expect from me, is it not? I am nothing
but a heartless fortune hunter who has
snagged himself an heiress."
She felt as if she had been punched in
the stomach. And now you expect me to
accept my humiliation without protest?"
He crossed the room in a few short
strides and gripped her upper arms. His
eyes were blazing. I expect you to show
some trust in me, damn you. For the past
few weeks you've been willing enough to
trust me with your safety and your honor.
Now that you are my wife, I expect
no less."
Trust you? After what you have done
to me?"
What have I done that is so wicked?
I did not set us up to be discovered last
night. I told you the entire plan was
dangerous, but you had to have your
night of intellectual inquiry at all costs,
remember?"
Don't you dare mock me, Lucas."
I am not mocking you. I am reminding
you of how you tried to justify your desire
to let me make love to you. You wanted
what happened last night as much as I did.
Hell, you even told me you loved me."
Victoria shook her head, her eyes moist.
I told you I thought I loved you. I was
obviously mistaken."
You gave me the painting of Strelitzia
reginae and then you gave yourself to me
without any reservations. I believed you
did love me, madam. When your aunt
knocked on the door, my first instinct was
to protect you. What would you have had
me do? Refuse to offer marriage?"
Pray do not twist my words. You saw
the opening you had been waiting for and
you took it. Do not bother to deny it."
I will not deny that I wanted to marry
you. I would not have risked your honor
or my own last night if I had not been
certain that sooner or later we would be
married. It was unfortunate that your aunt
discovered us and precipitated this chain of
events, but the end result was inevitable."
There was nothing inevitable about it,"
she stormed.
Vicky, be reasonable. You must see
that we could not have carried on as
we had been for much longer. Things
were getting shaky enough even before
we went off together last night. People
were starting to talk and you were doing
nothing to stem the gossip. We were taking
dangerous risks to indulge your midnight
whims. Sooner or later we would have been
discovered, and once that happened neither
of us would have had a choice. There was
also the possibility you'd get pregnant, did
you think of that?"
Why could you not have told the
whole truth before any of it started?"
She could hear her voice climbing toward
the hysterical shriek of an enraged fishwife.
Frantically she fought to control herself.
To be perfectly blunt, I told you nothing
because I was out to win you and I was
afraid that if I went into a great deal
of detail about my personal financial
circumstances, you wouldn't give me a
chance. You were so adamant about not
getting married, so skittish on the subject
of fortune hunters, that I had no choice but
to woo you in the only way you allowed.
You will never know how hard the past few
weeks have been on me, Vicky. The least
you could do is show some consideration
and kindness."
She was incredulous. Kindness? How
dare you attempt to make me feel sorry
for you now?"
Why not? You are quite prepared to
be kind to everyone else, up to and
including Lady Atherton. I saw the way
you were trying to offer her some comfort
as she wept all over your shoulder in the
conservatory." Lucas released her abruptly
and ran his fingers through his hair. Why
shouldn't I try to gain a little kindness for
myself? After all, I am your husband and
God knows that role is not going to be
an easy one."
What have you got to offer in return?"
He took a deep breath. I will do my
damnedest to be a good husband to you.
You have my word on it."
And just how do you interpret the
notion of being a good husband to me?"
She rubbed her hands over her forearms
where his fingers had gripped her tightly
enough to leave red marks. Obviously you
will not have to provide financial support.
I am the one supplying the capital in this
marriage, according to your former love.
You do bring me a title. I'll grant you
that much, but I have never been overly
concerned with titles."
Lucas's mouth tightened. I also brought
you the adventure you had been seeking."
You mean you tricked me with ad
venture."
Vicky, listen to me ."
There is one thing I must know, Lucas.
Do you intend to begin a romantic liaison
with Lady Atherton now that you have
taken care of the business of getting
married?"
God, no. Tis plain you don't think
much of my integrity at the moment, but
if you knew Jessica as well as you think
you do, you would realize the whole idea
of a romantic liaison with her is out of the
question."
Victoria winced. Forgive me. Of course
it is. Lady Atherton is a paragon of all that
is proper. She would not dream of getting
involved in an illicit affair with you."
Quite right."
