I ought to paddle your backside," he
said.
Yes, my lord."
You have implied before now that I
have turned into a conservative prig of a
husband, but by God, madam, you have
not seen anything yet. Henceforth I intend
to show you just what a conservative prig
I can be."
Yes, my lord."
Before Lucas could utter further threats,
a familiar figure caught sight of them from
the terrace.
Oh, there you are, Vicky," Annabella
Lyndwood called cheerfully.
Enjoying the
gardens, I see. I want you to meet Lord
Shipton. Bertie says there's a chance he
will be offering for me one of these days
and naturally I wanted to get your opinion
on the man."
My wife is no longer in the business of
hiring runners to investigate her friends'
marriage prospects," Lucas said.
She has
decided that the time has come for her to
start acting in a more refined, conventional
fashion."
Oh, dear," said Annabella.
Are you
hoping to turn her into another Jessica
Atherton or a Perfect Miss Pilkington?
How depressing."
Yes,
Lucas,"
Victoria
asked,
turning
innocent eyes up to meet his grim
expression.
Would you like me to model
my behavior after that of Lady Atherton
or Miss Pilkington?"
I don't believe we need go quite that
far," Lucas muttered.
If you two ladies
will please excuse me, I believe I see
Tottingham standing with Lady Nettleship.
I want to see if he has read anything
interesting lately on manure. For some
reason the subject is uppermost in my
mind tonight."
Victoria watched Lucas saunter into the
ballroom and then she turned to smile at
Annabella.
Lovely party, isn't it?" Victoria remarked
as she removed her cloak and started
toward the open windows.
Annabella grinned.
Lovely. But, then,
one can always depend upon Lady Atherton
to give the perfect soiree. And I think
if we are very careful to stay close together
once we are inside, I can arrange for the
skirts of my gown to hide the dirt stains
on yours."
Three hours later Victoria sat on her
dressing-table chair and watched her
husband pace back and forth in front
of her. She had never seen him this angry.
His voice was low and dangerous and his
mood was precarious. It was clear that he
had been pushed as far as he intended to
be pushed tonight.
Why in God's name did you fail to
follow orders, Vicky? Answer me that,
if you can. I told you not to leave the
ballroom under any conditions. But no,
you could not be bothered to obey a
few simple instructions designed to protect
you. You must go gallivanting off into the
night at the first opportunity."
Victoria frowned.
What could I do
after I got that note saying you were in
danger?"
You could have done as you had been
told, that's what you could have done."
Would you have stayed behind in the
ballroom after getting such a note?" Victoria
said in an effort to defuse his anger.
That is beside the point. You should
never have left Jessica Atherton's house
alone and you know it."
I am sorry, Lucas, but I must tell you in
all honesty that if I had it to do over again,
I would do it exactly the same way."
And that's another point. For a sup
posedly intelligent woman, you do not
seem to learn much from your mistakes.
As soon as one adventure is concluded
nothing will do but for you to start looking
forward to the next. Well, I have news for
you, Vicky. You have climbed your last
garden wall."
Please, do not make rash statements
now in the heat of anger, sir. Give
yourself a chance to cool down. By
tomorrow I am certain you will see that
I acted in a reasonable manner, given the
circumstances."
Your idea of a reasonable manner is
totally opposite from my own."
I do not believe that, Lucas, not entirely.
I know I am too headstrong as far as you
are concerned and that you think me rash
on occasion, but"
On occasion?" He rounded on her with
an incredulous glance.
More like ninety
percent of the time, madam."
Really, my lord. Surely I am not such
a bad wife?"
He stalked past her.
I did not say you
were a bad wife. You are a disobedient,
wayward, reckless wife who will almost
certainly wear me out before my time if
I do not teach you some respect for your
poor, harried husband."
I do respect you, Lucas," she said very
earnestly.
I have always respected you. I
do not always approve of your actions
and sometimes you annoy me no end,
but be assured I have the greatest respect
for you."
Yes, you find me tolerable, do you
not?"
For the most part."
That is, of course, vastly reassuring,"
Lucas said through his teeth as he turned
and stalked back across the room.
I
shall remind myself that you have the
greatest respect for me and that you find
me tolerable the next time you willfully
defy me."
I have never actually willfully defied
you, my lord."
Is that right?" He swung around and
came back to her, stopping directly in
front of her.
What about what you did
tonight? Was not that an act of defiance?
Of disobedience?"
Victoria straightened in her chair.
Well,
I suppose it could be viewed as such if one
were to put the worst possible construction
on my behavior, but I never meant"
At least have the grace to admit you did
it because you loved me."
Victoria's eyes flew to his and a great
stillness descended on the bedchamber.
She hesitated a moment, cleared her throat
delicately, and nodded.
You are quite
right, my lord. That is, of course, precisely
why I did it."
My God, I don't believe it." Lucas
looked stunned for a moment and then
he reached down and hauled her to her
feet.
Say it, Vicky. After all I have been
through tonight, I deserve to have the
words at last."
She smiled tremulously.
I love you.
I have loved you since the beginning.
Probably since the night we met at Jessica
Atherton's party."
That was the real reason you rushed off
to rescue me tonight, the real reason you
would not allow me to kill Lady Rycott as
she deserved. You love me." He tightened
his arms around her, crushing her close.
My dearest wife. I have waited so long
to hear you say that. I thought I would
go out of my mind waiting."
Do you think there will ever come
a time when you will be able to say
those words to me, Lucas?" Her voice
was muffled against his dressing gown.
Dear God, I love you, Vicky. I think I
knew it the night I took you to that inn
and made love to you. I certainly knew
then I would never desire another woman
the way I desired you. But everything went
to hell the next day when I walked into the
conservatory and realized Jessica Atherton
had told you why she had introduced us.
All I could think of was that she had cost
me far more than she would ever realize, I
wanted to lash out at anyone and everyone.
I knew you would never believe I loved you
after that."
I was not in a mood to hear a declaration
of love just then. But you could have told
me later, Lucas."
Later you were too busy telling me that
you would graciously condescend to form
a business association with me. You made
such a point of painting our relationship
as a partnership that I grew desperate.
The only thing that gave me hope in
my darkest moments was the fact that
you never removed the amber pendant."
She looked briefly startled.
The pendant?
I never removed it because there
were times when it was the only thing
that gave me hope."
Tis your own fault for being so
stubborn," Lucas said.
Victoria fingered the pendant around
her neck.
You could hardly expect me
to tell you I was in love with you after
learning you had married me for my
money. Besides, you were very busy letting
me know that you were not about to give
an inch lest I take advantage of your good
nature and try to manipulate and control
you. You wanted my surrender, Lucas."
I may love you to distraction, my
dear, but I also understand you, at least
somewhat. You would not have been above
using any leverage you could get in our
small war and I could hardly have blamed
you for doing so. You have my utmost
respect as an opponent, but I would much
rather have you as a loving wife, Vicky."
Very nicely put, my lord." She hugged
him fiercely.
Oh, Lucas, I do love you
so."
Lucas kissed her warmly.
And while we
are on the subject, there is another point I
would like to clear up. I did not marry you
for your money. I started courting you for
it, I'll admit, but I wound up marrying you
because I could not imagine being wedded