She smiled serenely as they started down
the stairs. Oh, I thought I would spend
the morning going over the interest rates
offered by certain moneylenders I may
need to consult in the event I should
ever happen to find myself placed on a
strict allowance."
Save your energy, madam. The day I
allow you to go to a moneylender will be
the day I have truly abandoned the fight
and raised the white flag of defeat."
An interesting notion. Somehow I
cannot quite imagine you admitting defeat
in anything, stone vale."
You are getting to know me well,
Vicky."
The three letters arrived just as they were
finishing breakfast. Victoria recognized her
aunt's seal on one of them and Annabella
Lyndwood's on the another. She tore
Annabella's note open first.
My Dearest Vicky,
What a fine stir you have caused.
Everyone is having a wonderful time
discussing what is being termed the Great
Romance of the Year. Lady Hesterly's
daughter even went so far as to suggest
that Byron scribble a verse or two to
celebrate the event. That notion, of course,
is reported to have sent Carol Lamb flying
up into the boughs. It is well known she
does not like being cast into the shade by
someone more outrageously romantic than
herself.
Be that as it may, the rest of the
gossip pales in comparison to talk of
your marriage. Do hurry back, Vicky. I
assure you that you will be heralded as
a mythic goddess of love straight out of
a classic tale of romance. And I must
say, life has become rather boring without
you. The only recent excitement is that
I have succeeded in persuading Bertie to
definitely refuse Viscount Barton's offer.
He is presently moping (Lord Barton,
that is, not Bertie) but shows every sign
of perking up and turning his attentions
elsewhere.
Affectionately yours,
Annabella
So much for poor Barton," Lucas
muttered. Foiled by females."
So much, indeed," Victoria agreed with
relish. She opened her aunt's note next and
scanned the contents quickly before giving
a small shriek of dismay. Dear heaven, of
all the wretched luck."
Lucas looked up from the newspaper
that had arrived with the letters. What's
wrong?"
Everything. This is terrible. A disaster."
Lucas folded the newspaper and put it
down beside his plate. Has something
happened to your aunt? Is she ill?"
No, no, no, it is nothing like that. The
disaster has happened to us. Oh, Lucas,
what on earth are we to do? How do we
get out of this horrible situation? This is
intolerable."
Perhaps I could be of greater assistance
if you would give me a few more
details concerning this intolerable, horrible
disaster."
Victoria glanced up, her brows snapping
together in a severe frown. This is not
funny, Lucas. Aunt Cleo writes that Jessica
Atherton called upon her and suggested
that it would be wise for you and me to
put in an appearance in London before
the Season ends. Lady Atherton has very
kindly stated that she will honor us with
a reception."
Lucas looked thoughtful. Then he
shrugged. Perhaps she's right. It might
not be a bad idea. It would serve to enforce
the notion that ours is a love match."
Victoria was appalled. Lucas, are you
listening? It is none other than Jessica
Atherton who is proposing to give us this
reception."
Who better? As we both know, her
position in Society is unassailable."
Outraged, Victoria stared at him. Have
you lost your senses? Do you honestly
believe I will allow Jessica Atherton to
assist us in this manner? Not in a million
years. / will not be indebted to that woman
again."
There was a beat of silence from Lucas's
end of the table. Again?" he echoed at
last. Are you by any chance implying you
already feel indebted to her for having
performed the introduction that led to our
marriage?"
Don't you dare tease me, Lucas. I am
not at all in a mood to be teased. This is
awful. What on earth shall I say to Aunt
Cleo? How will we get out of this?"
My advice," he said as he rose to his
feet, is that we do not try. Your aunt is
quite right. It would be a wise move to
make an appearance in the ballroom of
a hostess such as Jessica Atherton before
the Season is over. It would set the seal of
approval on your marriage as far as Society
is concerned."
Victoria could not believe her ears.
Never. I absolutely refuse. This is one
issue on which neither you nor my aunt
can make me change my mind. I have had
more than enough of Jessica Atherton and
her generous, kind assistance. I do not care
if I never see the woman again as long as
I live. I will not go to London if it means
having to attend a ball in our honor given
by her. It is unthinkable."
