at her thin muslin gown and she shivered.
Clutching at the cold stone of the wall,
she edged slowly toward the other window.
It was not going to be quite as easy as
she had thought. She was discovering the
hard way that she did not have a head for
heights. Every time she looked down she
got dizzy.
Halfway between the two windows
Victoria came to a complete halt. She
knew she could not go on. Lucas had
made this ledge-walking business sound
like a stroll in the park. She did not
know how he had managed it, but she
was forced to admit defeat.
It was when she tried to retreat back
along the ledge that she realized she had
a major problem on her hands, Going back
was not going to be any simpler than going
forward.
This was ridiculous. She was appalled at
her inability to move. Shivering with cold,
pressed rigidly back against the stone wall,
Victoria closed her eyes and tried to think.
She certainly could not stand out here all
night. She opened her eyes and realized
that Lucas's window was open.
Lucas? Lucas, can you hear me?"
There was no immediate response and
her heart sank. The thought of having to
scream ignominiously for help until one of
the servants heard her was too mortifying
to even contemplate.
Lucas," she called, a bit more loudly this
time. Lucas, are you in there? Damn you,
stone vale, this is all your fault. Wake up
and do something."
Hell and damnation," Lucas said,
appearing abruptly at the window. I should
have guessed you'd try something like
this. What the devil do you think you're
doing?"
Relief poured through her. I just came
out for a stroll, she muttered. It would
seem I have a slight problem with heights."
Don't move. I'll come and fetch you."
I'm not going anywhere." She watched
as he put one bare leg over the windowsill
and stepped out onto the ledge. Good
heavens, my lord, you're naked."
Sorry to offend your delicate sensi
bilities. Would you prefer I went back
inside and dressed first?"
No. No, don't you dare. Get me off
this horrible ledge before you do anything
else."
Yes, my lady. At your service, my lady.
So glad to be of some assistance, my lady.
Keep your voice down, my lady, or the
servants will really have something to talk
about in the morning."
She relaxed a little as his strong fingers
closed around her wrist. How on earth did
you manage this earlier when you came to
my bedchamber?"
Be assured I didn't use this route
because I enjoy running about on ledges.
I used it because you'd shoved that
damned dressing table in front of the
door, remember? I take it the barricade
is still in place and that's why you're out
here?"
I fear that is precisely the case." She
followed him gratefully back to his open
window. A moment later she was standing
safely inside his bedchamber. She gave a
sigh of relief and brushed off her hands.
Thank you very much, Lucas. I do not
mind telling you, I was a trifle uneasy out
there."
And I don't mind telling you that I
was a trifle horrified to see you out there."
His hands closed around her shoulders in
a fierce grip. I am, naturally, extremely
gratified by your enthusiasm for my bed,
but the next time you want to join me in
it, try knocking."
She scowled at him. You are assuming
a great deal, my lord."
Am I? Are you telling me you were out
on that ledge because you were bored and
couldn't think of anything else to do for
the rest of the night except stroll from
window to window?"
It was no good. She could not possibly
deny that she had been attempting to
get to his bedchamber. Do not tease
me, Lucas. This is humiliating enough
as it is."
His smile was slow and deeply sensual.
What is so humiliating about admitting
you enjoy what we find together in the
marriage bed, sweetheart?"
Tis not that. It is just that I have been
furious with you all day and now you are
no doubt jumping to the conclusion that
I am here because I wanted you to make
love to me."
Isn't that precisely why you're here?"
Yes, it is. But it doesn't mean that I
have changed my mind about anything
else, and of course you are bound to think
that I have. Or worse, you will conclude
that you can always bring me to heel by
taking me for a midnight adventure. It is
not that way at all."
He laughed softly. There is nothing in
any of this to shame you, Vicky. But if it
will make you feel any less humiliated, I
promise not to conclude that your presence
here means I am permanently forgiven.
Will that do? Tomorrow we can go right
back to the battle lines you drew today, if
that is what you truly wish."
Lucas, you are incorrigible. You know
very well that things will be different
between us in the morning. How can
I possibly continue to give you the cold
shoulder tomorrow after you have made
love to me tonight?"
I don't know," he said, scooping her
up and settling her into his bed. How
can you?"