She is such a noble creature. She had no
qualms at all, apparently, about following
the dictates of duty rather than her heart
four years ago when she accepted Lord
Atherton's offer instead of yours."
She did what she was obligated to do,"
Lucas said impatiently.
How dreadfully understanding you are
about the entire matter," Vicky said.
Four years is a long time," Lucas said
with a shrug. And to tell you the truth, I
am greatly relieved now not to be married
to Jessica. Lately I have come to realize it
would have been a bad match."
Victoria gave him a sidelong glance.
Why do you say that? She seems so very
perfect for you. She is obviously the sort
who would be a dutiful wife, being, as
we have just noted, a paragon of female
behavior."
Sheathe your claws, Vicky." Lucas's
mouth quirked faintly. The fact is, I
find her rather dull. I have discovered
recently that I prefer a more adventurous
sort of female. And after last night, I
would have to say that I also prefer a
more passionate sort."
Really?" Victoria's chin rose. You speak
from experience, I presume? You have had
an opportunity to compare my performance<
br />
in bed with that of Lady Atherton's?"
Lucas's smile broadened into a wicked
grin. Don't be a goose, Vicky. Even in
your wildest flights of imagination, can you
possibly envisage Jessica sneaking off to an
inn with me or any other man? I assure
you, she was just as prim and proper four
years ago as she is today. She would never
have risked her reputation for a man or a
night of the sort of intellectual inquiry we
shared at that inn."
Victoria sighed. Unlike me."
Yes. Unlike you. Completely unlike
you. In fact, I have never met a woman
who is anything like you. You are quite
unique, Vicky. Which is why I am not
always certain just how to handle you, I
suppose. But I assure you, I fully intend to
do my best. Now, we have wasted far too
much time on this pointless discussion. Go
upstairs and change at once." He glanced
at the clock. You have fifteen minutes."
For the last time, my lord, I am not
going anywhere with you."
She jumped slightly when he moved
without any warning, covering the short
distance between them with his distinctive,
oddly balanced stride. He caught her chin
on the edge of his hand and forced her
to look up at him. When she did, she
froze. The full, unleashed force of his will
glittered in his eyes.
Victoria suddenly understood why men
had followed Lucas into battle and why
everyone else in the household was walking
about with such extreme care.
Victoria," he said, it occurs to me
that you do not fully comprehend just
how serious I am about leaving in fifteen
minutes. That is no doubt my fault. Until
now I have been so indulgent of your
headstrong ways, so willing to ignore my
own better judgment in an effort to please
you, that you are obviously under the
impression you can disregard a direct
order from me. I assure you, that is not
the case."
I do not take orders from you or any
other man."
You do now, Vicky. For better or worse,
you have a husband and he means to leave
London in" he paused to glance at the
tall clock thirteen minutes. If you are
not dressed for traveling when he is ready
to go, he will personally put you into the
coach in whatever garment you happen to
have on at the time. Is that very clear,
madam?"
Victoria sucked in her breath, realizing
he would do exactly as he said. You
appear to hold the whip hand, my lord,"
she drawled in a scathing tone. And like
most men, you do not hesitate to use it."
I assure you, I would never use a whip
on you, Vicky, and you know it. Now
stop trying my patience. You have less
than twelve minutes left."
Victoria turned and fled.
The journey into the distant wilds of
Yorkshire was the longest Victoria had ever
endured in her life. She saw very little of her
husband along the way. Lucas spent most
of his time outside the coach, choosing
to ride his stallion, George, alongside the
vehicle, rather than deal with Victoria's
temper. At night she and Nan shared a
room at the inns where they stopped and
Lucas took a separate room for himself and
his valet. Meals were a series of chillingly
polite affairs.
By the time they reached stone vale,
Victoria's mood had not improved one bit
and she suspected Lucas's hadn't either,
although he seemed content to ignore her
as long as she gave him no trouble.
Her first view of the lands surrounding
her new home was not inspiring. It did
not take even her extensive background
in horticulture and botany to detect that
this summer's crops would be mediocre
at best. There was a generally depressed
atmosphere about everything she saw, from
the farmers" run-down cottages to the
gaunt animals standing listlessly in the
fields.
