for today's visit. She'd started the new
staff cleaning it at dawn that morning.
Well, I don't mind telling you that
thanks to a poacher's ghost story, you
are off to a fine start as far as folks
around here are concerned." The vicar
chuckled and then caught himself as his
wife threw him a horrified look. He hastily
picked up his teacup and cleared his throat.
Beg pardon."
But Lucas was not to be sidetracked.
What ghost story and what poacher,
Reverend?"
The vicar's initial uneasiness became
visibly more noticeable. It was clear he
felt he had already said too much. He
coughed slightly. I fear, sir, that a few
of the local men are not above poaching
in the woods, especially when times are
hard, as they have been lately. Lord knows
it's sometimes worth life and limb to do
it, what with the mantraps the previous
earl set."
You needn't worry, vicar. Having served
in the army and thus been obliged to live off
the land occasionally myself, I assure you I
am inclined to ignore a little poaching. I
have already made arrangements to destroy
what mantraps the hunters have not already
discovered."
The vicar's smile broke like sunshine on
a cloudy day. I am extremely happy to
hear that. Your uncle, as you must know,
had an entirely different attitude."
Now about this particular poacher's
ghost story," Lucas prodded quietly.
The vicar exchanged a quick glance
with his wife and then sighed heavily.
Yes, well, it was just an amusing tale I
happened to overhear this morning. You
know how country folk talk. It seems
a certain intrepid hunter was taking a
shortcut home last night when he caught a
glimpse of the Amber Knight and his lady.
You have heard the legend, of course?"
I am aware of it."
Victoria leaned forward intently. The
Amber Knight and his lady were seen in
the district?"
The vicar's wife laughed nervously.
Right here on the grounds of the
estate, if you please. At least, according
to the way the tale was being told this
morning. It seems the knight and his lady
were spotted walking home through the
gardens sometime after midnight. Is that
not a delightful notion?"
Fascinating," Victoria said as the truth
began to crystallize in her head. She
pictured how she and Lucas might have
appeared to a startled poacher in the dead
of night, her amber cloak swirling around
her. Walking home through the gardens,
you say?" She felt Lucas's quelling glance
but chose to ignore him. This was far
too amusing. What would they have been
doing running around at that time of night,
do you suppose?"
Lucas cleared his throat. Would you
pour me another cup of tea, my dear? I
seem to find myself rather thirsty."
Yes, of course. Victoria laughed at him
with her eyes as she dutifully poured the
tea. He gave her a severe glare in return,
which only inspired her to fresh mischief.
You were saying, misses Worth?"
Was I? About what they might have
been doing running around at midnight?
Oh, dear." The good woman's smile was
tentative. Well, they are ghosts, you know.
I suppose that is the only time they are
allowed to run around. And according to
legend, the pair was very much prone to
midnight trysts. It seems the two had a
habit of riding the lands at night and
returning to the house shortly before
dawn."
The vicar cleared his throat. That's
quite enough speculation about ghosts,
my dear. You'll have Lord stone vale and
his lady thinking we deal in nothing but
village gossip."
Never," declared Victoria, I find it all
most interesting, don't you, stone vale?"
I find it all a lot of nonsense," Lucas
said repressively.
You must understand," the vicar's wife
said hurriedly, the villagers were thrilled
to hear the story. They want to believe it
because they want to believe that things
really have begun to change for the better
around here. According to the legend,
stone vale will prosper again only when
the Amber Knight and his lady return. I
pray you won't begrudge the people their
small tale of hope, my lord."
Yes." Victoria smiled sweetly at her
husband. pray, don't be a killjoy. stone vale."
The vicar and his wife stared in shock
at Victoria. Lucas merely gave his wife
another quelling glance and drank his
tea.
The vicar, apparently sensing that he
and his wife had accidentally stumbled
into a mild bit of marital teasing, turned
a bit ruddier and plowed forth gamely with
a change of topic. Far rather see a couple
of harmless ghosts than that highwayman
who's been plaguing the district for the
past couple of months."
Highwayman?" Victoria's attention was
instantly riveted in a new direction. What
is this about a highwayman? Have you
been robbed, Reverend?"
Not I. And not any of the villagers
that I know of. Daresay, none of them
would be worth the fellow's time. But there
have been reports of a couple of coaches
stopped. The villain's a bit inept, I fear.
