not at all grateful for your interference.
How could you have done such a cruel,
heartless thing to me
Without waiting for an answer, Victoria
whirled on her heel and started down the
aisle toward the door.
Vicky, wait, please wait. You must not
be angry. I thought you understood. You
are an intelligent woman. Indeed, you are
known for your quick mind. I thought that
at your age you would surely realize that
your inheritance was your chief attraction.
I mean, why else would a man want to
offer for a woman who is inclined to such
outrageous behavior, such an ungoverned
female who has no Jessica broke off,
looking haunted. That is to say, I assumed
you were as satisfied with the bargain as
Lucas is. You have got yourself an earl,
after all."
Victoria halted and spun around. And
Lucas has my money. You are quite right,
Jessica. It is a bargain we have both made
and now we must live with it. But you
have done your part. You need not concern
yourself further in our lives."
Jessica's eyes widened and more tears
glistened and pearled on her lashes. I am
sorry if you are not content. But you are
a woman and you must know it is not our
lot to be content. Only a schoolgirl expects
to marry for love. We all do what we must.
If you cannot bring yourself to feel any real
affection for Lucas, only think how hard
this is on him. This is going to be just as
difficult for him as it is for you. After all,
he must have an heir from you."
Thank you for reminding me of my
wifely duty."
Dear heaven, you truly are angry. You
do not comprehend at all. I believed you
did. Victoria, please, I am sorry. You
cannot know how sorry." Jessica dissolved
completely into tears, groping frantically
for a handkerchief.
Victoria hesitated, torn between fury and
a reluctant sympathy she did not want to
feel. Jessica's tears were real.
Then annoyed with herself but unable
to ignore the sobbing woman, she went
forward and hesitantly touched Jessica's
arm.
You must not do this to yourself,
Jessica. You will make yourself ill. Pull
yourself together. What is done is done.
I do not hold you responsible. I made
my own decisions at every point along the
way. I have no one but myself to blame
for what has happened."
Jessica gulped back her sobs and clutched
helplessly at Victoria, who found herself
patting her awkwardly.
Please, I beg you, Vicky, do not hold
any of this against Lucas. He only did what
he had to do for the sake of his title."
Victoria tried to think of a response
that would not further alarm the weeping
woman. But there was nothing to be said.
The truth was she wanted to do a great
deal of damage to the Earl of stone vale.
Even as the images formed in her head,
she heard his voice in the hall.
Vicky? Where are you? Your aunt says
you have not yet changed into your
traveling dress." His boots rang on the tile
of the conservatory as he stepped into the
room, looking for her. He glanced briefly
around, frowning impatiently, and then
his eyes collided with hers over Jessica's
heaving shoulders.
Victoria watched dispassionately as Lucas
registered just who it was who was crying
her heart out in his wife's arms.
Lady Atherton has come to give us
her good wishes, my lord. Was that not
kind of her under the circumstances? I
understand that you and she are extremely
close friends of very long standing and that
she has been of great assistance in securing
an heiress for you. It appears the rumors
of your uncle's hoarded wealth were quite
unfounded. Now, if you will excuse me,
I believe I shall leave the two of you
alone together to make your good-byes. I
certainly would not wish to intrude."
Realization dawned in Lucas's gaze. He
did not move, Damn it to hell, Vicky," he
said very softly.
She smiled grimly. My sentiments
precisely."
She freed herself from Jessica's grasp
and stepped around her, heading toward
the door. When she reached the point in
the aisle where Lucas blocked her path,
she looked up at him and said nothing.
We will talk later," he promised through
his teeth.
There does not appear to be a great
deal left to say. If you will excuse me,
my lord?"
He moved reluctantly out of her way, his
eyes gleaming with frustrated anger. Do
not be long in dressing for the trip, Vicky.
I want to get started as soon as possible.
We have a long drive ahead of us."
She did not bother to respond to that.
It took all her concentration simply to get
through the door without hurling some of
the cacti at his head.
Victoria was trembling with fury and
raw pain by the time she reached her
bedchamber. She walked into the room
to discover an excited Nan fussing with
several last-minute items.
Oh, there you are, ma'am. I've almost
finished. Albert says the last of the bags is
going into the coach now and the horses
are ready. You must hurry and change.
