“Half a mind is exactly right,” Mrs. Brightbill returned. “Victoria is behaving beautifully, and Ashbourne has never been the sort to dally with married women. Besides, he's dangling after some American. Now stop complaining and smile.”
“I am smiling,” he said through clenched teeth.
“If that's a smile, I shudder to see you laugh.”
Robert offered her a sickly sweet grin.
“Do stop worrying,” Mrs. Brightbill said, patting his arm. “Here comes dear Basil. I shall have him take Victoria out for a dance.”
“I shall dance with her.”
“No, you won't. You have already danced with her three times. Tongues are wagging.”
Before Robert could reply, Basil appeared at their sides. “Hullo Mother, Cuz,” he said.
Robert only nodded at him, his eyes never leaving Victoria.
“Enjoying your first social engagement with your lovely wife?” Basil asked.
Robert eyed his cousin, conveniently forgetting that Basil had always been one of his favorite relations. “Shut up, Brightbill,” he bit out. “You know damned well I'm having a hellish time.”
“Ah yes, the curse of a beautiful wife. Isn't it curious how a maid is protected from lechers by her innocence, but a married woman—who has vowed before God to remain faithful to one man only—is considered fair game?”
“Just what are you getting at, Brightbill?”Robert looked at his hands, then at his cousin's throat, assessing how well the former would fit around the latter.
“Nothing,” Basil said with a mild shrug. “Merely that your plan to retire from society for a time is probably a wise one. Have you noticed the way men are staring at her?”
“Basil!” Mrs. Brightbill exclaimed. “Stop teasing your cousin.” She turned to Robert. “He is only joking with you.”
Robert looked about ready to explode. It was a testament to Mrs. Brightbill's courage that she didn't remove her hand from his arm.
Basil merely smiled, obviously thrilled at having so successfully baited Robert. “If you'll excuse me, I must pay my respects to my favorite cousin.”
“I thought I was your favorite cousin,” Robert said sarcastically.
“As if you could compare,” Basil said with a slow, almost regretful shake of his head.
“Basil!” Victoria said warmly when he reached her side. “How nice to see you again this evening.”
Robert gave up all pretense of normal, sane behavior and crossed to her side in two steps.
“Robert!” she said, and he rather thought her voice was twice as warm as it had been with Basil. He grinned stupidly.
“I was just enjoying your wife's company,” Basil said.
“Contrive not to enjoy it so much,” Robert barked.
Victoria's mouth fell open. “Why, Robert, are you jealous?”
“Not at all,” he lied.
“Don't you trust me?”
“Of course I do,” he snapped. “I don't trust him.”
“Me?” Basil said with an amazingly straight face.
“I don't trust any of them,” Robert growled.
Harriet, who had been standing silently by Victoria's side, nudged her and said, “See, I told you he loves you.”
“Enough already!” Robert said. “She knows. Trust me.”
“We all love her,” Basil said, grinning.
Robert groaned. “I am plagued with relations.”
Victoria touched his arm and smiled. “And I am plagued with fatigue. Would you mind if I darted off to the retiring room for a moment?”
His eyes immediately clouded with concern. “Are you ill? If you are, I'll call for—”
“I'm not ill,” Victoria said under her breath. “I just need to go to the retiring room. I was trying to be polite.”
“Oh,” Robert replied. “I'll escort you.”
“No, don't be silly. It's just down the hall. I'll be back before you notice I'm gone.”
“I always notice when you're gone.”
Victoria reached out to touch his cheek. “You say the sweetest things.”
“Stop touching him!” Mrs. Brightbill gasped. “People will say you're in love!”
“What the devil would be wrong with that?” Robert demanded, turning on her.
“In principle, nothing. But love is not at all fashionable.”
Basil chuckled. “I fear you're trapped in a very bad farce, Cuz.”
“With no escape in sight,” Harriet quipped.
Victoria took advantage of this exchange to slip away. “If you'll all excuse me,” she murmured. She scooted along the perimeter of the ballroom until she reached the double doors leading to the hall. Mrs. Brightbill had pointed out the washroom to her earlier that evening, and Victoria found it again with ease.
The ladies' retiring room was actually in two parts. Victoria slipped through the mirrored antechamber and entered the actual washroom, locking the door behind her. She heard someone else enter the antechamber as she did her business, and hurried up, assuming that the other lady would need to relieve herself as well. Victoria quickly smoothed down her skirts and unlocked the door, a society smile pasted on her face.
Her smile lasted less than a second.
“Good evening, Lady Macclesfield.”
“Lord Eversleigh!” she gasped. The man who had attacked her at the Hollingwoods' house party. Victoria suddenly found herself fighting the urge to retch. Then she redirected her efforts, deciding that if she was going to empty her stomach, she might as well aim for his feet.