Details. We've been paired off at a few
routs and that's enough." He tipped his
hat to another elderly lady, who smiled
archly.
Never mind that. It can't be helped. I
specifically asked to speak to you today
because I was afraid I would not get
another chance tonight to speak to you
privately and I have a few matters I want
to clarify."
I was afraid of that."
There's no need to adopt the attitude of
a martyr. You agreed to our adventuring.
In fact, you insisted on accompanying
me on our midnight tours. This bargain
between us was made at your instigation,
Lucas," Victoria said.
Lucas narrowed his eyes." I sense a
complaint about my performance to date.
I'm crushed. Haven't you enjoyed yourself
on the two occasions I risked life and limb
to climb your garden wall?"
Don't look at me like that. You know
very well I found those two occasions
this past week quite interesting. But they
weren't what I expected, Lucas."
What did you expect to find when you
went spying on a man's world?"
Victoria chewed her lower lip thought
fully. I'm not sure, precisely. More
adventure, I think. More excitement."
Didn't you get adventure and excite
ment enough on Wednesday night?"
The late-night supper at the restaurant
was amusing, I'll admit. At least I found
it so until those two young men got sick all
over the skirts of their little opera dancers."
Recalling the scene she had witnessed and
how it had completely put her off her own
food, Victoria made a face.
I hate to disillusion you, Vicky, but the
unfortunate truth is men don't do very
edifying things when they get together late
at night and start drinking. How about
the excursion to Vauxhall? You liked that,
didn't you?"
For heaven's sake, Lucas, you cannot
fob me off with trips to Vauxhall. Much
too tame. Too respectable. I could have
gone there with Annabella or any of my
other female acquaintances and no one
would have thought it amiss."
Be fair. Dressed as a man, you saw a
whole different side to the place."
You are missing my point, Lucas,"
Victoria said firmly." Deliberately, I think."
What is your point?"
My point is that thus far you have not
taken me to any of the places on my list."
Ah, yes, the famous list. I was afraid this
conference today was going to focus
on that damned list."
You promised, Lucas. You said you
would take me wherever I wanted to go.
Instead, you've been deliberately trying to
give me a disgust with the whole notion
of adventuring, haven't you? Don't think
I can't see right through your plan. You've
been hoping that such revolting incidents
as that business of witnessing those young
men drinking until they became ill and
viewing that boxing match at Vauxhall will
put me off the entire scheme," Victoria
accused.
I was only trying to show you what you
were getting into without putting you at
undue risk in the process. You know you
did not care for all the blood at the boxing
match."
Ah-hah, I knew it. You are trying to
fob me off with mild adventures. Well, it
won't work," Victoria declared." I demand
that you live up to your part of this
bargain. Tomorrow night I insist we go to
a brothel or a gaming hell." She brightened,
considering the prospect." I think I should
prefer the latter. Yes, let us go to a real
gaming hell."
You won't like it, Vicky."
That is for me to judge. Now, do we
have an agreement or must I find someone
else to take me?"
Lucas smiled and inclined his head to
yet another curious middle-aged woman
passing in a carriage. Outwardly, he was
the picture of polite gallantry, but his
voice, when he responded to Victoria's
threat, was suddenly ice cold.
Do not issue an ultimatum you cannot
possibly carry out, Vicky."
Victoria was learning that when he used
that particular tone, it was best to back
off and find another path to her goal. It
irked her that the man tended to turn
utterly implacable when she pushed too
hard, but he did have a point. Where was
she going to find another companion who
would show her the night?
There was, too, another aspect to the
situation. She was becoming increasingly
enthralled by the farewell kisses Lucas gave
her before he departed from her garden
after an adventure. There had been two
more such embraces since the night they
had gone to the fair and Victoria was
already anticipating the next occasion when
he would take her in his arms.
Lucas, you seem to be overlooking the
fact that I am in charge of this adventuring
project. Must I remind you that I am the
one who makes the decisions? Now, as to
our next venture . Oh damn." Victoria
broke off with a somewhat forced smile
as a familiar couple in a curricle pulled
abreast of her horse. She looked across
into Isabel Rycott's amused eyes.
Isabel glittered like the small, perfect
jewel she was in a rich shade of ruby.
Seated next to her, holding the reins, was
her current escort, Richard Edgeworth.
