Surrender (35 page)

She quelled it. Jessica meant well and it was

clear she cared about Lucas's happiness.
 
I

assure you I shall do my best, Jessica."

 
Yes, I am sure you will try. It is just

that you are hardly his type, are you? I

knew it from the beginning, but he kept

insisting you would do."

 
What type did you think he preferred,

Jessica?"

Jessica's eyes squeezed shut for a

moment.
 
A woman who will make

him an admirable hostess and see to

the management of his home in a proper

fashion. A woman who will give him an

heir and ensure that his children are raised

to take their positions in Society. A well

behaved woman who knows her duty and

fulfills it without complaint. A woman who

will endeavor to make his life comfortable

in every way. One who will not plague him

with silly demands nor give him any trouble

or cause for embarrassment. Lucas is a very

proud man, you know."

Victoria made another bid for her

patience.
 
I assure you again I will do

my best. In any event, he seems quite

satisfied with the bargain."

 
Yes, he has made his decision. Lucas

is a man who knows his own mind and

acts accordingly. He is aware of the

responsibilities his title has brought him.

He told me this marriage would suit him

well and I pray he is right."

 
Lucas has already spoken to you

of our marriage, Jessica?" Victoria was

suddenly paying complete attention to her

maddening visitor.

 
Naturally. Lucas felt he could confide

in me right from the start. We have, as

I explained, known each other for several

years. We understand each other." Jessica's

fingers trailed gracefully along a long leaf.

 
Dear Lucas. I know I hurt him dreadfully

when I was forced to refuse his offer of

marriage four years ago. But when he

found himself in the same position a few

months ago, he finally understood why I

had done what I did. He felt he could

come to me for help."

Victoria swallowed thickly.
 
I had not

realized
 
."

 
Lucas comprehends the notion of duty

better than most men and he knows now

that I only did what was necessary when

I accepted Lord Atherton's offer instead

of his. Marriage is a matter of duty and

practicality, is it not? One does what one

must."

Victoria grew cold.
 
I was not aware that

you and Lucas knew each other quite so

well," she finally managed.

 
Very well, indeed." A glimmer of

moisture appeared at the edge of Jessica's

dark lashes and splashed down onto the

rose petal where it glistened like a drop

of dew.
 
You cannot imagine how hard it

was for me when he sought me out after

all this time to tell me he had inherited

his uncle's title and would be needing a

suitable wife."

Victoria stared at Jessica's lovely profile

and watched another teardrop fall to the

petals of the rose.
 
A suitable wife," she

heard herself echo, sounding stupid, even

to her own ears.

 
He asked me to introduce him into the

sort of social circles where he could meet

the sort of woman he needed."

 
How did Lucas describe this woman

he sought?" Victoria asked, her mouth

going dry.

 
Well, his first requirement, of course,

was that she be an heiress."

 
An heiress." Victoria felt dazed.

 
As I am certain you must realize by

now, the business about his uncle having

died with a fortune hidden under the bed

is all rubbish. I put the story about myself

so that people would not suspect the true

state of Lucas's financial affairs."

Victoria stiffened.
 
Yes, of course. How

very clever of you."

 
I did my best," Jessica said with tragic

pride.
 
I could not refuse to help him, not

after all we had once meant to each other.

But there have been times when I confess

it was difficult watching him court you."

  
I can imagine." Victoria wanted to pick

up the nearest flowerpot and hurl it through

one of the glass walls of the conservatory.

 
When I got word this morning that

you and Lucas had been married so

precipitously, I told myself it was best

this way. I know Lucas needs this marriage

if he is to salvage his estates, and it would

be easier on him, as well as me, to get the

business done as quickly as possible."

 
What
 
about me, Jessica? Or did you

consider me at all when you arranged to

introduce me to Lucas?"

Jessica turned to her then briefly

considering her words.
 
You? What have

you to complain of? You were in danger

of spending the rest of your life on the shelf

Instead you are now a countess. You are

married to Lucas. What more could you

want?"

