“Perhaps I might escort Miss Lyndon to dinner,” Robert said.
Victoria's mouth fell open. Surely he realized what a dreadful insult that was to Lady Hollingwood. As the highest ranking gentleman in the party, it was his duty to escort the hostess.
Victoria snapped her mouth closed just as Lady Hollingwood opened hers in consternation. “But…but…”
Robert offered her a warm smile. “It has been so long, and I'm certain Miss Lyndon and I have much catching up to do. Why, I haven't even the slightest knowledge of how her sister fares.” He turned to Victoria with an expression that was so concerned. “And how is dear Eleanor?”
“Ellie is fine,” Victoria ground out.
“Is she still as impertinent as ever?”
“Not as impertinent as you,” Victoria retorted. Then she bit her tongue.
“Miss Lyndon!” cried Lady Hollingwood. “How dare you speak to Lord Macclesfield in such a tone. Remember your place.”
But Robert was only chuckling. “Miss Lyndon and I have always spoken frankly to each other. It is one of the reasons we so enjoy each other's company.”
Victoria was still kicking herself for letting him goad her into her previous retort, so she held her tongue, even though she really wanted to declare that she did not enjoy his company in the least.
Obviously at a loss, Lady Hollingwood looked as if she didn't know how to handle this irregular situation. She certainly did not appear to be even remotely pleased at the thought of her governess claiming the highest ranking guest as her dinner partner.
Victoria, who had quickly realized that this slight might escalate into a dismissable offense, interceded. “I am certain it is not necessary that the earl and I sit with each other. We may—”
“Oh, but it is necessary,” Robert interrupted, flashing the ladies a debonair smile. “It has been an age.”
“But Lady Hollingwood's seating arrangements—”
“We are not such an inflexible group. Mr. Hornsby will be happy to take my place near the head of the table, I am sure.”
Lady Hollingwood turned quite green. Mr. Hornsby was not and never would be a person of importance. But before she could object Robert had called over the gentleman in question.
“Percy,” he said in his most amiable tone, “you wouldn't mind leading Lady Hollingwood in to dinner? I would be much indebted to you if you would agree to take my place at the table.”
Percy blinked. “B-b-but I am m-merely—”
Robert gave him a hearty whack on the back as an interruption, sparing him future stutters. “You'll have a smashing time. Lady Hollingwood is an astonishing conversationalist.”
Percy shrugged and offered Lady Hollingwood his arm. She accepted it—indeed, there was nothing else she could do without insulting an earl—but not before she threw a furious glance over her shoulder at Victoria.
Victoria closed her eyes in agony. There was no way Lady Hollingwood was going to believe that this disaster was not her doing. It didn't matter that Robert had done all of the talking, that he was the one who'd been so insistent. Lady H. would find a way to pin this on the governess.
Robert leaned down and smiled. “That wasn't so difficult, now was it?”
She glowered at him. “If I had a pitchfork, I swear unto God I would run you through.”
He only chuckled. “A pitchfork? It must be your country upbringing. Most women of my acquaintance would have chosen a dagger. Or perhaps a letter opener.”
“She is going to have my head,” Victoria hissed, watching as the other couples promenaded into the dining room in order of rank. Since Robert had swapped places with Mr. Hornsby, he would be the last to enter the dining room and would sit at the lower end of the table.
“A disrupted seating arrangement is not the end of the world,” Robert said.
“To Lady Hollingwood it is,” Victoria retorted. “I may know you for the cretin you are, but all she sees is a lofty earl.”
“It does come in handy on occasion,” he murmured.
That earned him yet another furious glare. “She has been boasting about your presence at the house party for the past two days,” Victoria added. “She will not be happy that you will be sitting with the governess.”
Robert shrugged. “I sat with her last night. What more could she want?”
“I didn't even want to sit with you in the first place! I would have been perfectly happy with Mr. Hornsby. I would have been even happier with a tray in my room. I find the lot of you despicable.”