Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  Lucas could feel Victoria simmering with

  impatience beside him.

  Is something wrong?" he finally inquired

  quite casually as they stood in the entryway

  waiting for Lady Nettleship.

  No, but Lucas, I must talk to you."

  Then something is wrong?"

  Nothing is wrong. I simply wish to

  speak to you in private and I have not

  had an opportunity to do so since the

  night we She broke off, turning pink.

  Then she gamely cleared her throat and

  finished the sentence, Since the night we

  went to the Green Pig."

  Speaking of which, I ran into Ferdie

  Merivale the other evening at my club.

  You will be happy to know he was not

  nearly as annoyed with me as I had

  expected. Even thanked me for rescuing

  him. It seems he's come to his senses and

  feels he had a rather close call."

  Victoria's eyes brightened for a moment.

  I'm so glad. I have always liked Ferdie and

  his sister."

  Too bad I cannot tell him he owes the

  lesson to you, not me. I'd have left him

  to his fate, I'm afraid."

  Only because you were so concerned

  with protecting me," Victoria said with a

  touching loyalty. Otherwise, I am certain

  you would have done something on your

  own for the boy. And you were very helpful

  with little Molly, too."

  Lucas smiled wryly. Will you be at the

  Foxtons" tonight?"

  Yes, but you know how difficult it is to

  find any privacy at a crush like that. Lucas,

  why do you not ride in the park tomorrow

  afternoon? I shall arrange to be there, also."

  As much as I would wish to do so, I'm

  afraid I have another engagement."

  Victoria's face fell. You do? Are you

  very sure you cannot make it? Even for

  a few minutes around five?"

  He took pity on her. The poor woman

  was obviously so far out of her depth now

  that she could not possibly swim to shore

  by herself. Lucas contemplated just how he

  would save her. I dislike riding in the park

  in the afternoons, Vicky. Too crowded."

  Yes, I know, but I simply must speak

  to you. If you won't join me in the park,

  you must come to the garden tonight. We

  can talk there." Victoria lowered her voice.

  This is very important, Lucas."

  I fear I had not planned on one of our

  little adventures tonight. These things do

  take planning, you know."

  Damn it, Lucas," she hissed softly, I am

  not planning an adventure. But I do want

  to see you. I would greatly appreciate it if

  you could fit me into your busy schedule."

  Lucas looked at her in mild surprise.

  You sound upset, Miss Huntington."

  Victoria fidgeted. I am upset, Lord

  stone vale. You are being exceedingly

  difficult."

  I am only thinking of your reputation,

  Victoria. We must be very, very careful

  these days," Lucas warned, glancing about

  to prove his point.

  Hang my reputation. I must talk to

  you."

  He was startled and rather warmed by

  her insistence. She was obviously at the

  end of her tether. Lord knew he was

  more than ready for the next phase of

  this business, himself. It was time to end

  her frustration and his own.

  Very well," Lucas said, as if considering

  the matter carefully, I will check my

  engagement book and see if I can spare

  a few minutes with you in your garden

  later this evening around midnight. Will

  that suffice?"

  You are far too kind, my lord."

  He winced as the knife edge of her

  tongue took a slice out of his hide. Not

  at all."

  I begin to believe you are toying with

  me, Lucas."

  His brows rose. He must never forget

  the woman was extremely astute. I will

  do my best to be in your garden tonight at

  the usual time. Now, if you will excuse me

  for a moment, I see Tottingham over in the

  corner. He promised to loan me his copy

  of White's Natural History and Antiquities

  of Selborne. I have been wanting to read it

  since he mentioned it to me."

  You need not bother Tottingham with

  your request, my lord," Victoria said icily.

  If you manage to keep your appointment

  with me tonight, I will allow you to borrow

  my copy."

  He grinned. Victoria, my sweet, are you

  by any chance trying to bribe me?"

  She turned an even brighter shade of

  pink and whirled around to go in search

  of her aunt.

  Lucas saw her waiting for him in the

  shadows of a tree as he came over the

  garden wall. She was an elegant ghost

  hooded and cloaked in a maroon velvet

  cape lined with yellow satin. The same

  cape she had worn earlier that evening to

  the Foxtons" ball.

  He eased himself carefully to the ground,

  catching his weight on his right foot and

  using his left primarily for balance. But

  even taking care, the short drop sent a

  sharp twinge through his bad leg. He had

  no business climbing garden walls.

  Lucas straightened, idly massaging the

  old wound, and wondered how he had

  come to find himself dancing on the end

  of Victoria's string for so long. He had let

  the lady run him in circles.

