Surrender Amanda Quick

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Surrender Amanda Quick Page 25

by Surrender (lit)


  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 ar />
  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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