part, but it does make for some awkward
moments between us."
It seems to me that you have tried to
manipulate and control me right from the
start," Victoria said quietly.
You even told
me you were doing it that first night in
my aunt's garden when you said I would
be unable to resist you because you would
give me what no other man ever had."
So I did."
Well? Aren't you going to apologize
for that?"
There's not much point, is there? I
don't regret it." He eased her mouth down
to his.
I would have done whatever I had
to do in order to get you."
A small chill went through Victoria.
Lucas had meant to get himself an heiress
at whatever cost. There had been no love
involved in the bargain, at least not on
his side. He had been quite ruthless, right
from the start. She had to keep reminding
herself of that fact, especially when she lay
in his arms. It was so easy to pretend that
all was well between them at times like
this, so easy to pretend that he was not
plotting her surrender.
Isabel Rycott once told me that weak
men are more useful to a woman than
strong ones because they are easier to
control/ Victoria mused against his lips.
Look at me, my sweet. I am utterly
at your mercy. A helpless slave to your
wicked, carnal desires. How much more
useful can a man be?"
There is that. I must admit, you are not
the least bit stingy when it comes to this
area of our marriage." Victoria parted her
lips and drew her tongue along the edge
of his hard mouth.
Lucas groaned and set about proving
just how willing he was to serve his lady
in this area of their marriage.
Victoria awoke once more shortly after
dawn, aware that Lucas was shifting about
restlessly in his sleep. She put her hand
on the ragged scar on his thigh and began
to massage the taut muscles. He relaxed
almost at once and fell back into a calm
slumber.
She lay awake beside him for a few
minutes, thinking that she had not been
troubled with nightmares since her first
night here at stone vale. But the faint,
nagging sense of unease had not completely
vanished. Victoria could not completely
escape the feeling that something dark and
menacing was slowly closing in on her.
She cuddled closer to Lucas's hard,
warm body and his arm went around her.
She reached up and absently touched the
amber pendant at her throat as she often
did these days. A moment later she relaxed
and fell asleep.
You won't believe this, ma'am, but they're
sayin" the /ghosts were seen again last
night. Fair gives one the shivers, don't
it? Except that nobody around here seems
to mind havin" these two particular ghosts
runnin" about. But I reckon that's how
country folk are. Peculiar." Nan finished
fastening the bodice of Victoria's yellow
printed muslin gown and reached for the
silver hairbrush.
Victoria watched her maid in the mirror.
Is this the Amber Knight and his lady you
are talking about, Nan?"
Yes, ma'am. So they be sayin" in the
kitchens, at any rate."
Are they saying precisely where the
ghosts were seen?" Victoria asked carefully
just as the connecting door opened and
Lucas walked into her bedchamber. She
was relieved to note he was fully dressed
and even more pleased to see that he
did not appear to be favoring his bad
leg unduly.
Mornin', your lordship." Nan dropped
a quick curtsy and went back to work
brushing Victoria's short curls into
fashionable, casual disarray.
Good morning," Lucas said easily. He
met Victoria's gaze in the mirror and
smiled with lazy satisfaction.
Finish your
tale, Nan. Where were the ghosts seen?"
Nan's eyes brightened.
Ridin" down one
of the lanes, just as bold as you please. Can
you imagine? What would a couple of self
respectin" ghosts be doing riding horseback
in the middle of the night, I ask you? The
tales some people come up with."
I agree with you," Lucas remarked, his
eyes gleaming as they continued to hold
Victoria's in the mirror.
I cannot for
the life of me imagine why a couple of
intelligent ghosts would be out riding at
that hour. Who saw them?"
Well, as to that, I am not sure exactly,
sir. I had the story from one of the kitchen
girls who had it from a new stable lad. He
just started work this mornin". Don't know
where he got it," Nan said.
Probably made the whole thing up,"
Victoria said.
That will be all for now,
Nan. Thank you."
