Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  you anywhere in the future."

  Trust me, Lucas. This gown is in the

  height of fashion."

  It reveals more than a tavern maid's

  dress. You are practically falling out of it.

  If I had seen it before we left the house,

  I would have sent you straight upstairs to

  change."

  Too late for that now," she told him

  cheerfully. Now do stop frowning so. We

  are about to be announced and you surely

  would not want Lady Atherton and her

  guests to think we are quarreling."

  You have won for now, madam, but

  rest assured, this discussion will continue

  at a later time." He led her toward the

  top of the stairs that descended into the

  glittering, crowded ballroom.

  A hush fell over the throng of beautifully

  dressed people as the Earl of stone vale

  and his lady were announced. And then

  a ringing cheer went up and glasses were

  raised in a salute as Lucas and Victoria

  went down the staircase to greet their host

  and hostess.

  Lady Atherton's gaze held a trace of

  wistfulness as she smiled at Lucas. Lord

  Atherton, an austere man who was active

  in politics, inclined his balding head over

  Victoria's hand.

  So kind of you both to honor us

  with this reception tonight," Victoria forced

  herself to say as sincerely as possible.

  You look lovely, my dear," Jessica said

  to Victoria. That gown is simply exquisite.

  And such an unusual style for a new bride.

  But, then, you have always been something

  of an Original, have you not?"

  I do my best," Victoria assured her.

  After all, I would not want to bore my

  husband."

  Lucas shot her a warning glance.

  His smile was full of menacing charm.

  Boredom is not something I have suffered

  from much since the night I met you,

  my dear."

  Lord Atherton smiled briefly. And as I

  understand it, that momentous occurrence

  took place right here in this ballroom, did

  it not?"

  Lady Atherton was kind enough to

  introduce us," Victoria said politely.

  So I heard." Lord Atherton extended

  his arm. Would you be so gracious as to

  honor me with the first dance, madam?"

  It would be my pleasure."

  As she was led out onto the floor,

  Victoria glanced back over her shoulder

  in time to see a crowd of people close

  in around Lucas. He caught her eye over

  the heads of the throng and smiled faintly,

  a smile of possession, admiration, and

  sensual promise; a lover's smile.

  Warmed by that smile, Victoria turned

  to give her attention to Lord Atherton, who

  was already starting to talk about politics.

  Lucas kept an eye on his Amber Lady

  as the evening passed, but he had very

  little opportunity to speak to her. Just as

  well, he told himself. If he did get close

  to her, he would probably be unable to

  avoid bringing up the topic of the dress

  again, and since the damage was already

  done, it would be pointless to continue the

  argument.

  A husband had to learn which battles

  Were worth fighting, and he could not deny

  that the military strategist in him could not

  help but sympathize with Victoria's need to

  make a brilliant splash tonight in front of

  Jessica Atherton.

  Nevertheless, he vowed as he caught

  sight of Victoria being led out onto the

  floor again, he would pay much closer

  attention to her clothes in the future.

  Your wife is cutting quite a swath

  through my male guests tonight," Jessica

  Atherton murmured as she glided up to

  stand beside Lucas. I am gratified that

  she is enjoying herself."

  She deserves to enjoy herself."

  Yes. It cannot have been easy for her

  to come here tonight."

  Lucas raised a brow at that bit of

  unexpected insight. No, it was not."

  I know she must have been feeling

  somewhat battered by all that happened

  at the time of her marriage to you. And I

  did not aid matters by calling on her that

  morning before you left for Yorkshire. I

  am sorry about that, Lucas. I have wanted

  to apologize for it. My only excuse is that

  I was desperately anxious to know if you

  were going to be happy with her," Jessica

  said weakly.

  Forget it, Jessica. It is all in the past."

  Yes, you are quite right. It is just that

  I know you were angry with me that day

  and I expect I am trying to find out if you

  have forgiven me."

  As I said, it is over and done. Don't

  fret about it. Victoria and I have arrived at

  an understanding and we are both content

  with the marriage."

  Jessica nodded. I rather thought that

  is what would happen. She is, after all,

  an intelligent woman. She may be rather

  outrageous at times, but she is also a

  woman of honor and integrity. I would

  not have introduced you to her if I had

  thought otherwise. I was certain that when

  all was said and done, she would learn to

  accept her fate and fulfill her duty, just as

  you must."

  Lucas realized he was starting to grit his

  teeth. He reached for a glass of champagne

  and took a large swallow. Tell me, Jessica,

  have you had much pleasure in your

  marriage?"

