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It would be a long time for him, too, he realized He was not unaware that this incident was at least partly his fault If he hadn't been so daet her alone, he wouldn't have hauled her from the hall into the nearest rooh And that evening--flaunting convention by insisting that he lead Victoria into dinner Most of the guests would believe his story that they were childhood friends, but Eversleigh knew there was more

Of course the bastard would think that Victoria was a loose woh had always been the sort to believe that any female without the protection of a powerful fa Robert should have realized that from the first, and takenhe sat there on the ground, cradling Victoria in his arms It could have been an hour; it could have been just tenevened out, and he knew she had fallen asleep He didn't want to speculate on what her dreaht; he prayed she didn't dream at all

Gently he set her down on her bed He knew she had an aversion to the spot after Eversleigh's attempted rape, but he didn't knohere else to put her He couldn't bring her to his roo about her ruin, and Robert had realized that, regardless of her actions seven years earlier, he couldn't bring himself to destroy her life so completely The irony of it nearly unmanned him All these years he'd dreaht enact if he saw her again

But noith vengeance within his sights, he just couldn't do it So within her still spoke to his heart, and he knew he could never live with himself if he purposefully caused her pain

Robert leaned down and dropped a soft kiss on her forehead "Until tooing to let you leave h was gone With grim determination, he set out to find him He had to make certain that the bastard understood one sih even so ain, the next beating Robert gave him wouldn't stop within an inch of his life

Victoria woke up the nexthad happened She washed her face, pulled on her dress, ate breakfast with Neville

But every now and then she'd notice little tre not to blink, for every tih's face as he descended upon her

She conducted herlesson with Neville, then acco 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 co 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 fro with awith relief

"I'm sorry," he said immediately "I didn't mean to startle you"

"You didn't Well, actually you did, but I'lad 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 ed, as if all the tension she was carrying drained right out of her "Thank God," she breathed "Thank you"

"Victoria, we must talk"

She sed "Yes, of course Ime!" he exploded