Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  with the story, my lord."

  Lucas took a swallow of tea, wondering

  how in hell he had allowed the conversation

  to get so wildly off track. The earl had

  his suspicions, but no proof, and since he

  was very much in love with his new wife,

  he decided to believe what he wanted to

  believe. That worked until the babe was

  born dead. His lady was so grief-stricken

  that she lost her wits. She confessed all,

  blamed her unhappiness on her husband

  for having made it impossible to marry

  her true love, and claimed she was now

  so miserable she wanted to die. Then she

  promptly did precisely that."

  Victoria's eyes flew to his, deep suspicion

  in her amber gaze. How?"

  Tray do not look at me like that. He

  didn't kill her, you know. She simply never

  recovered from childbirth. misses Sneath

  says the legend has it that she willed

  herself to die and the fever obligingly

  took her."

  What a tragic story. What did the earl

  do?"

  He grew bitter and cynical toward all

  women, There was pressure from the

  family to produce an heir, so he eventually

  21C

  remarried. But this time not for love. It

  was strictly a business decision on his part

  and he and his second wife hardly formed

  what could be called a happily married

  couple. In fact, after the required heir was

  born, the earl and his wife spent very little

  time together and none at all at stone vale,

  apparently."

  Was that when the lands began to go

  into a decline?"

  Lucas nodded. Yes, according to the

  tale and to the old ledgers and records.

  I went through several of them today

  just out of curiosity and I must admit

  one can trace the gradual decline of the

  estate to that disastrous marriage three

  generations ago."

  Truly?"

  Yes, truly. The next earl, my uncle's

  father, was not only a cold and bitter

  man, he was also a rake and a poor

  game ster. He started the tradition of the

  Earls of stone vale spending more time

  at the gaming tables and less on their

  lands. He, too, eventually married, but

  not for love. Once my uncle was born,

  his father and mother went their separate

  ways," Lucas said.

  And the lands continued to decline.

  Hardly surprising, given the lack of interest

  on the part of the masters. What about

  your uncle?"

  Maitland Colebrook never even bothered

  to marry for the sake of the title

  or anything else, let alone love. He

  concentrated instead on going through

  what was left of the family fortune. He

  bled the estate dry and then retired to the

  country to rail against his ill fate."

  So that is how the villagers explain their

  present impoverished situation." Victoria

  stared thoughtfully into the fire again.

  Interesting."

  Lucas studied her averted profile, won

  dering what she would do if he pulled her

  into his lap and kissed her. Would she

  melt for him the way she always had in

  the past or would she use her nails on

  his eyes and cut him to shreds with her

  tongue? One thing was for certain, when

  he eventually got around to taking her into

  his arms, it would be a real adventure for

  all concerned.

  The most interesting part is that

  business of the Hawkins child in the

  village calling you the Amber Lady," Lucas

  said quietly.

  Why is that? She had obviously been

  told the tale, and when she saw me

  dressed in that particular shade of yellow,

  she jumped to a child's conclusion."

  Lucas watched the firelight bring out

  the amber and gold in Victoria's tawny

  brown hair. I am not so certain she

  jumped to the wrong conclusion. There

  is something rather amberish about you,

  you know. Your eyes, your hair, the colors

  you choose to wear."

  She glared at him. For heaven's sake,

  Lucas, do not talk such nonsense."

  He held out his cup for more tea. It is

  little wonder the child would like to believe

  you are the Amber Lady. I have not yet

  told you the last bit of the legend."

  She glanced at him warily as she poured

  tea into his cup. How does the tale

  conclude?"

  Tis said that one day the Amber

  Knight and his lady will return to the

  great house and the lands of stone vale will

  once more prosper along with their love."

  What a tidy ending," Victoria said

  scornfully. But if the luck of the region

  depends upon the lord and lady marrying

  for love, then it is obvious everyone around

  here will have to wait for another chance at

  bettering their fortunes. The newest Earl of

  stone vale married for money, not love."

  Damn it, Vicky ."

  She was already on her feet. If you will

  excuse me, my lord, I will bid you good

  night. I grow weary."

  Lucas swore again as he got to his feet.

  He waited until the door had closed behind

  her before he put down his teacup and,

  with cold deliberation, went across the

  room to pick up the brandy decanter.

  Idly he massaged his aching leg. It was

  going to be a long night.

  Three hours later as Lucas lay awake

  in bed listening to the soft sounds in

  the room next door, he wondered if he

  was being a fool to continue to restrain

  himself. Maybe this waiting game was not

  such wise strategy after all.

