Surrender (39 page)

He had been startled to find himself so

deeply touched by Strelitzia. Perhaps it was

because it was the first gift any woman had

ever given him since his mother had died.

He refused to count the keepsake locket

with a wisp of dark hair in it that Jessica

Atherton had given him four years ago.

She had pressed it into his palm even

as she had tearfully rejected his offer of

marriage and explained where her duty lay.

He had tossed the locket into a ditch one

night on the eve of a battle.

Lucas finished the last of the port and

contemplated the empty bottle. Then he

contemplated the notion of the empty bed

that awaited him.

If matters had not exploded in his face

the way they had, he would be back in his

London town house preparing to climb a

certain garden wall tonight. His reckless,

passionate midnight companion would be

waiting eagerly for the night's adventure.

But things had changed. He was married

to the little baggage now and somehow he

had to find a way to deal with her. He

refused to spend the rest of his days with a

sulking wife and he was even more certain

he was not going to spend his nights alone

in his own bedchamber.

It was so damn easy for Victoria to be

kind to everyone else, Lucas thought in

annoyance as he got to his feet. Why

could she not spare a little kindness for

her husband? Surely she must realize he

had not had a lot of choice in his actions

lately.

A man in his position had no option

but to secure an heiress in any manner

he could. Victoria was old enough to

understand the realities of marriage. In

any event, the deed was done and there

was nothing for it but for Victoria to accept

the situation with good grace. This sulking

business would have to stop. He would not

tolerate her ill humor much longer.

Nor would he tolerate a lonely bed for

long. He was a married man now and that

gave him certain rights and privileges.

With a hardening sense of determination,

Lucas stalked out of the dining room and

up the staircase. He would make one more

effort to talk to Victoria tonight, and if she

still refused to listen to him, he swore he

would find another way to take the edge

off her temper.

His valet, Ormsby, was busy in the

master bedchamber, still unpacking. He

glanced up with surprise as Lucas entered

the room.

 
Good evening, sir. Did you wish to

retire early tonight?"

 
Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Tell

Griggs to send the staff to bed, too. It

has been a long trip for everyone."

Ormsby nodded.
 
Will you be needing

anything for your leg, sir? It generally

bothers you after long hours in the saddle."

 
I have just finished a bottle of port.

That should take care of it."

 
Very good, sir." Ormsby moved about

with soothing efficiency.
 
Nan told me

that Lady stone vale has also retired for

the evening. If this is any indication, it

appears we shall all be keeping rather

different hours here in the country than

we did in Town."

 
Just as well. I much prefer country

life to the demands of the city." Lucas

absently rubbed his bad leg. He was not

going to miss climbing that damned garden

wall one bit. Nor was he going to miss

the nerveracking business of constantly

worrying about protecting his companion's

identity and safety while she flitted blithely

through the gaming hells, brothels, and

back streets of London.

Ormsby took his leave a few minutes

 
later. Lucas waited until the sound of his

footsteps had receded before he picked up

a candle and went to the connecting door.

There was no sound from Victoria's room.

She was probably already in bed; perhaps

asleep.

He quietly opened the door, telling

himself he had every right to walk into

his wife's bedchamber. The knob twisted

easily in his hand. He wondered if Victoria

had tried to lock it against him. He had

taken possession of the key earlier just

in case.

Her bedroom was shrouded in darkness

except for the pale light coming in through

the window. Victoria apparently liked to

sleep with the drapes open, he noted. A

rather unusual quirk.

With the aid of the candle and the

moonlight, Lucas could make out the

slender shape of his wife as she lay huddled

under the covers. His belly tightened.

Unfortunately the candlelight also re

vealed a little too much of the faded

drapes, dirty carpet, and worn furnishings

that decorated the bedchamber. Lucas felt

a sharp twinge that could have been

embarrassment. The new home he had

provided for Victoria was definitely not

up to her usual standards.

He walked over to the bed, wondering

how to announce himself and tell her

he had come to claim his right as a

husband.