  Atherton is a tolerable husband. That

  is as much as a woman can hope for from

  her marriage. I take satisfaction in knowing

  I am a good wife to him. One does what

  one must."

  A tolerable husband. Victoria had called

  him that once or twice, Lucas reflected.

  He suddenly felt slightly savage. Was that

  all he was to her he wondered? A tolerable

  husband?

  Excuse me, Jessica. I think I just saw

  Potbury in the crowd by the window. I

  wanted to ask him a question."

  Of course."

  Lucas escaped his hostess, but he knew

  he could not escape her words. As was

  frequently the case with Jessica Atherton,

  she might grate a bit, but she was not

  altogether wrong in her observations. She

  was right about Victoria being a woman

  of honor and integrity. But Lucas did not

  want to think she was also right when

  she claimed that Victoria had no doubt

  accepted the marriage because it was the

  reasonable thing to do. He did not want

  to be merely a tolerable husband.

  He could not bring himself to believe

  that when Victoria shivered and cried out

  in his arms, she was merely performing

  her wifely duty. She cared for him, he told

  himself. He was almost positive she could

  learn to love him again if she would just

  st
op erecting defenses to protect her pride.

  Her damned female pride was all that kept

  her from the final surrender.

  Lord Potbury smiled in genial welcome

  when he saw Lucas coming toward him.

  Good to see you again, stone vale. Must

  say your bride is looking positively radiant

  this evening. How are things in Yorkshire?"

  Very well, thank you. But I miss our

  weekly meetings of the society. Wanted to

  ask how the electricity experiments were

  proceeding. Heard of any more interesting

  work in that area?"

  Lord Potbury brightened. Grimshaw

  had a bit of an accident last week.

  Gave himself a terrible jolt. Thought he

  was done for at the time, but he is quite

  recovered now.

  I'm relieved to hear that. What was he

  working on?"

  Thinks he's got an idea for creating a

  smaller, more compact system for storing

  electrical energy. Have to hope he doesn't

  kill himself with the stuff before he finishes

  his work on the invention."

  I read something recently about more

  work on reanimation of the dead," Lucas

  said casually.

  Yes, yes, saw that bit myself. Quite

  interesting, but so far no one's seen any

  reanimated corpses walking about." Potbury

  chuckled.

  You don't believe that line of experi

  mentation will prove fruitful?"

  Who can say for certain? But personally

  I'm highly doubtful."

  Yes," said Lucas. So am I. Which

  means that we must look to the living

  for answers."

  Beg pardon?"

  Never mind, sir. Just making an obser

  vation to myself. If you will excuse me, I

  think I shall try and forge a path over to

  where my wife is standing."

  Good luck. Quite a crush here tonight,

  ain't there? And getting worse. More people

  arriving by the minute. Probably going to

  be the rout of the Season. There's Lady

  Nettleship. Looks quite lovely tonight,

  doesn't she? Believe I'll try to make my

  way over to her."

  Lucas nodded politely and started off

  through the crowd. Progress was difficult

  because nearly everyone he passed insisted

  on stopping him long enough to congratulate him.

  He was midway in his journey across the

  ballroom when one of the liveried footmen

  stepped into his path. He held out a small

  silver tray on which lay a sealed note.

  A man appeared at the door and asked

  that this be given to you, my lord," the

  footman said politely. I am sorry for the

  delay. It took me a while to find you in

  the crowd."

  Lucas frowned and picked up the note,

  nodding abruptly in appreciation of the

  service. He put a few coins on the tray

  and the footman disappeared into the sea

  of guests.

  Have information that should interest

  you concerning certain incidents. Very

  urgent. Am waiting outside in black

  carriage near corner.

  Lucas crumpled the note and looked

  across the room to where Victoria was

  standing in a group of chattering, laughing

  people. He started toward her again, this

  time not pausing politely when he was

  greeted by well-wishers.

  I wonder if I might steal my wife for

  a moment or two," he said as he moved

  through the small crowd around Victoria.

  It was a command, not a request, and

  everyone stepped back immediately.

  Victoria looked up in surprise and

  then smiled knowingly at the women

  in the group. Men go through such

  a change after marriage, do they not?"

  she murmured by way of apology. Why

  is it they are always so accommodating

  and gallant before the wedding and so

  dreadfully dictatorial afterward?"

  Lucas took her arm and led her a short

  distance away, aware of the laughter and

  giggles behind him. I shall only keep you a

  minute, madam, and then you may return

  to your observations on husbands."

