right lineage to guarantee the superiority of their bloodstock for generations to come.
And then Whytham, an irredeemable dolt of a man, had gambled away the key to all of Victoria’s dreams.
Charlotte, having watched the play of emotions cross Victoria’s face as she considered the situation, cleared her throat.
“To my way of thinking,” Charlotte said when she had their attention, “we must ask ourselves two questions. First, is the Grey name sufficiently influential to survive the gossip that will likely ensue if Lucinda allows this ‘Iron Will’ to court her?”
Bessie rolled over and sat up, tucking her legs beneath her. “Despite his rather questionable qualifications,” she began, arching an eyebrow for emphasis, “I would not hesitate to say that the Grey name would weather such a trial in grand fashion.”
The women looked at Victoria, whose pinched face and heightened color revealed the struggle between her strict adherence to her moral code and the passionate desire for success.
“Yes, of course,” she said finally. “No one would dare question Lucinda’s good name should she choose to allow this man the honor of her company.”
“We are in agreement, then,” Charlotte concurred, moving closer to Lucinda. Gently, she pushed back a stray curl that had fallen over Lucinda’s brow. “Now, dear girl, the second question. I assume you will make your intentions clear to this young man, namely that the horse is your desire, not him.”
Lucinda nodded in agreement. “Yes, Aunt, I will.”
Bessie left the comfort of the bed and with Victoria joined Charlotte. All three of Lucinda’s aunts faced her, concern clearly written across each of their solemn faces.
“Human nature being what it is,” Bessie began, “we are somewhat hesitant to release you into the hands of such a formidable foe as this Iron Will appears to be.”
“Really, Aunts,” Lucinda responded, hoping the instant warmth that flooded her veins at the mere mention of the duke’s name wasn’t visible on her features, “you’ve never doubted my resolute will to remain unmarried before. Why now?”
“He clearly made an impression this evening,” Bessie began.
“Too true. Her color is heightened, it cannot be denied,” Victoria observed.
“Do not forget the perspiration,” Bessie hastily added.
Lucinda stood, the heat of the room seeming to grow by the second. “I’m that easily swayed, then? Countless suitors have come before and, may I remind you, been denied. But this one, with a wink and a smile will steal my heart silly?”
It was a question posed to all, including herself.
In a matter of mere minutes the man had somehow appealed to Lucinda’s basic needs. Despite all that owning King Solomon’s Mine would bring, dare she accept his wager? Could she trust herself with His Grace?
The gentleness of Charlotte’s voice calmed Lucinda’s shaken nerves. “My dear, you’ve only to answer the question and we’ll never speak of it again.”
“Then do ask, Aunt. Now.”
“Are you capable of dealing with the likes of Iron Will?”
Lucinda’s mind began to race as images assaulted her senses. The duke’s voice, soft as silk, when he repeated her name upon meeting. The feel of his hand at the small of her back when they danced. The look in his eyes when he spoke of the courtship. His fingers tracing the length of hers, branding her with a fire that she swore lingered even to this hour.
But she wanted King Solomon’s Mine. And what’s more, she realized as she looked at each of her aunts, she wanted what they wanted—the happiness and complete satisfaction to be found in doing something well, doing something that would mean so much for so many.
Lucinda squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and forced from her mind all thoughts of the unsettling affect the duke had on her too susceptible body. “Yes.”
The note was delivered just after breakfast. The merest hint of citrus escaped when Will tore open
And then Whytham, an irredeemable dolt of a man, had gambled away the key to all of Victoria’s dreams.
Charlotte, having watched the play of emotions cross Victoria’s face as she considered the situation, cleared her throat.
“To my way of thinking,” Charlotte said when she had their attention, “we must ask ourselves two questions. First, is the Grey name sufficiently influential to survive the gossip that will likely ensue if Lucinda allows this ‘Iron Will’ to court her?”
Bessie rolled over and sat up, tucking her legs beneath her. “Despite his rather questionable qualifications,” she began, arching an eyebrow for emphasis, “I would not hesitate to say that the Grey name would weather such a trial in grand fashion.”
The women looked at Victoria, whose pinched face and heightened color revealed the struggle between her strict adherence to her moral code and the passionate desire for success.
“Yes, of course,” she said finally. “No one would dare question Lucinda’s good name should she choose to allow this man the honor of her company.”
“We are in agreement, then,” Charlotte concurred, moving closer to Lucinda. Gently, she pushed back a stray curl that had fallen over Lucinda’s brow. “Now, dear girl, the second question. I assume you will make your intentions clear to this young man, namely that the horse is your desire, not him.”
Lucinda nodded in agreement. “Yes, Aunt, I will.”
Bessie left the comfort of the bed and with Victoria joined Charlotte. All three of Lucinda’s aunts faced her, concern clearly written across each of their solemn faces.
“Human nature being what it is,” Bessie began, “we are somewhat hesitant to release you into the hands of such a formidable foe as this Iron Will appears to be.”
“Really, Aunts,” Lucinda responded, hoping the instant warmth that flooded her veins at the mere mention of the duke’s name wasn’t visible on her features, “you’ve never doubted my resolute will to remain unmarried before. Why now?”
“He clearly made an impression this evening,” Bessie began.
“Too true. Her color is heightened, it cannot be denied,” Victoria observed.
“Do not forget the perspiration,” Bessie hastily added.
Lucinda stood, the heat of the room seeming to grow by the second. “I’m that easily swayed, then? Countless suitors have come before and, may I remind you, been denied. But this one, with a wink and a smile will steal my heart silly?”
It was a question posed to all, including herself.
In a matter of mere minutes the man had somehow appealed to Lucinda’s basic needs. Despite all that owning King Solomon’s Mine would bring, dare she accept his wager? Could she trust herself with His Grace?
The gentleness of Charlotte’s voice calmed Lucinda’s shaken nerves. “My dear, you’ve only to answer the question and we’ll never speak of it again.”
“Then do ask, Aunt. Now.”
“Are you capable of dealing with the likes of Iron Will?”
Lucinda’s mind began to race as images assaulted her senses. The duke’s voice, soft as silk, when he repeated her name upon meeting. The feel of his hand at the small of her back when they danced. The look in his eyes when he spoke of the courtship. His fingers tracing the length of hers, branding her with a fire that she swore lingered even to this hour.
But she wanted King Solomon’s Mine. And what’s more, she realized as she looked at each of her aunts, she wanted what they wanted—the happiness and complete satisfaction to be found in doing something well, doing something that would mean so much for so many.
Lucinda squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and forced from her mind all thoughts of the unsettling affect the duke had on her too susceptible body. “Yes.”
The note was delivered just after breakfast. The merest hint of citrus escaped when Will tore open
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