Lucas could feel Victoria simmering with
impatience beside him.
Is something wrong?" he finally inquired
quite casually as they stood in the entryway
waiting for Lady Nettleship.
No, but Lucas, I must talk to you."
Then something is wrong?"
Nothing is wrong. I simply wish to
speak to you in private and I have not
had an opportunity to do so since the
night we She broke off, turning pink.
Then she gamely cleared her throat and
finished the sentence, Since the night we
went to the Green Pig."
Speaking of which, I ran into Ferdie
Merivale the other evening at my club.
You will be happy to know he was not
nearly as annoyed with me as I had
expected. Even thanked me for rescuing
him. It seems he's come to his senses and
feels he had a rather close call."
Victoria's eyes brightened for a moment.
I'm so glad. I have always liked Ferdie and
his sister."
Too bad I cannot tell him he owes the
lesson to you, not me. I'd have left him
to his fate, I'm afraid."
Only because you were so concerned
with protecting me," Victoria said with a
touching loyalty. Otherwise, I am certain
you would have done something on your
own for the boy. And you were very helpful
with little Molly, too."
Lucas smiled wryly. Will you be at the
Foxtons" tonight?"
Yes, but you know how difficult it is to
find any privacy at a crush like that. Lucas,
why do you not ride in the park tomorrow
afternoon? I shall arrange to be there, also."
As much as I would wish to do so, I'm
afraid I have another engagement."
Victoria's face fell. You do? Are you
very sure you cannot make it? Even for
a few minutes around five?"
He took pity on her. The poor woman
was obviously so far out of her depth now
that she could not possibly swim to shore
by herself. Lucas contemplated just how he
would save her. I dislike riding in the park
in the afternoons, Vicky. Too crowded."
Yes, I know, but I simply must speak
to you. If you won't join me in the park,
you must come to the garden tonight. We
can talk there." Victoria lowered her voice.
This is very important, Lucas."
I fear I had not planned on one of our
little adventures tonight. These things do
take planning, you know."
Damn it, Lucas," she hissed softly, I am
not planning an adventure. But I do want
to see you. I would greatly appreciate it if
you could fit me into your busy schedule."
Lucas looked at her in mild surprise.
You sound upset, Miss Huntington."
Victoria fidgeted. I am upset, Lord
stone vale. You are being exceedingly
difficult."
I am only thinking of your reputation,
Victoria. We must be very, very careful
these days," Lucas warned, glancing about
to prove his point.
Hang my reputation. I must talk to
you."
He was startled and rather warmed by
her insistence. She was obviously at the
end of her tether. Lord knew he was
more than ready for the next phase of
this business, himself. It was time to end
her frustration and his own.
Very well," Lucas said, as if considering
the matter carefully, I will check my
engagement book and see if I can spare
a few minutes with you in your garden
later this evening around midnight. Will
that suffice?"
You are far too kind, my lord."
He winced as the knife edge of her
tongue took a slice out of his hide. Not
at all."
I begin to believe you are toying with
me, Lucas."
His brows rose. He must never forget
the woman was extremely astute. I will
do my best to be in your garden tonight at
the usual time. Now, if you will excuse me
for a moment, I see Tottingham over in the
corner. He promised to loan me his copy
of White's Natural History and Antiquities
of Selborne. I have been wanting to read it
since he mentioned it to me."
You need not bother Tottingham with
your request, my lord," Victoria said icily.
If you manage to keep your appointment
with me tonight, I will allow you to borrow
my copy."
He grinned. Victoria, my sweet, are you
by any chance trying to bribe me?"
She turned an even brighter shade of
pink and whirled around to go in search
of her aunt.
Lucas saw her waiting for him in the
shadows of a tree as he came over the
garden wall. She was an elegant ghost
hooded and cloaked in a maroon velvet
cape lined with yellow satin. The same
cape she had worn earlier that evening to
the Foxtons" ball.
He eased himself carefully to the ground,
catching his weight on his right foot and
using his left primarily for balance. But
even taking care, the short drop sent a
sharp twinge through his bad leg. He had
no business climbing garden walls.
Lucas straightened, idly massaging the
old wound, and wondered how he had
come to find himself dancing on the end
of Victoria's string for so long. He had let
the lady run him in circles.
