Everything and the Moon (The Lyndon Sisters #1)(88)

“Who is supposed to be in charge here?” Robert muttered, watching as his butler blatantly disregarded his wishes in deference to those of his wife.

“Robert, they are family,” Victoria said. “We must receive them. Your aunt's feelings will be terribly bruised.”

“My aunt has an amazingly thick skin, and I would like some time alone with my wife.”

“I am not suggesting that we invite all of London for tea. Merely that you spare a few minutes to greet your aunt.” Victoria looked back up at the butler. “Yerbury, please show them in. Perhaps they might like to share our meal.”

Robert scowled, but Victoria could see that he wasn't really upset. In a few seconds Mrs. Brightbill and Harriet bustled into the room. Robert immediately rose to his feet.

“My dear, dear nephew!” Mrs. Brightbill trilled. “You have been a naughty boy.”

“Mother,” Harriet added, throwing a sheepish look Robert's way, “I don't think one can still call him a boy.”

“Nonsense, I can call him whatever I wish.” She turned to Robert and fixed a stern expression on her face. “Have you any idea how upset your father is with you?”

Robert sat back down once the two women had taken their seats. “Aunt Brightbill, my father has been angry with me for seven years”.

“You didn't invite him to your wedding!”

“I didn't invite anyone to my wedding”.

“That is entirely beside the point.”

Harriet turned to Victoria and said behind the back of her hand, “My mother does love a good cause”.

“And what cause is this?”

“Righteous indignation”, Harriet replied. “She loves nothing better”.

Victoria glanced over at her new husband, who was enduring his aunt's scolding with remarkable patience. She turned back to Harriet.

“How long do you think he'll be able to withstand it?”

Harriet furrowed her brow as she pondered that question. “I would have to say that he must be nearing his limit.”

As if on cue Robert's hand came crashing down on the table, rattling all the dishes.

“Enough!” he boomed.

In the doorway to the kitchen, the maid hovered in terror. “You don't want any more chocolate?” she whispered.

“No!” Victoria cut in, jumping to her feet. “He wasn't speaking to you, Joanna. We would love some chocolate, wouldn't we, Harriet?”

Harriet nodded enthusiastically. “I'm certain my mother would as well. Isn't that so, Mother?”

Mrs. Brightbill twisted in her seat. “What are you blithering on about, Harriet?”

“Chocolate”, her daughter replied patiently.“Wouldn't you like some?”

“Of course,” Mrs. Brightbill said with a sniff.

“No sensible women would refuse chocolate.”

“My mother has always prided herself on being very sensible”, Harriet said to Victoria.

“Of course”, Victoria said loudly. “Your mother is all that is sensible and true.”

Mrs. Brightbill beamed. “I shall forgive you, Robert”, she said with a great huff, “for neglecting to include Harriet and me in your nuptials, but only because you have finally exhibited the sense that God gave and chosen the lovely Miss Lyndon as your wife”.

“The lovely Miss Lyndon”, Robert said firmly, “is now Lady Macclesfield”.

“Of course,” Mrs. Brightbill replied. “Now then, as I was saying, it is imperative that you introduce her to society as soon as you can”.

Victoria felt her stomach grow queasy. It was one thing to win over the hearts of Robert's servants. His peers were another matter altogether.

“The season is nearing its end”, Robert said. “I see no reason why we cannot wait until next year”.

“Next year!” Mrs. Brightbill screeched—and she knew how to screech better than most. “Are you mad?”

“I shall introduce Victoria to my closer friends at dinner parties and the like, but I see no reason to subject her to an odious ton ball when all we really want is a bit of privacy”.

Victoria found herself fervently hoping that Robert won his point.

“Nonsense”, Mrs. Brightbill said dismissively. “The entire world knows that you are in London now. To hide her would be to give the impression that you are ashamed of your new wife, that perhaps you had to marry her”.

Robert bristled with anger. “You know that is not the case”

“Yes, of course. I know it, and Harriet knows it, but we are only two of many”.

“Perhaps”, Robert said smoothly, “but I have always held your ability to disseminate information in the highest of esteem”.

“He means she talks a lot”, Harriet said to Victoria.

“I know what he means”, Victoria shot back, and then was immediately ashamed of herself because she'd just called her new aunt a gossip.

Harriet caught Victoria's embarrassed expression and said, “Oh, don't worry yourself over that. Even Mother knows she's the worst sort of gossip”.

Victoria bit back a smile and turned to the sparring match that was taking place on the other side of the table.

“Robert”, Mrs. Brightbill was saying, one hand splayed dramatically over her heart, “even I am not that efficient. You will have to introduce your new wife to society before the season is out. This is not my opinion. It is fact”.