On one occasion the driver of the coach
pulled a pistol and sent the highwayman
fleeing for the bushes. The second time
the passengers fobbed him off with a few
coins and a worthless ring."
Highwaymen usually have a lair in
the locality where they conduct business,"
Lucas observed thoughtfully. Do you think
this man might be a local resident?"
The vicar shook his head a bit too
quickly, looking more uneasy than ever. I
daresay not. Probably just someone riding
through. I wouldn't be surprised if the
fellow has quit the district by now. In
his profession tis probably wise to keep
shifting business locations." Satisfied that
he had salvaged the social situation, the
vicar fell back on a safe subject. I say,
stone vale. Don't mean to be impertinent,
but have you given much thought to the
sort of crops you'll want to plant? I've
lived around here for a number of years
now and I have some notion of what does
well in this soil."
misses Worth was instantly alarmed.
Really, dear, I am certain his lordship
will ask for advice if he requires it."
Of course, of course." The vicar flushed
a dark red. Sorry about that. Horticulture
is a hobby of mine. I fancy my
self
something of a student of the subject."
Lucas's head came up alertly. Do you
indeed, sir?"
The vicar coughed slightly again, but
this time he looked a little more sure of
himself. Pleased to say I've had one or two
papers published in the Botanical Progress.
Working on a book on flower gardening
at the moment."
What do you know about buckwheat?"
Lucas asked bluntly, all traces of restless
ness vanishing instantly.
Fine animal fodder. Good for your
poorest soil, of course, but I'm more
in favor of oats, wheat, and corn where
possible."
I have heard buckwheat can be eaten
by humans in times of wheat shortages."
Only by those who live on the continent.
Doubt you'd get an Englishman to eat it
unless he was frightfully hungry."
I see your point. I have also become
quite interested in marl as opposed to
manure of late," Lucas said. What is your
opinion?"
As it happens, I have done a bit of
investigation on the subject," the vicar said,
glowing with enthusiasm. Tried marl out
on my wife's rosebushes. Also peat, ground
bone, and fish. Kept a detailed log. Would
you care to hear the results?"
I certainly would." Lucas stood up.
Why don't we go to the library where
I have some maps of the estate we can
look at?" He turned belatedly to Victoria.
You will excuse us, my dear?"
Of course."
Come along, vicar, I have several
questions to put to you. Now, about
manure. I must admit it has the advantage
of being readily available."
True. And when one does run short,
one can always have it brought in from
London. Several thousand horses stabled
in London, you know. Something has to
be done with all that manure. Have you
by any chance read Humphrey Davy's
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry?"
No," said Lucas. But I did get hold of
a copy of Marshall's The Rural Economy of
Yorkshire. Marshall is very fond of marl."
It has its merits, I'll grant you. I shall
loan you my copy of Davy's Elements, if
you like. The man takes a very scientific
approach to the subject of manuring. I
believe you will find it most interesting."
I would appreciate that very much,"
Lucas said.
The two men moved out of the room,
talking intently.
Victoria looked at her guest. More tea,
misses Worth?"
Thank you, my lady." She gave her
hostess an apologetic look. Please forgive
my husband. I fear he is quite impassioned
in his studies of horticulture and agriculture."
Victoria grinned. Believe me, he is in
good company. My husband's interest has
grown just as strong of late. You may have
noticed."
misses Worth relaxed. Her small chuckle
was delightful. I did. Imagine discussing
manure in a drawing room. But, then, that
is life in the country."
It is not altogether different from life
at my aunt's home in London. My aunt
is very much interested in matters of
intellectual inquiry and I fear I have
followed in her footsteps. I quite enjoy
such discussions."
The vicar's wife beamed enthusiastically.
Perhaps you and Lord stone vale would
be interested in attending some of the
meetings of our local Society for the
Investigation of Curious Matters. We meet
every week on Monday afternoons in our
home. Quite a large crowd attends, I am
pleased to say." The good lady suddenly
flushed and began to stammer. Of course
our meetings would probably not be of
great interest to you. I am certain you are
already far ahead of us since you have had
the advantages of being in Town."
Not at all. The prospect of attending
your next meeting sounds quite delightful.
I shall look forward to it."
misses Worth's smile returned in full
force. How kind of you. I cannot wait
to tell my friends."
