Surrender
Amanda Quick
Prologue
The hall clock struck midnight. It was a
death knell. The beautiful, old-fashioned,
terrifyingly heavy dress that did not fit her
properly because it had been made for
another woman, hampered her frantic flight
down the corridor. The fine wool fabric
tangled itself around her legs, threatening
to trip her with every desperate step. She
pulled the skirts higher, higher, almost to
her knees, and risked a glance back over
her shoulder.
He was closing on her, running her
down the way a hound, maddened with
blood lust, runs a deer to earth. His once
demonically handsome face, the face that
had lured an innocent, trusting woman
first into marriage and then to her doom,
was now a mask of fear and murderous,
burning rage. With wild eyes that bulged
from his head and hair that stood on end,
he stalked her. The knife in his hand would
soon be at her throat.
Demon bitch." His shout of rage echoed
down the upstairs hall. The light of a
flickering taper glinted on the evil-looking
blade he clutched. You are dead. Why
cannot you leave me in peace? I swear
I will send you back to hell where you
belong. And this time I will make certain
the deed is done right. Hear me, you
accursed specter. This time I will make
certain.
She wanted to scream and could not.
All she could do was run for her life.
I will watch your blood flow through my
fingers until you are drained," he cried out
behind her, much closer. This time you
will stay dead, demon bitch. You have
caused me trouble enough."
She was at the top of the stairs now,
gasping for breath. Fear clawed at her
insides. Holding the thick skirts even
higher, she started down the staircase,
one hand on the banister to keep herself
from falling. It would be a bitter irony to
die of a broken neck rather than a slashed
throat.
He was so close, so very close. She knew
there was every chance she would not make
it back to safety. This time she had gone
too far, taken one risk too many. She had
played the part of a ghost and now she
was very likely to become one. He would
be on top of her before she reached the
bottom step.
She had finally gotten the proof she had
sought. In his rage he had confessed. If she
lived, she would have justice for her poor
mother. But it was fast becoming apparent
that her quest would cost her her life.
Soon she would feel his hands on her,
grabbing at her in a dreadful parody of the
sexual embrace he had threatened her with
when she was younger. Then she would
feel the knife.
The knife.
Dear God, the knife.
She was halfway down the stairs when
her pursuer's hideous scream rent the
shadows.
She looked back in horror and realized
that for the rest of her life, midnight would
never be quite the same again. For her,
midnight would mean nightmare.
Victoria Claire Huntington knew when she
was being stalked. She had not reached
the advanced age of twenty-four without
learning to recognize the sophisticated
fortune hunters of the ton. Heiresses were,
after all, fair game.
The fact that she was still single and
mistress of her own sizable inheritance
was proof of her skill at evading the slick,
deceitful opportunists who thrived in her
world. Victoria had determined long ago
never to fall victim to their attractive,
superficial charms.
But Lucas Mallory Colebrook, the new
Earl of Stone vale, was different. He might
very well be an opportunist, but there was
definitely nothing slick or superficial about
him. Amid the brightly plumed birds of the
ton, this man was a hawk.
Victoria was beginning to wonder if the
very qualities that should have warned
her off, the underlying strength and the
implacable will she sensed in stone vale,
were exactly what had drawn her to him.
There was no denying she had been
fascinated by the man since they had
been introduced less than an hour ago. The
attraction she felt was deeply disturbing. In
fact, it was quite dangerous.
I believe I have won again, my lord."
Victoria lowered her elegantly gloved hand
and fanned her cards out across the green
baize table. She smiled her most dazzling
smile at her opponent.
Congratulations, Miss Huntington. Your
luck is certainly running strong this
evening." stone vale, whose gray eyes made
Victoria think of ghosts hovering in the
dead of night, did not look in the least
dismayed at his loss. He appeared, in fact,
quietly satisfied, as if a carefully devised
plan had just come to fruition. There was
a sense of cool anticipation about him.
Yes, my luck has been amazingly strong
tonight, has it not?" Victoria murmured.
One might almost suspect it had some
assistance."
I refuse to contemplate such a possibility.
I cannot allow you to impugn
your own honor, Miss Huntington."