Yes, m'lady." Nan bobbed another
curtsy and left the room.
Lucas grinned as the door closed behind
the maid.
Ten to one Billy Simms has put
a nice twist on the events of last night."
No doubt." Victoria laughed.
It is
getting to be a great joke, is it not,
Lucas?"
I fear it will not be quite so amusing
when someone finally realizes that the
ghosts are merely the current Earl of
stone vale and his hoyden of a countess.
But we shall face that problem when it
arises. Are you ready to go down to
breakfast?" /
Yes, indeed. In fact, I find myself with
an excellent appetite this morning."
I cannot imagine why," Lucas murmured
as he opened the door for her.
Victoria stepped forward and looped her
arm into his.
Nothing like a little exercise
to work up an appetite, is there? What are
your plans for the day, my lord?"
I am going to meet with the vicar to go
over some ideas I have been studying for
the new irrigation system. And your plans,
my dear?"
She smiled serenely as they started down
the stairs.
Oh, I thought I would spend
the morning going over the interest rates
offered by certain moneylenders I may
need to consult in the event I should
ever happen to find myself placed on a
strict allowance."
Save your energy, madam. The day I
allow you to go to a moneylender will be
the day I have truly abandoned the fight
and raised the white flag of defeat."
An interesting notion. Somehow I
cannot quite imagine you admitting defeat
in anything, stone vale."
You are getting to know me well,
Vicky."
The three letters arrived just as they were
finishing breakfast. Victoria recognized her
aunt's seal on one of them and Annabella
Lyndwood's on the another. She tore
Annabella's note open first.
My Dearest Vicky,
What a fine stir you have caused.
Everyone is having a wonderful time
discussing what is being termed the Great
Romance of the Year. Lady Hesterly's
daughter even went so far as to suggest
that Byron scribble a verse or two to
celebrate the event. That notion, of course,
is reported to have sent Carol Lamb flying
up into the boughs. It is well known she
does not like being cast into the shade by
someone more outrageously romantic than
herself.
Be that as it may, the rest of the
gossip pales in comparison to talk of
your marriage. Do hurry back, Vicky. I
assure you that you will be heralded as
a mythic goddess of love straight out of
a classic tale of romance. And I must
say, life has become rather boring without
you. The only recent excitement is that
I have succeeded in persuading Bertie to
definitely refuse Viscount Barton's offer.
He is presently moping (Lord Barton,
that is, not Bertie) but shows every sign
of perking up and turning his attentions
elsewhere.
Affectionately yours,
Annabella
So much for poor Barton," Lucas
muttered.
Foiled by females."
So much, indeed," Victoria agreed with
relish. She opened her aunt's note next and
scanned the contents quickly before giving
a small shriek of dismay.
Dear heaven, of
all the wretched luck."
Lucas looked up from the newspaper
that had arrived with the letters.
What's
wrong?"
Everything. This is terrible. A disaster."
Lucas folded the newspaper and put it
down beside his plate.
Has something
happened to your aunt? Is she ill?"
No, no, no, it is nothing like that. The
disaster has happened to us. Oh, Lucas,
what on earth are we to do? How do we
get out of this horrible situation? This is
intolerable."
Perhaps I could be of greater assistance
if you would give me a few more
details concerning this intolerable, horrible
disaster."
Victoria glanced up, her brows snapping
together in a severe frown.
This is not
funny, Lucas. Aunt Cleo writes that Jessica
Atherton called upon her and suggested
that it would be wise for you and me to
put in an appearance in London before
the Season ends. Lady Atherton has very
kindly stated that she will honor us with
a reception."
Lucas looked thoughtful. Then he
shrugged.
Perhaps she's right. It might
not be a bad idea. It would serve to enforce
the notion that ours is a love match."
Victoria was appalled.
Lucas, are you
listening? It is none other than Jessica
Atherton who is proposing to give us this
reception."
Who better? As we both know, her