 
To have been allowed to have spent

the rest of my life on the shelf, perhaps?"

Victoria's hands tightened into small fists

at her sides.
 
Believe what you wish when

you say you were only doing a favor for

Lucas but do not lie to yourself about what

you have done to me. I assure you, I am

not at all grateful for your interference.

How could you have done such a cruel,

heartless thing to me

Without waiting for an answer, Victoria

whirled on her heel and started down the

aisle toward the door.

 
Vicky, wait, please wait. You must not

be angry. I thought you understood. You

are an intelligent woman. Indeed, you are

known for your quick mind. I thought that

at your age you would surely realize that

your inheritance was your chief attraction.

I mean, why else would a man want to

offer for a woman who is inclined to such

outrageous behavior, such an ungoverned

female who has no
  
Jessica broke off,

looking haunted.
 
That is to say, I assumed

you were as satisfied with the bargain as

Lucas is. You have got yourself an earl,

after all."

Victoria halted and spun around.
 
And

Lucas has my money. You are quite right,

Jessica. It is a bargain we have both made

and now we must live with it. But you

have done your part. You need not concern

yourself further in our lives."

Jessica's eyes widened and more tears

glistened and pearled on her lashes.
 
I am

sorry if you are not content. But you are

a woman and you must know it is not our

lot to be content. Only a schoolgirl expects

to marry for love. We all do what we must.

If you cannot bring yourself to feel any real

affection for Lucas, only think how hard

this is on him. This is going to be just as

difficult for him as it is for you. After all,

he must have an heir from you."

 
Thank you for reminding me of my

wifely duty."

 
Dear heaven, you truly are angry. You

do not comprehend at all. I believed you

did. Victoria, please, I am sorry. You

cannot know how sorry." Jessica dissolved

completely into tears, groping frantically

for a handkerchief.

Victoria hesitated, torn between fury and

a reluctant sympathy she did not want to

feel. Jessica's tears were real.

Then
 
annoyed with herself but unable

to ignore the sobbing woman, she went

forward and hesitantly touched Jessica's

arm.

 
You must not do this to yourself,

Jessica. You will make yourself ill. Pull

yourself together. What is done is done.

I do not hold you responsible. I made

my own decisions at every point along the

way. I have no one but myself to blame

for what has happened."

Jessica gulped back her sobs and clutched

helplessly at Victoria, who found herself

patting her awkwardly.

 
Please, I beg you, Vicky, do not hold

any of this against Lucas. He only did what

he had to do for the sake of his title."

Victoria tried to think of a response

that would not further alarm the weeping

woman. But there was nothing to be said.

The truth was she wanted to do a great

deal of damage to the Earl of stone vale.

Even as the images formed in her head,

she heard his voice in the hall.

 
Vicky? Where are you? Your aunt says

you have not yet changed into your

traveling dress." His boots rang on the tile

of the conservatory as he stepped into the

room, looking for her. He glanced briefly

around, frowning impatiently, and then

his eyes collided with hers over Jessica's

heaving shoulders.

Victoria watched dispassionately as Lucas

registered just who it was who was crying

her heart out in his wife's arms.

 
Lady Atherton has come to give us

her good wishes, my lord. Was that not

kind of her under the circumstances? I

understand that you and she are extremely

close friends of very long standing and that

she has been of great assistance in securing

an heiress for you. It appears the rumors

of your uncle's hoarded wealth were quite

unfounded. Now, if you will excuse me,

I believe I shall leave the two of you

alone together to make your good-byes. I

certainly would not wish to intrude."

Realization dawned in Lucas's gaze. He

did not move,
 
Damn it to hell, Vicky," he

said very softly.

She smiled grimly.
 
My sentiments

precisely."

She freed herself from Jessica's grasp

and stepped around her, heading toward

the door. When she reached the point in

the aisle where Lucas blocked her path,

she looked up at him and said nothing.