Very gallant of you, my lord. But
it was not my honor which concerned
me. I assure you I am well aware that
I was not cheating." Victoria held her
breath, knowing she had stepped out onto
very thin ice with that remark. She had
practically accused the earl of playing with
marked cards in order to ensure her win.
stone vale's eyes met and held hers across
the table. His expression was unnervingly
calm. Frighteningly calm, Victoria thought
with a small shiver. There should have been
some flicker of emotion in that cool, gray
gaze. But she could read nothing in his
face except a certain watchfulness.
Would you care to clarify that remark,
Miss Huntington?"
Victoria quickly decided to step back
onto more solid ground. Pray, pay me
no heed, my lord. It is simply that I
am as astounded as you should be at my
luck with cards this evening. I am only
an indifferent player at best. You, on the
other hand, have a reputation as a skilled
gamester, or so I have been told."
You flatter me. Miss Huntington."
I don't believe so," Victoria said. I have
heard tales of
the ability you display at the
tables of White's and Brooks's as well as at
certain other clubs here in town that are of
a, shall we say, less reputable nature."
Greatly embroidered tales, I imagine.
But you make me curious. As we have
only just met, where did you hear such
stories?"
She could hardly admit she had asked
her friend Annabella Lyndwood about him
the moment he entered the ballroom two
hours before. I am certain you are aware
of how such rumors fly, my lord."
Indeed. But a woman of your obvious
intelligence should know better than to
listen to gossip." With a smooth, effortless
motion stone vale gathered up the cards
into a neat stack. He rested his graceful,
long-fingered hand on top of the deck
and smiled coolly at Victoria. Now, Miss
Huntington, have you given any thought
to collecting your winnings?"
Victoria watched him warily, unable to
repress the excitement that was bubbling
within her. If she had any sense, she would
end this here and now, she told herself
But tonight it was difficult to think with
the sort of cold, clear logic she usually
employed in such circumstances. She had
never met anyone quite like stone vale.
The hum of conversation and laughter
in Lady Atherton's card room receded,
and the music from the ballroom seemed
faint and distant now. The Athertons" huge
London house was filled with well-dressed
members of the ton as well as countless
servants, but Victoria suddenly felt as if
she were completely alone with the earl.
My winnings," Victoria repeated slowly,
trying to school her thoughts. Yes, I
shall have to do something about them,
won't I?"
I believe the wager was for a favor, was
it not? As the winner, you are entitled to
request one of me. I am at your service."
As it happens, sir, I do not need any
favors from you at the moment."
Are you quite certain of that?"
She was startled by the knowing expression
in the earl's eyes. This was a man who
always knew more than he ought. Quite."
I fear I must contradict you, Miss
Huntington. I believe you do need a
favor of me. I am given to understand
that you will require an escort later this
evening when you and Miss Lyndwood
have your little adventure at the fair."
Victoria went very still. What do you
know of that?"
stone vale gently riffled the cards with
one long finger. Lyndwood and I are
friends. Belong to the same clubs. Play
cards together occasionally. You know how
it is."
Lord Lyndwood? Annabella's brother?
You've been talking to him?"
Yes."
Victoria was incensed. He promised to
be our escort this evening and he gave
us his word he would keep quiet on the
matter. How dare he discuss this business
with his cronies? This is too much by half
And men have the nerve to accuse women
of gossiping. What an outrage."
You must not be so hard on the man,
Miss Huntington."
What did Lyndwood do? Make a general
announcement at one of his clubs that he
would be taking his sister and her friend
to the fair?"
It was not a general announcement, I
assure you. He was most discreet. After
all, his sister is involved, is she not? If you
must know the truth, I believe Lyndwood
confided in me because he was feeling the
strain of the situation."
Strain? What strain? There is absolutely
nothing about any of this that should make
him anxious. He is simply going to escort
Annabella and me to the park where the
fair is being held. What could be simpler?"
she snapped.
As I understand it, you and his sister
applied a certain degree of pressure on
Lyndwood to get him to agree to your
plans. The poor boy is still green enough
to be manipulated by such feminine tactics.
Fortunately, he is also wise enough to
regret his weakness and smart enough to
seek assistance."
