final plans. In the
meantime"
Cleo Nettleship's voice broke intoVictoria 's instructions." Vicky, dear, are you still out there? Don't get
too carried away or you will bore Lord Stonevale. Not everyone enjoys an extended tour of the
conservatory, you know."
Lucas turned to see Lady Nettleship standing in the doorway, beaming at him. I assure you, madam, I
have never been less bored in my life."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"One rarely is aroundVictoria ."
Lucas glanced atVictoria 's satisfied expression and then be looked once more at the yellow-gold bloom
he had been examining earlier." Before we leave the conservatory, Miss Huntington, I would appreciate it
if you would tell me the name of this strange plant."
" Strelitzia reginae. Everyone was thrilled when the first one flowered atKew . Aunt
Cleo and I were very fortunate to have this one bloom, too. Magnificent, isn't it?"Victoria said excitedly.
Lucas looked at her. She was glowing with life in her yellow-gold gown. Her amber eyes were brilliant."
Yes," he said. "Magnificent."
One week later Victoria put on her new yellow-trimmed brown riding habit, adjusted the dashing little
military-style hat with its yellow feather at a rakish angle over one eye, and called for her favorite horse
and groom. It was five o'clock and nearly everyone would be riding in the park.
Everyone today had better include the Earl of Stonevale. Last night, during the five minutes she'd had
with him at the Bannerbrook rout,Victoria had given him very strict instructions to put in an appearance.
She had a few things to say to him.
The problem in dealing withLucas,Victoria had discovered, was that although he appeared unfailingly
obedient when it came to receiving her instructions, he had a nasty habit of carrying them out in his own
way. Enough was enough. Cleo was crossing the hall into the library whenVictoria came down the stairs.
She peered at her niece in mild astonishment.
"Going riding this afternoon, my dear?"
"Yes, I am. I feel in need of a little exercise."Victoria paused briefly to kiss Cleo's cheek before hurrying
toward the door." Don't worry, I shall be home in plenty of time to dress for Grimshaw's little lecture on
recent agricultural improvements inYorkshire ."
"Excellent." Cleo smiled benignly." I am quite looking forward to it and so is Lucas."
Victoriahalted on the threshold and whirled around." I beg your pardon?" I merely said I was quite
looking forward to Grimshaw's lecture."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You said Lucas was looking forward to it."
" Oh, yes, I did, didn't I? And so he is. Told me so himself Well, it's only natural he'd be interested, isn't
it? His estates are, after all, somewhere inYorkshire , I believe. I invited him on Wednesday when I was
showing him my new dahlia plants. I must say the earl seems to be developing more than a passing
interest in horticulture and related matters," Cleo remarked.
Yes, the earl did seem to be developing more than a passing interest in the subject,Victoria thought
grimly, adjusting her small hat with a quick yank. Lately, in fact, his interest in matters of horticulture and
agriculture had begun to border on the keen. She was beginning to feel she was running a poor second to
such fascinating topics as methods of manuring and crop rotation.
For a man who only a week ago had seemed bent on seduction, he had certainly veered off course
recently.Victoria did not know whether to be incensed or relieved. A few minutes later she entered the
park at a brisk trot, her groom following discreetly behind her on a pony. The public trails were thronged
with elegantly attired riders, curricles, and small, open carriages. At this time of day the social world went
into the park to see and be seen, not to actually ride for pleasure or exercise. That sort of riding was
done in the early
meantime"
Cleo Nettleship's voice broke intoVictoria 's instructions." Vicky, dear, are you still out there? Don't get
too carried away or you will bore Lord Stonevale. Not everyone enjoys an extended tour of the
conservatory, you know."
Lucas turned to see Lady Nettleship standing in the doorway, beaming at him. I assure you, madam, I
have never been less bored in my life."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"One rarely is aroundVictoria ."
Lucas glanced atVictoria 's satisfied expression and then be looked once more at the yellow-gold bloom
he had been examining earlier." Before we leave the conservatory, Miss Huntington, I would appreciate it
if you would tell me the name of this strange plant."
" Strelitzia reginae. Everyone was thrilled when the first one flowered atKew . Aunt
Cleo and I were very fortunate to have this one bloom, too. Magnificent, isn't it?"Victoria said excitedly.
Lucas looked at her. She was glowing with life in her yellow-gold gown. Her amber eyes were brilliant."
Yes," he said. "Magnificent."
One week later Victoria put on her new yellow-trimmed brown riding habit, adjusted the dashing little
military-style hat with its yellow feather at a rakish angle over one eye, and called for her favorite horse
and groom. It was five o'clock and nearly everyone would be riding in the park.
Everyone today had better include the Earl of Stonevale. Last night, during the five minutes she'd had
with him at the Bannerbrook rout,Victoria had given him very strict instructions to put in an appearance.
She had a few things to say to him.
The problem in dealing withLucas,Victoria had discovered, was that although he appeared unfailingly
obedient when it came to receiving her instructions, he had a nasty habit of carrying them out in his own
way. Enough was enough. Cleo was crossing the hall into the library whenVictoria came down the stairs.
She peered at her niece in mild astonishment.
"Going riding this afternoon, my dear?"
"Yes, I am. I feel in need of a little exercise."Victoria paused briefly to kiss Cleo's cheek before hurrying
toward the door." Don't worry, I shall be home in plenty of time to dress for Grimshaw's little lecture on
recent agricultural improvements inYorkshire ."
"Excellent." Cleo smiled benignly." I am quite looking forward to it and so is Lucas."
Victoriahalted on the threshold and whirled around." I beg your pardon?" I merely said I was quite
looking forward to Grimshaw's lecture."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"You said Lucas was looking forward to it."
" Oh, yes, I did, didn't I? And so he is. Told me so himself Well, it's only natural he'd be interested, isn't
it? His estates are, after all, somewhere inYorkshire , I believe. I invited him on Wednesday when I was
showing him my new dahlia plants. I must say the earl seems to be developing more than a passing
interest in horticulture and related matters," Cleo remarked.
Yes, the earl did seem to be developing more than a passing interest in the subject,Victoria thought
grimly, adjusting her small hat with a quick yank. Lately, in fact, his interest in matters of horticulture and
agriculture had begun to border on the keen. She was beginning to feel she was running a poor second to
such fascinating topics as methods of manuring and crop rotation.
For a man who only a week ago had seemed bent on seduction, he had certainly veered off course
recently.Victoria did not know whether to be incensed or relieved. A few minutes later she entered the
park at a brisk trot, her groom following discreetly behind her on a pony. The public trails were thronged
with elegantly attired riders, curricles, and small, open carriages. At this time of day the social world went
into the park to see and be seen, not to actually ride for pleasure or exercise. That sort of riding was
done in the early
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