again.
It was true, as Annabella had said,
stone vale must be a gentleman or Lady
Atherton and Bertie Lyndwood would not
count him among their acquaintances. But
a woman, especially an heiress, could
not depend upon any man's sense of
gentlemanly honor. She had learned that
lesson well from her stepfather. Still,
Victoria knew she would be safe enough
tonight so long as she stayed in control of
the situation.
She relaxed, allowing herself a small,
assured smile. She'd had a great deal
of experience controlling situations that
involved men.
Victoria crossed the deep blue carpet to
the yellow velvet armchair near the window
and settled in it. In a little while it would
be safe to leave the house.
Tonight there would be no time to
worry about the creeping restlessness that
frequently threatened her in the long, dark
hours of the night; no time to dwell on
that sense of something dangerous left
unfinished; no time to fret about bizarre
notions such as the possibility of bringing
the dead back to life with electricity.
Best of all, it was nearly midnight
already. With any luck she would be awake
most of the night, so there would be less
time for the nerve-shattering dreams that
increasingly invaded her nights as of late.
She had come to fear those nightmares. A
small shiver went through her even now as
she pushed the memory of the last one to
the farthest corner of her mind. She could
still see the knife in his hand.
No, there would be little opportunity for
those nightmares to strike tonight. With
any luck she would not be home before
dawn. She could deal with the daylight
hours. It was the darkness she had learned
to fear.
Victoria gazed out into the shadowed
garden and wondered what stone vale
would think when he saw her dressed
as a man.
The cheerful anticipation of his stunned
expression was enough to banish the small,
tattered remnant of horror that still hovered
at the edge of her mind.
Lucas leaned forward on the carriage
seat and scowled out into the shadows
of the dark street. He was not in a good
mood." I don't care for this nonsense. Why
are we not fetching Miss Huntington from
her front steps?"
I've told you," Annabella Lyndwood
protested." Her aunt is a very understand
ing person, but Victoria is afraid that even
she would have a few doubts about our
plans for this evening."
I'm glad somebody besides myself has
the sense to have doubts," Lucas growled.
He turned toward the other man in the
carriage." Lyndwood, I think we should
have a few contingency arrangements made
in case we become separated in the crowd
this evening."
Excellent idea," Lyndwood agreed with
alacrity. He was clearly relieved to have
Lucas along." Perhaps we ought to arrange
for the carriage to wait at a specific location
somewhat removed from the activity?"
Lucas nodded, thinking swiftly." It will
be difficult to maneuver the carriage near
the park. At this time of night the crowds
will be large and unpredictable. Tell your
coachman that if he does not find us
waiting for him at the same place where he
sets us down, he should drive two streets
over from the grounds and wait there near
a small tavern called the Hound's Tooth."
Lyndwood nodded, his handsome, con
cerned features in deep shadow." I know the
place and so does my coachman, I'll wager.
Don't mind telling you again I appreciate
your joining us tonight, stone vale. When
the ladies take a notion to have an
adventure, ain't much a man can do to
stop them, is there?"
That remains to be seen," stone vale
said.
Annabella, dressed in a stylish blue
walking dress with a matching blue
pelisse, giggled." If you believe you can
stop Victoria from doing anything she
pleases, you have a surprise in store for
you, my lord."
Miss Huntington gets up to these tricks
frequently, I take it?"
Annabella chuckled again." Victoria is
never dull, I assure you, but this is a
first for her, I believe. She told me she
has been planning this for some time."
It would seem Miss Huntington has
gone ungoverned by a husband for far
too long," Lucas observed, and glowered
at Annabella as the giggles turned into
outright laughter." I have said something
amusing?"
Miss Huntington intends to go the
entirety of her life without such governance,"
Annabella informed him.
I understand she fears being married
for her fortune," Lucas said carefully. He
wanted information but he did not want
to raise too many questions about his
motives.
