Surrender Amanda Quick Read online

  Surrender

  Amanda Quick

  Prologue

  The hall clock struck midnight. It was a

  death knell. The beautiful, old-fashioned,

  terrifyingly heavy dress that did not fit her

  properly because it had been made for

  another woman, hampered her frantic flight

  down the corridor. The fine wool fabric

  tangled itself around her legs, threatening

  to trip her with every desperate step. She

  pulled the skirts higher, higher, almost to

  her knees, and risked a glance back over

  her shoulder.

  He was closing on her, running her

  down the way a hound, maddened with

  blood lust, runs a deer to earth. His once

  demonically handsome face, the face that

  had lured an innocent, trusting woman

  first into marriage and then to her doom,

  was now a mask of fear and murderous,

  burning rage. With wild eyes that bulged

  from his head and hair that stood on end,

  he stalked her. The knife in his hand would

  soon be at her throat.

  Demon bitch." His shout of rage echoed

  down the upstairs hall. The light of a

  flickering taper glinted on the evil-looking

  blade he clutched. You are dead. Why

  cannot you leave me in peace? I swear

  I will send you back to hell where you

  belong. And this time I will make certain

  the deed is done right. Hear me, you

  accursed specter. This time I will make

  certain.

  She wanted to scream and could not.

  All she could do was run for her life.

  I will watch your blood flow through my

  fingers until you are drained," he cried out

  behind her, much closer. This time you

  will stay dead, demon bitch. You have

  caused me trouble enough."

  She was at the top of the stairs now,

  gasping for breath. Fear clawed at her

  insides. Holding the thick skirts even

  higher, she started down the staircase,

  one hand on the banister to keep herself

  from falling. It would be a bitter irony to

  die of a broken neck rather than a slashed

  throat.

  He was so close, so very close. She knew

  there was every chance she would not make

  it back to safety. This time she had gone

  too far, taken one risk too many. She had

  played the part of a ghost and now she

  was very likely to become one. He would

  be on top of her before she reached the

  bottom step.

  She had finally gotten the proof she had

  sought. In his rage he had confessed. If she

  lived, she would have justice for her poor

  mother. But it was fast becoming apparent

  that her quest would cost her her life.

  Soon she would feel his hands on her,

  grabbing at her in a dreadful parody of the

  sexual embrace he had threatened her with

  when she was younger. Then she would

  feel the knife.

  The knife.

  Dear God, the knife.

  She was halfway down the stairs when

  her pursuer's hideous scream rent the

  shadows.

  She looked back in horror and realized

  that for the rest of her life, midnight would

  never be quite the same again. For her,

  midnight would mean nightmare.

  Victoria Claire Huntington knew when she

  was being stalked. She had not reached

  the advanced age of twenty-four without

  learning to recognize the sophisticated

  fortune hunters of the ton. Heiresses were,

  after all, fair game.

  The fact that she was still single and

  mistress of her own sizable inheritance

  was proof of her skill at evading the slick,

  deceitful opportunists who thrived in her

  world. Victoria had determined long ago

  never to fall victim to their attractive,

  superficial charms.

  But Lucas Mallory Colebrook, the new

  Earl of Stone vale, was different. He might

  very well be an opportunist, but there was

  definitely nothing slick or superficial about

  him. Amid the brightly plumed birds of the

  ton, this man was a hawk.

  Victoria was beginning to wonder if the

  very qualities that should have warned

  her off, the underlying strength and the

  implacable will she sensed in stone vale,

  were exactly what had drawn her to him.

  There was no denying she had been

  fascinated by the man since they had

  been introduced less than an hour ago. The

  attraction she felt was deeply disturbing. In

  fact, it was quite dangerous.

  I believe I have won again, my lord."

  Victoria lowered her elegantly gloved hand

  and fanned her cards out across the green

  baize table. She smiled her most dazzling

  smile at her opponent.

  Congratulations, Miss Huntington. Your

  luck is certainly running strong this

  evening." stone vale, whose gray eyes made

  Victoria think of ghosts hovering in the

  dead of night, did not look in the least

  dismayed at his loss. He appeared, in fact,

  quietly satisfied, as if a carefully devised

  plan had just come to fruition. There was

  a sense of cool anticipation about him.

  Yes, my luck has been amazingly strong

  tonight, has it not?" Victoria murmured.

  One might almost suspect it had some

  assistance."

  I refuse to contemplate such a possibility.

  I cannot allow you to impugn

  your own honor, Miss Huntington."

