
of anticipation. The man had a devastating
effect on her senses. And she was learning
the power she held over his physical
reaction to her. She wondered if it would
always be like this between them.
I saw that a letter arrived from your
aunt today." Lucas bent his head to kiss
her nape.
What does Lady Nettleship have
to say?"
That it appears as though we are
all going to brush through the scandal
relatively unscathed." Victoria smiled rue
fully, remembering the contents of her
aunt's letter.
Thanks to Jessica Atherton,
who has put it about that our hasty
marriage is the great romance of the
Season."
Good old Jessica." Lucas ran his tongue
along the sensitive rim of her ear.
Victoria shuddered.
I swear, Lucas, I do
not like being indebted to that woman."
Nor, do I, but as a soldier I long
ago learned to accept help from whatever
quarter made it available."
Obviously, or we would not now be in
our present position."
Shrew. You cannot resist such remarks,
can you?"
It is very difficult," Victoria admitted.
Her blood was already heating just from
the expression in his eyes and his closeness.
It struck her that even if someone waved
a magic wand and dissolved the marriage
tomorrow, she would never be truly free
of this man.
Any other news from your aunt?"
Victoria saw the flicker of intensity in his
eyes and knew it had nothing to do with
the sensual assault he was launching against
her.
Do you mean has she discovered any
other objects marked with a
W? The
answer is no. She also states she still
has not found anyone claiming to have
lost either the scarf or the snuffbox."
Does she mention Edgeworth by any
chance?"
No."
Just as well. Tell me, Vicky, what sort
of letter did you write back to your aunt?"
Lucas asked.
I told her about my plans for the
gardens and invited her to visit at her
earliest convenience. I also mentioned how
you and the vicar have discovered a mutual
interest in farming techniques, horticulture,
and manure. That was about all, I believe,
oh, and I asked her to send me some plant
cuttings and seeds."
What? No discussion of how you have
nobly accepted your unhappy fate and have
vowed to be a dutiful wife?" He kissed her
neck.
No talk of how you have come
to recognize that your womanly honor
demands you submit yourself to your
husband, even though the marital act
is, naturally, quite repellent under the
circumstances?" He nibbled on her earlobe.
No mention of how bravely you endure
the performance of your duties in the
marriage bed?" He kissed the curve of her
shoulder.
No pathetic little commentary
on how you have been made to pay the
price of your folly and what a lesson this
has all been to you?"