way. The image of Victoria growing round
and ripe with his babe sent a savage thrill
of satisfaction through him.
Lucas scowled again, thinking of how
she had pushed a very heavy object in
front of her door. He could not allow her
to do that sort of thing, not now when she
might be pregnant. She belonged to him
and he would take care of her whether she
liked it or not.
But first he had to find a way to breach
her bristling defenses. Lucas thought of
the cacti in Lady Nettleship's garden and
smiled. Then he went to the wardrobe and
took out a shirt and a pair of breeches.
Victoria saw him the moment he
appeared on the ledge outside her window,
a dark, dangerous, masculine shape against
the silvered night. This was no nightmare
image. This was Lucas. She knew now she
had been waiting for him.
It was inconceivable that he would let a
little thing like her dressing table lodged
against the connecting door stop him. She
sat up and hugged her knees as the dark
figure on the ledge opened her window and
stepped into her bedchamber. He was fully
dressed.
Ah, so it was the dressing table,"
Lucas remarked calmly, glancing toward
the connecting door. You really should not
be moving heavy objects about like that, my
dear. Next time ask for assistance."
Will there be a next time?" she asked
softly, aware of the challenge that hung
between them.
Probably." He paced forward to stand at
the foot of her bed. I fear we are destined
to quarrel occasionally, my sweet. Given
your reckless ways and my lamentably dull,
plodding ones, it is inevitable."
Dull and plodding is not how I would
describe you, Lucas. I think the terms
arrogant, domineering, and stubborn" suit
you far better.
And priggish?"
I regret to say it, but yes, priggish is
beginning to suit you nicely."
He wrapped a hand around the bed post
and smiled ruefully. Tis a relief, of
course, to know you do not think so
badly of me, after all."
She tensed. Lucas, if you believe for one
moment that you can sneak in here in the
dead of night and claim your husbandly
privileges, you are wrong. If you try to
get into this bed, I will scream the house
down."
I doubt that. You would not want to
humiliate either me or yourself in front
of the servants. In any event you sadly
misjudge me, madam, if you think I
would be so foolish as to deal with your
temper in such a fashion. But, then, I
have warned you before that you have a
habit of underestimating me."
She eyed him warily. What do you plan
to do?"
He glanced away from her, looking
back over his shoulder to where the open
curtains rippled in the night air. The night
beckons, madam, and you have always
been one to answer the summons. Have
you ever gone riding at midnight?"
She stared at him. Are you serious?"
Never more so."
You would take me riding at this
hour?"
Yes."
This is a trick, is it not? You are trying
to disarm me, trying to make me forget my
anger at your high-handedness."
Yes."
You do not even deny it?"
He shrugged eloquently. Why should I?
Tis the truth."
Then I should refuse your offer."
His wicked grin flashed in the shadows.
The question is not should you, but
can you?"
He knew her far too well, she realized.
She chewed thoughtfully on her lip. Going
with him was no capitulation. She would
merely be taking advantage of a glorious
opportunity for adventure. Riding in the
moonlight. It sounded wonderful. Besides,
although her headache had disappeared
several hours earlier, she had been unable
to get to sleep.
You will get the wrong notion if I
choose to accompany you," she said.
Will I?"
She nodded grimly. You will think I
have forgiven you for your recent treatment
of me."
I am not so foolish as to think you
would forgive me so easily."
Good. Because I will not."
I understand," he said gravely.
You are not to view it as some sort of
surrender."
You make yourself quite clear," Lucas
assured her.
Victoria hesitated a second longer and
then leapt out of bed and dashed to the
closet to find the breeches she had worn
on their midnight adventures in London.
Turn around," she ordered as she tugged
off her nightclothes.
Why? I have seen you naked several
times now." He lounged against the
bed post, arms folded across his chest.
And I have been curious to see how
you go about getting into a pair of men's
breeches."
She glared at him and carried her
clothing across the room to where the
privacy screen stood. You are no gentleman,
Lucas," she announced as she went
behind the screen and began struggling into
the breeches.
You would be bored by a gentleman.
Admit it, Vicky."
I admit nothing."