She fears marriage altogether," Anna
bella replied, her laughter fading." She has
seen nothing but very sad examples of the
wedded state in her own family. And of
course the business of being constantly
pursued for her inheritance for so many
years has only inclined her more than
ever away from any desire for matrimony.
Sometimes, I confess I wonder if she
isn't right in her thinking. What good is
marriage for a woman?"
Damme,
Bella,"
her brother broke
in
sharply." What a mutton-headed thing to
say. Don't go taking any foolish notions
into your brain about following Miss
Huntington's example in life. Mama would
have hysterics. To be perfectly trutheul, as
charming as Victoria is, if her aunt wasn't
such a good friend of Mama's, I should
think twice about allowing you to go about
with her. Only look at the situation I am in
tonight because of that woman's influence
on you. The sooner you are married, the
better. Thank God, Barton has almost
come up to scratch."
Annabella smiled demurely in the dark
ness." I know you cannot wait to rid
yourself of the responsibility of supervising
my behavior, but I fear you must contain
your enthusiasm for a while longer, Bertie.
Upon due reflection I have decided to have
you refuse Lord Barton's offer, if and when
it comes."
" Upon due reflection probably means
you discussed the matter with Miss
Huntington," Lyndwood said morosely.
I do recall a conversation on the subject,"
Annabella said." She was kind enough to
give me her opinion as to the sort of
husband Lord Barton would make."
Lucas broke in on the fraternal wrangl
ing, his interest sharpened by Annabella's
last remark." How was Miss Huntington
able to form an opinion about Barton?"
Oh, I believe he pursued her quite
industriously for several months last year.
During that time she had an opportunity
to learn a great deal about him."
Did she?" Lucas was aware of the chill
in his own words." Just what did she
learn?"
A number of small items such as the
fact that Barton has apparently fathered a
babe or two on his mistress, that he has
been known to get so deeply into his cups
that he has had to be carried into his house
by his coachman, and that he has a passion
for gaming hells," Annabella answered.
Here now," Lyndwood muttered," can't
hold a few insignificant peccadilloes against
a man."
Really?" inquired a familiar, husky
female voice from the open window of
the carriage." Would Viscount Barton be
equally prepared to overlook a similar
list of insignificant peccadilloes in his
prospective wife?"
Lucas turned his head sharply toward
the carriage window, aware that the mere
sound of Victoria's voice had immediately
reactivated the desire he had first experienced
in Jessica Atherton's card room.
He concealed his eagerness with the cold
control he had learned years ago, prepared
to greet his heiress with proper formality.
But instead of a striking woman in an
elegant gown and bonnet, he found himself
staring at a figure dressed to the nines
in men's clothes. Laughing eyes met his
through the shadows, challenging him.
Good God," he said through his teeth,
this is insanity."
No, my lord, this is amusing."
Lucas recovered himself as he heard the
groom start to clamber down from the
driver's seat. He shoved open the door
before the man could arrive to open it
properly, and reached out and caught hold
of Victoria's wrist before she realized his
intent. He had been expecting a lady with
a taste for some mild adventure, not this
outrageous creature.
Get in here, you little baggage, before
someone recognizes you."
His urgency brought Victoria through the
door far more quickly than she intended.
She gasped as she landed heavily on the
seat beside Lucas and grabbed her beaver
trimmed hat to keep it in place. He saw she
was clutching an expensive-looking inlaid
walking stick in her hand.
Thank you, my lord," she said with
heavy sarcasm.
Lucas ignored her." Let's get out of here,
Lyndwood.
Lyndwood obliged by tapping his stick
against the roof of the carriage." To the
park, if you please," he called out.
Annabella smiled at Victoria as the
carriage clattered into motion." You look
very well turned out this evening, Vicky.
Do I detect BrummelPs influence in your
choice of blue? He is particularly fond of
the color, I'm told. But you have always
preferred yellow."
I decided a yellow coat might be a
bit too striking for the occasion," Victoria
conceded.