  Lucas, I was only joking, for heaven's

  sake. What is it? Is something wrong?"

  I don't know. I just got this." He showed

  her the note.

  She read it with widening eyes. Edge

  worth?"

  It must be him. He probably does not

  have an invitation and could not get inside

  to talk to me. I am going outside to see

  what he wants. I came to warn you I would

  be missing for a while. I did not want you

  calling attention to the fact that I'm gone.

  I don't know how long this will take."

  Victoria glanced around assessingly. I

  think it will be perfectly possible for you

  to slip away unnoticed. Do you know, I

  believe we could both slip out. This crowd

  has gotten so huge no one would guess we

  had left. Anyone looking for us would just

  assume we were at the other end of the

  room or on the balcony or in the card

  room or even outside in the gardens."

  Victoria ."

  Her expression brightened with anticipation.

  Yes, I am certain we could both slip

  out. You go first and I will just sort of

  casually move out into the gardens, hop

  over the wall, and pop around the corner.

  You can meet me there."

  Are you out of your mind?" He was

  thunderstruck even though he supposed

  he should have been expecting something

  along this line. You will do no such thing.

  I absolutely forbid it. You are to stay right

  here, Vicky. That is a direct order. Under

  no circumstances are you to leave this

  ballroom. Do not even go out into the

  gardens for fresh air. Do you hear me?"

  Very clearly, my lord. I assure you, you

  have made your point. Honestly, Lucas,

  sometimes you have the most annoying

  tendency of putting a damper on something

  that particularly interests me."

  Forgive me, my dear, but sometimes

  you have the most annoying tendency of

  coming up with the most idiotic notions

  I have ever heard. Now go back to your

  friends. I shall return as soon as possible."

  I will require a full report as soon as

  you get back inside the ballroom."

  Yes, madam."

  She put her hand on his arm and her

  eyes were suddenly very intent. Lucas,

  promise me you will be careful."

  I am sure there is no danger in this,"

  he said soothingly. But I give you my

  promise." Then he scowled briefly at the

  decolletage of her gown. The only real

  danger around here tonight is that you

  might catch a severe chest cold."

  She grinned. I shall try to keep warm by

  dancing. On your way, Lucas. Hurry back."

  He wanted to kiss her full on her lovely

  mouth but knew that was impossible. Such

  a public display
of affection would be

  quite scandalous. Absolutely unthinkable.

  Except that he could not seem to stop

  thinking about it.

  Vicky?"

  Yes, Lucas?"

  Do you still find me merely a tolerable

  husband?"

  Quite tolerable, my lord," she said

  cheerfully.

  He turned and pushed through the

  crowd toward the windows. He took his

  time, not wanting to call attention to

  himself now. When he was satisfied no

  one would think it amiss if he stepped

  outside for a breath of fresh air, he

  did so.

  And kept on going.

  The Athertons" garden wall was no more

  difficult to climb than Lady Nettleship's.

  Lucas found a few chinks in the bricks,

  a handful of ivy, and a moment later he

  was over the top and safely down on the

  other side.

  He found himself in a narrow alley that

  was nearly pitch dark. It stank, as all

  London alleys seemed to do, but other

  than that presented no great difficulty.

  He walked around to the front of the

  house and moved through a group of

  lounging coachmen and grooms who were

  throwing dice.

  He paused in the shadow of a team of

  horses and scanned the line of carriages.

  Near the corner, a little removed from

  the others, was a small, black vehicle of

  undistinguished lines. The coachman was

  on his box, apparently waiting.

  Lucas circled around two other coaches

  that stood between him and the small,

  black one and came up on the far side

  of the vehicle.

  Were you by any chance expecting

  someone?"

  The coachman turned around with a

  start and peered down at Lucas. Yes, sir."

  Perhaps I am he."

  Never even saw you come out of the

  house," the coachman said with a touch

  of admiration. Got a passenger inside who

  wants to have a word wi" ye."

  Lucas glanced speculatively into the dark

  carriage and saw a man lounging in the

  corner. He reflected that being obliged

  to leave the party unobtrusively as he

  had, he had not been able to collect

  his greatcoat. There was, of course, no

  way to secret a pistol in his close-fitting

  evening clothes. Pity.

  Good evening, Edgeworth. Waiting for

  me, I presume?"

  I have something that I think will

  interest you, stone vale. Do step inside

  for a moment, won't you?"

  Lucas considered the possibilities and

  decided the prospect of getting some

  answers outweighed the risks. He opened

  the door and got into the carriage with

  some awkwardness, deliberately favoring