Lucas walked to her chair, leaned down,
and kissed the top of her curls. My dear,
you are overreacting. The whole notion of
letting Jessica give us a reception seems
quite reasonable to me."
It is the most unreasonable thing I have
ever heard."
We will discuss it later when you've had
a chance to calm down. Now I must be
off. The vicar is due to arrive shortly."
I will not be budged on this, Lucas. I
warn you." She glared at his back as he
exited the breakfast room, and then, when
she had finished fuming, Victoria reached
for the third and last letter. She examined
it curiously but failed to recognize either
the handwriting or the seal.
Impatiently she opened it. A pamphlet,
a newspaper clipping, and a short note
fell out of the envelope. The note was
unsigned and it was extremely brief.
Madam: Given your interest in matters
of intellectual inquiry, the enclosed
should intrigue you greatly. It appears
the dead do not always remain so.
The note was signed with a single initial:
a W."
With a sense of dawning dread, Victoria
picked up the pamphlet and read the title:
On Certain Curious Investigations into the
Matter of Using Electricity to Reanimate
the Dead."
The newspaper article was a detailed
account of how a coffin which had
recently been exhumed had been opened
and found to be empty. The theft of
the deceased was pre
sumed to be the
work of a ring of body snatchers who
were in the business of supplying the
medical schools with corpses. There was,
however, some speculation that a certain
group of experimenters had purchased the
body for their experiments with electricity.
The authorities were concerned.
For the first time in her life that she could
remember, Victoria felt faint. She nodded
sharply to the footman to indicate she
wanted more coffee and watched numbly
as he poured it into her cup. The dark
brew seemed to fall from spout to cup in
slow motion.
Very carefully, because she did not quite
trust the steadiness of her fingers, she
picked up the delicate china teacup and
swallowed most of the contents in one
gulp. The light-headed sensation passed.
When she thought she could manage
the act without collapsing, Victoria got to
her feet, collected the envellopes and their
contents, and went upstairs to her room.
Lucas was aware of being in an excellent
mood as he made his way across the hall
and into the library. He looked about him
with satisfaction.
stone vale was a far different place than
it had been when he had inherited it.
Fine woodwork gleamed once more under
new layers of polish. Faded draperies
had been repaired or replaced. The old
carpets had been cleaned to reveal their
subtle, beautiful patterns, and the windows
sparkled in the morning sun.
The house was fully staffed now and
the domestic routines were already well
established. The footmen wore their new
livery with obvious pride and the food
served at table was fresh and properly
prepared.
Through the library window Lucas
could see the progress the gardeners
were making under Victoria's direction.
The small conservatory she had ordered
would soon be finished. Several trays of
unusual plants were on their way from
London.
Lucas knew that all the progress that
had been made in and around the house
itself was the direct result of Victoria's time
and attention. Her money alone would
not have achieved the miracle of turning
stone vale into a home. That feat required
a woman's touch.
She had brought something infinitely
more valuable than her inheritance to
this marriage, Lucas acknowledged. She
had brought herself with all her natural
enthusiasm, intelligence, and generous
nature. The staff and tenants adored
her. The villagers were proud that she
found their shops worth her patronage. The
fact that the tradesmen's bills were always
paid promptly did not go unnoticed, either.
The quality of merchandise available in the
village was already markedly improved.
He had chosen well, Lucas told himself
as he studied the garden through the
window. He had almost everything he
could want in a wife, an intelligent lady
for his days and a passionate creature of
fire and spirit to warm his bed at night.
What more could any man ask?
But the raw fact of the matter was
that he was oddly unsatisfied. He had
discovered of late that there were a few
other things he wanted from Victoria.
He found himself longing for the sweet,
tremulous words of love she had withheld
from him since the day of their marriage
and he wanted her full and complete
trust.
He probably did not deserve either her
love or her trust, but lately he had come
to realize he would not be able to rest
until he had both. He did not care for
her businesslike approach to her fate. This
marriage was not just another financial
investment for her, by God. He would
not allow her to go on treating it that
way much longer.
He glanced at the painting of Strelitzia
reginae that he'd brought downstairs earlier
and propped on his desk. Every time he
looked at it he remembered Victoria's
glowing expression that night at the inn.
