Lucas swirled the wine in his glass and
regarded her for a moment. Where would
you like to start, Vicky?"
Why would my feelings on the subject
matter to you? Salvaging stone vale is your
project, not mine." She smiled a cold,
brittle smile. And now that you have my
money, I am certain you will think of lots
of ways to spend it. My stepfather certainly
had no problem spending my mother's
money on his horses and his women."
It occurs to me, madam, that you are
in this fix in the first place because you
lacked a suitable challenge in your life."
She glared at him. What is that supposed
to mean?"
You are a woman of intelligence and
energy who happened to have access to a
great deal of money. You used that money
to buy your independence and finance your
social life, but you did not use it to do
anything else particularly useful."
That stung. I have always given large
sums to charities."
Which demanded very little of your time
or skills. Furthermore, you had neither a
husband nor a family to absorb your
considerable energies. Other than your
interest in botanical painting and the
occasional scientific lecture, you did not
devise anything else of a serious nature to
occupy your time and ability. Your only
outlet for action was your social life. So
you got bored and started looking for
adventure. And that, my dear, is what
got you into trouble."
Victoria was incensed. I was not bored
with town life, sir, I assure you."
No? I rather think it was boredom
that led you to dream up your midnight
escapades."
She paled. That is not true. You know
nothing of why I sought my midnight adventures
and I would appreciate it if you
refrained from making silly conjectures."
He shook his head thoughtfully. No, I
believe I am correct in my logic. You were
initially attracted to me solely because I
was willing to give you the adventure
you wanted. If you dislike the notion
of being married for your money, how
do you think I felt knowing that my
primary appeal for you was that I could
offer you some fleeting excitement? You
were perfectly willing to use me for your
own ends, were you not?"
That is not true," she retorted before
stopping to think.
No? Are you admitting your feelings for
me went deeper than a frivolous desire to
use me to provide you with the adventure
you wanted?"
Victoria scowled at him. Yes, I mean
no. Damn it, Lucas, you are twisting my
words."
Either way, you are here now, madam,
and there is no going back. You were
aware of the risks and you chose to
run them. The first rule of gaming, my
sweet, is learning how to pay up without
whimpering when you lose. If you play,
you pay," Lucas said.
I am not whimpering. I am furious.
There is a vast difference."
Lucas leaned back and folded his arms.
You are sulking, Vicky. It is nothing more
than that. Having never dealt with you in
this mood, I will admit I'm curious to see
how long it will last. I had hoped you
would be through the worst of it by the
time we got here, but it appears I was
wrong."
Yes, it certainly does appear that you
were wrong." She was vibrating with the
force of her anger. The injustice of his
accusations was intolerable. Completely
wrong."
You should be grateful to me, Vicky.
I am offering you a way to avoid future
disasters of the sort that led you into this
situation. I am pleased to be able to give
you a project that will in turn give you
something important to do both with your
time and your money." Lucas looked at
her. Help me restore stone vale and its
lands."
How kind of you to refer to it as my
money."
Vicky, I want you to be a part of this
place. I want you to share it with me. I
admit that I can do nothing without access
to your inheritance, but I do not intend to
spend your money without consulting you.
I am more than happy to involve you in
every detail. You have a good mind and
a vast store of knowledge, thanks to the
way you have been raised. You can be
a tremendous influence on what happens
here at stone vale. All I ask is that you
work with me instead of amusing yourself
with a fit of the sulks."
What you offer is certainly very exciting
to say the least," she said in silky tones. If
you are so eager to include me in every
little decision, then perhaps you would like
to consider giving me a written wedding
contract? One in which you guarantee not
to touch a penny of my money without my
consent?"
His mouth curved ruefully. I am not
a complete fool, madam. It would be the
height of idiocy for me to have such a
contract drawn up while you are in your
present mood. Perhaps we can discuss the
matter again when you have decided you
are ready to be a true and loving wife
to me."
Hah. You would never give me such a
contract and we both know it."
Even if I did, it would carry little
real weight under the law, Vicky. We
are husband and wife. That relationship
will always give me certain rights."
It is the principle of the thing."
