Surrender by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

certain uneasiness
    that was new to him. It was clear Victoria
    Huntington was fond of mischief, and this
    brand of mischief could land her in serious
    trouble.
      Do you go about like this often, Miss
    Huntington?" Lucas was aware he had
    automatically used the tone of voice that
    in the past he had reserved for young
    officers under his command who had
    landed themselves in trouble. He could
    not help himself. He was irritated.
      This is my first experiment with men's
    clothes, sir. But to be truthful, I shall
    probably be strongly tempted to try it again
    in the future. I find that the masculine
    attire affords me far more freedom than
    I have when I wear women's clothes,"
    Victoria admitted.
      It certainly affords you a far greater
    opportunity for bringing down a wave of
    humiliation and social disaster on your
    lovely head, Miss Huntington. If it got
    out that you have a taste for running
    around London at night dressed as a man,
    your reputation would be in shreds within
    twenty-four hours."
    Victoria wrapped her fingers even more
    firmly around the handle of her walking
    stick." What an odd thing for you to say,
    sir. Do you know, your attitude quite takes
    me by surprise. I would have thought you
    less of a prig. I suppose the card game at
    the ball misled me. Don't you have any
    taste for adventure? No, I suppose you
    don't. You are, after all, a good friend
    of Lady Atherton's are you not?"
    The woman was deliberately baiting him.
    Lucas wished very strongly that they were
    alone in the carriage." I do not know what
    you are implying, Miss Huntington, but
    I assure you, Lady Atherton is above
    reproach."
      Well, yes, that is just the point. Everyone
    knows Jessica Atherton would never in a
    million years allow herself to be found in
    this carriage on her way to the fair tonight,"
    Victoria declared.
    Annabella giggled again " That is cer
    tainly the truth."
      Are you implying Lady Atherton is a
    prig?" Lucas demanded.
    Victoria shrugged, the movement sur
    prisingly sensual in the well-cut jacket.
      I mean no offense, my lord. Just that
    she isn't the sort of female who enjoys
    adventure. One naturally has to assume
    that her friends are equally limited in
    their choice of entertainment and equally
    disapproving of those who have broader
    tastes."
      And you are a woman who enjoys
    adventure?" stone vale baited.
      Oh, yes, my lord. I enjoy it very
    much."
      Even though it carries with it the risk
    of ruining yourself in Society?"
      There would be no real adventure if
    there were no real risk, would there, my
    lord? I would have thought a successful
    game ster such as yourself would under
    stand that."
    Her words made him more uneasy than
    ever." You may be right, Miss Huntington.
    But I have always preferred risks in which
    the odds were at least somewhat in my
    favor."
      How very dull your life must be, sir."
    Lucas instinctively started to react to the
    goading remark but caught himself in time.
    His self-control reasserted itself, along with
    his sense of reason. The last thing he could
    afford now was to have his quarry declare
    him a priggish bore. His instincts told him
    Victoria would respond to a challenge or
    even an all-out battle of wills, but she
    would ignore him entirely if he managed
    to bore her.
    A priggish bore. Good God. The thought
    of that label stuck on him was enough to
    make him laugh. It was certainly not the
    usual description applied to his character.
    But around Miss Huntington, Lucas
    discovered, he was rapidly developing
    a most uncharacteristic regard for the
    proprieties. He was still in shock from
    the sight of her in men's clothes.
    Victoria    was    no    longer    paying    any
    attention to him, however. She was
    smiling at Annabella." So you decided
    to turn down Barton's offer, did you? I
    am happy to hear it. The man would have
    made you a perfectly horrid husband."
      I am convinced you are right," Annabella
    shuddered delicately." I might have