If Robert's intention was to torture her into insanity, Victoria thought wryly later that day, he was doing a rather good job of it. She never dreamed that he would dare seek her out in her room again; she had made it abundantly clear that such behavior was unacceptable. But obviously he didn't care, because at one o'clock, while Neville was taking his riding lesson, he slipped into her room with nary a guilty look.
“Robert!” Victoria exclaimed.
“Are you busy?” he asked, his face a picture of innocence as he closed the door behind him.
“Busy!” she nearly screeched. “Get out!”
“If you didn't want company, you should have locked your door.”
“You can be certain I will adopt that habit in the future.” Victoria paused, trying to unclench her jaw. She wasn't successful. “What are you doing here?” she ground out.
He held up a plate. “Bringing you a piece of chocolate cake. I know how much you love it, and I didn't think Lady H. was the sort to share her sweets with the governess.”
“Robert, you must leave.”
He ignored her. “Although I cannot imagine that Lady H. is unaware that you are far more beautiful than she is, and I would not put it past her to purposefully try to make you fat.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Really, Victoria, you are most unappreciative. Very bad manners. I'm surprised at you.”
Victoria thought that she must be in the middle of a very strange dream. That could be the only explanation. Robert, lecturing her on propriety? “I must be insane,” she muttered. “If you're not, then I must be.”
“Nonsense. What could be wrong with two friends enjoying each other's company?”
“That is not our situation, and well you know it.” Victoria planted her hands on her hips. “And I'm going to have to ask you not to play your silly games with me in front of Neville anymore. It isn't right.”
He held up his hand as if making a solemn vow. “No more games in front of Neville.”
“Thank you.”
“Although I did convince him to call you Miss Lyndon, did I not?”
Victoria let out a sigh. She was beyond annoyed with him for that afternoon's antics, but her sense of fair play demanded that she thank him. “Yes, Robert, I do thank you for your intervention with Neville yesterday, but—”
He waved his hand. “It was nothing, I assure you.”
“Nevertheless, I thank you. However—”
“The boy needed a firm hand.”
“I agree with you, but—”
“It is really too bad that I had to be the one to do it, as that task ought to fall to his parents.”
She planted her hands on her hips again. “Why do I get the idea that you are trying to stop me from speaking?”
“It may be”—he leaned casually against the doorjamb—” because I know you're trying to dismiss me.”
“Exactly.”
“Bad idea.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“I said it's a bad idea. Most inadvisable.”
She blinked in aggravation. “It is quite possibly the most advisable idea I've had in a long time.”
“But you wouldn't want to be deprived of my company,” he returned.
“That is precisely the end I am trying to achieve.”
“Yes, but you'll be miserable without me.”
“I am quite certain I can judge my own emotions with greater clarity than you.”
“Would you like to know what your problem is with Neville?”
“Would you like to tell me?” she asked, with no small amount of sarcasm.
“You don't know how to be stern.”
“I beg your pardon. I am a governess. I make my living by being stern.”
He shrugged. “You're not very good at it.”
Her mouth opened in consternation. “I have spent the last seven years working as a governess. And in case you don't recall, just yesterday you said I was quite good at it.”
“At the lesson plans and that sort of thing.” He waved his hand nonchalantly in the air. “But discipline—Well, you'll never excel at that.”
“That is not true.”
“You've never known how to be properly stern.” He chuckled and touched her cheek. “I remember it so clearly from before. You would try to scold me, but your eyes were always too warm. And your lips always turn up just a bit at the corners. I don't think you know how to make a serious frown.”
Victoria eyed him suspiciously. What was he up to? He had been so furious with her yesterday morning when he stole into her room. But since then he'd been positively congenial. Utterly charming.