It was high time to take her to bed and
make her his own. He would have much
preferred to marry her first, but barring
that possibility, he would take what he
could get. Just the thought of being able
to spend a comfortable night in a bed
with Victoria instead of rocketing around
in hired carriages and flirting with disaster
was enough to make his leg feel better and
assured himself that bed was bound to lead
to marriage.
Lucas?" Her voice was the softest of
whispers as she came forward through the
damp grass. She lifted her cloaked face and
looked up at him with a sweet, vulnerable
expression that wrenched his heart.
He groaned and thrust his hands under
the hood to frame her face. Without a word
he lowered his head to drink hungrily of
her mouth. When he finally released her,
his whole body was tight with desire.
Damn, but it was hard to watch you
dance with one man after another tonight
at the Foxtons'," he muttered against her
throat.
Lucas, please, you must not kiss me like
that tonight. There is no time. My aunt
will be home shortly. I told her I had the
headache when I left the Foxtons. She will
probably go straight to my room to check
on me when she comes home."
What is it that was so important we are
once again risking your reputation, Vicky?"
She clutched the velvet cloak more tightly
around her, meeting his eyes bravely in the
flickering moonlight. I thought this would
be easy to say, but I am discovering it is
not easy at all."
He wanted to fold her close against
his chest and assure her she did not
have to say anything, but he resisted the
temptation. She must take this step herself.
Strategy he reminded himself bleakly.
Strategy and a desperate wish not to be
blamed later for having seduced her. Far
better for both of them that she engineer
her own fall into bed with him.
I am listening, my sweet."
She lifted her chin determinedly. I
have done a great deal of thinking lately,
my lord."
Not always a good thing. I have found
that sometimes too much thinking can
disturb one's peace of mind."
Well, mine is already disturbed." She
stepped away from him and turned to
pace back and forth in the wet grass. She
seemed unaware of the way the toes of her
satin evening slippers were growing damp.
I have gone through this problem many
times in my own mind. For reasons I am
certain you will understand, it is a subject
that is almost impossible to discuss openly
with anyone else, even my aunt."
I understand," he said gravely. There
are some things we cannot discuss, even
with those who are close to us."
Yes, precisely." She turned and paced
in the opposite direction. I believe I
have told you that I do not wish to
marry."
On several occasions."
Lately I have discovered, however, that
I am not entirely opposed to a a romantic
liaison with a man.
I see."
I am glad, because this is very hard to
put into words." She swung around and
stalked back the way she had come. Do
you, uh, recall what happened the other
night in the carriage after we left the
Green Pig?"
Very clearly."
She ducked her head deeper inside the
hood. I was astonished to learn that the
connection between a man and a woman
can be quite so so intense."
He hid his amusement. I am pleased
you found the experience pleasant."
Pleasant." She halted and spun to face
him, her eyes huge in the pale light. It
was vastly more than pleasant, my lord.
It was rather unnerving in some respects
but very, very exciting. Quite astonishingly
delightful, in fact."
Her delicious honesty on the subject
entranced him. You flatter me."
Not at all." she resumed her pacing.
Lucas, I have given this much thought
and I have decided I wish to repeat
the experience. In fact, I have decided I
would like to discover the full range of that
particular sort of experience. As a matter
of intellectual inquiry, you understand."
Intellectual inquiry," he repeated slowly.
Rather like collecting beetles, I imagine."
I suppose one could say that."
Will you put me on display in a box
when you've finished your inquiries?"
Victoria scowled at him from inside her
cloak. Lucas, don't you dare tease me. I
am perfectly serious about this."
Yes, I can see that."
To be quite blunt, I would like to
establish a romantic connection with you
of the sort Isabel Rycott enjoys with her
friend Edge worth."
Good God, I sincerely hope not."
Victoria stopped and turned toward him
with a shocked, embarrassed expression.
You do not want me?"
Instantly he realized how she had
interpreted his words. He moved forward
and pulled her roughly into his arms,
covering her mouth with his own in a kiss
of such fierce possession that she trembled
in response. When he finally released her,
he captured her face between his hands
and looked down at her, knowing the full
force of his need was probably blazing in
his eyes.
