Lucas habitually came to make his living.
I say, stone vale, been wanting to speak
to you." Ferdie Merivale got to his feet
and hastened forward as he saw Lucas
walk into the room.
Lucas picked up a bottle of claret and
poured himself a glass. He cocked a brow
at the young man and wondered if he was
about to be called out for his rescue efforts
at the Green Pig. Then he thought of how
he would explain such a situation to the
lady who had gotten him into the mess in
the first place. Oh, by the bye, Vicky, the
young pup you insisted I rescue has decided
to try to kill me tomorrow morning.
At least Molly the farm girl was safely
out of town and not likely to come back
anytime soon.
What is it, Merivale?"
Ferdie flushed and ran a finger under
the extremely high fold of his neckcloth.
But his gaze was determined and direct.
I wished to thank you, my lord."
Lucas narrowed his eyes in muted
surprise. Do you, indeed? For what?"
For your interference the other night,"
Merivale plowed on gamely. Don't believe
I was properly appreciative at the time.
Had a few glasses of claret before I got
into the game, you know."
Glasses or bottles?"
Bottles," Ferdie admitted ruefully. At
any rate, I had no way of knowing what
sort of reputation Duddingstone had. I've
since learned that respectable men don't
sit down to cards with him."
Intelligent men don't sit down to cards
with him," Lucas corrected. I am glad
you realize what he is. I will not bore
you with a lecture on your responsibility
to your name and estates, but I would urge
you to think twice about risking more than
you can afford to lose in a card game with
anyone, respectable or otherwise."
Merivale grinned. Are you quite certain
you're not going to bore me with a lecture?
Completely unnecessary, you know. I
swear I have had three or four from
my mother."
Lucas grinned. Sorry. I fear I spent too
long in the army. One gets accustomed
to issuing warnings to green officers. And
spare me your thanks, Merivale. To tell
you the truth, I had no real intention of
rescuing you that evening. I had other
things on my mind at the time."
Then why did you bother, sir?" Merivale
asked.
My, uh, companion took pity on you
and suggested I do something. I obliged.
That was all there was to it."
I do not believe that for a moment, sir.
You were kind enough to get me out of a
situation in which I could have lost a great
deal and I want you to know I am in your
debt." Ferdie Merivale bowed slightly and
went back to join his friends at the bar.
Lucas shook his head in silent amaze
ment. Victoria had been correct. Ferdie
Merivale wasn't such a bad lot after all.
If he continued to grow up at this pace,
the young man might very well become a
credit to his title and his family.
None of that, however, made up for the
fact that because he had been occupied
with stuffing Merivale into a carriage,
Victoria had nearly been run down. Every
time he recalled the terrible scene, Lucas's
insides went cold.
Deliberately he shook off the chill. He
had business to do tonight. He picked up
the claret bottle and went across the room
to see who was playing cards. He needed
to augment his financial reserves. It cost
a staggering amount to move in Victoria's
social circles.
The one truly irksome thing about this
courtship was that the money he was
spending on the social trappings he needed
for camouflage was money that could
not be sunk into the hungry lands of
stone vale.
Lucas consoled himself with the knowledge
that one sometimes had to take risks
in order to secure a greater profit.
He soon found what he was looking
for a game of whist where the play would
be deep enough to suit his current financial
needs. He was invited to sit down at
once. Lucas did so, putting the bottle on
the table.
In reality, he would actually drink very
little this evening. He had learned long
ago that a clear head gave him a distinct
advantage in a game where his opponents
usually preferred to fortify themselves with
endless bottles of claret and port. The
bottle of claret sitting at his elbow was
simply more camouflage.
A long time later, after nearly four hours
of steady play, Lucas finally decided he
had enough to placate his tailor and his
bootmaker as well as sufficient to keep his
small staff satisfied for a few more weeks.
He excused himself from the game and
went to collect his hat and coat.
He realized he was tired. The intensity
and concentration he brought to his card
playing often left him feeling exhausted.
But he knew it was precisely that intensity
and concentration that helped him win on
a reliable basis.
It was the fashion among the men
of the ton to play wildly and without
much thought or analysis. Gaming was
just one more way of displaying one's
wealth and style, a method of enhancing
one's sense of power and masculinity and
impressing one's companions with one's
sangfroid.