/ think I have fallen in love with you,
Lucas.
The door of the library opened just
as Lucas was adjusting the position of
the painting so that it would be visible
from the chair on the opposite side of
the desk. Reverend Worth was ushered
into the room. He beamed at his host
and brandished a magazine. Latest issue
of Agricultural Review," he announced.
Thought you might like to see it."
Very much. Thank you, sir. Please sit
down."
My, there will certainly be a lovely
prospect from these windows when Lady
stone vale finishes with the gardens." The
vicar peered out at the ongoing work as
he took one of the mahogany armchairs.
Your wife is a fine woman, sir, if you
don't mind my saying so. A man could
not ask for a better helpmate."
I was just thinking something along
those lines myself."
You realize, of course, that in the village
they've started calling her their Amber
Lady on a regular basis?"
Lucas grinned. I won't worry until
the tenants start calling me their Amber Knight.
I would not want them to think
their landlord is a ghost. They might get
the notion they can delay the payment of
their rents until the afterlife."
Rest assured," the vicar told him with a
chuckle, that they view you as altogether
real and quite solid. Definitely not a ghost.
You are a natural leader, stone vale, as I'm
sure you're well aware. And leadership is
precisely what this land and the people
on it have needed for some time. Which
reminds me."
Yes?"
The vicar arched his brows knowingly.
Word in the village has it the Amber
Knight and his lady were running about
again late last night."
Is that so?"
Seems a certain lad of the village
reported seeing them. Personally
I questioned what this particular lad was doing
out at midnight himself, although I believe
I can hazard a guess. In any event,
apparently his meeting with the knight
and the lady changed the lad's mind about
pursuing an extremely dangerous career as
a highwayman. The boy has chosen to go
to work in your stables, instead."
A much safer, if less exciting job."
Yes, indeed." The vicar smiled. The lad
is basically a good boy, and as he has the
responsibility of caring for his mother and
sister, I am particularly pleased that the
knight did not deem it his duty to see
the young man shot down on the road or
hung."
Lucas shrugged. Perhaps the knight has
already seen far too many young men die
senseless deaths. I imagine even a ghost
can get a bellyful of that sort of thing.
Now, then, vicar, I must ask you what
progress you are making on your gardening
book."
The vicar gazed at him with piercing
understanding for a second and then
blinked and smiled genially. Kind of
you to inquire. I am working on the
chapter dealing with roses." He glanced
at the picture propped on the desk. I
must say, that's a wonderful rendering
of Strelitzia reginae. Quite perfect in every
detail and it seems to have a life of its
own. Magnificent. How did you come by
it, if I may ask?"
It was a gift."
Was it, indeed? I am still looking for
someone to do the colored plates for my
book, you know."
Yes, I believe you mentioned you were
inquiring for a skilled watercolorist who
also knew something of botany."
The vicar continued to examine Victoria's
painting. Whoever did this would be
perfect. You do not happen to know the
artist by any chance, do you?"
In point of fact," Lucas said smoothly,
I do."
Excellent, excellent. Any possibility you
might arrange for me to contact him?"
The artist is a woman, and yes, I think
I can arrange for you to talk to her."
I would be most extremely grateful," the
vicar said happily. Most extremely."
My pleasure," Lucas said. I will make
certain you meet her. Now, then, I want
to ask your opinion on putting in an
irrigation system for the farms that border
the woods." Lucas spread a map out on
the desk and indicated a section of land.
Yes, indeed. Got to do something to
increase productivity in that area, don't
you? Let's see what you have in mind."
The vicar leaned forward to examine the
map and then glanced up one last time.
Don't mean to press you, stone vale, but
do you have any idea of how soon I might
get in touch with the watercolorist you
mentioned?"
Soon," Lucas promised. Very soon."
Two hours later Lucas saw his visitor
out the door and then he headed for
the stairs carrying his precious picture
of Strelitzia reginae. He was feeling quite
pleased with himself. The correct word
might have been's mug," he admitted as
he reached the landing and started down
the hall toward his room.
Finding just the right gift for a wife
who had brought considerably more money
than her husband into the marriage was
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