Surrender (34 page)

have often flirted with the outrageous in

many ways, but you have always been quite

cautious in your dealings with men. How

on earth could you have let yourself"

She broke off abruptly, glancing at Lucas.

 
Never mind. I think I know the answer to

that. In any event there is no point looking

back. We must go forward."

 
We cannot move in any direction,"

Lucas pointed out quietly,
 
until Victoria

has made her decision. She is not a child.

She cannot be forced into marriage. I have

already offered for her and I would be

honored if she will give me her hand

in marriage, but I will not coerce her

into it."

 
Well, Victoria?" Cleo regarded her

solemnly.
 
Lucas is obviously willing to do

what must be done. What about you?"

Victoria looked at Lucas, love and

longing and guilt and uncertainty twisting

themselves into a tight knot in the pit of

her stomach. This was all her fault and

she knew it. Lucas was in this situation

only because he had tried to please her

in spite of his better judgment.

It was not only her own honor and

her aunt's position in Society she had

jeopardized, but Lucas's honor and position as well.

 
I am entirely to blame for all that has

happened," Victoria said, looking down at

her clenched hands.
 
If Lord stone vale

will do me the great honor of accepting

my hand in marriage, then I will give it

to him."

There was a taut silence following her

words. When Victoria looked up again,

she was aware that her aunt had relaxed

somewhat, but she only had eyes for Lucas,

who was watching her with unwavering

intensity.

Without a word he left the hearth and

came toward her. He pulled her gently

to her feet.
 
You honor me. Thank you,

Vicky. I give you my word I will try to

make you happy."

She smiled slowly, a great deal of tension

dissolving inside her at the touch of his

hands. She loved him and he obviously

cared deeply for her.
 
I have always

considered marriage a fate worse than

death, but I believe that with you I

shall view it in an entirely different light,

my lord."

Lucas grinned, his eyes lighting with

satisfaction. He dropped a quick, possessive,

little kiss on the tip of her nose and

turned to face Cleo.
 
Very well, madam,

the worst is over. The lady is resigned to

her fate. Now we must move swiftly and

carefully."

Cleo arched her brows.
 
Somehow I have

already gained the impression that you will

see to it we all do precisely that, stone vale.

I leave everything to you."

Several hours later Victoria conceded

with amusement that her aunt's prediction

had been absolutely correct. Matters had

moved with blinding speed since she and

Lucas had been married early that morning.

Her aunt's household was in a frenzy as

Victoria's bags were packed in preparation

for the hurried departure for stone vale.

Lucas had decreed and Aunt Cleo had

quickly agreed that leaving for the country

was the best move at this point for all

concerned.

 
We shall tell everyone that because

of your advanced years, neither of you

wished for a formal wedding," Cleo had

explained to Victoria as she outlined

Lucas's plans. Lucas himself was nowhere

around. Directly after the short ceremony

he had excused himself to go home to

his own town house to prepare for the

departure.

Victoria had wrinkled her nose at the

phrase
 
advanced years" but she could not

quarrel with the reasoning. It was a slim

excuse for such a hasty marriage, but it

was all they had. There would be plenty

of talk as it was.

 
We shall also put it about that

Lucas has received word that there are

matters requiring his immediate attention

at stone vale. The two of you will leave

town this afternoon and spend your

honeymoon on his estates while he sees

to his lands. With any luck, you will both

be out of town by the time anyone thinks

to start asking questions. When you return

in a few weeks, it will all be a fait accompli,

long past the interesting-gossip stage," Cleo

explained.

Victoria had inclined her head in demure

agreement. The more she grew accustomed

to the idea of being married to Lucas

Mallory Colebrook, the less burdening

and more appealing it all became. As she

watched her baggage fill the hall she began

to think of the whole thing as a grand

adventure, one that would prove even more

exciting than her midnight escapades.

Rathbone's announcement an hour later

of Lady Jessica Atherton's presence on the

doorstep came as a shock.

 
She rarely calls on us. She must have

gotten word of the wedding. But how

could she possibly know about it already?"