Huge losses were handled with casual
disdain as if money meant nothing. But it
was no secret that some men went home
and put a pistol to their own heads after
a disastrous night at the tables.
Lucas much preferred winning and he
took great care to do so. Indeed, a man
who was good at strategy could prosper at
the gaming tables.
He was halfway to the door when he
spotted Edgeworth watching him from the
hearth. The other man's sullen dislike was
palpable, but Lucas was not particularly
concerned. The feeling was mutual. He
had not minded in the least relieving
Edgeworth of a sizable sum a fortnight
ago. Lucas also had no intention of ever
getting into another game with the man.
Good evening, stone vale. Enjoying your
outrageous little heiress?" Edgeworth spoke
just loudly enough to catch Lucas's
attention. A very interesting young lady,
is she not?"
Lucas contemplated Edgeworth's taunt
ing expression and wondered if he could
simply ignore the man. Probably not.
Young Merivale and his friend had
overheard the remark. They were already
turning their heads to see how Lucas would
respond.
I do not discuss respectable women
with your sort, Edgeworth," Lucas said
mildly. Now that I think of it, I do not
believe I would discuss women of any kind
with you."
Tis said the lady in question has no
intention of ever marrying," Edgeworth
continued, ignoring the clear warning in
Lucas's voice. Since matrimony is not a
possibility, may we assume you have other
goals in mind for Miss Huntington? After
all, the two of you are seen together so
frequently one cannot help but speculate
on the nature of your association."
This was what came of having a
reputation for being slow to anger, Lucas
thought ruefully. The fact that he had made
no accusation against Edgeworth the night
of their infamous card game had obviously
emboldened the man.
Meditatively Lucas sipped the claret,
aware of his audience. Merivale and his
companion were frowning now, waiting
to see how Lucas would handle what
bordered on a thinly veiled insult to
Victoria's virtue.
One would be wise to resist the
temptation to speculate too much on
Miss Huntington's social activities," Lucas
said. Unless, of course, one is prepared
to present oneself at dawn in Clery Field
accompanied by a pair of seconds."
The small tableau of Edgeworth, Meri
vale, and Merivale's friend went abruptly
still.
Edgeworth eyed Lucas through narrowed
lids. Just what is that supposed to mean,
stone vale?"
Lucas smiled his thinnest, coldest smile.
Precisely what it sounds like. I am, as you
well know, prepared to let a little matter
such as cheating at cards go unremarked. I
am not, however, quite so sanguine when a
slur is cast on an innocent young woman's
name. I leave the decision up to you,
Edgeworth."
Edgeworth straightened away from the
mantel, his face turning an angry shade
of red. Damn you, stone vale. God damn
you to hell, you bastard. Do you think your
luck will hold out forever?" He turned on
his heel and walked swiftly out of the
room.
Merivale and his companion watched
with open mouths as Edgeworth departed.
Lucas swallowed a far larger amount
of claret than he'd had all evening.
He considered himself fortunate that
Edgeworth did not care to play any
game in which the deck was not marked.
Good God," Ferdie Merivale said,
mopping his brow with a linen hand
kerchief. Thought for a moment there I
was going to get my first invitation to act
as a second. I must say, you handled him
very well, sir. Certainly cannot have Miss
Huntington's name bandied about in such
a manner."
I should say not," Merivale's companion
put in. Miss Huntington is a very decent
sort of female. Danced with me at my first
ball when I was damn sure I would make a
complete ass of myself on the floor. After
a couple of dances with her, I felt much
more confident, and after being seen with
her, I had no trouble getting other dances,
I can tell you."
She was extremely good to my sister,"
Merivale added. Poor Lucinda was stricken
with the most awful case of shyness when
she made her debut a year ago. Frozen with
fear, you might say. But Miss Huntington
took her under her wing and showed her
how to go on in Society. Mama was
excessively grateful, I can tell you. As
a friend of Miss Huntington's, Lucinda
soon got some excellent invitations."
Edgeworth backed right down, didn't
he?" the other young man observed eagerly.
But, then, lately I have heard rumors the
man don't much care for a fair game of
any kind."