The lack of goods in the village shop
windows emphasized the economic gloom
that hung over the area like a dark cloud.
Victoria frowned at the sight of several
children playing in the dirt. Their clothing
was as bad as any street urchin's in
London.
This is inexcusable," she muttered to
Nan. These lands have been allowed to
wither and die."
I reckon his lordship has a sizable job
ahead o" him," Nan offered cautiously. She
was well aware of her mistress's feelings
about the earl. He'll earn his fancy title,
he will, if he manages to put some life
back into this place."
Yes, he certainly will," Victoria agreed
grimly. And he'll need my money to do
it, she added silently. For the first time
she began to realize the magnitude of the
responsibility Lucas had faced when he had
inherited stone vale. Everyone living in and
around the estate depended on the general
prosperity and leadership of the great house
that dominated the economy. Victoria was
well aware that the fortunes and futures of
the local tenants and villagers were closely
tied to stone vale.
If she had been handed the task of
salvaging these lands, would she have been
above marrying for money? She wondered.
Probably not. As Lady Atherton had said,
damn her, one did what one must.
That acknowledgment did not make
Victoria feel any more charitable toward
Lucas, however. She might be able to
understand his need to marry an heiress;
she would never forgive him for choosing
her and tricking her into this marriage.
Surely he could have found a willingsacrifice
if he had been willing to search
for one among the ladies of the ton.
There were those who would have traded
a fortune for a landed title.
It's a lovely house, ain't it, ma'am?"
Nan said, leaning eagerly out of the coach
window to catch the first glimpse of the
great house of stone vale. Pity the grounds
and garden are so shabby. Not like Lady
Nettleship's country place at all."
Victoria found herself leaning forward
for a look, although she had vowed she
would adopt an air of disdainful aloofness
about everything concerning Lucas's home.
Her maid was right. stone vale was
a magnificent house. The stone facade
was imposing and well proportioned. The
wide front steps descended to a cobbled
courtyard and a huge curving drive. A large
fountain and pool decorated the middle of
the curve. But the pool was full of rubble
instead of water. The fountain was silent.
There was
the same air of depression
and hopelessness about the house as there
was about the village and surrounding
fields. Victoria stared at her new home
with a sense of dismay as the coach halted.
It was all a far cry from the luxurious,
comfortable, well-gardened world she had
known with her aunt.
Lucas turned his mount over to a groom
and came forward to escort Victoria up the
steps and into the house.
As you can see," he said quietly, there
is much to be done."
That is certainly an accurate observation, my lord."
She was feeling somewhat
dazed.
I would like us to share the task
together, Vicky. We both have a stake
in stone vale. It is your home now as well
as mine. It will be our children's home."
She flinched at that, recalling more of
Jessica Atherton's words. If you cannot bring
yourself to have any real affection for Lucas,
only think how hard this is on him. He must
have an heir from you.
Victoria composed her features immediately,
but she knew Lucas had seen her
brief expression of anger because his own
face hardened. I will introduce you to the
staff, although as yet there is not much of
it. The butler's name is Griggs. He's from
my London staff. The housekeeper is misses
Sneath. She's from the village."
Exhausted from the long trip, depressed
by what she had seen of stone vale, and
too proud to give an inch in response to
Lucas's small overtures, Victoria picked up
her skirts and climbed the stairs to her new
bedchamber.
Dinner that night was not an impressive
affair. Griggs apologized for the poor
quality of the wine and the lack of footmen
to serve. The food was limited, both in
quality and selection. The surroundings
were even less prepossessing than the
food. The carpet was threadbare, the
furniture scarred and unpolished, the
silver tarnished. The chandelier overhead
had obviously not been cleaned in years.
But it was the grim silence at the table
that really got to Victoria. She was not
a creature of long silences and she had
almost reached the end of her ability to
maintain one. It annoyed her now that
Lucas seemed oblivious to her efforts.
Well, my lord," she began after fortifying
herself with a large sip of wine. Where
do you propose to begin spending my
money? On the gardens, perhaps? Or the
tenants" farms? Or maybe you would like
to refurnish the house itself? It certainly
needs it."
Surrender Amanda Quick Page 24
