The tinkle of music floated through the air, a sign that the festivities of the house party had begun, obviously without a thought to the missing governess.
“I hate being a governess,” Victoria muttered for about the twelfth time that day. It didn't make her feel better to say it out loud, but she did so anyway.
And then finally, after she had begun to fantasize about the scandal that would ensue once the Hollingwoods found her dead body in the maze three months hence, Victoria heard voices.
Oh, thank the heavens. She was saved. Victoria jumped to her feet and opened her mouth to shout out a greeting.
Then she heard what the voices were saying.
She shut her mouth. Oh, blast.
“Come here, you big stallion,” a female voice giggled.
“You're always so original, Helene.” The male voice epitomized civilized boredom, but he did sound slightly interested in what the lady had to offer.
Oh, this was just her luck. Eight hours in the maze and the first people to join her were a pair of trysting lovers. Victoria rather doubted they would be pleased to learn of her presence. Knowing the nobility, they would probably find some way to make this awkward situation look as if it were her fault.
“I hate being a governess,” she breathed hotly, sitting back down on the ground. “And I hate the nobility.”
The female voice interrupted its giggles long enough to say, “Did you hear something?”
“Shut up, Helene.”
Victoria sighed and clapped her hand to her forehead. The couple was beginning to sound quite amorous, despite the man's somewhat lazy rudeness.
“No, I'm sure I heard something. What if it's my husband?”
“Your husband knows what you are, Helene.”
“Did you just insult me?”
“I don't know. Did I?”
Victoria could just imagine the man crossing his arms and leaning against the hedgerow.
“You're very naughty, did you know that?” Helene said.
“You certainly like to remind me of it.”
“You make me feel naughty, too.”
“I don't think you've ever needed assistance in that endeavor.”
“La, sir, I'm going to have to punish you.”
Oh, please, Victoria thought, sliding her hand to cover her eyes.
Helene let out another trill of high-pitched giggles. “Catch me if you can!”
Victoria heard the rhythm of running feet and sighed, thinking that she would be trapped in the maze with this couple for an extremely awkward amount of time. Then the footsteps came closer and closer. Victoria looked up just in time to see a blond woman come tearing around the corner. She didn't even have time to yell out before Helene tripped over her and landed ungracefully on the ground.
“What the hell?” Helene screeched.
“Now, now, Helene,” came the male voice from around the corner. “Such language is unbecoming to your pretty mouth.”
“Shut up, Macclesfield. There is a girl here. A girl.” Helene turned to Victoria. “Who the devil are you? Did my husband send you?”
But Victoria didn't hear her. Macclesfield? Macclesfield? She shut her eyes in agony. Oh, dear Lord. Not Robert. Please, anyone but Robert.
Heavy, booted footsteps rounded the corner. “Helene, what the hell is going on?”
Victoria slowly looked up, her blue eyes huge and terrified.
Robert.
Her mouth went dry. She couldn't breathe. Oh, God. Robert. He looked older. His body was still rock hard and powerful, but there were lines on his face that hadn't been there seven years ago, and his eyes looked forever grim.
He didn't see her at first, his attention still on the fuming Helene. “She's probably that misplaced governess Hollingwood was talking about.” He turned to look at Victoria. “Been missing since—”
The blood drained from his face. “You.”
Victoria swallowed nervously. She'd never thought to see him again, had never even tried to prepare herself for how she might feel if she did. Her body felt strange, rather queer, and she wanted nothing more than to dig a hole in the ground and bury herself in it.
Well, that was not entirely true. Part of her wanted very much to scream out her fury and rake her nails across his cheeks.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he bit out.
Victoria gathered up her pride and looked back at him defiantly. “I am the misplaced governess.”
Helene kicked Victoria in the hip. “You'd better call him ‘my lord’ if you value your position, girl. He is an earl, and you would do well not to forget it.”