Oh, dear,
I've lost my hat."
You are extremely lucky not to have lost
more than a hat, Miss Huntington." Again
stone vale's voice seemed far too calm.
Victoria slanted a sidelong glance at his
hard profile and realized that Lucas was
in a blazing fury. For the first time since
the riot had erupted around her, she felt
a trickle of genuine fear.
Lucas glanced out at the empty side
street as the carriage drew to a halt.
You intend to be set down here. Miss
Huntington? We are nowhere near your
front door."
It will do," she said calmly, collecting
her handsome walking stick.
And how do you intend to get into
the house if not through the front door?"
stone vale asked, annoyed.
I shall go over the garden wall and
back through the conservatory, the same
way I left earlier. Don't worry, my lord,
I know my way." Victoria was already
stepping down from the carriage as the
door was opened. She hoped he wouldn't
feel obliged to follow.
" Good night, Vicky," Annabella called
softly." It turned out to be a most
interesting adventure, did it not?"
It certainly did," Victoria replied.
Lucas followed Victoria through the
carriage door." Wait here, Lyndwood," he
instructed over his shoulder." I shall return
as soon as I have escorted our reckless little
dandy back over the garden wall."
Victoria turned toward him in alarm.
There is no need to see me home, my
lord. I assure you, I am perfectly capable
of finding my own way."
I wouldn't hear of it. Miss Huntington."
He must have spotted the new uneasiness
in her because he smiled knowingly.
Excellent," he murmured, grasping her
arm and propelling her into the shadows.
I see you understand me well enough now
to realize that I am not in a good temper. It
is always best not to argue with me when I
am in this mood."
My lord," she began, her chin lifting
imperiously," if you think to hold me
accountable for what happened this even
ing, you can think again."
But I do hold you accountable, Miss
Huntington." He glanced up at the high
stone wall covered with thick ivy." How
do we get inside the garden?"
She tried to retrieve her arm. When he
took no notice of her small struggle, she
gave up and nodded toward the far end
of the walk." There is a way over there."
He hauled her along in the indicated
direction until she pointed out the heavy
vines which concealed a few chinks in the
bricks. Without a word, Victoria wedged
the toe of her boot into the first opening
and grabbed a vine.
Beneath her, Lucas shook his head in
grim disapproval as he watched her climb
the garden wall. Victoria felt awkward and
clumsy under his close scrutiny. She had
not as yet had much practice scaling
garden walls. She could only hope the
fitful moonlight hid the shape of her snugly
clad derriere as she went over the top.
Behind her, Lucas grabbed a trailing bit
of ivy, found the chink in the wall with the
toe of his boot, and followed.
On the other side of the wall, Victoria
dropped lightly to the ground and looked
up to see that Lucas was almost on top
of her. She stepped back quickly as he
dropped down in front of her. She noticed
he took most of his weight on his strong
right leg and did not stumble as he caught
his balance.
My lord," she hissed," y u should
be getting back to the carriage. The
Lyndwoods will be waiting."
I have one or two things to say to
you first." He stood in the midst of
the fragrant, deeply shadowed garden, a
tall, lean, menacing figure as dark and
dangerous as the night.
Victoria summoned up her courage." I
must tell you, stone vale, that I have no
wish to endure a lecture for what happened
this evening. I am already quite aware that
none of us would have been in jeopardy if I
had not insisted upon going to the fair."
In that, Miss Huntington, you are
correct."
The total lack of emotion in his voice
was far more unnerving than a scolding
would have been.
I've lost my hat."
You are extremely lucky not to have lost
more than a hat, Miss Huntington." Again
stone vale's voice seemed far too calm.
Victoria slanted a sidelong glance at his
hard profile and realized that Lucas was
in a blazing fury. For the first time since
the riot had erupted around her, she felt
a trickle of genuine fear.
Lucas glanced out at the empty side
street as the carriage drew to a halt.
You intend to be set down here. Miss
Huntington? We are nowhere near your
front door."
It will do," she said calmly, collecting
her handsome walking stick.
And how do you intend to get into
the house if not through the front door?"
stone vale asked, annoyed.
I shall go over the garden wall and
back through the conservatory, the same
way I left earlier. Don't worry, my lord,
I know my way." Victoria was already
stepping down from the carriage as the
door was opened. She hoped he wouldn't
feel obliged to follow.
" Good night, Vicky," Annabella called
softly." It turned out to be a most
interesting adventure, did it not?"
It certainly did," Victoria replied.
Lucas followed Victoria through the
carriage door." Wait here, Lyndwood," he
instructed over his shoulder." I shall return
as soon as I have escorted our reckless little
dandy back over the garden wall."
Victoria turned toward him in alarm.
There is no need to see me home, my
lord. I assure you, I am perfectly capable
of finding my own way."
I wouldn't hear of it. Miss Huntington."
He must have spotted the new uneasiness
in her because he smiled knowingly.
Excellent," he murmured, grasping her
arm and propelling her into the shadows.
I see you understand me well enough now
to realize that I am not in a good temper. It
is always best not to argue with me when I
am in this mood."
My lord," she began, her chin lifting
imperiously," if you think to hold me
accountable for what happened this even
ing, you can think again."
But I do hold you accountable, Miss
Huntington." He glanced up at the high
stone wall covered with thick ivy." How
do we get inside the garden?"
She tried to retrieve her arm. When he
took no notice of her small struggle, she
gave up and nodded toward the far end
of the walk." There is a way over there."
He hauled her along in the indicated
direction until she pointed out the heavy
vines which concealed a few chinks in the
bricks. Without a word, Victoria wedged
the toe of her boot into the first opening
and grabbed a vine.
Beneath her, Lucas shook his head in
grim disapproval as he watched her climb
the garden wall. Victoria felt awkward and
clumsy under his close scrutiny. She had
not as yet had much practice scaling
garden walls. She could only hope the
fitful moonlight hid the shape of her snugly
clad derriere as she went over the top.
Behind her, Lucas grabbed a trailing bit
of ivy, found the chink in the wall with the
toe of his boot, and followed.
On the other side of the wall, Victoria
dropped lightly to the ground and looked
up to see that Lucas was almost on top
of her. She stepped back quickly as he
dropped down in front of her. She noticed
he took most of his weight on his strong
right leg and did not stumble as he caught
his balance.
My lord," she hissed," y u should
be getting back to the carriage. The
Lyndwoods will be waiting."
I have one or two things to say to
you first." He stood in the midst of
the fragrant, deeply shadowed garden, a
tall, lean, menacing figure as dark and
dangerous as the night.
Victoria summoned up her courage." I
must tell you, stone vale, that I have no
wish to endure a lecture for what happened
this evening. I am already quite aware that
none of us would have been in jeopardy if I
had not insisted upon going to the fair."
In that, Miss Huntington, you are
correct."
The total lack of emotion in his voice
was far more unnerving than a scolding
would have been.
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