opium-poppy production in England. He
has obtained a very high-quality product,
indeed."
How exciting," Victoria said. You
should feel quite proud of yourself, Sir
Alfred."
Sir Alfred blushed modestly.
And doctor Thornby over there has been
experimenting with various tinctures and
decoctions that combine alcohol and other
ingredients such as liquorice, rhubarb, and
camomile."
It was doctor Thornby's turn to be flushed
with pride.
Fascinating," Victoria murmured, examining
the various glasses. My aunt and
I have attended many medical lectures
on such matters. Have you had much
success?"
As you know, doctor Thornby began
with barely contained enthusiasm, the
combination of alcohol and opium in
laudanum is quite effective for pain relief
but tends to make the sufferer extremely
drowsy. This is fine for certain ailments
but not for more chronic problems such as
gout or rheumatic pains or certain, ahem,
women's ailments. Something is needed
for these which brings relief but does not
induce sleep."
You want a pain-relieving concoction
that will allow the sufferer to go about his
daily routine," Victoria said with a quick
nod of understanding. Very important
research. Very important, indeed."
The farmers and laborers in my area of
the country have achieved some success on
their own through trial and error," remarked
a plump gentleman in the corner. They've
developed some excellent remedies."
The problem," said another, is lack of
standardization and analysis. Every family
has its own remedies of course, but
each recipe has been handed down for
generations and is the result of tradition
and folklore rather than proper scientific
principles and study. Every housewife has
her particular recipe for cough syrup, for
example, but no two mixtures are quite
the same."
Obviously there are several aspects of
the problem to be studied," Victoria noted.
Quite true." doctor Thornby approached
the table. But there is only one scientific
approach to the problem. We must conduct
an experiment and take careful notes.
Each of these glasses contains a particular
remedy. Our goal today is to see which
of them creates an immediately soothing
effect without bringing on sleep."
What about the actual relief of pain?"
Victoria asked with deep interest. How
will you measure that? I am not, myself,
suffering even a headache at the moment."
We will have to do that in a second
phase of the experiment," the vicar con
ceded. Difficult to find five or ten people
all having an attack of the gout or a
headache at the same time, I'm afraid."
As it happens," misses Worth said
helpfully, I have a touch of rheumatic
pain this afternoon."
And my gout's been flaring up," another
member of the group offered.
I have been suffering from toothache all
day," declared an elderly gentleman.
I do believe I have a headache," Lady
Alice volunteered.
The vicar brightened, as did doctor Thornby
and Sir Alfred.
Excellent, excellent. We may be able to
accomplish both phases of the experiment
today." Sir Alfred's glance was both shy
and distinctly hopeful as he looked at
Victoria. Understand you have an interest
in this sort of thing, Lady stone vale.
Would you care to join us in our testing
or would you prefer to observe?"
Heavens, it is always far more interesting
to participate in an experiment than to
merely observe it. I should greatly enjoy
helping you test your concoctions. It should
prove most enlightening."
Sir Alfred was much flattered, as was
everyone else in the room. doctor Thornby
stepped forward to take charge again. Now
then, I shall put the notebook here on the
table and each of us must write a clear,
concise description of our sensations as we
proceed from glass to glass. I propose we
each start with straight brandy first and
record our reactions to it before we move
on to the various tonic mixtures."
Yes, of course," the vicar exclaimed. We
need to be able to judge the differences
between the pure spirits and the spirits
infused with other ingredients. Very clever
of you, Thornby."
Victoria frowned consideringly as a
thought struck her. Might it not be
best if at least one of us stayed with
the pure spirits for the entire experiment?
That way the reactions of those using the
various concoctions can be judged against
the use of spirits alone at every point."
There were several immediate nods of
approval.
Brilliant idea, your ladyship," Sir Alfred
said. You are obviously quite conversant
with such scientific investigation tech
niques."
I have had some experience," Victoria
admitted modestly. As it was my idea and
as I have no particular physical complaint
to alleviate this afternoon, I shall volunteer
to stick with the spirits alone."
Very helpful of you, Lady stone vale.
Very helpful, indeed," doctor Thornby said.
Let us begin." He graciously extended a
glass of brandy to Victoria.
