Surrender by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online Page B

sensibilities, there is an easy
    remedy for you. Simply open the carriage
    door and depart."
    Lucas realized in that moment that
    Victoria Huntington had the power to
    slice through his iron-willed self-control as
    no one else had been able to do in years.
    Furthermore, she accomplished the trick
    quite effortlessly. This lady was dangerous.
    He was going to have to work hard at
    staying in command of the situation.
    Lucas cleared his throat." My sensibilities
    will survive your indelicate manners, Miss
    Huntington. And I could not possibly exit
    now. My honor still requires that I pay my
    gaming debts."
    Hah. This is no honorable gaming
    debt, sir. This is blackmail, pure and
    simple."
      I assure you," stone vale returned," I am
    fast discovering that blackmail is neither
    pure nor simple, not with you cast in the
    role of the victim."
    Her eyes gleamed with mischief at that
    sally and Lucas felt his whole body react
    with sharp desire. He folded his arms
    across his chest and leaned back against
    the cushions, his gaze holding hers in
    the shadows. In that moment he wanted
    nothing more than to be alone with this
    bewitching creature. He longed to pull her
    down onto the carriage seat and show her
    the extent of the risks she was running
    when she challenged him so openly.
    For an instant a charged silence hung
    between them. When Victoria finally
    blinked and allowed her gaze to slide
    away from his own, he knew she had
    discerned his thoughts.
    But Lucas's small sense of victory was
    short-lived. It was dawning on him rapidly
    that this courtship he had embarked upon
    was going to be even more hazardous
    than he had first thought. With Jessica
    Atherton's help and his own skill at getting
    by on his wits and his ability at the card
    table, he had hoped to conceal the true
    state of his finances from Society long
    enough to achieve his objective. He had
    made his plans with his usual care.
    But if his intended bride took a notion
    to hire a runner to look into his affairs,
    it was all too likely the full truth would
    come out. The rumor of his nonexistent
    inheritance would not hold up for long.
    It was becoming clear that the task of
    stalking this particular heiress would be the
    most exacting hunting he had ever done.
    One wrong move, one miscalculation on
    his part, and he would lose the game.
      How long do you intend to spend
    on your adventure this evening, Miss
    Huntington?" Lucas kept his tone detached.
      Is time a problem for you? Do you have
    another engagement planned?" she asked
    far too sweetly.
    He knew intuitively that she was fishing
    to find out if he had a mistress expecting
    him later." No, I do not. Lyndwood and
    I must secure arrangements to have all of
    us taken up by his carriage at a specific
    location, and to do that efficiently in the
    crowd, we need to decide upon a definite
    departure time."
      Oh. Yes, I can see that. I would suggest
    two hours would be ample time to enjoy
    the fair."
    Annabella sighed." I am afraid I cannot
    stay out that long, Vicky. Mama will be
    coming home from the Milricks" soiree in
    AT
    another two hours and she will expect me
    to be in by then."
    Lucas hid his relief." An hour then?"
      An hour's long enough for me," Bertie
    Lyndwood said quickly.
      That's probably all the time I should
    allow," Annabella said with regret.
      Oh, very well." Victoria sounded mildly
    irritated but resigned." An hour it is. We
    shall have to hurry, though, if we are to
    see everything."
    Lucas said nothing, but privately he
    considered that the next hour was un
    doubtedly going to be one of the longest
    of his life.
    Half an hour later he was confirmed
    in his belief. The huge park was ablaze
    with lanterns that illuminated a seemingly
    unlimited array of stalls selling meat pies
    and ale, booths featuring acrobats and rope
    dancers, and packed tents featuring puppet
    shows and games.
    The crowd was a mix of the high and the
    low. Servants who had snuck out of their
    masters"