I believe, sir," Merivale said slowly,
that Edgeworth is a bit annoyed with
you because of that little scene at the card
table a while back. Everyone knows you're
much too good a player to drop an entire
deck on the floor by accident. After you
called for a new deck and began to win,
people started wondering at Edgeworth's
incredible luck in the past. He's finding
it harder and harder to get into a game
these days. Wouldn't be surprised if there's
some talk of kicking him out of his clubs
soon."
Interesting." Lucas nodded briefly at the
two young men. If you will excuse me, I
must be going."
A moment later Lucas walked down
the front steps of the club and hailed
the nearest carriage. Inside, he sprawled
back against the seat and exhaled deeply.
He needed to think.
Idly he rubbed his jaw and stared out
into the night. This game he was playing
with Victoria was getting increasingly risky.
Aside from the very real physical dangers
of their midnight adventures, there was
now a genuine risk to her reputation.
Killing Edgeworth in a duel would not
be enough to silence the gossip, once it
had started.
He could not allow Victoria to get hurt,
Lucas told himself grimly. The thing had
reached a very serious stage. They were
courting an increasing risk of discovery
with every midnight outing, and every
time they were seen together at parties
or in the park, tongues wagged.
Lucas knew Victoria well enough now
to realize that even if he refused to escort
her on any more midnight adventures,
she would probably find some way of
going about on her own. She had grown
extremely confident in her flimsy masculine
disguise.
There was another possibility, too, Lucas
reflected. If he stopped providing escort,
she might very well find another man who
would. And that was the most intolerable
thought.
Lucas absently massaged his leg while
he examined his own logic. It was clear
that the dangerous courtship had to end
and soon. The only solution was to marry
Victoria as quickly as possible.
His nerves would not tolerate too much
more of this wild, reckless, midnight
wooing.
Two days later Lucas folded his arms
across his chest and sent an amused scowl
at Victoria, who was shifting restlessly again
in the neighboring seat. She pretended not
to notice his admonishing look as she
readjusted her skirts.
Next to Victoria sat Cleo Nettleship,
paying rapt attention to the speaker, a
certain Sir Elihu Winthrop, who was
delivering a stimulating lecture entitled
An Enumeration of the Principles of the
Cultivation of Buckwheat."
Luca
s, at least, was finding the subject
stimulating. He was already making plans
to put some of stone vale's fields into
buckwheat. The stuff made excellent
fodder for cattle and sheep and, according
to Winthrop, was frequently consumed
by humans over on the continent. Of
course, everyone knew that people on
the continent would eat virtually anything.
Still, there were periodic shortages of wheat
throughout England and buckwheat might
provide a good emergency grain for his
people.
Victoria began to tap her foot im
patiently. Lucas knew he should probably
not be too hard on her. She obviously had
other things on her mind this afternoon
and he was quite certain he knew what
was making her so fidgety.
Lucas hid a quick smile of satisfaction.
He had absolutely no intention of making
it easy on the lady. Now that he had her
hooked, she was going to have to work a
little more at getting herself landed.
For a moment he allowed himself a few
glittering memories of her sweet passion
and then, when he realized what it was
doing to the region of his groin, he gave his
full attention back to the speaker. Winthrop
was now deep into a discussion of various
methods of manuring buckwheat.
Most educational," Lady Nettleship
declared at the end of the lecture.
Although I confess I have a much
stronger interest in lectures on exotic
plants. Still, one should certainly be
aware of the newest techniques employed
in domestic agriculture. Did you enjoy it,
Lucas?"
Very much. Thank you again for letting
me know the lecture was going to be held
today."
Anytime, anytime. Are you ready to
leave, Victoria?"
Yes, Aunt Cleo. Quite ready." Victoria
was on her feet, collecting her bonnet and
reticule.
Well, we mustn't rush out of here. I
see one or two people I should speak to
first." Cleo glanced around the room with
enthusiasm. I will be right back."
Victoria shot Lucas a meaningful look
from beneath her lashes as they started
toward the doors of the lecture hall.
He looked down at her, enjoying the
sight of her in a charming little yellow
spencer jacket worn over a white muslin
walking dress. She looked very lovely, he
thought with a sense of possessive pride.
He ushered her politely toward the exit,
nodding at several of the society's members
with whom he was becoming friends.
The departure from the hall took some
time as several people stopped to talk.
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