Victoria demanded of her aunt in dismay.

Cleo exhaled in disgust.
 
You surely

do not need to be told that gossip

flows through London like the Thames.

It was only a matter of time before Jessica

Atherton found out along with everyone

else. But I had rather hoped for a bit

more time than this. Come, Victoria, it

cannot be all that bad. After all, if she

were going to cut us dead because of this,

she would not be paying a social call, now,

would she?" Cleo turned her head toward

the drawing-room door.

Jessica Atherton glided swiftly into the

room, a vision in pale lavender, smiling her

gracious, condescending smile. She went

straight to Cleo and took both the other

woman's hands in a gesture of deepest

sympathy and understanding.

 
Cleo, dear, I was so sorry to hear of

this rather hasty business. I knew how you

would be feeling, so I came as soon as I

heard."

 
Very kind of you, Jessica. Pray sit down."

Cleo waved her to a nearby chair and slid

a chiding glance at Victoria, who was

rolling her eyes toward the ceiling.
 
Just

how did you come to hear of Victoria's

recent marriage?"

 
Why, the news is all over Town, of

course." Jessica smiled pityingly at Victoria.

 
You have always been so impetuous,

Vicky. It would have been far wiser to

do things in a more proper fashion, but

there is no denying this is an excellent

match for both you and Lucas and I

want you to know you have my heartfelt

congratulations."

Victoria forced a grudging smile of

gratitude. The problem with dealing with

Jessica was that one always had the

impression one should be grateful. It was

very wearing.
 
Thank you, Jessica."

Jessica settled deeper into the cushions

of her chair.
 
You are quite welcome. Do

try not to worry much about the gossip.

There is bound to be some, of course,

but it will fade with time. As you can

see I have already taken steps to help

squelch it by paying this call today. Few

will disapprove openly when they learn that

I have been here to call upon you and lend

countenance to the match."

Cleo's brows rose.
 
You are quite right,

Jessica. How very considerate of you to act

so swiftly on Victoria's behalf."

 
As you know, Lucas is an old friend of

mine and I can do no less than make his

bride feel welcome." Jessica reached out

and patted one of Victoria's hands.

 
My aunt is right," Victoria managed.

 
You are most thoughtful, Jessica."

Jessica's smile took on the aura of

a benign saint's.
 
Do you know, Lady

Nettleship, I have often heard about

your impressive conservatory. I wonder

if Victoria might take a moment to show

it to me since I am here."

 
But, of course. Show her the conserva

tory, Vicky," Cleo said quickly, obviously

relieved to get out of the duty of playing

hostess.
 
I am sure Jessica will enjoy the

new roses from China."

Victoria got to her feet, trying to hide her

reluctance. But as she led Jessica Atherton

down the hall toward the conservatory, she

chided herself for being churlish. Jessica

was going out of her way to do a favor for

Lucas and herself. The least she could do,

was act properly grateful to the woman.

 
What a perfectly charming collection of

plants," Jessica said as she was shown into

the glass-walled room.
 
Quite delightful."

She started down one aisle, pausing to

examine several small items along the

way. Victoria followed, offering desultory

comments on the various species of roses

and irises that passed beneath Jessica's

graciously approving gaze.

But
  
as
  
they
  
made
  
their
  
way
  
to
  
the

far end of the room, Victoria became

aware that Jessica was paying less and less

attention to the plants she was admiring. In

fact, by the time they reached the end of

the aisle, Jessica's expression had changed

considerably.

Victoria stifled a groan of dismay as it

dawned on her that Jessica had asked for

the tour because she wanted to have a few

words in private.

Jessica halted abruptly near a blood red

parrot tulip. She seemed to gather herself.

When she spoke, it was in a soft, urgent

little voice.
 
You will be a good wife to

him, will you not, Vicky?" Jessica did

not meet Victoria's eyes, pretending to

study the tulip instead.
 
He deserves a

good wife."

Victoria's first response to the impertinent,

highly personal question was anger.