Sighing as she recognized the owner of that sharp voice, she turned and grimaced at Robert as he paused a few feet away. He was angry, of course, his hands clenched and back stiff as a board, but then he always seemed to be angry with her lately, she thought unhappily.

“I am right here, my lord,” she said grimly. “There is no need to bark at me like a dog.”

“Inside,” he growled, which really wasn’t much better than barking, in her opinion.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

“Did you try the tea cakes?” Suzette asked, leaning forward in her seat to select another one. “You should have one.”

“No, thank you,” Lisa murmured despite her growling stomach. She was not eating a single thing Pembroke had presented for this picnic. She may be hungry right now, but a short bout of hunger was better than hours of vomiting followed by still hours more of dry heaves. She had learned her lesson. Still, it was very hard sitting here watching the others eat so eagerly while she was hungry. But she supposed it was just punishment in Robert’s eyes.

The thought drew her gaze to the man in question. He had chosen to sit at another table, leaving her, Christiana, Suzette, Richard and Daniel at their table.

It was Pembroke’s picnic, which Lisa had thought they weren’t going to attend. However, Christiana had seen the invitation before Robert could get to it and had wanted to go. And they hadn’t been able to refuse without telling her the truth of things, which Robert was reluctant to do for some reason. All he would say was that they shouldn’t upset Christiana. She didn’t know why he cared so bloody much about upsetting her sister. He certainly had no problem upsetting her.

The man had been an ogre ever since the night before, growling and snapping at her every couple of minutes. One would almost think he was jealous at catching her and Charles in what he must have thought was a most passionate embrace. However, he would never admit it if he was. Robert took stubbornness to a new level.