heavy objects around unaided. At the very
least, she should have asked a servant to
do the job. But she had no doubt been
too embarrassed to have a footman or
her maid participate in the small act of
defiance.
On the other hand, the show of spirit
was a good sign, he told himself. She was
obviously feeling much better than she had
that morning. Things were getting back to
normal.
Normal, that is, if life with Vicky could
ever be termed such.
Lucas shoved aside the covers and got
to his feet.
The strategist in him knew that there
had been no way to avoid the recent
confrontations. Some battles were unavoidable,
and when those arose, a man could
do nothing except hunker down and fight.
Victoria had still not fully accepted
the marriage. She was an independent,
headstrong creature who had been allowed
free rein for too long. Her own intelligence,
her gentle instincts, and her desire not to
jeopardize her aunt's position in Society
had acted as controls until he had come
along.
But now Lucas knew she saw him as the
one who stood in her way, the one who
threatened her independence. She was torn
between her feelings for him and her anger
at being trapped in the marriage.
Lucas remembered all the males who had
danced attendance on her in London, and
groaned. She was accustomed to keeping
men in their place, accustomed to being
the one in command.
But he sensed, even if she did not, that
one of the reasons she had been initially
fascinated with him was the very fact that
she could not be quite certain of her
ability to control him. She was a strong
woman who needed a man who was even
stronger.
Having found him, she could not resist
testing him.
He was sorry open warfare had broken
out. But Lucas knew that now that the
battle lines had been drawn, he could not
give in and allow Victoria her own way or
there would be hell to pay in the future.
Life had changed drastically for both of
them. He had to make her understand
that. They had future generations to think
about now, not just their own lives. An
estate such as stone vale was meant to be
held in trust for one's descendants. It was
or
an investment in the future, not just the
present.
Those descendants would carry Victoria's
blood as well as his own, Lucas told
himself. She had as large a stake in
this land as he did. Neither of them
could continue to go on in the rather
reckless fashion they had indulged before
the marriage.
Good God. He really was starting to
sound quite priggish.
For all either of them knew, the next
generation of Colebrooks might be on its
way. The image of Victoria growing round
and ripe with his babe sent a savage thrill
of satisfaction through him.
Lucas scowled again, thinking of how
she had pushed a very heavy object in
front of her door. He could not allow her
to do that sort of thing, not now when she
might be pregnant. She belonged to him
and he would take care of her whether she
liked it or not.
But first he had to find a way to breach
her bristling defenses. Lucas thought of
the cacti in Lady Nettleship's garden and
smiled. Then he went to the wardrobe and
took out a shirt and a pair of breeches.
Victoria saw him the moment he
appeared on the ledge outside her window,
a dark, dangerous, masculine shape against
the silvered night. This was no nightmare
image. This was Lucas. She knew now she
had been waiting for him.
It was inconceivable that he would let a
little thing like her dressing table lodged
against the connecting door stop him. She
sat up and hugged her knees as the dark
figure on the ledge opened her window and
stepped into her bedchamber. He was fully
dressed.
Ah, so it was the dressing table,"
Lucas remarked calmly, glancing toward
the connecting door.
You really should not
be moving heavy objects about like that, my
dear. Next time ask for assistance."
Will there be a next time?" she asked
softly, aware of the challenge that hung
between them.
Probably." He paced forward to stand at
the foot of her bed.
I fear we are destined
to quarrel occasionally, my sweet. Given
your reckless ways and my lamentably dull,
plodding ones, it is inevitable."
Dull and plodding is not how I would
describe you, Lucas. I think the terms
arrogant, domineering, and stubborn" suit
you far better.
And priggish?"
I regret to say it, but yes, priggish is
beginning to suit you nicely."
He wrapped a hand around the bed post
and smiled ruefully.
Tis a relief, of
course, to know you do not think so
badly of me, after all."
She tensed.
Lucas, if you believe for one
moment that you can sneak in here in the
dead of night and claim your husbandly
privileges, you are wrong. If you try to
get into this bed, I will scream the house
down."
I doubt that. You would not want to
humiliate either me or yourself in front
of the servants. In any event you sadly
misjudge me, madam, if you think I
would be so foolish as to deal with your
temper in such a fashion. But, then, I
have warned you before that you have a
habit of underestimating me."
She eyed him warily.
What do you plan
to do?"
He glanced away from her, looking
back over his shoulder to where the open
curtains rippled in the night air.
The night
beckons, madam, and you have always
been one to answer the summons. Have
you ever gone riding at midnight?"
She stared at him.
Are you serious?"
Never more so."
You would take me riding at this
hour?"
Yes."
This is a trick, is it not? You are trying
to disarm me, trying to make me forget my
anger at your high-handedness."
Yes."
You do not even deny it?"
He shrugged eloquently.
Why should I?
Tis the truth."
Then I should refuse your offer."
His wicked grin flashed in the shadows.
The question is not should you, but
can you?"
He knew her far too well, she realized.
She chewed thoughtfully on her lip. Going
with him was no capitulation. She would
merely be taking advantage of a glorious
opportunity for adventure. Riding in the
moonlight. It sounded wonderful. Besides,
although her headache had disappeared
several hours earlier, she had been unable
to get to sleep.
You will get the wrong notion if I
choose to accompany you," she said.
Will I?"
She nodded grimly.
You will think I
have forgiven you for your recent treatment
of me."
I am not so foolish as to think you
would forgive me so easily."
Good. Because I will not."
I understand," he said gravely.
You are not to view it as some sort of
surrender."
You make yourself quite clear," Lucas
assured her.
Victoria hesitated a second longer and
then leapt out of bed and dashed to the
closet to find the breeches she had worn
on their midnight adventures in London.
Turn around," she ordered as she tugged
off her nightclothes.
Why? I have seen you naked several
times now." He lounged against the
bed post, arms folded across his chest.
And I have been curious to see how
you go about getting into a pair of men's
breeches."
She glared at him and carried her
clothing across the room to where the
privacy screen stood.
You are no gentleman,
Lucas," she announced as she went
behind the screen and began struggling into
the breeches.
You would be bored by a gentleman.
Admit it, Vicky."
I admit nothing."
Ten minutes later, wearing an amber
scarf around her throat and a hooded
cloak over her breeches and shirt, Victoria
stood outside the stables with a bridle in
her hand and watched as Lucas quickly
saddled her mare and a sleepy-looking
George.
I only hope I do not live to regret this,"
Lucas said as he handed her up onto her
mount.
It is too late for second thoughts." She
picked up her reins, enjoying the rare
freedom of riding astride.
And I like
you best when you are going against your
better judgment, Lucas. Let us be off."
Slowly," he called after her as he swung
up into the saddle.
It is the middle of the
night, Vicky. Have a care where you guide
your mare. Stick to the lane."
But I would like to ride through the
woods," she protested.
I cannot be certain all the mantraps
have been removed yet," he told her.
So
we will stay on the road."
She was feeling too exhilarated to argue
further. Just being out on horseback in the
moonlight was ample adventure for now.
She turned her horse toward the main
drive and George fell good-naturedly into
step beside her mare.
There was silence for several minutes
as they walked the horses beneath the
canopy of trees that lined the approach
to stone vale. Lucas spoke eventually.