I want you more than I have ever
wanted anything else on the face of this
earth. Don't ever forget that, Victoria. No
matter what happens, promise me you will
never forget that."
She circled his wrists with her fingers,
smiling tremulously. And I want you,
Lucas. I have never known anything like
this need I feel for you. Please, will you
make love to me?"
Vicky. Oh, Vicky, my sweet, wayward,
passionate hoyden." He crushed her against
his length, light-headed with a strange
combination of passion, tenderness, and
relief. I will make love to you until you
go up in flames and then I will join you
and we will burn together."
That does not sound particularly comfortable,
my lord" she remarked, her voice
muffled against his coat.
He grinned. Wait until you try it."
She laughed softly and her arms went
around his waist. She hugged him tightly.
Lucas, I am so excited."
So am I," he whispered, and then added
deliberately, It is almost as if you had just
agreed to marry me."
She went rigid. Lucas ."
Almost, but not quite. Calm yourself,
Vicky. I don't mean to frighten you,
but you cannot help but know by now
that I would not be averse to something
more than a romantic connection with
you. Would you care to discuss marriage
rather than a romantic liaison?" He held
his breath, praying she would say yes and
everything would suddenly become very
simple.
Thank you, Lucas. That is very nice of
you, you know. Entirely unnecessary, but
very nice. I do appreciate the offer, because
you certainly were not obliged to make it,"
she said, beaming.
But the answer is no?"
You know it is, but thank you again for
asking." She raised her head to brush her
mouth lightly against his own. Then she
smiled brilliantly up at him. Now, let us
get on to making our plans."
Her rather casual dismissal of his
proposal irritated Lucas. The little baggage
thought she could have it all without paying
the price. Perhaps it was time to gently
point out that this was not going to be
quite as simple and straightforward as she
had anticipated.
Very well. When?"
She blinked. When what, my lord?"
When shall we arrange our first meeting
as lovers? And how? Have you given
any thought to that? It needs some
consideration. Also, there is the matter
of where, isn't there? We cannot just hire
a carriage to drive us around London for
several hours while we make love on the
cushions. Most uncom
fortable and I don't
want the coachman making a guess about
what is going on inside," he explained
roughly.
Her expression moved from startled to
appalled. I thought thought you would
take care of those little matters. That
is, I assumed you knew how to make
the arrangements for this sort of thing,
Lucas."
Not likely. I've never formed a romantic
connection of such an intimate nature with
a young lady of your sort before in my
life. It generally is not done, Victoria. At
least, not by men who consider themselves
gentlemen. You put me in something of an
awkward situation, you see."
She groaned. Aunt Cleo warned me
that it is not only my own reputation I
am toying with, but yours also."
Did she really?" Lucas was not particularly
surprised to hear that Lady Nettleship
had guessed in which direction the wind
was blowing. He wondered what Cleo's
real views on the matter were. Lady
Nettleship is a very perceptive woman.
She obviously does not like the notion of
you playing ducks and drakes with your
reputation."
Or yours. Lucas, I understand this is
not easy for you and there certainly are
dangers involved. I am not so blind that
I do not comprehend that."
That speaks well for your intelligence,
Vicky."
She bit her lip and slanted him a
sidelong glance. I suppose it really is not
fair of me to ask you to do this."
As you said, one cannot deny there are
risks involved."
She sighed, a very tragic-sounding sort
of sigh. You are quite right. I have no
business jeopardizing your reputation as
well as my own, do I? Perhaps we should
simply forget it."
My offer presents a possible alternative,"
he began cautiously.
She patted his arm affectionately as if he
were a well-meaning puppy. Your offer of
marriage was very sweet, Lucas. But I fear
the only real alternative for me is to wait a
few more years until I am well and truly
established as a spinster. Perhaps then no
one will care too much if I choose to follow
in Lady Rycott's footsteps. Do forgive me,
Lucas. I am sorry I ever brought up the
subject."
Alarm swept through him as he realized
she was already backing away from the
affair. What's more she was considering
spinsterhood rather than marriage as the
only alternative. If he let her go completely,
he might never get her back. Even worse,
she might find another man who would
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