“Good day, then.” Lady Hollingwood stalked from the room.
Victoria had barely shut the door behind her when Robert bounded out of the wardrobe. “What a cow!” he exclaimed. “How can you bear her?”
“I haven't any other choice,” she ground out.
Robert eyed her thoughtfully. “No, I don't suppose you do.”
More than anything, Victoria wanted to slap him just then. It was one thing for her to be aware of her miserable lot in life. It was quite another for him to comment on it. “I think you had better leave,” she said.
“Yes, of course,” he concurred. “You have things to do, I'm sure. Governess things.”
She crossed her arms. “Don't come here again.”
“Why not? The wardrobe was not uncomfortable.”
“Robert…” she warned.
“Very well. But first a small token of thanks for the chocolate cake.” He leaned down and kissed her hard and fast. “That should get me through the afternoon.”
Victoria wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and bit out, “Contemptible swine.”
Robert only chuckled. “I look forward to tomorrow evening, Miss Lyndon.”
“Don't seek me out.”
He raised a brow. “I don't see how you're going to be able to avoid me.”
Chapter 7
W hen that evening and the following morning passed without any contact from Robert, Victoria let herself be lulled into thinking that he might have decided to leave her alone.
She was wrong. He found her a few hours before supper was due to begin. Victoria was walking briskly down a hall when Robert suddenly materialized before her. She jumped about a foot, startled out of her wits. “Robert!” she exclaimed, one of her hands pressing against her breastbone to calm her racing heart. She took a deep breath and looked both ways down the hall to be sure that no one else was about. “Please don't creep up on me like that again.”
His lips formed a masculine smile. “I like to surprise you.”
“I really wish you wouldn't,” she muttered.
“I merely wanted to know how you are faring with your preparations for your grand debut.”
“It isn't my grand debut,” she snapped. “If you must know, I am dreading every moment of it. I have no love for the nobility, and the thought of spending several hours in your ranks makes my blood run cold.”
“And what have the nobility ever done to you to warrant such distaste? Failed to marry you?” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Tis a pity your plans went so awry. You toiled so tirelessly to achieve your goal.”
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” she said, utterly baffled.
“Don't you?” he mocked.
“I need to be going.” She moved to her left to try to get around him, but he blocked her. “Robert!”
“I find myself loath to part with your company.”
“Oh, please,” she said disdainfully. That was a lie if ever she heard one. His eyes were clearly showing his disgust for her.
“Don't you believe me?” he asked.
“Your words and your eyes are not in agreement. Besides, I learned long ago not to trust a word out of your mouth.”
Robert sparked with fury. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You know very well.”
He advanced, forcing her to back up against the wall. “I was not the one who lied,” he said in a low voice, jabbing his forefinger against her shoulder.
Victoria glared at him. “Get out of my way.”
“And miss this extremely edifying conversation? I think not.”
“Robert! If someone sees us…”
“Why the hell are you always so concerned about appearances?”
Victoria's anger grew to the point where she was shaking. “How dare you ask that?” she hissed.
“I dare a lot, darling.”
Her hand itched. His cheek was very close, and it would look so good with a nice red welt on it. “I will ask you one last time—”
“Only one more time? Good. You're getting most tedious.”
“I shall scream.”
“And alert the masses whom you are so assiduously trying to avoid? I think not.”
“Robert…”
“Oh, for God's sake.” He whipped open a door, snatched her hand, and hauled her into a room, slamming the door behind him. “There. Now we're alone.”
“Are you mad?” she screeched. She looked wildly about her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was.