Surrender by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page A

been
    able to overlook Barton's interest in hazard
    but just imagine marrying a man who has
    actually fathered two bastards on some
    poor woman to whom he will not give
    his name."
      It certainly casts a nasty reflection on
    his honor," Victoria agreed grimly.
    Lucas studied her profile in the dim light.
      Just how did you come to discover the
    business of Barton's illegitimate offspring?
    I cannot believe that gossip reached your
    ears on the dance floor of a hostess such
    as Lady Atherton."
      No, it did not, as a matter of fact. I
    hired a runner to discover what he could
    about Barton and he was the one who
    turned up the news of the two children
    and the mistress."
    Lucas felt a chill clutch his insides." You
    hired a Bow Street runner?"
      I thought it the most efficient approach
    to the problem."
      It was a brilliant approach," Annabella
    declared.
    Lyndwood    groaned.   " Good    Lord,    if
    Mama only knew. Poor Barton. Do ya
    know, I think he rather cared for you,
    Bella."
      I doubt that," Victoria said briskly." His
    family has told him they expect him to
    marry and he is simply in the process
    of casting about for a wife who will suit
    his father. He tried me last year until I
    managed to make him see I would not do
    at all and then he moved on to try his luck
    with the Perfect Miss Pilkington. Evidently
    she, too, had the good sense to see that he
    was the lowest sort of fortune hunter. Then
    he spotted Bella, here, and decided to have
    a go at her. Nothing more to it than that."
      The Perfect Miss Pilkington?" Lucas
    glanced from one woman to the other.
      Why do you call Miss Pilkington perfect?"
      Because she is," Annabella explained
    reasonably." Never puts a foot wrong. A
    model of feminine perfection. A paragon,
    in fact."
      You will understand about Miss Pilkington,
    my lord," Victoria said," when we
    tell you that she is a protegee of Lady
    Atherton's."
      I see." No wonder Jessica had wanted
    to introduce him to the other heiress. It
    was a good bet that if he had decided to
    pursue Miss Pilkington, he would not now
    be sitting in a carriage with a young lady
    dressed outrageously in masculine attire.
    Lucas wondered for half a second if he
    had made a serious mistake earlier in
    the evening. And then he decided that
    whatever the risks, the night was going
    to be infinitely more interesting with Miss
    Huntington.
      I thought you would, my lord," Victoria
    said.
      Well, one thing is certain," Lucas
    pointed out dryly," because of your
    interference, Miss Lyndwood will never
    have a chance to find out precisely how
    Barton does feel about her, will she? And
    Barton, himself, will never know he was
    done in by a paid runner and a certain
    Miss Huntington. The man will never even
    have a chance to defend himself."
      Could he defend himself?" Victoria
    retorted, her eyes clashing with his in the
    shadows. This time there was no mischief
    or humor in her steady, challenging gaze.
      Are you saying that what the runner
    discovered was untrue?"
    Lucas held his ground, speaking evenly.
      I am saying that it was none of
    your business to interfere in the matter.
    There might very well be mitigating
    circumstances."
      Hah. I doubt that very much," Victoria
    said.
      So do I," chimed in Annabella." Just
    imagine that poor woman tucked away
    with Barton's children."
    Lyndwood bestirred himself on the other
    side of the coach." Neither of you two
    ladies ought to know a deuced thing about
    any of Barton's offspring who happen to
    have been born on the wrong side of the
    blanket. T'ain't right for you even to be
    discussing such matters, is it, stone vale?"
      Such conversation is certainly not the
    mark of well-bred ladies of the ton," Lucas
    muttered, grimly aware he sounded exactly
    like the boring prig Victoria had insinuated
    he was.
    Victoria's smile was triumphant." Lord
    stone vale, allow me to point out that if
    you find my conversation too offensive for
    your delicate