Ten minutes later, wearing an amber
scarf around her throat and a hooded
cloak over her breeches and shirt, Victoria
stood outside the stables with a bridle in
her hand and watched as Lucas quickly
saddled her mare and a sleepy-looking
George.
I only hope I do not live to regret this,"
Lucas said as he handed her up onto her
mount.
It is too late for second thoughts." She
picked up her reins, enjoying the rare
freedom of riding astride. And I like
you best when you are going against your
better judgment, Lucas. Let us be off."
Slowly," he called after her as he swung
up into the saddle. It is the middle of the
night, Vicky. Have a care where you guide
your mare. Stick to the lane."
But I would like to ride through the
woods," she protested.
I cannot be certain all the mantraps
have been removed yet," he told her. So
we will stay on the road."
She was feeling too exhilarated to argue
further. Just being out on horseback in the
moonlight was ample adventure for now.
She turned her horse toward the main
drive and George fell good-naturedly into
step beside her mare.
There was silence for several minutes
as they walked the horses beneath the
canopy of trees that lined the approach
to stone vale. Lucas spoke eventually.
I have been talking to the vicar
about planting some more trees. Oak
or elm, perhaps. The timber would be
an excellent investment for our children
or our grandchildren."
Lucas, I do not wish to speak about
investments of any kind tonight," Victoria
said rather forcefully.
What about the future? Would you like
to talk about that?"
Her hands tightened on the reins. Not
particularly."
His voice gentled. Has it occurred to
you that you might even now be carrying
my babe?"
It is not something I want to think
about."
Do you find the subject so terrifying,
then? I am surprised at you, Vicky. You
are no coward, of that I am certain."
Did you bring me out here to discuss
your heir, my lord? Because, if so, we may
as well turn back now."
He was silent for a moment. Do you
hate me so much that you do not even
want to bear my child?"
I do not hate you," she stormed, feeling
pressed. That is not the point."
I am greatly relieved to hear that."
Victoria sighed. I simply do not want to
talk about your heir tonight or any other
night until we have settled this matter that
stands between us."
The only thing that stands between us
is your pride and your fear of losing your
independence. Does it make you feel any
better to know that you are not the only
one who is no longer free?"
She slid him a sidelong glance. You are
referring to yourself, sir?"
Yes."
You seem free enough to me."
Look around you, Vicky. I lost whatever
freedom I enjoyed the day I inherited
stone vale. I am tied to this land and my
responsibilities to our descendants for the
rest of my life."
And you are a man who will always
fulfill your responsibilities, regardless of
what comes." She studied the road between
her mare's ears, thinking about her own
words.
I will do my best, Vicky, even when
some of those responsibilities are not
to your liking. But I would have you
remember, even in the midst of our
battles, that what I do, I do because
I truly think it is best for us and for
our future. I do not set myself against
you lightly." He smiled. Believe me, it
requires far too much effort to do battle
with you for me to waste my time and
energy on minor skirmishes. I much prefer
to indulge you whenever possible."
She was indignant. Indulge me? You
think you indulge me? You have a vastly
overrated opinion of your own actions,
my lord."
He motioned toward their midnight
surroundings. Look around you, my dear.
What other man of your acquaintance
would drag himself out of a warm
bed at this hour merely to entertain
you?"
She felt a grin tug at her mouth. There
was something about being out with Lucas
at this hour of night that always had a
euphoric effect on her senses. At the
moment she could no longer even summon
up the hot anger she had nursed all day.
Well, as to that, my lord, I am not
precisely certain just what other men of
my acquaintance would humor me so. I
have not had a chance to do a proper
survey, you see. Perhaps if I started asking
about, I would turn up one or two other
noble types who would indulge me in this
minor fashion."
If I catch you doing such a survey, I
will see to it that you do not sit a horse
comfortably for a week."
Her amusement faded at once. So much
for your indulgence, my lord."
I have limits, madam. And I fear you
must learn to tolerate them."
I have a dressing table I can continue
to push in front of my door every night,"
Victoria warned.
Lucas smiled confidently. The ledge
that leads from my window to yours
is wide enough to provide a safe path,
even on moonless nights. But I warn you,
madam, if you oblige me to use it in foul
weather, I cannot guarantee to be in a
particularly indulgent mood by the time I
arrive at your window."
