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And Victoria was so tired of the pain

Chapter 13

Robert aiting on her doorstep when she left for work the nextVictoria wasn't particularly surprised; he was nothing if not stubborn He'd probably been planning his return all night

She let out a deep breath "Good nore him

"I've come to escort you to Madame Lambert's," he said

"That is very kind of you, but wholly unnecessary"

He stepped directly in her path, forcing her to look up at hi woerous in this area"

"I have et myself to the dress shop every day for the past rim line "I can assure you that does not setyour mind at ease has never been at the top of my list of priorities"

He clucked at her "My,tone ate at her "Have I ever told you how much I detest the use of the royal ‘we’? It remindslike a good ‘we’ to put the governess in her place"

"Victoria, we are not discussing being a governess, nor are we discussing pronouns, either singular or plural"

She tried to push past hi to repeat this one more time," he said "I will not permit you to remain in this hellhole for another day"

She counted to three before she said, "Robert, you are not responsible for my welfare"

"Somebody damn well has to be You obviously don't kno to take proper care of yourself"

She counted to five before she said, "I anore that cos here Here!" Robert gave his head a disgusted shake

She counted to ten before she said, "This is all I can afford, Robert, and I am perfectly happy with it"

He learned forward in an inti ht, Victoria"

"Please do," she ht wondering how many men have tried to attack you in the last h"

He either didn't hear her or didn't want to hear her "Then I wondered how often you have to cross the street to avoid the prostitutes loitering on the street corners"

She smiled archly "Most of the prostitutes are very nice I had tea with one just the other day" That was a lie, but she kneould needle him