  Very gallant of you, my lord. But

  it was not my honor which concerned

  me. I assure you I am well aware that

  I was not cheating." Victoria held her

  breath, knowing she had stepped out onto

  very thin ice with that remark. She had

  practically accused the earl of playing with

  marked cards in order to ensure her win.

  stone vale's eyes met and held hers across

  the table. His expression was unnervingly

  calm. Frighteningly calm, Victoria thought

  with a small shiver. There should have been

  some flicker of emotion in that cool, gray

  gaze. But she could read nothing in his

  face except a certain watchfulness.

  Would you care to clarify that remark,

  Miss Huntington?"

  Victoria quickly decided to step back

  onto more solid ground. Pray, pay me

  no heed, my lord. It is simply that I

  am as astounded as you should be at my

  luck with cards this evening. I am only

  an indifferent player at best. You, on the

  other hand, have a reputation as a skilled

  gamester, or so I have been told."

  You flatter me. Miss Huntington."

  I don't believe so," Victoria said. I have

  heard tales of
the ability you display at the

  tables of White's and Brooks's as well as at

  certain other clubs here in town that are of

  a, shall we say, less reputable nature."

  Greatly embroidered tales, I imagine.

  But you make me curious. As we have

  only just met, where did you hear such

  stories?"

  She could hardly admit she had asked

  her friend Annabella Lyndwood about him

  the moment he entered the ballroom two

  hours before. I am certain you are aware

  of how such rumors fly, my lord."

  Indeed. But a woman of your obvious

  intelligence should know better than to

  listen to gossip." With a smooth, effortless

  motion stone vale gathered up the cards

  into a neat stack. He rested his graceful,

  long-fingered hand on top of the deck

  and smiled coolly at Victoria. Now, Miss

  Huntington, have you given any thought

  to collecting your winnings?"

  Victoria watched him warily, unable to

  repress the excitement that was bubbling

  within her. If she had any sense, she would

  end this here and now, she told herself

  But tonight it was difficult to think with

  the sort of cold, clear logic she usually

  employed in such circumstances. She had

  never met anyone quite like stone vale.

  The hum of conversation and laughter

  in Lady Atherton's card room receded,

  and the music from the ballroom seemed

  faint and distant now. The Athertons" huge

  London house was filled with well-dressed

  members of the ton as well as countless

  servants, but Victoria suddenly felt as if

  she were completely alone with the earl.

  My winnings," Victoria repeated slowly,

  trying to school her thoughts. Yes, I

  shall have to do something about them,

  won't I?"

  I believe the wager was for a favor, was

  it not? As the winner, you are entitled to

  request one of me. I am at your service."

  As it happens, sir, I do not need any

  favors from you at the moment."

  Are you quite certain of that?"

  She was startled by the knowing expression

  in the earl's eyes. This was a man who

  always knew more than he ought. Quite."

  I fear I must contradict you, Miss

  Huntington. I believe you do need a

  favor of me. I am given to understand

  that you will require an escort later this

  evening when you and Miss Lyndwood

  have your little adventure at the fair."

  Victoria went very still. What do you

  know of that?"

  stone vale gently riffled the cards with

  one long finger. Lyndwood and I are

  friends. Belong to the same clubs. Play

  cards together occasionally. You know how

  it is."

  Lord Lyndwood? Annabella's brother?

  You've been talking to him?"

  Yes."

  Victoria was incensed. He promised to

  be our escort this evening and he gave

  us his word he would keep quiet on the

  matter. How dare he discuss this business

  with his cronies? This is too much by half

  And men have the nerve to accuse women

  of gossiping. What an outrage."

  You must not be so hard on the man,

  Miss Huntington."

  What did Lyndwood do? Make a general

  announcement at one of his clubs that he

  would be taking his sister and her friend

  to the fair?"

  It was not a general announcement, I

  assure you. He was most discreet. After

  all, his sister is involved, is she not? If you

  must know the truth, I believe Lyndwood

  confided in me because he was feeling the

  strain of the situation."

  Strain? What strain? There is absolutely

  nothing about any of this that should make

  him anxious. He is simply going to escort

  Annabella and me to the park where the

  fair is being held. What could be simpler?"

  she snapped.

  As I understand it, you and his sister

  applied a certain degree of pressure on

  Lyndwood to get him to agree to your

  plans. The poor boy is still green enough

  to be manipulated by such feminine tactics.