Lucas was appalled at the sight that
greeted him that afternoon when he
returned from a visit to one of his
tenants. A very unsteady Victoria was
being assisted up the front steps by her
maid and two very concerned footmen.
Lucas threw his horse's reins at the groom
and hurried forward.
My God, what is the matter here? Are
you ill, Vicky?" He peered at her with deep
concern.
Oh, hello, Lucas." She turned a beatific
smile upon him and nearly lost her balance
in the process. Did you enjoy being a
cautious, conservative prig all day? I have
spent my time this afternoon in a far more
useful fashion. I have been conducting a
little ." She paused to burp discreetly. A
little experiment."
A spicy cloud of brandy fumes wafted
past Lucas's nose. He glared at the anxious
maid as the truth dawned on him. I will take care of
her ladyship," he announced
in a voice laced with steel.
Yes, my lord. I'll run have cook prepare
some nice tea for her ladyship."
Don't bother," Lucas growled as he
caught Victoria around the waist.
He got her past the anxious gazes of the
butler, two more footmen, and a couple
of hou
semaids, and finally, he got her up
the stairs and into bed. As she sprawled
gracefully back on her pillows, Victoria
smiled once more and regarded him with
a dreamy gaze.
Lucas, dear, you really must learn not
to look so frightfully menacing. You do
have a nasty habit of glaring, you know."
What the devil have you been drinking?"
She frowned. Let me see. Brandy, for
the most part, I believe. Did I explain
about the experiment?"
Not precisely, but we can go into the
details later."
Oh, dear, does that mean another
lecture?"
Yes, I am afraid it does, Vicky," Lucas
said grimly. I will tolerate a great deal
from you, my dear, but I will not have
you coming home foxed in the middle of
the afternoon, and that is final."
I believe you will have to read me the
lecture later, Lucas. I do not feel very well
at the moment." Victoria turned on her
side and grabbed wildly for the chamber
pot under the bed.
Lucas sighed and held her head. She was
right. The lecture would have to wait.
As it turned out, the lecture was put
off until the following morning. Victoria
tried to avoid it entirely by waking late
and announcing she would take tea in her
room. But a maid arrived shortly after nine
with a request from Lucas that his wife
attend him in his library at ten.
Victoria briefly considered the odds of
getting out of the nasty business altogether
by claiming to be still indisposed from the
effects of the scientific experiment but the
pragmatic side of her nature interfered.
May as well get the thing over and done,
she told herself as she got slowly out of
bed. She scowled as a faint headache flared
behind her eyes. At least her stomach was
stable again. When her maid appeared with
tea, Victoria drank the entire pot and felt
somewhat better.
She chose the brightest yellow and white
morning gown in her wardrobe and dressed
as carefully as if she were going out for a
formal visit before she headed reluctantly
downstairs.
Lucas rose from behind his wide desk,
scanning her face carefully as she entered
the room.
Please sit down, Vicky. I must admit
you are looking none the worse for wear.
I congratulate you on your excellent
constitution. I know several men who
would be in a much less viable condition
after the sort of experiment" you engaged
in yesterday afternoon."
Scientific progress exacts a certain toll,"
Victoria said with dignity as she sat down.
I am proud that I have made some small
contribution to the welfare of mankind."
A contribution to the welfare of man
kind?" Lucas's mouth twitched. Is that
what you call it? You came home
thoroughly cup-shot in the middle of
the day and you tell me it was all in
the name of intellectual inquiry?"
I have done far more risky things in
the name of intellectual inquiry," Victoria
retorted meaningfully. Only consider the
fact that I am married to a man who will
not even let me spend my own money as I
see fit. And all because I fell victim to the
dangers of another sort of experiment."
His mouth hardened into a grim line.
Do not try to deflect me by hurling old
accusations. It is your behavior yesterday
that is under consideration here. What,
precisely, were you doing at the vicar's?"
Sampling medicinal drafts in order to
log their various effects," Victoria informed
him, her chin at a haughty angle. Just
let him dare to find fault with such a
pure, scientific investigation, she thought
wrathfully.
And those medicinal drafts were all
based on brandy?"