  It was high time to take her to bed and

  make her his own. He would have much

  preferred to marry her first, but barring

  that possibility, he would take what he

  could get. Just the thought of being able

  to spend a comfortable night in a bed

  with Victoria instead of rocketing around

  in hired carriages and flirting with disaster

  was enough to make his leg feel better and

  assured himself that bed was bound to lead

  to marriage.

  Lucas?" Her voice was the softest of

  whispers as she came forward through the

  damp grass. She lifted her cloaked face and

  looked up at him with a sweet, vulnerable

  expression that wrenched his heart.

  He groaned and thrust his hands under

  the hood to frame her face. Without a word

  he lowered his head to drink hungrily of

  her mouth. When he finally released her,

  his whole body was tight with desire.

  Damn, but it was hard to watch you

  dance with one man after another tonight

  at the Foxtons'," he muttered against her

  throat.

  Lucas, please, you must not kiss me like

  that tonight. There is no time. My aunt

  will be home shortly. I told her I had the

  headache when I left the Foxtons. She will

  probably go straight to my room to check

  on me when she comes home."

  What is it that was so important we are

  once again risking your reputation, Vicky?"

 
She clutched the velvet cloak more tightly

  around her, meeting his eyes bravely in the

  flickering moonlight. I thought this would

  be easy to say, but I am discovering it is

  not easy at all."

  He wanted to fold her close against

  his chest and assure her she did not

  have to say anything, but he resisted the

  temptation. She must take this step herself.

  Strategy he reminded himself bleakly.

  Strategy and a desperate wish not to be

  blamed later for having seduced her. Far

  better for both of them that she engineer

  her own fall into bed with him.

  I am listening, my sweet."

  She lifted her chin determinedly. I

  have done a great deal of thinking lately,

  my lord."

  Not always a good thing. I have found

  that sometimes too much thinking can

  disturb one's peace of mind."

  Well, mine is already disturbed." She

  stepped away from him and turned to

  pace back and forth in the wet grass. She

  seemed unaware of the way the toes of her

  satin evening slippers were growing damp.

  I have gone through this problem many

  times in my own mind. For reasons I am

  certain you will understand, it is a subject

  that is almost impossible to discuss openly

  with anyone else, even my aunt."

  I understand," he said gravely. There

  are some things we cannot discuss, even

  with those who are close to us."

  Yes, precisely." She turned and paced

  in the opposite direction. I believe I

  have told you that I do not wish to

  marry."

  On several occasions."

  Lately I have discovered, however, that

  I am not entirely opposed to a a romantic

  liaison with a man.

  I see."

  I am glad, because this is very hard to

  put into words." She swung around and

  stalked back the way she had come. Do

  you, uh, recall what happened the other

  night in the carriage after we left the

  Green Pig?"

  Very clearly."

  She ducked her head deeper inside the

  hood. I was astonished to learn that the

  connection between a man and a woman

  can be quite so so intense."

  He hid his amusement. I am pleased

  you found the experience pleasant."

  Pleasant." She halted and spun to face

  him, her eyes huge in the pale light. It

  was vastly more than pleasant, my lord.

  It was rather unnerving in some respects

  but very, very exciting. Quite astonishingly

  delightful, in fact."

  Her delicious honesty on the subject

  entranced him. You flatter me."

  Not at all." she resumed her pacing.

  Lucas, I have given this much thought

  and I have decided I wish to repeat

  the experience. In fact, I have decided I

  would like to discover the full range of that

  particular sort of experience. As a matter

  of intellectual inquiry, you understand."

  Intellectual inquiry," he repeated slowly.

  Rather like collecting beetles, I imagine."

  I suppose one could say that."

  Will you put me on display in a box

  when you've finished your inquiries?"

  Victoria scowled at him from inside her

  cloak. Lucas, don't you dare tease me. I

  am perfectly serious about this."

  Yes, I can see that."

  To be quite blunt, I would like to

  establish a romantic connection with you

  of the sort Isabel Rycott enjoys with her

  friend Edge worth."

  Good God, I sincerely hope not."

  Victoria stopped and turned toward him

  with a shocked, embarrassed expression.

  You do not want me?"

  Instantly he realized how she had

  interpreted his words. He moved forward

  and pulled her roughly into his arms,

  covering her mouth with his own in a kiss

  of such fierce possession that she trembled

  in response. When he finally released her,

  he captured her face between his hands

  and looked down at her, knowing the full

  force of his need was probably blazing in

  his eyes.