You say you grow roses, misses Worth?"
misses Worth began to beam, and said
shyly. They are my passion, I fear."
I would dearly love to discuss some
plans for the gardens here at stone vale.
I cannot live without a proper garden
and Lucas is far too busy with farming
problems to help me. Would you care to
examine the grounds with me?"
I should be delighted."
Excellent. And while we're about it, we
can get on with our discussion of the most
pressing charity needs in the area. In all
truth, I am far more anxious to get started
on that project than I am the gardens."
The vicar's wife smiled with genuine
approval. It is easy to see why the villagers
are so eager to believe their Amber Lady
has returned."
Victoria laughed. You refer to my
preference for a certain shade in clothing,
I imagine. Pure coincidence, I assure you."
She glanced down at her yellow and white
afternoon dress with a wry smile.
misses Worth was startled and then
embarrassed that her hostess would think
she had made such a personal remark.
Oh, no, madam, I was not referring to
your lovely dress, although I will allow the
color is stunning on you and does create a
sort of amber effect. No, I was referring to
the legend. It holds that the knight's lady
was very kind and gentle."
Victoria wrinkled her nose and grinned.
Then it cannot have been referring to me.
I am certainly no paragon. Just ask my
husband."
A week later Victoria sat in front
of her dressing-table mirror while Nan
finished preparing her for bed. Her maid
was handing her a dressing gown when
the connecting door between Lucas's
room and her own was opened after a
perfunctory knock. Lucas sauntered in with
a proprietary air that Victoria was learning
to expect from him. She glared at him in
the mirror and nodded to her maid, who
bobbed a small curtsy to Lucas.
You may go now, Nan. Thank you."
Yes, ma'am. Shall I have a tea tray
sent up?"
Victoria met Lucas's sinfully amused
eyes in the mirror and shook her head.
No, thank you, Nan. I will not be wanting
any tea tonight."
Very well, ma'am. Good night to you
and yer lordship." She made her way
quickly to the door.
Lucas waited until the door had closed
behind the maid and then he moved
with lazy menace to stand directly behind
Victoria. He leaned forward and planted
both hands on her dressing table, effectively
&
nbsp; caging her. His eyes continued to hold hers
in the mirror.
Victoria could not repress a small thrill
of anticipation. The man had a devastating
effect on her senses. And she was learning
the power she held over his physical
reaction to her. She wondered if it would
always be like this between them.
I saw that a letter arrived from your
aunt today." Lucas bent his head to kiss
her nape. What does Lady Nettleship have
to say?"
That it appears as though we are
all going to brush through the scandal
relatively unscathed." Victoria smiled rue
fully, remembering the contents of her
aunt's letter. Thanks to Jessica Atherton,
who has put it about that our hasty
marriage is the great romance of the
Season."
Good old Jessica." Lucas ran his tongue
along the sensitive rim of her ear.
Victoria shuddered. I swear, Lucas, I do
not like being indebted to that woman."
Nor, do I, but as a soldier I long
ago learned to accept help from whatever
quarter made it available."
Obviously, or we would not now be in
our present position."
Shrew. You cannot resist such remarks,
can you?"
It is very difficult," Victoria admitted.
Her blood was already heating just from
the expression in his eyes and his closeness.
It struck her that even if someone waved
a magic wand and dissolved the marriage
tomorrow, she would never be truly free
of this man.
Any other news from your aunt?"
Victoria saw the flicker of intensity in his
eyes and knew it had nothing to do with
the sensual assault he was launching against
her. Do you mean has she discovered any
other objects marked with a W? The
answer is no. She also states she still
has not found anyone claiming to have
lost either the scarf or the snuffbox."
Does she mention Edgeworth by any
chance?"
No."
Just as well. Tell me, Vicky, what sort
of letter did you write back to your aunt?"
Lucas asked.
I told her about my plans for the
gardens and invited her to visit at her
earliest convenience. I also mentioned how
you and the vicar have discovered a mutual
interest in farming techniques, horticulture,
and manure. That was about all, I believe,
oh, and I asked her to send me some plant
cuttings and seeds."
What? No discussion of how you have
nobly accepted your unhappy fate and have
vowed to be a dutiful wife?" He kissed her
neck. No talk of how you have come
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