Victoria had been introduced to him the
previous evening and had not been much
impressed. In fact, she wondered what
Isabel, who could have her pick of men,
saw in him.
On the surface there was certainly
nothing wrong with the man. Edgeworth
was fair-haired and handsome by most
standards. He was in his early thirties,
but Victoria did not think his looks
would last into his forties. There was
an unpleasant hint of sullen discontent in
his eyes, as if Edgeworth had always felt
himself victimized by life. There was, too,
a curiously weak, dissolute quality about
his mouth that implied a certain lack of
inner strength.
Victoria wondered briefly if she was
being too hard on the man. She was,
after all, starting to use Lucas as her
standard of comparison.
Good afternoon, Vicky, dear," Isabel
said." So nice to see you again."
Your servant, Miss Huntington," Edge
worth murmured. His gaze slid toward
Lucas and away again." stone vale."
Edgeworth."
Sensing the coldness between the two
men, Victoria glanced at Lucas's enigmatic
face but could read nothing of his thoughts.
She turned quickly
back to Isabel Rycott.
What a stunning hat. Lady Rycott. You
must give me the name of your milliner."
I will be happy to do so. She has a
shop in Oxford Street. Perhaps we'll have a
moment to chat tonight at Lady Atherton's
small party?"
I'm afraid I won't be there," Victoria
said, remembering that she had declined
the invitation earlier in the week. She
wondered if Lucas had accepted," I have
other plans. Perhaps another time."
Perhaps." Lady Rycott shot Lucas a
mysterious smile and signaled to her
companion that she wished to move on
down the path. To this, Edgeworth gave
the reins a small snap, his fine gray gloves
giving the gesture an elegant touch.
You don't care for Lady Rycott, do
you?" Lucas observed casually as their
carriage moved out of hearing range.
And I got the impression you're not
a particular friend of Mister Edge worth's,"
Victoria said.
A small matter of a gaming debt, I'm
afraid."
Victoria slid him a sidelong glance." You
played cards with him?"
Only once. The man cheats."
Victoria was horrified." Edgeworth is a
cheat? How astonishing. Why is he still
allowed to play in the clubs?"
Lucas watched the carriage roll out of
sight behind a crop of trees." Because he's
never been caught. He is quite good at
it."
What happened the night you played
with him?" Victoria asked, her interest
piqued.
Lucas grinned briefly." Halfway through
the game, after losing rather heavily, I
somehow managed to drop the entire deck
of cards on the floor. Naturally a new pack
had to be fetched immediately."
An unmarked deck. How very clever
of you." Victoria was delighted." And
Edgeworth started losing?"
Yes. Heavily."
Excellent. You see, Lucas, that is just
the sort of excitement I wish to witness
firsthand."
There wasn't much to see. A few cards
on the floor. A few glares from Edgeworth.
Me mentally on my knees thanking the
powers that be that I'd figured out what
the devil was going on before I played too
deep."
There you go, trying to discourage me
from exactly the sort of adventure I am
anxious to experience." She frowned." Was
that card game the only time you and
Edgeworth have encountered each other?"
What makes you ask that?"
I don't know. Something about the way
the two of you reacted to each other a
moment ago. I almost had the impression
you had known each other for some time.
Never mind. To get back to my original
subject"
Why don't you like Isabel Rycott?"
Victoria's jaw tightened." Is it that
obvious?"
Lucas nodded to another couple on the
path." Only to someone who knows you
well. And I am getting to know you very
well, my dear."
I have no real reason to dislike her.
She was introduced to me a few weeks
ago and immediately claimed a past
acquaintanceship with my mother and
stepfather," Victoria explained cautiously.
Your stepfather was a man named
Samuel Whitlock?"
Yes."
You have never spoken much of your
family, other than your aunt Cleo," Lucas
pointed out.
It is not a subject I care to discuss.
How did you know my stepfather's name,
Lucas?"
I believe Jessica Atherton mentioned
it.
Yes, of course." Her voice turned brittle.
Now what's amiss?" Lucas asked gently.
Nothing."
Vicky, I'm your friend, remember? One
of these days I intend to be your lover.
You can talk to me."
She looked around sharply, aware of the
heat rising in her cheeks. Really, Lucas,
what a thing to say in public. And neither
of us is at all certain about the course of
our future relationship. Kindly do not go
about presuming too much."