I hear his lordship just arrived and is
impatient to be on his way."
There is no rush, Nan. I will not be
going anywhere today. Please be so good
as to leave me in peace until I send
for you."
Nan's mouth fell open in shock. What
are you saying, ma'am? His lordship has
already given strict instructions that we are
not to delay. He will be furious if he hears
we're dawdling up here."
Please go, Nan."
Nan bit her lip. She had rarely seen her
mistress in this mood and it was obvious
she was not at all certain what to do. She
opted to retreat for the moment. Would
a dish o" tea help, ma'am? If yer not
feelin" well, I'm sure his lordship would
understand a short wait for tea."
I do not want tea, only some peace."
Dear me, there will be the devil to pay
for this bit o" nonsense," Nan mumbled
as she went to the door. Men don't take
kindly to delays when they're waitin" to
set off on a trip, especially not them that's
used to givin" orders to fightin" men in the
field. Accustomed to havin" people jump
when they say jump, that type is."
Victoria watched the door close behind
her muttering maid and then she went
slowly over to the window. Jessica Atherton's
ele
gant carriage was waiting on the
street below. As Victoria watched she saw
Lucas escort his former love down the
steps and put her into the vehicle. He
ordered the coachman to be off, turned,
and stalked grimly back up the steps into
the house.
A moment later she was not surprised to
hear hurried footsteps in the hall outside
her room and the inevitable knock on
her door.
His lordship wishes to talk to you, my
lady." Nan's voice was muffled by the
closed door. He says tis terribly urgent."
Victoria crossed the room and opened the
door. Tell his lordship I am indisposed."
Oh, please, ma'am, don't make me tell
him that. He is not in a good temper just
now, truly he isn't."
To hell with his temper." Victoria closed
the door in Nan's shocked face. Then she
went back to her post by the window to
idly watch the last of her luggage loaded
into the traveling coach Cleo had insisted
on loaning the newly married couple.
The next knock on the door was,
predictably enough, Aunt Cleo's. Vicky,
dear, open up at once. What is this
nonsense? Your husband wishes to be
off without delay. Ex-military men are
not very good about unnecessary delays."
Victoria sighed and crossed the room
again to open the door. Tell my husband
that he is free to leave anytime he chooses.
Tell him not to wait upon me as I shall
not be coming with him."
Cleo eyed her severely. So that's the
way of it, is it?" She walked into the
room and closed the door. I thought there
was something distinctly odd about Lady
Atherton's visit this morning. What in the
world did she say to upset you so?"
Did you know that Lucas once asked
her to marry him?"
No, but I hardly see that it matters.
Lucas is thirty-four years old. Stands to
reason you aren't the first woman he's
asked to marry him. Is that what has upset
you? Come now, Vicky, you are far too
intelligent to fly up into the boughs over a
minor fiddle like that. Whatever happened
between those two occurred years ago,"
Cleo said.
She was unable to accept his offer of
marriage because he did not have either
a title or sufficient financial resources to
suit her or her family."
Well, that is her problem, is it not?
Lucas has his title now. I fail to see how
all this affects you, Vicky."
Lucas inherited the title," Victoria said
coolly. But there was apparently very little
money to go with it. Jessica explained that
his lordship came to the conclusion he
would be obliged to marry an heiress for
the sake of his damned title and he asked
his dear friend Lady Atherton to arrange
an introduction to a suitable female. Would
you care to hazard a guess as to just
which female of your acquaintance was
thus honored?"
Cleo's brows climbed in their character
istic gesture. I'd sooner hazard a guess as
to just which female of my acquaintance
obligingly made herself a bed and now
complains because she must sleep in it.
If she has half the common sense I trust
she has, she will attend to the business
of making that bed a comfortable one for
both herself and her husband."
Victoria blinked at the unexpected lackof support.
She crossed her arms under her
breasts and stared at her aunt. You do not
seem unduly shocked by all this."
Forgive me. I have already had to deal
with the shock of finding you in that inn
last night. One shock at a time is sufficient
at my age."
Victoria felt herself turning an angry
red. She looked away. Yes, of course.
I am sorry for that. Far more sorry now
than I was when you first discovered us,
I assure you."
