Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  way. The image of Victoria growing round

  and ripe with his babe sent a savage thrill

  of satisfaction through him.

  Lucas scowled again, thinking of how

  she had pushed a very heavy object in

  front of her door. He could not allow her

  to do that sort of thing, not now when she

  might be pregnant. She belonged to him

  and he would take care of her whether she

  liked it or not.

  But first he had to find a way to breach

  her bristling defenses. Lucas thought of

  the cacti in Lady Nettleship's garden and

  smiled. Then he went to the wardrobe and

  took out a shirt and a pair of breeches.

  Victoria saw him the moment he

  appeared on the ledge outside her window,

  a dark, dangerous, masculine shape against

  the silvered night. This was no nightmare

  image. This was Lucas. She knew now she

  had been waiting for him.

  It was inconceivable that he would let a

  little thing like her dressing table lodged

  against the connecting door stop him. She

  sat up and hugged her knees as the dark

  figure on the ledge opened her window and

  stepped into her bedchamber. He was fully

  dressed.

  Ah, so it was the dressing table,"

  Lucas remarked calmly, glancing toward

  the connecting door. You really should not

  be moving heavy objects about like that, my

  dear. Next time ask for assistance."

  Will there be a next time?" she asked

  softly, aware of the challenge that hung

  between them.

  Probably." He paced forward to stand at

  the foot of her bed. I fear we are destined

  to quarrel occasionally, my sweet. Given

  your reckless ways and my lamentably dull,

  plodding ones, it is inevitable."

  Dull and plodding is not how I would

  describe you, Lucas. I think the terms

  arrogant, domineering, and stubborn" suit

  you far better.

  And priggish?"

  I regret to say it, but yes, priggish is

  beginning to suit you nicely."

  He wrapped a hand around the bed post

  and smiled ruefully. Tis a relief, of

  course, to know you do not think so

  badly of me, after all."

  She tensed. Lucas, if you believe for one

  moment that you can sneak in here in the

  dead of night and claim your husbandly

  privileges, you are wrong. If you try to

  get into this bed, I will scream the house

  down."

  I doubt that. You would not want to

  humiliate either me or yourself in front

  of the servants. In any event you sadly

  misjudge me, madam, if you think I

  would be so foolish as to deal with your

  temper in such a fashion. But, then, I

  have warned you before that you have a

  habit of underestimating me."

  She eyed him warily. What do you plan

  to do?"

  He glanced away from her, looking

  back over his shoulder to where the open

  curtains rippled in the night air. The night

  beckons, madam, and you have always

  been one to answer the summons. Have

  you ever gone riding at midnight?"

  She stared at him. Are you serious?"

  Never more so."

  You would take me riding at this

  hour?"

  Yes."

  This is a trick, is it not? You are trying

  to disarm me, trying to make me forget my

  anger at your high-handedness."

  Yes."

  You do not even deny it?"

  He shrugged eloquently. Why should I?

  Tis the truth."

  Then I should refuse your offer."

  His wicked grin flashed in the shadows.

  The question is not should you, but

  can you?"

  He knew her far too well, she realized.

  She chewed thoughtfully on her lip. Going

  with him was no capitulation. She would

  merely be taking advantage of a glorious

  opportunity for adventure. Riding in the

  moonlight. It sounded wonderful. Besides,

  although her headache had disappeared

  several hours earlier, she had been unable

  to get to sleep.

  You will get the wrong notion if I

  choose to accompany you," she said.

  Will I?"

  She nodded grimly. You will think I

  have forgiven you for your recent treatment

  of me."

  I am not so foolish as to think you

  would forgive me so easily."

  Good. Because I will not."

  I understand," he said gravely.

  You are not to view it as some sort of

  surrender."

  You make yourself quite clear," Lucas

  assured her.

  Victoria hesitated a second longer and

  then leapt out of bed and dashed to the

  closet to find the breeches she had worn

  on their midnight adventures in London.

  Turn around," she ordered as she tugged

  off her nightclothes.

  Why? I have seen you naked several

  times now." He lounged against the

  bed post, arms folded across his chest.

  And I have been curious to see how

  you go about getting into a pair of men's

  breeches."

  She glared at him and carried her

  clothing across the room to where the

  privacy screen stood. You are no gentleman,

  Lucas," she announced as she went

  behind the screen and began struggling into

  the breeches.

  You would be bored by a gentleman.

  Admit it, Vicky."

  I admit nothing."