Lucas smiled briefly. The hell it is. If
I were to give you such a contract right
now, you would use it to get even with me
for this marriage. Admit it, Vicky. You are
not accustomed to being outmaneuvered
and all you can think of at the moment
is revenge."
At least the notion of revenge has the
undeniable advantage of providing me with
something useful to occupy my time and
energy, does it not?" She smiled coldly and
rose to her feet. Now, if you will excuse
me, my lord, I fear I am not yet done
feeling sorry for myself I believe I shall
retire to my bedchamber and sulk for a
while."
Griggs scrambled to open the door for
her as she swept out of the dining room.
Lucas watched his wife's magnificent
exit through hooded eyes and then signaled
the butler for the port he had brought with
him from London. His leg ached from
the long days of riding it had recently
endured.
For a considerable length of time Lucas
sipped the port and contemplated which he
would rather do: strangle Jessica Atherton
or turn Victoria over his knee.
On the whole, turning his wife over his
knee sounded far and away the more
interesting option. He would give a lot
right now for another glimpse of her
enticingly curved backside.
Lucas slowly and deliberately worked
his way through the bottle of port in
splendid solitude. The wine was useful
for something besides dulling the ache in
his thigh. It also took some of the edge
off his frustrated desire. Since that hot,
sweet night of illicit passion at the inn,
he had been plagued with memories that
pushed his normally ironclad self-control
to the limits.
He could not believe that Victoria was
not haunted by the same memories. She
had been so responsive, so magnificent in
her passion, so welcoming and trusting.
Damn it, he thought, she had even told
him she thought she was in love with him,
and he was quite certain she had never said
as much to any other man.
And he knew for a fact that she had
never given herself to anyone else. The
joy of watching her sensual discovery had
been the most erotic experience he had
ever known.
The painting of Strelitzia reginae was
already hanging on the wall upstairs near
his dressing table, where he would be able
to see it every morning. Lucas had directed
that it be among the first of his personal
items that were unpacked. He wondered if
Victoria had any idea how much the small
gift had meant to him.
Probably not. She was not thinking of
anything else at the moment except her
savaged pride.
He had been startled to find himself so
deeply touched by Strelitzia. Perhaps it was
because it was the first gift any woman had
ever given him since his mother had died.
He refused to count the keepsake locket
with a wisp of dark hair in it that Jessica
Atherton had given him four years ago.
She had pressed it into his palm even
as she had tearfully rejected his offer of
marriage and explained where her duty lay.
He had tossed the locket into a ditch one
night on the eve of a battle.
Lucas finished the last of the port and
contemplated the empty bottle. Then he
contemplated the notion of the empty bed
that awaited him.
If matters had not exploded in his face
the way they had, he would be back in his
London town house preparing to climb a
certain garden wall tonight. His reckless,
passionate midnight companion would be
waiting eagerly for the night's adventure.
But things had changed. He was married
to the little baggage now and somehow he
had to find a way to deal with her. He
refused to spend the rest of his days with a
sulking wife and he was even more certain
he was not going to spend his nights alone
in his own bedchamber.
It was so damn easy for Victoria to be
kind to everyone else, Lucas thought in
annoyance as he got to his feet. Why
could she not spare a little kindness for
her husband? Surely she must realize he
had not had a lot of choice in his actions
lately.
A man in his position had no option
but to secure an heiress in any manner
he could. Victoria was old enough to
understand the realities of marriage. In
any event, the deed was done and there
was nothing for it but for Victoria to accept
the situation with good grace. This sulking
business would have to stop. He would not
tolerate her ill humor much longer.
Nor would he tolerate a lonely bed for
long. He was a married man now and that
gave him certain rights and privileges.
With a hardening sense of determination,
Lucas stalked out of the dining room and
up the staircase. He would make one more
effort to talk to Victoria tonight, and if she
still refused to listen to him, he swore he
would find another way to take the edge
off her temper.
His valet, Ormsby, was busy in the
master bedchamber, still unpacking. He
glanced up with surprise as Lucas entered
the room.
Good evening, sir. Did you wish to
retire early tonight?"