No, of course not. Some of the herbs
were dissolved in ale and not a few were
infused with sherry and claret. We were
not certain which spirits mixed best with
the herbs, you see."
Good Lord. How many glasses of this
experiment did you drink?"
Victoria massaged her temples. The
headache was getting worse. I do not
remember precisely, but I am sure it is all
carefully recorded in doctor Thornby's book
of experiments."
The vicar and his wife were involved
in this?"
Well, actually, I fear misses Worth dozed
off quite early on," Victoria said placatingly.
And the vicar had a rather large dose of
one of the concoctions and went into a
corner to sit facing the wall for the duration
of the experiment."
I dread to ask what concoctions you
swallowed."
Victoria brightened. Oh, I stuck with
pure spirits the entire time, Lucas. Mine
was the standard by which the effects of
the other mixtures were judged. It was a
very important part of the experiment."
Lucas swore softly and fell silent. The
ticking of the tall clock grew very loud in
the room. Victoria began to get restless.
I fear I shall have to lay down yet
another rule for you, madam," Lucas said
at last.
I was afraid of that." She wanted to
fight back but her head was hurting too
much. She could not seem to generate
any enthusiasm for the conflict. She just
wanted to retreat to her bed and lie
down.
Lucas ignored her morose expression,
but his voice was surprisingly gentle when
he explained the new rule. Henceforth,
you will not engage in any further scientific
experiments without my approval. Is that
quite clear?"
As usual, you have made yourself
excruciatingly clear, my lord." Victoria
rose, her head high. Marriage is a rather
dull business for a female, is it not? No
adventuring, no intellectual inquiry, no
freedom to spend one's money as one
sees fit. I wonder how women survive it
for a lifetime without expiring from sheer
boredom."
She got up and went out the door.
Lucas lay in bed that night and watched
the moon through his window. There
had been no sound from Victoria's room
since something large and heavy had been
dragged in front of the connecting door an
hour ago.
He had listened to her barricade herself
in her bedchamber with some annoyance.
He did not like the idea of her pushing
heavy objects around unaided. At the very
least, she should have asked a servant to
do the job. But she had no doubt been
too embarrassed to have a footman or
her maid participate in the small act of
defiance.
On the other hand, the show of spirit
was a good sign, he told himself. She was
obviously feeling much better than she had
that morning. Things were getting back to
normal.
Normal, that is, if life with Vicky could
ever be termed such.
Lucas shoved aside the covers and got
to his feet.
The strategist in him knew that there
had been no way to avoid the recent
confrontations. Some battles were unavoidable,
and when those arose, a man could
do nothing except hunker down and fight.
Victoria had still not fully accepted
the marriage. She was an independent,
headstrong creature who had been allowed
free rein for too long. Her own intelligence,
her gentle instincts, and her desire not to
jeopardize her aunt's position in Society
had acted as controls until he had come
along.
But now Lucas knew she saw him as the
one who stood in her way, the one who
threatened her independence. She was torn
between her feelings for him and her anger
at being trapped in the marriage.
Lucas remembered all the males who had
danced attendance on her in London, and
groaned. She was accustomed to keeping
men in their place, accustomed to being
the one in command.
But he sensed, even if she did not, that
one of the reasons she had been initially
fascinated with him was the very fact that
she could not be quite certain of her
ability to control him. She was a strong
woman who needed a man who was even
stronger.
Having found him, she could not resist
testing him.
He was sorry open warfare had broken
out. But Lucas knew that now that the
battle lines had been drawn, he could not
give in and allow Victoria her own way or
there would be hell to pay in the future.
Life had changed drastically for both of
them. He had to make her understand
that. They had future generations to think
about now, not just their own lives. An
estate such as stone vale was meant to be
held in trust for one's descendants. It was
or
an investment in the future, not just the
present.
Those descendants would carry Victoria's
blood as well as his own, Lucas told
himself. She had as large a stake in
this land as he did. Neither of them
could continue to go on in the rather
reckless fashion they had indulged before
the marriage.
Good God. He really was starting to
sound quite priggish.
For all either of them knew, the next
generation of Colebrooks might be on its
Surrender Amanda Quick Page 34