  Ten minutes later, wearing an amber

  scarf around her throat and a hooded

  cloak over her breeches and shirt, Victoria

  stood outside the stables with a bridle in

  her hand and watched as Lucas quickly

  saddled her mare and a sleepy-looking

  George.

  I only hope I do not live to regret this,"

  Lucas said as he handed her up onto her

  mount.

  It is too late for second thoughts." She

  picked up her reins, enjoying the rare

  freedom of riding astride. And I like

  you best when you are going against your

  better judgment, Lucas. Let us be off."

  Slowly," he called after her as he swung

  up into the saddle. It is the middle of the

  night, Vicky. Have a care where you guide

  your mare. Stick to the lane."

  But I would like to ride through the

  woods," she protested.

  I cannot be certain all the mantraps

  have been removed yet," he told her. So

  we will stay on the road."

  She was feeling too exhilarated to argue

  further. Just being out on horseback in the

  moonlight was ample adventure for now.

  She turned her horse toward the main

  drive and George fell good-naturedly into

  step beside her mare.

  There was silence for several minutes

  as they walked the horses beneath the

  canopy of trees that lined the approach

  to stone vale. Lucas spoke eventually.


  I have been talking to the vicar

  about planting some more trees. Oak

  or elm, perhaps. The timber would be

  an excellent investment for our children

  or our grandchildren."

  Lucas, I do not wish to speak about

  investments of any kind tonight," Victoria

  said rather forcefully.

  What about the future? Would you like

  to talk about that?"

  Her hands tightened on the reins. Not

  particularly."

  His voice gentled. Has it occurred to

  you that you might even now be carrying

  my babe?"

  It is not something I want to think

  about."

  Do you find the subject so terrifying,

  then? I am surprised at you, Vicky. You

  are no coward, of that I am certain."

  Did you bring me out here to discuss

  your heir, my lord? Because, if so, we may

  as well turn back now."

  He was silent for a moment. Do you

  hate me so much that you do not even

  want to bear my child?"

  I do not hate you," she stormed, feeling

  pressed. That is not the point."

  I am greatly relieved to hear that."

  Victoria sighed. I simply do not want to

  talk about your heir tonight or any other

  night until we have settled this matter that

  stands between us."

  The only thing that stands between us

  is your pride and your fear of losing your

  independence. Does it make you feel any

  better to know that you are not the only

  one who is no longer free?"

  She slid him a sidelong glance. You are

  referring to yourself, sir?"

  Yes."

  You seem free enough to me."

  Look around you, Vicky. I lost whatever

  freedom I enjoyed the day I inherited

  stone vale. I am tied to this land and my

  responsibilities to our descendants for the

  rest of my life."

  And you are a man who will always

  fulfill your responsibilities, regardless of

  what comes." She studied the road between

  her mare's ears, thinking about her own

  words.

  I will do my best, Vicky, even when

  some of those responsibilities are not

  to your liking. But I would have you

  remember, even in the midst of our

  battles, that what I do, I do because

  I truly think it is best for us and for

  our future. I do not set myself against

  you lightly." He smiled. Believe me, it

  requires far too much effort to do battle

  with you for me to waste my time and

  energy on minor skirmishes. I much prefer

  to indulge you whenever possible."

  She was indignant. Indulge me? You

  think you indulge me? You have a vastly

  overrated opinion of your own actions,

  my lord."

  He motioned toward their midnight

  surroundings. Look around you, my dear.

  What other man of your acquaintance

  would drag himself out of a warm

  bed at this hour merely to entertain

  you?"

  She felt a grin tug at her mouth. There

  was something about being out with Lucas

  at this hour of night that always had a

  euphoric effect on her senses. At the

  moment she could no longer even summon

  up the hot anger she had nursed all day.

  Well, as to that, my lord, I am not

  precisely certain just what other men of

  my acquaintance would humor me so. I

  have not had a chance to do a proper

  survey, you see. Perhaps if I started asking

  about, I would turn up one or two other

  noble types who would indulge me in this

  minor fashion."

  If I catch you doing such a survey, I

  will see to it that you do not sit a horse

  comfortably for a week."

  Her amusement faded at once. So much

  for your indulgence, my lord."

  I have limits, madam. And I fear you

  must learn to tolerate them."

  I have a dressing table I can continue

  to push in front of my door every night,"

  Victoria warned.

  Lucas smiled confidently. The ledge

  that leads from my window to yours

  is wide enough to provide a safe path,

  even on moonless nights. But I warn you,

  madam, if you oblige me to use it in foul

  weather, I cannot guarantee to be in a

  particularly indulgent mood by the time I

  arrive at your window."