Poor boy, indeed. What nonsense. You
make it sound as though Annabella and I
coerced Bertie into this."
Didn't you?" stone vale shot back.
Of course not. We merely impressed
upon him that we have every intention of
going to the fair tonight and he insisted
on accompanying us. Very gallant of him.
Or so we thought."
You left him little choice as a gentleman.
He could hardly agree to let you go on your
own and you knew it. It was blackmail.
Furthermore, I suspect it was largely your
idea, Miss Huntington."
Blackmail" Victoria was now furious. I
resent that accusation, my lord."
Why? it is little more than the truth. Do
you think Lyndwood would have willingly
consented to escort you and his sister
to such a disreputable event unless you
threatened to go on your own? Miss
Lyndwood's mama would have a fit of
the vapors if she got word of this little
escapade tonight, and so, I imagine, would
your aunt."
I assure you. Aunt Cleo is far too sturdy
to indulge in a fit of the vapors," Victoria
declared loyally. But she knew stone vale
was perfectly correct about Annabella's
mama. Lady Lyndwood would indeed have
hysterics if she discovered her daughter's
plans for this evening. Proper young ladies
of the ton did not go to the fair-grounds
at night.
Your aunt may be a sturdy character. I
will take your word for it, as I have not yet
had the honor of meeting Lady Nettleship.
But I sincerely doubt she would approve of
your plans for this evening/ stone vale said.
I shall throttle Lord Lyndwood when
I see him. He is no gentleman to have
betrayed a confidence in this manner."
It was not entirely his fault he confided
in me. I spent enough years as an officer to
know when a young man is agitated about
something. It was not that difficult to press
him for the details."
Victoria narrowed her eyes. Why?"
Let us say I had a great curiosity about
the matter. When Lyndwood discovered
I was only too happy to come to his
assistance tonight, he confessed all and
pleaded for a companion."
You have not answered my question.
Why was your curiosity so great?"
My reasons are not particularly im
portant," stone vale's long fingers rippled
easily through the deck of cards again. It
seems to me we have a more immediate
problem."
I see no problem." Other than getti
ng
rid of you, Victoria added silently. Her
first instincts had been correct. She should
have run when she had the chance. But it
was beginning to appear as though she'd
never had the opportunity in the first
place. Everything suddenly seemed to be
proceeding according to some master plan
that had been set in motion and over which
she had less and less control.
We should go over the details of the
evening's adventure, don't you think?"
The details have already been taken care
of, thank you." Victoria did not like the
feeling of not being in charge.
Please understand. Perhaps it is the
ex-soldier in me or perhaps it is mere
curiosity, but I like to know exactly what
is involved in a venture before it begins.
Would you be so good as to outline the
schedule of events more clearly for me?"
stone vale asked innocently.
I do not see why I should. I did not
invite you along."
I merely wish to be of assistance, Miss
Huntington. Not only is Lyndwood grateful
for my help tonight, but you, yourself,
might also find it very convenient to
have an extra escort on hand. The mob
can become very boisterous and rowdy at
night."
i'm not in the least concerned with the
rowdy crowds. That is part of what will
make the entire venture exciting."
Then I'm sure you will at least be
grateful for my continued silence on the
matter should I happen to be introduced
to your aunt this evening."
Victoria studied him mutely for a short,
taut moment. It would seem that Lord
Lyndwood is not the only one in danger
of being blackmailed. It appears I am also
slated to become a victim."
You wound me, Miss Huntington."
Not fatally, unfortunately, else I would
be rid of my problem, wouldn't I?"
I urge you to look upon me as a solution
rather than a problem." stone vale smiled
his slow smile. It did not affect the ghosts
in his eyes. I ask only to serve you in the
capacity of escort this evening when you
venture out into the dangerous streets of
the city. I am most anxious to discharge
my gaming debt."
And if I decline to collect my winnings
by accepting your escort, you will tell my
aunt what is planned, is that it?"
stone vale sighed. It would be most
unpleasant for all concerned if Miss
Lyndwood's mama or your aunt discovered
your scheme for tonight, but one can never
tell what topics of conversation will arise in
Surrender Amanda Quick Page 1