Surrender by Amanda Quick Page B

pleased." Excellent. Then
    you will no doubt be interested in Victoria's
    watercolors and her drawings of plants."
    Victoria turned a bright shade of pink,
    which amazed Lucas." Aunt Cleo, I'm
    sure his lordship would not be in the
    least interested in my dabbles."
      I assure you, I would be most inter
    ested," Lucas said quickly. Anything that
    could make Victoria blush was bound to
    be fascinating.
      She has a wonderful ability." Lady
    Nettleship said as she jumped to her
    feet and went to a nearby table to fetch
    a sketchbook." Take a look at these."
      Aunt Cleo, really   ."
      " Now, no false modesty, Vicky. Your
    work is lovely and so wonderfully true to
    life. I have been telling you for ages that
    you should get some of it published. Here
    you are, my lord. What do you think of
    these?" Cleo thrust the book into Lucas's
    hands with an air of expectant triumph.
    Aware that Victoria was watching him
    in a resigned silence, Lucas took his time
    examining the sketchbook. He opened it
    expecting to find the usual assortment of
    amateurish artwork a man associated with
    females. It was considered quite fashionable
    for young ladies to learn to sketch and paint
    flowers.
    But Lucas was startled at the clarity and
    liveliness of Victoria's work. Her plants
    bloomed on the pages of the sketchbook,
    glowing with exuberant energy. They were
    not just artistically beautiful, they were
    precise in every detail.
    Lucas was fascinated as page after page
    full of roses, irises, poppies, and lilies came
    to life in front of him. Each one was
    labeled in a fine hand with its formal,
    botanical name: Rosa provincialis, Passiflora
    alata. Cyclamen linearifolium.
    He looked up to find Victoria still
    watching him with an oddly anxious
    expression. He realized then that her art
    was a vulnerable subject for her. He closed
    the sketchbook." These are excellent, Miss
    Huntington, as I'm sure you've been told.
    Even to my untrained eye these sketches
    and watercolors are beautiful."
      Thank you." She smiled suddenly, very
    brilliantly, as if he had just told her
    that she, not her art, was beautiful. Her
    amber eyes were almost gold." You're very
    kind."
      I am rarely kind, Miss Huntington," he
    told her quietly." I am merely telling you
    the truth. I will admit, however, that I
    don't recognize all of these plants. Where
    did you get your subjects?"
      From the conservatory," Cleo explained.
      Together, Victoria and I have established
    what I like to believe is a most creditable
    botanical garden. Nothing on the scale of
    Kew, of course, but we're rather proud of
    it.
    Would you care to view the conservatory?
    Victoria would be happy to give you a
    short tour."
    Lucas nodded." I should very much like
    to see it."
    Victoria rose gracefully." This way, my
    lord."
      Run along, then," Cleo said." Perhaps
    you will join us for a dish of tea when
    you have finished viewing the plants, my
    lord?"
      Thank you." Lucas smiled to himself
    as he followed Victoria out into the hall
      and down a short passageway that led to
    the back of the house. Matters were going
    well, he decided as she led him into a large
    glass gallery filled with plants and the rich,
    humid scent of soil. Already he was alone
    with his quarry.
    He looked around and realized that
    today he would be doing his hunting
    in a real jungle. He examined the view
    through the glass. Beyond the conservatory
    windows was a large, charming garden
    with a familiar-looking brick wall covered
    in ivy.
      I wondered what the garden looked like
    by day," Lucas remarked.
    Victoria's brows snapped together in
    an admonishing frown." Hush, my lord.
    Someone might overhear you."
      Not likely. We appear to have the
    place to ourselves." He examined the lush
    greenery and the array of exotic blooms
    that filled the glass room." You and your
    aunt are, indeed, interested in horticulture,
    aren't you? This is amazing."
      My aunt had the conservatory built
    some years ago," Victoria