Everything and the Moon (The Lyndon Sisters #1)(7)

“Your mother was a God-fearing woman who knew her place. She would not have crossed me on this measure.”

Victoria thought about how her mother used to tell silly jokes to her and Ellie when the vicar wasn't paying attention. Mrs. Lyndon hadn't been as serious and grave as her husband had thought. No, Victoria decided, her mother would have understood.

She stared at her father's chin for a long moment before finally lifting her eyes to his and asking, “Are you forbidding me to see him?”

Victoria thought her father's jaw might snap in two, so tense was his facial expression. “You know I cannot forbid it,” he replied. “One word of displeasure to his father, and I will be tossed out without a reference. You must break it off.”

“I won't,” Victoria said defiantly.

“You must break it off.” The vicar showed no sign of having heard. her. “And you must do it with supreme tact and grace.”

Victoria glared at him mutinously. “Robert is calling on me in two hours. I shall go walking with him.”

“Tell him you cannot see him again. Do it this afternoon, or by God I'll make you sorry.”

Victoria felt herself grow weak. Her father had not struck her for years—not since she was a child—but he looked furious enough to lose his temper completely. She said nothing.

“Good,” her father said in a satisfied manner, mistaking her silence for acquiescence. “And be sure to take Eleanor with you. You are not to leave this house in his company without the accompaniment of your sister.”

“Yes, Papa.” On that measure, at least, Victoria would obey. But only that.





Two hours later Robert arrived at the cottage. Ellie swung open the door so quickly he didn't even manage to bring the knocker down for a second rap. “Hello, my lord,” she said, her grin just a bit cheeky. And no wonder—Robert had been paying her a full pound for every outing on which she managed to make herself disappear. Ellie had always believed wholeheartedly in bribery, a fact for which Robert was undyingly grateful.

“Good afternoon, Ellie,” he replied. “I trust your day has been pleasant.”

“Oh, very much, my lord. I expect it to grow even more pleasant very shortly.”

“Impertinent baggage,” Robert muttered. But he didn't really mean it. He rather liked Victoria's younger sister. They shared a certain pragmatism and a penchant for planning for the future. If he'd been in her position, he'd have been demanding two pounds per outing.

“Oh, you're here, Robert.” Victoria came bustling into the hall. “I didn't realize you had arrived.”

He smiled. “Eleanor opened the door with remarkable alacrity.”

“Yes, I suppose she did.” Victoria shot her sister a slightly waspish look. “She is always very prompt when you are calling.”

Ellie lifted her chin and allowed herself a half smile. “I like to look after my investments.”

Robert burst out laughing. He extended his arm to Victoria. “Shall we be off?”

“I just need to get a book,” Ellie said. “I have a feeling that I will have a great deal of time to read this afternoon.” She darted down the hallway and disappeared into her chamber.

Robert gazed at Victoria as she fastened her bonnet. “I love you,” he mouthed.

Her fingers fumbled over the bonnet's strings.

“Should I say it louder?” he whispered, a wicked grin crossing his face.

Victoria shook her head vehemently, her eyes darting over to the closed door of her father's study. He had said that Robert didn't love her, said that he couldn't love her. But her father was wrong. Of that Victoria was certain. One had only to look at Robert's twinkling blue eyes to know the truth.

“Romeo and Juliet!”

Victoria blinked and looked up at the sound of her sister's voice, thinking for a moment that Ellie had been referring to her and Robert as those ill-fated lovers. Then she saw the slim volume of Shakespeare in her sister's hand. “Rather depressing reading for such a sunny afternoon,” Victoria said.

“Oh, I disagree,” Ellie replied. “I find it most romantic. Except for the bit about everyone dying at the end, of course.”

“Yes,” Robert murmured. “I can see where one wouldn't find that bit romantic.”

Victoria grinned and nudged him in the side.

The threesome made their way outside, crossing the open field and heading into the forest. After about ten minutes Ellie sighed and said, “I suppose this is where I leave off.” She spread a blanket on the ground and looked up at Robert with a knowing smile.

He tossed her a coin and said, “Eleanor, you have the soul of a banker.”

“Yes, I do, don't I?” she murmured. Then she sat down and pretended not to notice when Robert grabbed Victoria's hand and dashed out of sight.

Ten minutes later they arrived at the grassy shore of the pond where they'd first met. Victoria barely had time to spread out a blanket before Robert had pulled her down to the ground.

“I love you,” he said, kissing the corner of her lips.

“I love you,” he said, kissing the other corner.

“I love you,” he said, yanking off her bonnet.

“I love—”