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Tell
Griggs to send the staff to bed, too. It
has been a long trip for everyone."
Ormsby nodded. Will you be needing
anything for your leg, sir? It generally
bothers you after long hours in the saddle."
I have just finished a bottle of port.
That should take care of it."
Very good, sir." Ormsby moved about
with soothing efficiency. Nan told me
that Lady stone vale has also retired for
the evening. If this is any indication, it
appears we shall all be keeping rather
different hours here in the country than
we did in Town."
Just as well. I much prefer country
life to the demands of the city." Lucas
absently rubbed his bad leg. He was not
going to miss climbing that damned garden
wall one bit. Nor was he going to miss
the nerveracking business of constantly
worrying about protecting his companion's
identity and safety while she flitted blithely
through the gaming hells, brothels, and
back streets of London.
Ormsby took his leave a few minutes
later. Lucas waited until the sound of his
footsteps had receded before he picked up
a candle and went to the connecting door.
There was no sound from Victoria's room.
She was probably already in bed; perhaps
asleep.
He quietly opened the door, telling
himself he had every right to walk into
his wife's bedchamber. The knob twisted
easily in his hand. He wondered if Victoria
had tried to lock it against him. He had
taken possession of the key earlier just
in case.
Her bedroom was shrouded in darkness
except for the pale light coming in through
the window. Victoria apparently liked to
sleep with the drapes open, he noted. A
rather unusual quirk.
With the aid of the candle and the
moonlight, Lucas could make out the
slender shape of his wife as she lay huddled
under the covers. His belly tightened.
Unfortunately the candlelight also re
vealed a little too much of the faded
drapes, dirty carpet, and worn furnishings
that decorated the bedchamber. Lucas felt
a sharp twinge that could have been
embarrassment. The new home he had
provided for Victoria was definitely not
up to her usual standards.
He walked over to the bed, wondering
how to announce himself and tell her
he had come to claim his right as a
husband.
On the way up the stairs he had
composed a rather lengthy speech about
wifely duties and husbandly rights, but
now it all sounded unconvincing. What
was he going to do if she simply did
not want him anymore, he wondered
bleakly?
But even as the cold thought formed in
his head the candlelight fell on the warm
pool of golden amber that nestled between
her breasts.
She was still wearing the pendant.
Relief flooded through Lucas. All was
not lost after all, he thought jubilantly.
Even as that realization flared like fire
through his veins, Victoria stirred restlessly
on the pillow. Her lashes fluttered briefly,
and then, without any warning, she opened
her eyes, looked straight up at him, and
screamed.
Dear God, no, no. Stay away from
me."
Lucas stared in shock as Victoria sat bolt
upright in bed. She held out a hand as
if trying to ward him off. He had been
wrong. She could not bear the thought
of him coming to her bed. His insides
clenched in a sickening fashion.
Vicky, for God's sake ."
The knife. Merciful heavens the knife."
he was staring at the candle in horror.
No, please, no."
Lucas finally understood that she was
still half-asleep. He had evidently awakened
her in the middle of a nightmare and
she was trapped in the remnants of the
dream.
He moved quickly, putting the candle
down on the nearest table and grasping
Victoria by the shoulders. She opened her
mouth to scream again, her eyes focused
on something only she could see.
Lucas shook her. Victoria, stop it."
When there was no sign of any response
in her eyes, he did what he had occasionally
had to do when confronted by a soldier
who had slipped over the edge of sanity
into battle-front hysteria. He drew back
one hand, and with cool calculation, he
slapped Victoria quite hard.
That stopped her. She gasped, blinked in
confusion, and finally focused on his face.
Lucas," she breathed. Dear heaven, tis
you." She gave a small cry of overwhelming
relief and threw herself into his arms. She
clutched him as if he were an angel sent
to rescue her from the pits of hell.
There were hurried footsteps in the hall
and then anxious knocking on Victoria's
door. Ma'am? My lady? Tis me, Nan.
Be every thin" all right?"
Lucas reluctantly disengaged himself
from Victoria's clinging grasp. She whimpered
softly in protest and he soothed her
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