Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  hauled before a court-martial? Shall I be

  stripped of my rank and privileges?"

  I think," Lucas said, I will simply

  take you to bed and strip you of your

  nightclothes. Then I shall make love to

  you until you have been brought to a full

  realization of your erring ways."

  Victoria put her arms around his neck

  as he picked her up and carried her to

  the bed. She smiled up at him through

  her lashes. That sounds delightful."

  His laugh was husky with passion as he

  settled her down onto the turned-back bed.

  As usual, we are very much in accord in

  this area of our marriage."

  He removed his dressing gown and came

  down beside her, already fully aroused.

  He fumbled briefly with her nightclothes

  and then he tugged her down across his

  body. The amber pendant dangled from

  her throat, brushing the crisp hair of his

  chest.

  Tell me again that you love me, Vicky."

  I love you. I shall love you always." She

  cradled his head between her palms and

  kissed him with all the emotion that was

  in her heart. You are the only man on

  this earth I could have married. What other

  man would discuss the merits of manure

  with me during the day and climb my

  garden wall at midnight to take me to a

  gaming hell? You are unique, Lucas, Now

  tell me again that you did not marry me

  entirely for my fortune."

  His hands tightened on the back of her

  head as he brought her mouth close to his

  once more. It does not really matter why

  I married you, my Amber Lady. I am so

  deeply enmeshed in your coils now that I

  will never be free. I love you, Vicky. I will

  put up with any amount of wall climbing,

  ledge crawling, or midnight adventuring if

  you will just give me your word that you

  will love me for the rest of your life."

  You have my most solemn vow, my

  lord."

  She no longer saw ghosts in his eyes,

  Victoria realized as she gave herself up to

  his kiss, only moonlight and love, and a

  passion that would last a lifetime.

  Lucas woke once during the night, aware

  of a familiar ache in his leg. He thought

  about getting up for a glass of port, but

  before he could slide out of bed Victoria

  put her hand on his thigh and began to

  massage it gently. Lucas closed his eyes

  again and a moment later he was asleep.

  The following spring Lucas went in

  search of his wife. He found her, as usual,

  in the conservatory, where she was working

  on a painting of an odd little lily she had

  just recently received from America.

  She had returned to her watercolors

  immediately upon rising from childbed

  the previous month. She had been greatly

  inspired, she said, by the news that

  Reverend Worth's Instruction in Methods

  Guaranteed to Create a Beautiful Flower

  Garden had sold out the first edition and

  gone into a second printing.

  The vicar had been adamant that the

  plates, etched and hand-colored from

  original paintings by Lady Victoria Stone

  vale, had ensured the book's overwhelming

  success. He was most anxious to get on

  with a sequel, this time on the subject of

  exotic plants for private gardens.

  A baby's happy gurgle greeted Lucas

  as he made his way down the aisle of

  luxuriantly blooming exotic plants. He

  paused by the cradle which had been

  set next to the easel and grinned at

  his healthy baby son. The babe seemed

  symbolic somehow of the now-thriving

  lands that surrounded the great house.

  The gardens outside the windows were

  lush with blossoms and the fields beyond

  were rich and green with the promise of

  excellent crops. It was going to be a good

  year for stone vale, the first of many, Lucas

  vowed to himself.

  He leaned down to kiss his wife, who

  was busy mixing colors with her brush, and

  noticed a spot of orange on her nose.

  What have you got there, Lucas?"

  she asked, glancing at the leather-bound

  volume in his hand.

  A small gift, madam. I had a copy of

  your book bound for you."

  She blushed with delight as she reached

  for it. Tis not precisely my book, you

  know. It is Reverend Worth's book."

  I shall let you in on a little secret,

  my dear. Your aunt Cleo says people are

  buying the book as much for the lovely

  plates as they are for the vicar's excellent

  treatise on gardening."

  Victoria examined the book, running her

  hand over the leather.

  Oh, I doubt that."

  It is quite true."

  Thank you, Lucas." She looked up at

  him, her love in her eyes. Aunt Cleo was

  right about one thing. You do have a knack

  for being able to give me gifts I could never

  buy for myself."

  He smiled his slow smile. And you, my

  love, have given me far more than I ever

  bargained for when I went hunting for an

  heiress."

  Do you know," she murmured, idly

  touching the pendant at her throat, I

  think it is about time for the Amber

  Knight and his lady to make another

  midnight appearance on the grounds of

  stone vale."

  Lucas groaned. And you only a month

  out of childbed. Forget it, my love." He

  glanced significantly at his son. Besides,

  you have other things to do at midnight

  these days."

  Well, perhaps not tonight, I grant you.

  And mayhap not tomorrow night, either.

  But soon." She laughed up at him, her

  eyes brilliant. You know how you like to

  indulge me, Lucas."

  Why is it," he asked as he brushed his

  mouth lightly, lovingly across her own,

  that I still ask myself which of us did

  the surrendering?"

  Victoria's answer was lost in the kiss, a

  kiss that held the promise of a lifetime of

  glorious midnights.