  Fortunately, he is also wise enough to

  regret his weakness and smart enough to

  seek assistance."

  Poor boy, indeed. What nonsense. You

  make it sound as though Annabella and I

  coerced Bertie into this."

  Didn't you?" stone vale shot back.

  Of course not. We merely impressed

  upon him that we have every intention of

  going to the fair tonight and he insisted

  on accompanying us. Very gallant of him.

  Or so we thought."

  You left him little choice as a gentleman.

  He could hardly agree to let you go on your

  own and you knew it. It was blackmail.

  Furthermore, I suspect it was largely your

  idea, Miss Huntington."

  Blackmail" Victoria was now furious. I

  resent that accusation, my lord."

  Why? it is little more than the truth. Do

  you think Lyndwood would have willingly

  consented to escort you and his sister

  to such a disreputable event unless you

  threatened to go on your own? Miss

  Lyndwood's mama would have a fit of

  the vapors if she got word of this little

  escapade tonight, and so, I imagine, would

  your aunt."

  I assure you. Aunt Cleo is far too sturdy

  to indulge in a fit of the vapors," Victoria

  declared loyally. But she knew stone vale

  was perfectly correct about Annabella's

  mama. Lady Lyndwood would indeed have

  hysterics if she discovered her daughter's

  plans for this evening. Proper young ladies

  of the ton did not go to the fair-grounds

  at night.

  Your aunt may be a sturdy character. I

  will take your word for it, as I have not yet

  had the honor of meeting Lady Nettleship.

  But I sincerely doubt she would approve of

  your plans for this evening/ stone vale said.

  I shall throttle Lord Lyndwood when

  I see him. He is no gentleman to have

  betrayed a confidence in this manner."

  It was not entirely his fault he confided

  in me. I spent enough years as an officer to

  know when a young man is agitated about

  something. It was not that difficult to press

  him for the details."

  Victoria narrowed her eyes. Why?"

  Let us say I had a great curiosity about

  the matter. When Lyndwood discovered

  I was only too happy to come to his

  assistance tonight, he confessed all and

  pleaded for a companion."

  You have not answered my question.

  Why was your curiosity so great?"

  My reasons are not particularly im

  portant," stone vale's long fingers rippled

  easily through the deck of cards again. It

  seems to me we have a more immediate

  problem."

  I see no problem." Other than getti
ng

  rid of you, Victoria added silently. Her

  first instincts had been correct. She should

  have run when she had the chance. But it

  was beginning to appear as though she'd

  never had the opportunity in the first

  place. Everything suddenly seemed to be

  proceeding according to some master plan

  that had been set in motion and over which

  she had less and less control.

  We should go over the details of the

  evening's adventure, don't you think?"

  The details have already been taken care

  of, thank you." Victoria did not like the

  feeling of not being in charge.

  Please understand. Perhaps it is the

  ex-soldier in me or perhaps it is mere

  curiosity, but I like to know exactly what

  is involved in a venture before it begins.

  Would you be so good as to outline the

  schedule of events more clearly for me?"

  stone vale asked innocently.

  I do not see why I should. I did not

  invite you along."

  I merely wish to be of assistance, Miss

  Huntington. Not only is Lyndwood grateful

  for my help tonight, but you, yourself,

  might also find it very convenient to

  have an extra escort on hand. The mob

  can become very boisterous and rowdy at

  night."

  i'm not in the least concerned with the

  rowdy crowds. That is part of what will

  make the entire venture exciting."

  Then I'm sure you will at least be

  grateful for my continued silence on the

  matter should I happen to be introduced

  to your aunt this evening."

  Victoria studied him mutely for a short,

  taut moment. It would seem that Lord

  Lyndwood is not the only one in danger

  of being blackmailed. It appears I am also

  slated to become a victim."

  You wound me, Miss Huntington."

  Not fatally, unfortunately, else I would

  be rid of my problem, wouldn't I?"

  I urge you to look upon me as a solution

  rather than a problem." stone vale smiled

  his slow smile. It did not affect the ghosts

  in his eyes. I ask only to serve you in the

  capacity of escort this evening when you

  venture out into the dangerous streets of

  the city. I am most anxious to discharge

  my gaming debt."

  And if I decline to collect my winnings

  by accepting your escort, you will tell my

  aunt what is planned, is that it?"

  stone vale sighed. It would be most

  unpleasant for all concerned if Miss

  Lyndwood's mama or your aunt discovered

  your scheme for tonight, but one can never

  tell what topics of conversation will arise in