She looked up at him through her lashes
as he came down beside her. Maybe I
should be the one applying for a job in
your stables instead of Billy Simms. That
way, I could supplement the allowance you
intend to grant me."
He kissed her throat. Did you risk life
and limb on that damned ledge just so
you could continue our argument or did
you come here so that I could make love
to you?"
Victoria relaxed and put her arms around
his neck. I came here so that you could
fulfill your husbandly duties and make love
to me."
I rather thought so." His hand closed
over her breast and his mouth closed over
her lips.
Sometime later Victoria stirred sleepily
in the huge bed. She opened her eyes to
see Lucas at the window. He had one foot
out on the ledge. Where in heaven's name
are you going?"
To shove that dressing table away from
your door. Do you want your maid to
know you felt obliged to barricade yourself
in your room tonight?"
No, of course, not. But be careful,
Lucas."
I'll be right back."
He vanished into the night and a couple
of minutes later Victoria
heard the heavy
dressing table being shifted back into
its proper position. The connecting door
opened and Lucas sauntered back into his
own room, dusting off his hands. Victoria
glowered at him.
Now what have I done?" he demanded
as he slid back into bed beside her.
I don't see how you can be so casual
about wandering around naked."
Who will see? Except you, of course."
He grinned, throwing one leg over hers.
And you are every bit as naked as I
am."
Never mind." She paused. Lucas, I
have something to say to you."
What would that be, my sweet?"
Victoria studied Lucas for a moment,
choosing her words. About our argument."
Which one?"
The one about my money."
Can this discussion not wait until
breakfast? I'm exhausted. Running about
on horseback in the middle of the night,
rescuing ladies from window ledges, and
shoving heavy furniture around takes its
toll on a man of my years."
This is important, Lucas."
Very well, then, say it so that we can
both get some sleep."
I just wanted to say that I am sorry,
or at least somewhat sorry for most of the
nasty things I said to you during the course
of our discussion about money," Victoria
said very gravely.
Most of the nasty things? Not all of
them?"
No, not all of them, because I do not
feel that I was entirely in the wrong.
Nevertheless, I shouldn't have implied that
you are like every other husband who takes
control of his wife's money. The truth is,
you are quite different from any other man
I have ever met."
He touched the amber pendant where it
lay nestled between her breasts. And you,
madam, are quite different from any other
woman I have ever met. Since you have
apologized for most of the nasty things you
said, I suppose the least I can do is revoke
my threat to put you on a limited quarterly
allowance."
Well, I should think so. Really, Lucas,
you can have had no notion of how
arrogant you sounded when you made
that horrid threat."
He laughed and pulled her down across
his chest. I don't think you have any
notion of how arrogant you sound when
you set out to make me jump fences to
suit your whims."
I do no such thing."
Don't you?" His thumbs traced the line
of her cheek-bones. You are constantly
testing me, Vicky, constantly pushing and
probing to see how far I will let you go
before I pull in the reins. And when I do
reach my limits and refuse to indulge you
in some manner, you retaliate by accusing
me of being a typical, untrustworthy,
domineering male who's only after his
wife's money."
She realized he was perfectly serious.
Lucas, that is not true."
I think it is true, sweetheart. And to be
quite honest, I don't entirely blame you.
You have good cause to be cautious about
placing your trust in me. But I do not like
it when you try to manipulate me."
She went still. Is that how you see my
behavior? As an attempt to manage you?"
I think it is your way of proving to
yourself that you are not at my mercy,
that you can control me and therefore
the situation in which you find yourself.
It is a perfectly natural response on your
part, but it does make for some awkward
moments between us."
It seems to me that you have tried to
manipulate and control me right from the
start," Victoria said quietly. You even told
me you were doing it that first night in
my aunt's garden when you said I would
be unable to resist you because you would
give me what no other man ever had."
So I did."
Well? Aren't you going to apologize
for that?"
There's not much point, is there? I
don't regret it." He eased her mouth down
to his. I would have done whatever I had
to do in order to get you."
A small chill went through Victoria.