  He heard another whisper of movement

  from the next chamber. It sounded as if

  Victoria had gotten out of bed. It was

  obvious she was not yet asleep. Perhaps

  she was afraid to go to sleep too early for

  fear of inducing another nightmare.

  There was nothing like the sort of

  passion they could experience together to

  ward off bad dreams, Lucas told himself.

  As a concerned husband he owed her

  what comfort and reassurance he could

  give her, even if he had to force it

  on her.

  Resolutely he pushed back the covers and

  reached for his dressing gown. This had

  gone far enough. One way or the other they

  had to form a normal marital relationship

  and it was rapidly becoming clear that his

  self-imposed restraint was having no effect

  whatsoever on her recalcitrance.

  In other words, he thought ruefully, she

  was hardly begging for his lovemaking.

  He heard the outer door to her

  bedchamber open and close just as he

  lifted his hand to knock on the connecting

  door. Quietly he twisted the knob and

  stepped into his wife's empty room.

  Fury and panic s
eized him. Surely she

  was not idiotic enough to run off in the

  middle of the night. Then he recalled

  that Victoria was very much accustomed

  to running about in the dead of night. He

  had even taught her something about how

  it was done.

  Lucas put down his candle and hastily

  pulled on breeches, boots, and a shirt. A

  few minutes later he was moving swiftly

  down the hall. His instincts told him she

  would leave via the kitchen door. It was

  the way he would have gone if he had

  been trying to sneak out of the house. He

  hurried after her.

  A few minutes later he emerged from the

  house. He saw Victoria almost at once. She

  was standing quietly in the dilapidated,

  sadly overgrown kitchen garden. She was

  wearing her long, hooded, amber-colored

  cloak to ward off the chill and she was

  bathed in moonlight. Memories of all those

  other nights when he had rendezvoused

  with her in her aunt's garden swept over

  him, leaving him filled with a hunger that

  was sharpened to the point of pain.

  This was his wife and he wanted her.

  Lucas stepped slowly out into the

  shadows, making no sound. But she

  sensed his presence and turned toward

  him. He sucked in his breath.

  I have missed our midnight meetings in

  the garden," he said softly.

  You wooed me most cleverly when you

  promised me adventure in the middle of

  the night, did you not? I succumbed to

  that lure as I would have succumbed to

  no other."

  His stomach clenched at the soft

  bitterness in her voice. Were you going

  to seek an adventure on your own tonight,

  Vicky? I doubt there are any gaming

  hells or brothels or inns filled with

  young lordlings and their opera dancers

  in the village." He walked toward her

  until he was standing only a short

  distance away.

  I merely wanted to walk," she said

  quietly.

  Will you allow me to accompany you?"

  Have I any choice in the matter?"

  No." As if he would allow her to

  wander around out here alone at night,

  Lucas thought. Where were you planning

  to walk?"

  I am not certain. I had not really

  thought about it."

  He considered quickly, trying to re

  member what he had seen during the

  past few days as he had ridden over

  his lands. There is an empty cottage

  not far from here. I believe it belonged

  to the gamekeeper back in the days when

  stone vale had a gamekeeper. Why don't

  we walk there and back?"

  All right." She fell silent.

  It is a lovely night, is it not?"

  I find it rather chilly," she told him

  distantly.

  Yes," Lucas agreed thinking swiftly.

  There was some old firewood stacked

  outside the cottage, he recalled. Too bad

  he had not ordered the place cleaned

  yesterday when he'd examined it. He

  stumbled slightly over a nonexistent stone

  and stifled a small groan.

  What is the matter with you?" Victoria

  asked, frowning in annoyance.

  Nothing important. My leg is acting up

  a bit tonight." He tried to sound stoic and

  brave.

  Really, Lucas, I should think you would

  have learned by now not to go about in

  the cold night air when it is paining

  you."

  You are undoubtedly correct about that,

  madam. But you seem to favor running

  about at night and that leaves me with

  little choice but to accompany you."

  You should have gone after an heiress

  who is not fond of this sort of sport," she

  told him. The Perfect Miss Pilkington

  would have done nicely for you."

  Do you think so? I admit she was

  on Jessica Atherton's list, but somehow

  I could not seem to work up much

  enthusiasm. There was something a bit

  boring about the prospect of being married

  to Miss Pilkington. As you and Annabella

  said, she was a bit too much like Lady

  Atherton."