On the way up the stairs he had

composed a rather lengthy speech about

wifely duties and husbandly rights, but

now it all sounded unconvincing. What

was he going to do if she simply did

not want him anymore, he wondered

bleakly?

But even as the cold thought formed in

his head the candlelight fell on the warm

pool of golden amber that nestled between

her breasts.

She was still wearing the pendant.

Relief flooded through Lucas. All was

not lost after all, he thought jubilantly.

Even as that realization flared like fire

through his veins, Victoria stirred restlessly

on the pillow. Her lashes fluttered briefly,

and then, without any warning, she opened

her eyes, looked straight up at him, and

screamed.

 
Dear God, no, no. Stay away from

me."

Lucas stared in shock as Victoria sat bolt

upright in bed. She held out a hand as

if trying to ward him off. He had been

wrong. She could not bear the thought

of him coming to her bed. His insides

clenched in a sickening fashion.

 
Vicky, for God's sake
 
."

 
The knife. Merciful heavens the knife."

he was staring at the candle in horror.

 
No, please, no."

Lucas finally understood that she was

 
still half-asleep. He had evidently awakened

 
her in the middle of a nightmare and

 
she was trapped in the remnants of the

 
dream.

He moved quickly, putting the candle

down on the nearest table and grasping

Victoria by the shoulders. She opened her

mouth to scream again, her eyes focused

on something only she could see.

Lucas shook her.
 
Victoria, stop it."

When there was no sign of any response

in her eyes, he did what he had occasionally

had to do when confronted by a soldier

who had slipped over the edge of sanity

into battle-front hysteria. He drew back

one hand, and with cool calculation, he

slapped Victoria quite hard.

That stopped her. She gasped, blinked in

confusion, and finally focused on his face.

 
Lucas," she breathed.
 
Dear heaven,
 
tis

you." She gave a small cry of overwhelming

relief and threw herself into his arms. She

clutched him as if he were an angel sent

to rescue her from the pits of hell.

There were hurried footsteps in the hall

and then anxious knocking on Victoria's

door.
 
Ma'am? My lady?
 
Tis me, Nan.

Be every thin" all right?"

Lucas reluctantly disengaged himself

from Victoria's clinging grasp. She whimpered

softly in protest and he soothed her

with a touch.

 
Hush, darling. I have to go reassure

your maid. I will be right back."

He went to the door and opened it

to find Nan hovering nervously in the

hall.

 
I was on the stairs, startin" for my

bed, when I heard her ladyship scream."

Nan looked up at him, her eyes faintly

suspicious in the glow of the candle she

held.
 
Is all well?"

 
She is fine. Nan. It was my fault. I

awakened her in the middle of a bad

dream."

 
Oh, I wondered if that might be it."

Nan's eyes lost their trace of accusation.

 
Poor thing. She's been havin" some trouble

with bad dreams for the past few months.

I think it is one o" the reasons she's taken

such a likin" for the parties and nightlife

o" London this Season. Keeps her busy

till dawn. But looks like she'll be sufferin'

with those plaguey dreams again now that

we're all keepin" country hours. Mayhap I

should sleep a little closer to her."

 
You needn't worry about her. Nan.

She's got a husband now, remember? I

will take good care of her. I am much

closer than you are."

Nan flushed and nodded quickly.
 
Yes,

sir. Well, I'll be off, then." She bobbed

a quick curtsy and hurried back down

the hall.

Lucas closed the door and turned back

to the bed. Victoria was watching him from

the shadows, her arms wrapped around her

updrawn knees. Her eyes were huge in the

dim light.

 
My apologies, Vicky. I did not mean

to startle you awake so abruptly," Lucas

said.

 
What were you doing sneaking about

in my room in the first place?" she asked

tartly.

He sighed, aware that the few moments

of vulnerability had already passed.
 
I know

this will come as something of a shock,

Vicky, but you have a husband now and

husbands have a right to sneak around

their wives" bedchambers." He crossed the

room and sat down on the side of the bed,

ignoring her hostile gaze.
 
Your maid says