his bedroom to finish dressing.
Attempting to smooth things over somewhat, I’d offered another apology. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. All of this was arranged overnight, so I know it’s a bit of a surprise.”
“Are you here for my job?” Victoria made no attempt to hide her contempt from where she sat perched on Malcolm’s favorite leather armchair.
She was very pretty and poised, an obvious product of good breeding. I could spot that from both her ease of movement and her innate ability to look down her nose—a nose that was too perfect to be the one with which she was born. I’d had much experience with members of high society and royalty through my position with the family and had grown skilled at summing up the character of a person in very little time. I knew the Duke of Pultenbury was painfully insecure by the way he always managed to steer any conversation back to himself just as I knew him to be cruel by the manner in which he spoke to his dogs. It had taken only one evening to suss out his true nature. Princess Clara had been a snap as well with her expressive face, as had Prince Leo with his far too soft spot for his brother.
I knew then that I would uncover whatever lay beneath Victoria’s neatly packaged exterior within the hour. It wasn’t looking very promising so far, yet I vowed to remain civil. We’d have three weeks working side by side, and I had no desire to spend them in abject misery—apart from that promised by Malcolm’s company.
“Not at all. I’ll be returning to my position in America directly following the coronation.”
But she was having none of it. Tossing a shock of blond hair behind a shoulder, she pursed her lips. “Who complained about my performance? Was it Andrew?”
This had my neck shifting back. “No. Not at all.” I searched for a suitable explanation, knowing a simple, “Prince Malcolm is just slightly mental,” wouldn’t suffice. “When you began in this position, there was no overlap at all, meaning you weren’t afforded many particulars from someone experienced with Prince Malcolm’s needs.”
She tilted her head at that and adopted a false innocent tone to go with her pursed lips. “I think I’ve been meeting his needs quite well.”
For pity’s sake.
I’d never known Malcolm to cross any lines when it came to female employees, but he was certainly no monk. I’d learned over time how to separate my personal feelings on the matter—for the most part—by always assuring myself that the women he bedded may have been beautiful, but not a one had lasted more than a few dates. And, besides, I’d been with Reggie for some of the time, so Malcolm’s revolving bedroom door should have been of no consequence. Clearly, I was the worst kind of girlfriend, despite my constant attempts to rid myself of my pesky feelings for my boss.
Suffice it to say, Victoria’s comment deserved no response.
At my lack of reaction, she straightened her shoulders to their most regal height and studied me. “You know, I heard all about you from the staff. Alice this and Alice that. I should have recognized you immediately.”
Unsure how to take that, I chose to remain silent, folding my hands in my lap where I sat on the sofa and attempting to use mental telepathy to summon Malcolm. What was taking him so sodding long? Not that his broad shoulders and muscular stomach weren’t lovely to look at, but he needed to dress himself and get back out here before Victoria decided to challenge me to a duel.
But Victoria took my silence as an opening I hadn’t anticipated and coughed out a loud laugh. “I can’t believe I thought you were here to have sex with Prince Malcolm.” She made a show of covering her mouth, as if a waterfall of hilarity might spill out if she kept it uncovered. “I mean, I suppose some men might like the stubby librarian thing, but God. Even with a push-up bra, you’re flat as a twelve-year-old boy, aren’t you?” Her laughter continued, sending her bending at the waist.
This not being the first time I’d heard that vein of insult—Zaz had always been more than willing to make fun of his sisters—I was able to keep my reaction in check. Victoria was clearly and cunningly turning a professional threat into a very personal battle, and I wasn’t here for that.
“Then it’s a good thing this job is strictly about