  I want you more than I have ever

  wanted anything else on the face of this

  earth. Don't ever forget that, Victoria. No

  matter what happens, promise me you will

  never forget that."

  She circled his wrists with her fingers,

  smiling tremulously. And I want you,

  Lucas. I have never known anything like

  this need I feel for you. Please, will you

  make love to me?"

  Vicky. Oh, Vicky, my sweet, wayward,

  passionate hoyden." He crushed her against

  his length, light-headed with a strange

  combination of passion, tenderness, and

  relief. I will make love to you until you

  go up in flames and then I will join you

  and we will burn together."

  That does not sound particularly comfortable,

  my lord" she remarked, her voice

  muffled against his coat.

  He grinned. Wait until you try it."

  She laughed softly and her arms went

  around his waist. She hugged him tightly.

  Lucas, I am so excited."

  So am I," he whispered, and then added

  deliberately, It is almost as if you had just

  agreed to marry me."

  She went rigid. Lucas ."

  Almost, but not quite. Calm yourself,

  Vicky. I don't mean to frighten you,

  but you cannot help but know by now

  that I would not be averse to something

  more than a romantic connection with

  you. Would you care to discuss marriage

  rather than a romantic liaison?" He held

  his breath, praying she would say yes and

  everything would suddenly become very

  simple.

  Thank you, Lucas. That is very nice of

  you, you know. Entirely unnecessary, but

  very nice. I do appreciate the offer, because

  you certainly were not obliged to make it,"

  she said, beaming.

  But the answer is no?"

  You know it is, but thank you again for

  asking." She raised her head to brush her

  mouth lightly against his own. Then she

  smiled brilliantly up at him. Now, let us

  get on to making our plans."

  Her rather casual dismissal of his

  proposal irritated Lucas. The little baggage

  thought she could have it all without paying

  the price. Perhaps it was time to gently

  point out that this was not going to be

  quite as simple and straightforward as she

  had anticipated.

  Very well. When?"

  She blinked. When what, my lord?"

  When shall we arrange our first meeting

  as lovers? And how? Have you given

  any thought to that? It needs some

  consideration. Also, there is the matter

  of where, isn't there? We cannot just hire

  a carriage to drive us around London for

  several hours while we make love on the

  cushions. Most uncom
fortable and I don't

  want the coachman making a guess about

  what is going on inside," he explained

  roughly.

  Her expression moved from startled to

  appalled. I thought thought you would

  take care of those little matters. That

  is, I assumed you knew how to make

  the arrangements for this sort of thing,

  Lucas."

  Not likely. I've never formed a romantic

  connection of such an intimate nature with

  a young lady of your sort before in my

  life. It generally is not done, Victoria. At

  least, not by men who consider themselves

  gentlemen. You put me in something of an

  awkward situation, you see."

  She groaned. Aunt Cleo warned me

  that it is not only my own reputation I

  am toying with, but yours also."

  Did she really?" Lucas was not particularly

  surprised to hear that Lady Nettleship

  had guessed in which direction the wind

  was blowing. He wondered what Cleo's

  real views on the matter were. Lady

  Nettleship is a very perceptive woman.

  She obviously does not like the notion of

  you playing ducks and drakes with your

  reputation."

  Or yours. Lucas, I understand this is

  not easy for you and there certainly are

  dangers involved. I am not so blind that

  I do not comprehend that."

  That speaks well for your intelligence,

  Vicky."

  She bit her lip and slanted him a

  sidelong glance. I suppose it really is not

  fair of me to ask you to do this."

  As you said, one cannot deny there are

  risks involved."

  She sighed, a very tragic-sounding sort

  of sigh. You are quite right. I have no

  business jeopardizing your reputation as

  well as my own, do I? Perhaps we should

  simply forget it."

  My offer presents a possible alternative,"

  he began cautiously.

  She patted his arm affectionately as if he

  were a well-meaning puppy. Your offer of

  marriage was very sweet, Lucas. But I fear

  the only real alternative for me is to wait a

  few more years until I am well and truly

  established as a spinster. Perhaps then no

  one will care too much if I choose to follow

  in Lady Rycott's footsteps. Do forgive me,

  Lucas. I am sorry I ever brought up the

  subject."

  Alarm swept through him as he realized

  she was already backing away from the

  affair. What's more she was considering

  spinsterhood rather than marriage as the

  only alternative. If he let her go completely,

  he might never get her back. Even worse,

  she might find another man who would