Victoria woke up the next morning and tried to go about her daily routine as if nothing had happened. She washed her face, pulled on her dress, ate breakfast with Neville. But every now and then she'd notice little tremors in her hands. And she found herself trying not to blink, for every time she closed her eyes she saw Eversleigh's face as he descended upon her.
She conducted her morning lesson with Neville, then accompanied the boy down to the stables for his riding lesson. Normally she welcomed these brief respites from the demands of her job, but today she was loath to part with the little boy's company.
The last thing she wanted was to be alone with her thoughts.
Robert saw her from across the lawn, and he dashed out to intercept her before she reentered the house. “Victoria!” he called out, his voice a touch breathless from running. She looked at him, her eyes flashing with a moment of terror before filling with relief.
“I'm sorry,” he said immediately. “I didn't mean to startle you.”
“You didn't. Well, actually you did, but I'm rather glad it's only you.”
Robert forced down the fresh wave of fury rising within him. He hated to see her so fearful. “Don't worry about Eversleigh. He left for London early this morning. I saw to it.”
Her entire body sagged, as if all the tension she was carrying drained right out of her. “Thank God,” she breathed. “Thank you.”
“Victoria, we must talk.”
She swallowed. “Yes, of course. I must thank you properly. If you hadn't—”
“stop thanking me!” he exploded.
She blinked, confused.
“What happened last night was as much my fault as anyone else's,” he said bitterly.
“No!” she cried out. “No, don't say that. You saved me.”
Part of Robert wanted nothing more than to let her go on thinking him a hero. She had always made him feel big and strong and noble, and he had missed that after their separation. But his conscience wouldn't allow him to accept gratitude where none was due.
He let out a shaky breath. “We will discuss that later. Right now there are more pressing matters.”
She nodded and let him lead her away from the house. She looked up with questioning eyes when she realized they were heading for the hedgerow maze.
“We'll need privacy,” he explained.
She allowed herself a small smile, the first she'd felt all day. “Just so long as I know the way out.”
He chuckled and wended his way through the maze until they reached a stone bench. “Two lefts, a right, and two more lefts,” he whispered.
She smiled again as she smoothed her skirts down and sat. “It is engraved on my brain.”
Robert sat beside her, his expression suddenly growing a touch hesitant. “Victoria— Torie.”
Victoria's heart fluttered at the way he switched to the use of her nickname.
Robert's face moved expressively, as if he was seeking out the best words. Finally he said, “You cannot stay here.”
She blinked. “But I thought you said that Eversleigh has left for London.”
“He has. But that doesn't matter.”
“It matters a great deal to me,” she said.
“Torie, I can't leave you here.”
“What are you saying?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I cannot leave knowing that you are unprotected. What happened last night could easily happen again.”
Victoria looked at him steadily. “Robert, last night was not the first time I have been subjected to unwanted attentions from a gentleman.”
His entire body tensed. “Was that supposed to set my mind at ease?”
“I have never before been attacked with such force,” she continued. “I am merely trying to say that I have become quite adept at fending off advances.”
He gripped her shoulders. “If I hadn't intervened last night, he would have raped you. Possibly even killed you.”
She shuddered and looked away. “I can't imagine that anything like…like…that will ever come to pass again. And I can protect myself against the odd pinch and lewd word.”
“That is unacceptable!” he exploded. “How can you let yourself be demeaned that way?”
“No one can demean me but myself,” she said in a very low voice. “Don't forget that.”
He let his hands drop away from her shoulders and stood. “I know that, Torie. But you shouldn't have to remain in this intolerable situation.”
“Oh, really?” She let out a hollow laugh. “And how am I supposed to extricate myself from this situation, as you so delicately put it? I have to eat, my lord.”