admit there are difficulties in dealing with
a strong man, but I have learned that at
least one can depend upon them. Have you
ever met a man you could depend upon,
Isabel? I have come to the conclusion that
they are a rare and valuable commodity."
I told you to shut up, damn you.
Edgeworth will be here any minute and
then you will not be feeling so talkative,"
Isabel hissed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Victoria
saw a booted foot slide along the ledge.
She put down the sack of clothing and
absently fiddled with the cloak that was
still draped over her arm.
The thing about
talking is that it will help to pass the time
until stone vale gets here."
Your husband is not going to rescue
you, Victoria. You might as well get that
notion out of your head."
Nonsense. Lucas is the most amazing
man, you know." She smiled very brilliantly
and in that second Lucas came through the
window in a shower of glass and shattered
wood.
No." Isabel Rycott screamed in fury and
swung her pistol toward the window.
But Victoria was already whipping the
cloak out in an arc that caused it to
settle over Isabel's head. Isabel screamed
again. There was a shriek from under the
cloak and then the pistol skittered along
the wooden floor.
Lucas looked at Victoria as he straightened
and brushed off his clothes.
Are you
all right?" he asked quite calmly.
Amazing." Victoria ran into his arms.
I knew you would get here. Where is
Edgeworth?"
In the alley. Dead."
Victoria swallowed.
Somehow that does
not surprise me. What will we do with
Lady Rycott?"
A good question." Lucas released her
and picked up Isabel's pistol. Then he
yanked the cloak off his victim, who glared
at him with her glittering, gemlike eyes.
We don't have a great deal of time to
make the decision. We must get back to
the ball before we are missed. I suppose
the easiest thing to do is simply kill Lady
Rycott here and now. The proprietor of
the Green Pig is already fated to discover
one body in the morning. He might as well
discover two."
Victoria was horrified.
Lucas, wait. You
cannot simply shoot her dead."
I told you, we cannot afford any time
to think about alternatives. We must be
gone from here as quickly as possible."
Isabel stared at him, her eyes full of
fear.
You cannot just shoot me in cold
blood."
I fail to see why not. The proprietor
will no doubt see to it that both your
body and Edgeworth's are removed from
his premises and dumped into the river.
There will be no questions asked."
No," Isabel choked on a scream.
You
cannot do such a thing."
Lucas, she's right," Victoria said.
You care what happens to her?" Lucas
asked.
Of course not. But I cannot allow you
to shoot her down like this. Not only will
it go against your sense of honor, but I
do not want you to have to endure yet
another act of violence. You have had far
too much of killing in your life as it is."
You are, as usual, much too softhearted,
my dear. I assure you my honor is not
offended by the thought of killing the
woman who was going to kill you, and
one more death on my conscience will
not make much difference."
It will to me," Victoria said quietly.
I
will not allow it."
Then have you any other ideas?" Lucas
asked a bit too casually.
Isabel's eyes widened in horror.
Well," said Victoria, thinking quickly.
I don't see why we could not just leave
her here and let her find her own way
home tonight. In the morning, she can
begin making arrangements to return to
the continent."
The continent?" Isabel looked momen
tarily startled.
But I cannot go back there.
I will be penniless. I will starve."
I doubt it," Victoria murmured.
Lucas,
make her leave the country. It will serve
our purposes just as well as killing her."
Yes," Isabel said slowly, taking another
look at the pistol Lucas was idly pointing
at her.
Yes, I will go back to the continent.
I give you my word I will leave the country
at once."
Lucas considered that.
I suppose it is a
possibility."
Yes." Victoria spoke at the same time
Isabel did.
You will naturally want to leave Town at
the earliest possible time," Lucas remarked.
And you will not return for a very long
while, if ever."
No, no, I won't come back at all, I give
you my word."
Because if you do decide to return, you
would very likely find yourself tried for
murder."
Isabel's mouth fell open.
But I have
killed no one."
I fear you are wrong, Lady Rycott."
Lucas smiled.
You see, in a fit of
jealousy, you followed Edgeworth to this
tavern tonight, where you suspected he
was meeting another woman, and you
shot him."
But I did no such thing."
Unfortunately for you, madam, there
will be a signed confession saying you
did precisely that. That confession will
be produced under appropriately dramatic
circumstances should you ever return to
England."
Victoria looked at Lucas with fresh
admiration.
How very clever of you, Lucas.
What an excellent notion. It is the perfect
answer. We shall keep the confession and
have it handy in case Isabel returns."
Isabel's gaze swung from Lucas's calm,
implacable face to Victoria's delighted
expression.
But I have signed no such
confession."
You will before you leave this room.
Lady Rycott," Lucas said.
Hurry and get those damned breeches
off. We have no time to waste if we are
to salvage both our reputations." Lucas
opened the sack that contained the amber
yellow ball gown. He tugged out the rolled
up silk as the public coach he had hailed a
few minutes earlier worked its way through
the crowded streets.
I am doing the best I can, Lucas. There
is no use snapping at me. It is not my fault
men's breeches are difficult to get off."
If you think I am snapping at you
now, you may rest assured it is nothing
compared to what I am going to do to
you when we get home tonight."
Victoria stopped working at the breeches,
her head jerking upward in consternation.
It took her a few seconds to realize he was
furious.
Lucas, what's wrong?"
You have the nerve to ask me that?
After what has happened tonight?" He
peeled off her waistcoat and shirt, seeming
not to notice her bare breasts in the
shadows. He was too busy trying to stuff
her into her gown.
Be careful or you'll tear my gown." She
thrust her arms through the small sleeves.
I really wish you wouldn't yell at me
just now. I have had a most upsetting
evening."
Your evening has not been any more
upsetting than mine, and I would like to
point out that I am not yelling at you
now. I will save that for when we are in
the privacy of our own home. Good God,
we forgot your petticoat."
Never mind. No one will know I am
not wearing it."
I will know it. I am not about to let
you go back into Lady Atherton's ballroom
without a petticoat."
Yes, dear." She struggled obligingly with
the petticoat.
Lucas, I was so worried
about you tonight."
How do you think I felt when I saw you
get out of the carriage in front of the Green
Pig. You would have been in no danger if
you had done as you were told. Here we
are. Put on your cloak."
She slid her feet into her slippers and
pulled the hood of the cloak over her
head. The next thing she knew, Lucas was
opening the carriage door and hurrying her
out onto the street.
A few minutes later he led her back into
the alley outside the Athertons" garden
wall.
I will go first." Lucas found a toehold
and hauled himself up to the top of
the wall. Then he leaned down to pull
Victoria up beside him.
I think breeches
are a better idea for climbing walls/ he
muttered as her skirt hiked up above her
knees.
They dropped down onto the graveled
walk on the other side. Lucas rubbed his
leg and glanced around the dark, empty
corner of the gardens.
The worst is over," he announced.
If
we are seen now, the most anyone can say
is that the Earl of stone vale was dallying
with his bride in the darkest section of
the garden. Not exactly proper, but hardly
scandalous. Let's get back into the house."
Victoria ran a hand through her short
curls, brushed a few creases out of her
skirts, and put her gloved fingertips on
her husband's proffered arm in a graceful
gesture. She could not repress a small grin
as he walked her back toward the lights
and laughter of the crowded ballroom.
There is nothing funny about this,
Vicky."
Yes, my lord."