Surrender (73 page)
to anyone else. Good God, woman, I had
to be in love with you. Why else would I
have gotten myself leg-shackled to a female
who was almost certain to turn my life into
a series of near disasters?"
I suppose that's true enough. Let us
not forget you did have a choice. There
was always the Perfect Miss Pilkington
to whom you could have turned in a
pinch."
He shook her gently.
Are you laughing
at me, wench?"
Never. I would not dream of laughing
at my, husband. I have nothing but the
highest respect for him." She lifted her
head from his shoulder, her eyes sparkling.
Does this mean you are going to cease
reproaching me for my actions tonight?"
Do not look so pleased with yourself,
madam. I have not finished with you
yet."
Really? What is next? Will you have me
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.