You don't like the idea that I discussed
you with Lady Atherton, do you?"
No, I do not."
You don't much care for her, either?"
Lucas asked.
I do not dislike Jessica Atherton. I have
explained once before that she and I do not
have a lot in common, but I have nothing
against her. Who can have anything against
a paragon?" Victoria paused. How long
have you known her, Lucas?"
Jessica Atherton? Several years. I was
acquainted with her before her marriage
to Atherton."
There was more to it than that, Victoria
decided, listening to the clipped note in his
words. She did not know how to ask for
further details, however, so she changed
the subject.
I cannot imagine what Lady Rycott
sees in Edgeworth," Victoria observed. She
probably does not know about his card
playing habits."
Probably not."
It is certainly convenient being a widow,
is it not?" Victoria mused.
That got Lucas's attention. What the
devil are you on about now?"
Do you realize that as a widow in
command of her own financial affairs. Lady
Rycott has considerably more freedom to
go about with an escort of her choice than
I do?"
I had not given the matter much
thought," Lucas muttered repressively.
I have. Considerable thought. As a
woman who has never been married, I
am far more restricted than Lady Rycott.
I must always be conscious of what people
will say. I am still at an age when I must
have a care for my reputation. But Isabel
Rycott can ride in an open carriage with
Edgeworth and dance with him tonight
and let him take her home after the
Athertons" party, and no one will pay
any heed. It's not fair, Lucas. Not fair
at all."
Pray don't take a notion to marry me
and then murder me in my bed so that
you may enjoy the freedoms of wealthy
widowhood."
Victoria laughed softly. I would not
think of it. Even the prospect of being a
free and wealthy widow is not enough of
an inducement to lure me into marriage."
Lucas eyed her thoughtfully. If our
interview is finished, we had best part.
We've been riding together for some
distance and we certainly wouldn't want
anyone to speculate unduly on our as
sociation."
No, you are quite right." But for a
moment Victoria longed to have the
freedom Isabel Rycott did. She was
not in the least anxious to say good
bye. One moment, Lucas. About our
next adventure. I
really must insist on
something a little more exciting than
Vauxhall or another restaurant. I shall
be waiting in my aunt's garden tomorrow
night after the Chillingsworm party and I
shall be expecting to be taken to a gaming
hell at the very least."
stone vale's brows rose at her tone of
authority. Your wish is my command,
Vicky. But in the meantime, I shall look
forward to seeing you this evening when I
attend Grimshaw's lecture."
Victoria grinned. Are you really in
terested in agricultural improvements in
Yorkshire?"
Is that so amusing?"
She shrugged her shoulders. No. I
suppose not."
Lucas tipped his hat to her. Be warned,
Vicky. You still don't know everything
there is to know about me. Good
afternoon." Before she could respond,
he had turned George's head and was
cantering down the path. Victoria stared
after him until Annabella Lyndwood called
to her from a short distance away. Shaking
off an odd emotion she could not identify,
Victoria went to greet her friend.
The night after Grimshaw's lecture
Victoria slipped cautiously through the
darkened town house and out into the
conservatory. Pale moonlight pierced the
windows, turning the array of exotic
plants into a strange and forbidding
world.
Victoria was growing accustomed to the
eerie jungle that was the conservatory at
night. She hurried down one aisle and
let herself out into the garden. The night
air was chilled and the grass was damp
beneath her booted feet. She hesitated,
searching the shadows for Lucas. As usual,
she did not spot him until he moved.
Lucas stepped away from the shelter of
the wall, a dark and forbidding figure
dressed chiefly in black. His Hessians
gleamed faintly in the moonlight. His face
was in shadow. Victoria caught her breath
at the sight of him and anticipation rushed
through her veins, leaving her trembling
with excitement.
Lucas held out his hand. Smiling in
welcome, she put her fingers trustingly
into his. As she did so, Lucas tipped up
her chin with his other hand and kissed
her; a quick, hard, possessive kiss. It was
just the sort of kiss she knew she ought to
protest but which instead always left her
hungering for more. These stolen moments
of fleeting, sultry passion were creating a
sense of strong frustration within her.
The carriage I hired for the evening is
waiting around the corner," Lucas said as
he dropped lightly down beside her on the
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