  But you will, nevertheless, arrive at my

  window?"

  You may count on that, my sweet. It

  is as certain as sunrise."

  Victoria risked another sidelong glance

  and saw that he was watching her with

  eyes that reflected the moonlight. Her

  whole body responded to the irresistible

  power he held over her. He wanted her

  and he made no effort to hide it. It gave

  her a sense of her own power and it also

  made her light-headed with excitement.

  At that moment her horse nickered

  softly.

  Lucas, I ."

  Hush." He reined in his horse and

  reached across to halt her mare. His sensual

  flirtation had turned to acute alertness.

  Instinctively she kept her voice low.

  What is it?"

  It seems we are not alone out here," he

  said. Hurry. Into the trees."

  She did not argue. Obediently she

  followed his stallion into the woods at

  the side of the road. They sat watching

  the moonlit lane from the shelter of

  the trees.

  Who are we hiding from?" she asked

  very softly.

  I'm not yet certain, but I can think of

  only one other person who might have

  business at midnight on this road."

  The highwayman." Victoria was suddenly

  breathless. He has not left the

  district, after all. Lucas, how exciting. I

  have never seen a real highwayman."

  For which you should be very grateful,

  madam. I suppose I have no one but

  myself to blame for the fact that you

  might see one now."

  Victoria heard the clip-clop of a horse's

  hooves in the distance. A moment later

  a dark figure riding what appeared to be

  a bulky-looking plow horse rounded the

  bend. The highwayman was dressed in a

  somewhat tattered-looking black cape. He

  had a scarf across the lower portion of

  his face.

  As he came down the lane Victoria saw

  that he was impatiently kicking his horse's

  rounded sides. The rider's urgent voice

  carried clearly on the night air.

  Hurry it up, ye good-fer-nothin" nag.

  Do ye think we've got all night? That

  carriage will be here any minute now.

  Move, damn your fat sides."

  The horse continued to plod stolidly

  along until the rider turned it and guided

  it into the woods on the opposite side of

  the road.

  Victoria realized that she and Lucas

  were trapped on this side of the road.

&n
bsp; They could not move out onto the lane

  until the highwayman, or whoever he was,

  chose to leave the vicinity. Beside her, she

  thought she heard the softest of disgusted

  oaths from Lucas. But before she could

  catch his attention to see how he intended

  to get them out of this fix, the rattle of

  coach wheels shattered the stillness.

  It seemed they were to be a witness

  to the local highwayman's latest piece of

  business.

  A few seconds later the coach, a staid

  old vehicle pulled by an equally elderly

  team, rounded the bend in the lane and

  rumbled forward at a stately pace.

  The highwayman urged his horse out of

  the trees and into the middle of the road.

  He brandished a large pistol.

  Halt," he yelled loudly. Stand and

  deliver."

  There was a startled cry from the

  coachman, who immediately began sawing

  on the reins to pull the slowly cantering

  horses to a halt.

  Here now," the coachman called un

  easily. What's all this?"

  Ye heard me, man. Tell your passengers

  to stand and deliver or it'll be the worse for

  all o" ye."

  Lucas sighed. Well, we cannot have this

  sort of nonsense going on around here.

  Stay right where you are, Vicky. Do not

  come out of these trees until I call you

  out. Understood?"

  She realized he intended to halt the

  robbery. I can help you."

  You will do no such thing. Do not move

  from this spot. That's an order, Vicky."

  Without waiting for her response, he

  removed a pistol from his pocket and rode

  out onto the lane behind the highwayman.

  That'll be enough of that now. Hand over

  the pistol before someone gets hurt, lad."

  Lucas's voice was the amazingly calm

  and overwhelmingly commanding one he

  used only rarely but always to great effect.

  It was definitely a tone that compelled

  instant obedience. Victoria was impressed

  in spite of herself.

  The highwayman whipped around in his

  saddle. What the devil? Damme, who

  are you? This is my coach. Go find yerself

  another one. I got no intention o" sharin'

  it with the likes o" ye."

  You misunderstand, lad. I don't want

  the coach. I'm in another line of work

  myself. Now hand over the pistol."

  Who be ye?" There was a quaver in

  the highwayman's voice now. Who be ye,

  mister? Ye cannot be the ghost they been

  sayin" as come back. Ye cannot be."

  The pistol, if you please." Lucas

  sharpened his tone just slightly and

  the pistol was instantly dropped into his

  outstretched palm. Wise lad. Now let us