Lucas had meant to get himself an heiress
at whatever cost. There had been no love
involved in the bargain, at least not on
his side. He had been quite ruthless, right
from the start. She had to keep reminding
herself of that fact, especially when she lay
in his arms. It was so easy to pretend that
all was well between them at times like
this, so easy to pretend that he was not
plotting her surrender.
Isabel Rycott once told me that weak
men are more useful to a woman than
strong ones because they are easier to
control/ Victoria mused against his lips.
Look at me, my sweet. I am utterly
at your mercy. A helpless slave to your
wicked, carnal desires. How much more
useful can a man be?"
There is that. I must admit, you are not
the least bit stingy when it comes to this
area of our marriage." Victoria parted her
lips and drew her tongue along the edge
of his hard mouth.
Lucas groaned and set about proving
just how willing he was to serve his lady
in this area of their marriage.
Victoria awoke once more shortly after
dawn, aware that Lucas was shifting about
restlessly in his sleep. She put her hand
on the ragged scar on his thigh and began
to massage the taut muscles. He relaxed
almost at once and fell back into a calm
slumber.
She lay awake beside him for a few
minutes, thinking that she had not been
troubled with nightmares since her first
night here at stone vale. But the faint,
nagging sense of unease had not completely
vanished. Victoria could not completely
escape the feeling that something dark and
menacing was slowly closing in on her.
She cuddled closer to Lucas's hard,
warm body and his arm went around her.
She reached up and absently touched the
amber pendant at her throat as she often
did these days. A moment later she relaxed
and fell asleep.
You won't believe this, ma'am, but they're
sayin" the /ghosts were seen again last
night. Fair gives one the shivers, don't
it? Except that nobody around here seems
to mind havin" these two particular ghosts
runnin" about. But I reckon that's how
country folk are. Peculiar." Nan finished
fastening the bodice of Victoria's yellow
printed muslin gown and reached for the
silver hairbrush.
Victoria watched her maid in the mirror.
Is this the Amber Knight and his lady you
are talking about, Nan?"
Yes, ma'a
m. So they be sayin" in the
kitchens, at any rate."
Are they saying precisely where the
ghosts were seen?" Victoria asked carefully
just as the connecting door opened and
Lucas walked into her bedchamber. She
was relieved to note he was fully dressed
and even more pleased to see that he
did not appear to be favoring his bad
leg unduly.
Mornin', your lordship." Nan dropped
a quick curtsy and went back to work
brushing Victoria's short curls into
fashionable, casual disarray.
Good morning," Lucas said easily. He
met Victoria's gaze in the mirror and
smiled with lazy satisfaction. Finish your
tale, Nan. Where were the ghosts seen?"
Nan's eyes brightened. Ridin" down one
of the lanes, just as bold as you please. Can
you imagine? What would a couple of self
respectin" ghosts be doing riding horseback
in the middle of the night, I ask you? The
tales some people come up with."
I agree with you," Lucas remarked, his
eyes gleaming as they continued to hold
Victoria's in the mirror. I cannot for
the life of me imagine why a couple of
intelligent ghosts would be out riding at
that hour. Who saw them?"
Well, as to that, I am not sure exactly,
sir. I had the story from one of the kitchen
girls who had it from a new stable lad. He
just started work this mornin". Don't know
where he got it," Nan said.
Probably made the whole thing up,"
Victoria said. That will be all for now,
Nan. Thank you."
Yes, m'lady." Nan bobbed another
curtsy and left the room.
Lucas grinned as the door closed behind
the maid. Ten to one Billy Simms has put
a nice twist on the events of last night."
No doubt." Victoria laughed. It is
getting to be a great joke, is it not,
Lucas?"
I fear it will not be quite so amusing
when someone finally realizes that the
ghosts are merely the current Earl of
stone vale and his hoyden of a countess.
But we shall face that problem when it
arises. Are you ready to go down to
breakfast?" /
Yes, indeed. In fact, I find myself with
an excellent appetite this morning."
I cannot imagine why," Lucas murmured
as he opened the door for her.
Victoria stepped forward and looped her
arm into his. Nothing like a little exercise
to work up an appetite, is there? What are
your plans for the day, my lord?"
I am going to meet with the vicar to go
over some ideas I have been studying for
the new irrigation system. And your plans,
my dear?"
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