or would you prefer to observe?"
Heavens, it is always far more interesting
to participate in an experiment than to
merely observe it. I should greatly enjoy
helping you test your concoctions. It should
prove most enlightening."
Sir Alfred was much flattered, as was
everyone else in the room. doctor
Thornby
stepped forward to take charge again.
Now
then, I shall put the notebook here on the
table and each of us must write a clear,
concise description of our sensations as we
proceed from glass to glass. I propose we
each start with straight brandy first and
record our reactions to it before we move
on to the various tonic mixtures."
Yes, of course," the vicar exclaimed.
We
need to be able to judge the differences
between the pure spirits and the spirits
infused with other ingredients. Very clever
of you, Thornby."
Victoria frowned consideringly as a
thought struck her.
Might it not be
best if at least one of us stayed with
the pure spirits for the entire experiment?
That way the reactions of those using the
various concoctions can be judged against
the use of spirits alone at every point."
There were several immediate nods of
approval.
Brilliant idea, your ladyship," Sir Alfred
said.
You are obviously quite conversant
with such scientific investigation tech
niques."
I have had some experience," Victoria
admitted modestly.
As it was my idea and
as I have no particular physical complaint
to alleviate this afternoon, I shall volunteer
to stick with the spirits alone."
Very helpful of you, Lady stone vale.
Very helpful, indeed," doctor
Thornby said.
Let us begin." He graciously extended a
glass of brandy to Victoria.
Lucas was appalled at the sight that
greeted him that afternoon when he
returned from a visit to one of his
tenants. A very unsteady Victoria was
being assisted up the front steps by her
maid and two very concerned footmen.
Lucas threw his horse's reins at the groom
and hurried forward.
My God, what is the matter here? Are
you ill, Vicky?" He peered at her with deep
concern.
Oh, hello, Lucas." She turned a beatific
smile upon him and nearly lost her balance
in the process.
Did you enjoy being a
cautious, conservative prig all day? I have
spent my time this afternoon in a far more
useful fashion. I have been conducting a
little
." She paused to burp discreetly.
A
little experiment."
A spicy cloud of brandy fumes wafted
past Lucas's nose. He glared at the anxious
maid as the truth dawned on him.
I will take care of
her ladyship," he announced
in a voice laced with steel.
Yes, my lord. I'll run have cook prepare
some nice tea for her ladyship."
Don't bother," Lucas growled as he
caught Victoria around the waist.
He got her past the anxious gazes of the
butler, two more footmen, and a couple
of housemaids, and finally, he got her up
the stairs and into bed. As she sprawled
gracefully back on her pillows, Victoria
smiled once more and regarded him with
a dreamy gaze.
Lucas, dear, you really must learn not
to look so frightfully menacing. You do
have a nasty habit of glaring, you know."
What the devil have you been drinking?"
She frowned.
Let me see. Brandy, for
the most part, I believe. Did I explain
about the experiment?"
Not precisely, but we can go into the
details later."
Oh, dear, does that mean another
lecture?"
Yes, I am afraid it does, Vicky," Lucas
said grimly.
I will tolerate a great deal
from you, my dear, but I will not have
you coming home foxed in the middle of
the afternoon, and that is final."
I believe you will have to read me the
lecture later, Lucas. I do not feel very well
at the moment." Victoria turned on her
side and grabbed wildly for the chamber
pot under the bed.
Lucas sighed and held her head. She was
right. The lecture would have to wait.
As it turned out, the lecture was put
off until the following morning. Victoria
tried to avoid it entirely by waking late
and announcing she would take tea in her
room. But a maid arrived shortly after nine
with a request from Lucas that his wife
attend him in his library at ten.
Victoria briefly considered the odds of
getting out of the nasty business altogether
by claiming to be still indisposed from the
effects of the scientific experiment but the
pragmatic side of her nature interfered.
May as well get the thing over and done,
she told herself as she got slowly out of
bed. She scowled as a faint headache flared
behind her eyes. At least her stomach was
stable again. When her maid appeared with
tea, Victoria drank the entire pot and felt
somewhat better.
She chose the brightest yellow and white
morning gown in her wardrobe and dressed
as carefully as if she were going out for a
formal visit before she headed reluctantly
downstairs.
Lucas rose from behind his wide desk,
scanning her face carefully as she entered
the room.
Please sit down, Vicky. I must admit
you are looking none the worse for wear.
I congratulate you on your excellent
constitution. I know several men who
would be in a much less viable condition
after the sort of
experiment" you engaged
in yesterday afternoon."
Scientific progress exacts a certain toll,"
Victoria said with dignity as she sat down.
I am proud that I have made some small
contribution to the welfare of mankind."
A contribution to the welfare of man
kind?" Lucas's mouth twitched.
Is that
what you call it? You came home
thoroughly cup-shot in the middle of
the day and you tell me it was all in
the name of intellectual inquiry?"
I have done far more risky things in
the name of intellectual inquiry," Victoria
retorted meaningfully.
Only consider the
fact that I am married to a man who will
not even let me spend my own money as I
see fit. And all because I fell victim to the
dangers of another sort of experiment."
His mouth hardened into a grim line.
Do not try to deflect me by hurling old
accusations. It is your behavior yesterday
that is under consideration here. What,
precisely, were you doing at the vicar's?"
Sampling medicinal drafts in order to
log their various effects," Victoria informed
him, her chin at a haughty angle. Just
let him dare to find fault with such a
pure, scientific investigation, she thought
wrathfully.
And those medicinal drafts were all
based on brandy?"
No, of course not. Some of the herbs
were dissolved in ale and not a few were
infused with sherry and claret. We were
not certain which spirits mixed best with
the herbs, you see."
Good Lord. How many glasses of this
experiment did you drink?"
Victoria massaged her temples. The
headache was getting worse.
I do not
remember precisely, but I am sure it is all
carefully recorded in doctor
Thornby's book
of experiments."
The vicar and his wife were involved
in this?"
Well, actually, I fear misses Worth dozed
off quite early on," Victoria said placatingly.
And the vicar had a rather large dose of
one of the concoctions and went into a
corner to sit facing the wall for the duration
of the experiment."
I dread to ask what concoctions you
swallowed."
Victoria brightened.
Oh, I stuck with
pure spirits the entire time, Lucas. Mine
was the standard by which the effects of
the other mixtures were judged. It was a
very important part of the experiment."
Lucas swore softly and fell silent. The
ticking of the tall clock grew very loud in
the room. Victoria began to get restless.
I fear I shall have to lay down yet
another rule for you, madam," Lucas said
at last.
I was afraid of that." She wanted to
fight back but her head was hurting too
much. She could not seem to generate
any enthusiasm for the conflict. She just
wanted to retreat to her bed and lie
down.
Lucas ignored her morose expression,
but his voice was surprisingly gentle when
he explained the new rule.
Henceforth,
you will not engage in any further scientific
experiments without my approval. Is that
quite clear?"
As usual, you have made yourself
excruciatingly clear, my lord." Victoria
rose, her head high.
Marriage is a rather
dull business for a female, is it not? No
adventuring, no intellectual inquiry, no
freedom to spend one's money as one
sees fit. I wonder how women survive it
for a lifetime without expiring from sheer
boredom."
She got up and went out the door.
Lucas lay in bed that night and watched
the moon through his window. There
had been no sound from Victoria's room
since something large and heavy had been
dragged in front of the connecting door an
hour ago.
He had listened to her barricade herself
in her bedchamber with some annoyance.
He did not like the idea of her pushing