Everything and the Moon by Julia Quinn

how to be stern.”
    â€œI beg your pardon. I am a governess. I make my living by being stern.”
    He shrugged. “You're not very good at it.”
    Her mouth opened in consternation. “I have spent the last seven years working as a governess. And in case you don't recall, just yesterday you said I was quite good at it.”
    â€œAt the lesson plans and that sort of thing.” He waved his hand nonchalantly in the air. “But discipline—Well, you'll never excel at that.”
    â€œThat is not true.”
    â€œYou've never known how to be properly stern.” He chuckled and touched her cheek. “I remember it so clearly from before. You would try to scold me, but your eyes were always too warm. And your lips always turn up just a bit at the corners. I don't think you know how to make a serious frown.”
    Victoria eyed him suspiciously. What was he up to? He had been so furious with her yesterday morning when he stole into her room. But since then he'd been positively congenial. Utterly charming.
    â€œAm I correct?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts.
    She leveled a shrewd state in his direction. “You're trying to seduce me again, aren't you?”
    Robert wasn't eating or drinking anything, but he choked nonetheless, requiring Victoria to give him a hearty whack on the back. “I cannot believe you said that,” he finally said.
    â€œIs it true?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œSo it is true.”
    â€œVictoria, are you listening to a word I am saying?”
    Before she could reply, a knock sounded at the door. Victoria instantly panicked. She threw an agonized glance at Robert, who responded by putting his forefinger to his lips and grabbing the plate of cake as he tiptoed to her wardrobe and climbed in. Victoria blinked in disbelief as she watched him squeeze in. He looked most uncomfortable.
    â€œMiss Lyndon! Open this door at once!” Lady Hollingwood sounded most displeased. “I know you're in there.”
    Victoria ran to the door, silently thanking her maker that Robert had been rude enough to lock the door behind him. “I'm so sorry, Lady Hollingwood,” she said as she pulled the door open. “I was taking a nap. I often do while Neville is at the stables.”
    Lady Hollingwood's eyes narrowed. “I am certain I heard you speaking.”
    â€œIt must have been in my sleep,” Victoria said quickly. “My sister used to tell me that I kept her up half the night with my mumblings.”
    â€œHow perfectly bizarre.” This was said with disgust, not interest.
    Victoria gritted her teeth into a smile. “Was there anything in particular you wanted, Lady Hollingwood? An update on Neville's lessons, perhaps?”
    â€œI shall quiz you on his progress on Wednesday, as is our habit. I am here for a far graver reason.”
    Victoria's heart dropped. Lady Hollingwood was going to dismiss her. She had seen her with Robert. Perhaps she had even seen him enter her room not ten minutes earlier. Victoria opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't think of any words in her defense. At least none that Lady Hollingwood would pay heed to.
    â€œMiss Hypatia Vinton has taken ill,” Lady Hollingwood announced.
    Victoria blinked. That was all? “I trust it is not serious.”
    â€œNot at all. A putrid stomach, or something of the sort. It is my opinion that she will be well by morning, but she insists upon going home.”
    â€œI see,” Victoria said, wondering what this had to do with her.
    â€œWe are now short a lady for my dinner party tomorrow evening. You will have to take her place.”
    â€œMe?” Victoria squeaked.
    â€œIt is the worst of possible situations, but I cannot think of any other course of action.”
    â€œWhat about this evening's dinner? Surely you'll need another lady.”
    Lady Hollingwood fixed a supercilious stare on Victoria's nose. “As it happens, one of