  Victoria retreated deeper into the hood

  of her cloak until her voice was muffled.

  You are right on that account. If you

  think Lady Atherton has grown somewhat

  dull over the years, you should see Miss

  Pilkington. Do not mistake me. She is very

  nice but she's only nineteen and she told

  me herself, she believes she may have a

  religious calling."

  I see. We would not have suited each

  other at all. I cannot imagine taking her

  to a gaming hell. Nor can I envision

  her using a walking stick on a brothel

  butler."

  On the other hand, she probably

  wouldn't have given you any trouble. I

  am certain she would have made a most

  dutiful wife. Speaking of duty ."

  He sighed. Yes?"

  Lady Atherton did warn me that I must

  be prepared to do mine and provide you

  with an heir."

  I wouldn't mind throttling Lady Atherton."

  She was only trying to help. After all,

  you did ask her to assist you in finding

  an heiress."

  You need not remind me."

  Lucas?" Victoria asked shyly.

  Hmmm?"

  Lady Atherton pointed out that if I

  thought doing my duty was going to be

  difficult for me, I should only consider how

  very hard it was going to be on you to have

  to pretend some degree of affection in the

  marital bed."

  God damn it to hell and back." Lucas

  came to a halt and swung her around

  to face him. He glared down at her

  incredulously. You cannot tell me you

  believed her? After that night we spent

  together at the inn?"

  She faced him staunchly, her eyes

  glittering within the shadow of the cloak.

  I have learned from both my mother and

  my aunt that men do not seem to have

  any great degree of difficulty pretending

  that sort of physical affection when it suits

  them."

  Men are not the only ones who can

  manage the trick," Lucas muttered, and

  then added ruthlessly, Some would say I

  have good cause to question the depths of

  your feelings that night."

  Anger flashed in her gaze. How dare

  you question my feelings that night? I was

  painfully honest with you about the depth

  of my emotions, as I recall."

  He shrugged. If your feelings ran as

  deep as you imply, I doubt you could

  have buried them so quickly afterward."

  I buried them quickly because I felt

  ill-used. Damn you, I had no choice but

  to suppress my foolish affection. I feel

  nothing but humiliation whenever I recall

  my actions that cursed night."

  I must say you have done an excellent

&nb
sp; job of suppressing your feelings. One would

  never guess you ever held me in anything

  but complete dislike."

  Yes, well, that is certainly She broke

  off as he stumbled and winced. What's

  wrong now?" she demanded impatiently.

  I told you, my leg is troubling me

  somewhat this evening."

  There are times, Lucas, when you

  display very little common sense." She

  took his arm to steady him. I suppose

  we ought to return to the house before

  you take a bad fall."

  I don't believe I can make it that far.

  The cottage is closer. If I could just rest

  inside it for a while, I am certain I will

  be all right."

  Very well," she muttered irritably. Here,

  you had better let me assist you."

  Thank you, Vicky. You are very kind."

  Leaning rather heavily on her, Lucas

  allowed himself to be assisted into the

  dark confines of the small gamekeeper's

  cottage.

  Strategy.

  Lucas settled himself on the floor of the

  cottage, his arm propped on one up-drawn

  knee, his sore leg stretched out straight.

  He watched cheerfully as Victoria busied

  herself building a fire. She had refused to

  allow him to carry the wood, insisting he

  rest, instead.

  This is a pleasant little place, is it not?"

  she asked, glancing about as the fire she

  had just built blazed into existence and

  revealed the interior of the cottage. It

  looks like someone has lived here fairly

  recently. The chimney is clear and the

  floor is not nearly as dusty as one would

  expect."

  I wouldn't be surprised if some evicted

  tenant took up residence here until we

  arrived. My uncle was extremely prone to

  evictions."

  A nasty man."

  Bear in mind that I descend from a

  slightly different branch of the family," he

  pointed out.

  Instead of smiling, she took that very

  seriously. We are certainly not responsible

  for the actions of other members of our

  family. Here, let me rub your leg for

  you."

  Lucas did not protest. His mind was on

  fire with images of what had happened the

  first time she had rubbed his throbbing leg.

  Thank you. I would appreciate it."

  She folded her cloak on the floor and

  knelt on it. Keeping her eyes focused on

  his leg, she went to work, massaging

  gently. Lucas groaned at the first touch

  of her hands.

  Am I hurting you?"

  No. That feels wonderful." He closed

  his eyes and leaned his head back against

  the wall. You can have no idea."

  It must have been terrible."