But you will, nevertheless, arrive at my
window?"
You may count on that, my sweet. It
is as certain as sunrise."
Victoria risked another sidelong glance
and saw that he was watching her with
eyes that reflected the moonlight. Her
whole body responded to the irresistible
power he held over her. He wanted her
and he made no effort to hide it. It gave
her a sense of her own power and it also
made her light-headed with excitement.
At that moment her horse nickered
softly.
Lucas, I ."
Hush." He reined in his horse and
reached across to halt her mare. His sensual
flirtation had turned to acute alertness.
Instinctively she kept her voice low.
What is it?"
It seems we are not alone out here," he
said. Hurry. Into the trees."
She did not argue. Obediently she
followed his stallion into the woods at
the side of the road. They sat watching
the moonlit lane from the shelter of
the trees.
Who are we hiding from?" she asked
very softly.
I'm not yet certain, but I can think of
only one other person who might have
business at midnight on this road."
The highwayman." Victoria was suddenly
breathless. He has not left the
district, after all. Lucas, how exciting. I
have never seen a real highwayman."
For which you should be very grateful,
madam. I suppose I have no one but
myself to blame for the fact that you
might see one now."
Victoria heard the clip-clop of a horse's
hooves in the distance. A moment later
a dark figure riding what appeared to be
a bulky-looking plow horse rounded the
bend. The highwayman was dressed in a
somewhat tattered-looking black cape. He
had a scarf across the lower portion of
his face.
As he came down the lane Victoria saw
that he was impatiently kicking his horse's
rounded sides. The rider's urgent voice
carried clearly on the night air.
Hurry it up, ye good-fer-nothin" nag.
Do ye think we've got all night? That
carriage will be here any minute now.
Move, damn your fat sides."
The horse continued to plod stolidly
along until the rider turned it and guided
it into the woods on the opposite side of
the road.
Victoria realized that she and Lucas
were trapped on this side of the road.
&n
bsp; They could not move out onto the lane
until the highwayman, or whoever he was,
chose to leave the vicinity. Beside her, she
thought she heard the softest of disgusted
oaths from Lucas. But before she could
catch his attention to see how he intended
to get them out of this fix, the rattle of
coach wheels shattered the stillness.
It seemed they were to be a witness
to the local highwayman's latest piece of
business.
A few seconds later the coach, a staid
old vehicle pulled by an equally elderly
team, rounded the bend in the lane and
rumbled forward at a stately pace.
The highwayman urged his horse out of
the trees and into the middle of the road.
He brandished a large pistol.
Halt," he yelled loudly. Stand and
deliver."
There was a startled cry from the
coachman, who immediately began sawing
on the reins to pull the slowly cantering
horses to a halt.
Here now," the coachman called un
easily. What's all this?"
Ye heard me, man. Tell your passengers
to stand and deliver or it'll be the worse for
all o" ye."
Lucas sighed. Well, we cannot have this
sort of nonsense going on around here.
Stay right where you are, Vicky. Do not
come out of these trees until I call you
out. Understood?"
She realized he intended to halt the
robbery. I can help you."
You will do no such thing. Do not move
from this spot. That's an order, Vicky."
Without waiting for her response, he
removed a pistol from his pocket and rode
out onto the lane behind the highwayman.
That'll be enough of that now. Hand over
the pistol before someone gets hurt, lad."
Lucas's voice was the amazingly calm
and overwhelmingly commanding one he
used only rarely but always to great effect.
It was definitely a tone that compelled
instant obedience. Victoria was impressed
in spite of herself.
The highwayman whipped around in his
saddle. What the devil? Damme, who
are you? This is my coach. Go find yerself
another one. I got no intention o" sharin'
it with the likes o" ye."
You misunderstand, lad. I don't want
the coach. I'm in another line of work
myself. Now hand over the pistol."
Who be ye?" There was a quaver in
the highwayman's voice now. Who be ye,
mister? Ye cannot be the ghost they been
sayin" as come back. Ye cannot be."
The pistol, if you please." Lucas
sharpened his tone just slightly and
the pistol was instantly dropped into his
outstretched palm. Wise lad. Now let us
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