Cleo's face softened. Vicky dear, I fear
you are letting yourself be unnecessarily
upset. I am not surprised to hear that Lucas
is not as well off as you had assumed. He
told me the truth this morning while we
waited for you to dress at the inn."
He told you he was marrying me for
my money?"
He told me he had asked to be
introduced to you because he was, to be
blunt, hanging out for an heiress. But he
said that he was marrying you because he
had become quite fond of you and decided
you would make him a very suitable wife
in every respect."
Fond of me. How very gracious of him,"
Victoria said.
Victoria, I shall be quite blunt with
you. I knew from the first that you were
probably bound to get into trouble with
stone vale. There is something between
the two of you that fairly crackles in
the air when you are in the same room
together. But I rather liked him and I
decided that if you were to risk everything
for a man, it might as well be with
him."
I am so glad you approve, Aunt Cleo."
There is no need to take that tone with
me. You are the one who brought yourself
to this pass."
Victoria looked down at the pattern of
the carpet and then raised her eyes to
meet her aunt's sympathetic, but unyielding
gaze. You are right, as usual. Now I must
decide how to proceed."
Aunt Cleo softened her tone. The first
thing you must do is change into your
traveling clothes. Lucas is determined to
be on his way this afternoon and I must
say I think he is absolutely correct. The
sooner you are out of town, the better."
I have no intention of going anywhere
with stone vale."
Vicky, you are being unreasonable. You
have no choice but to go with him."
Before Cleo could say more, there was
a desperate pounding on the door. Nan's
voice came clearly through the wood.
Forgive me, ma'am, but his lordship says
to tell you that if yer not so obligin" as
to come downstairs immediately, he'll be
obliged to come up here and fetch you
down."
Lucas would do it, too. Victoria did not
fool herself on that score. There was no
point in delaying the inevitable interview.
She stepped past her aunt and then, her
hand on the doorknob, she turned and
looked at Cleo. I have certainly got myself
a most charming and gallant husband,
have I not? What bride could ask for
more?"
He was waiting for her in the library,
standing near the window that looked out
onto the garden where he had so often
waited for her at midnight. Victoria walked
into the room and heard the door close
very softly behind her. A respectful hush
seemed to have fallen over the household,
as if everyone was holding his or her
breath.
The entire staff, including her maid and
Rathbone, was moving with great caution,
she noticed. Lucas had only been her
husband for a few hours and he was
technically a guest under her aunt's roof,
but he had clearly established himself as
a figure of authority. No one wanted to
risk his temper. That was left for Victoria
to brave.
You sent for me, my lord?" she asked,
taking refuge in an icy, correct politeness.
He watched her come part way into the
room and halt. His expression was starkly
controlled. You have not changed into
your traveling dress."
It took more courage than she had
expected to face him and tell him her
decision. For the very good reason that I
will not be joining you. I wish you a good
journey, my lord." She swung around on
her heel and started for the door.
If you walk out on me now, Vicky, you
will regret it more than you can possibly
imagine."
The deadly soft tone stopped her as
nothing else would have. She turned back
to face him. I beg your pardon. Did you
have something else you wished to say
to me?"
A great deal. But the time grows late
and I would rather have this conversation
in the coach than here in your aunt's
library. For now, however, I will only
say that I apologize for Lady Atherton's
emotional outburst. I assure you, I had
no idea she would fall apart in such an
unfortunate manner."
Yes, her timing was rather poor, was it not?
When had you planned to tell me the
truth, yourself?"
What truth would you have me tell you?
That I once asked Jessica to marry me?
That is old news, Vicky, and need not
concern us."
Damn you," she hissed. You know very
well which truth interests me now. You
deliberately set out to form a connection
with me because I am an heiress. Do you
have the gall to deny it?"
Lucas held her cold glare. No. You
guessed as much at the time, if you will
recall. I seem to have a very clear memory
of your warning me off. But you wanted
what I offered, regardless, didn't you? You
played a risky game and you lost, but it
was your choice to play. Did you not
once inform me that there was no real
risk without real danger?"
Must you throw my stupidity in my face
like this?"
Why not? It is little more than you
Surrender Amanda Quick Page 23