“I need a gift for a special lady. What have you got for me to fit that bill ?”
“Aye, sir. We got a very fine and elegant epidendrum just coming into bloom that might do just the trick .”
Stanson led Robert to a table with several fine blooming plants with small sprays of orange, gold and yellow blooms .
“And very fine specimens they are,” Robert said. “I think that one would be just perfect. Will you prepare it so that I might carry it on horseback ?”
“Certainly, Milord .”
While Stanson prepared the orchid for travel, Robert stood admiring his fine collection. He realized that since his travels and writing, he had neglected his hobby, but wanted to reconnect with his passion and promised himself to take an afternoon, as soon as possible, to study and work with these beautiful plants again .
Chapter 8
D iana was helping her mother sweep, dust, and wash the windows in the gallery. They tried to find one day each week to keep the gallery looking its best .
“I think I should go to London to meet with Mrs. Hardy to discuss the wedding, don’t you?” Mother asked as she wiped the picture frames with a dust cloth .
“That would be nice. But should we not go together? And what about Father? Might it not be a good idea for the two families to meet all together ?”
“We should certainly do that, but for practical wedding planning it is best for just the two mothers to meet with the prospective bride .”
“Whatever you think is best,” Diana said listlessly .
Mother stopped and looked at Diana. “Are you certain you want this marriage? You do not seem to be very enthusiastic about the wedding planning .”
“Yes, Mother, I want the marriage. And you know why it must be,” Diana said with a discreet nod .
Mother sighed. “I certainly hope you know what you are doing. Now, Adam is a very fine lad, and I know he has prospects, but this marriage does not seem to excite you like it should .”
Diana stopped sweeping and looked at her mother. “I am very fond of Adam. And while I must admit to a lack of burning passion, I know we are well suited for one another and I can foresee a happy and successful marriage …”
“Eventually,” her mother added. “But not right away. Is that what you mean to say ?”
“Something like that,” Diana said as she resumed her sweeping .
The small bell rang as the gallery door opened and Robert walked in carrying a most beautiful potted orchid .
“Good day, Milord,” Mother greeted. “Are you here to see my daughter ?”
Robert removed his hat. “I am. If it is not inconvenient .”
“Hello, Robert,” Diana said after putting the broom away .
Robert held the orchid before him. “And this is for you, as a thank you for taking the time to consider my offer .”
“My goodness, what a beautiful plant. We have never had an orchid before. You must instruct me on its care,” Diana said .
“I shall.” He handed her the plant and she placed it on a table by the window where the plant would receive full sun .
“Have you had sufficient time to consider your answer for me ?”
“Let us go to the house so we can speak comfortably.” She turned to her mother. “Will you excuse us ?”
Mother nodded, and added, “There is a new bottle of sherry on the sideboard in the sitting-room—if there is to be a celebration,” she winked as they left the gallery .
Diana led the way to the cottage and they went inside to the sitting-room .
“Quite a charming home. You must like it very much here .”
“We do. And with your offer, it looks as though we might be able to keep it,” Diana replied .
“Oh? Were you in danger of losing it ?”
Diana explained about the loss of the leasehold .
“Then does that mean you will accept my offer ?”
“First, I have one further question .”
“And that would be ?”
“What will happen if your book does not sell as you expect? Will you end the agreement? Will you require repayment of the down payment? And if that happens, will I return to publishing under my own name again ?
Robert laughed. “That was more than one question .”
“Correct. Sorry .”
“I promise you will not suffer financially in any way. But what I suggest is that you and your parents come to dinner at Balfour Friday next. My sister and I are having a dinner party and I will invite Sir Cecil, so we can sit down after dinner and answer all your questions—to your complete satisfaction. Then we can work out the exact paperwork that needs to be signed. Is that agreeable to you ?”
“I shall ask my parents, but I am quite certain that will be satisfactory .”
“Then you will accept the proposal if all your questions are answered to your satisfaction ?”
“Provisionally, yes,” Diana replied .
Robert smiled broadly. “I am so pleased we shall be working together .”
“Thank you. And now a celebratory sherry ?”
“That would be delightful .”
Diana went to the sideboard and poured two glasses of sherry .
“To all of our successes,” Robert toasted after receiving his glass .
“To success,” Diana responded .
“And your friend—Adam—is that correct ?”
“It is .”
“Will he be happy with your success ?”
“I expect he will be,” Diana said, but hesitated before adding, “But I must tell you, he is no longer just my friend .”
“Oh, has there been a rift?” Robert asked with a touch of expectation .
“Oh, no. We have become engaged and are to be married by the autumn .”
“Ah…” Robert said, turning away from Diana briefly .
She looked at him and sensed that he was upset for some reason .
“Does the sherry not please you?” she asked .
He turned back to her. “Oh, no, the sherry is fine. And congratulations,” he said, lifting his glass to her. “You must be very excited .”
Diana hesitated, and then said, “It is a happy event, indeed .”
“Then does that mean you will be living in London ?”
“I expect so, eventually. But the marriage is still some time away .”
“And will you continue your writing ?”
Robert seemed concerned about that, Diana realized, and she answered, “Oh, I expect to. Adam’s father is a publisher and Adam plans to go into the business. I feel certain he will want me to continue with my writing .”
Robert stood and looked at Diana with sad looking eyes. “Then all is well,” he said .
“Yes, all is well .”
Robert drained his glass and placed it on the sideboard. “I should be going. Dinner will be Friday at seven, with drinks at six. I hope both of your parents will join you .”
“We look forward to it .”
“Do you need transportation? I can send my carriage for you if need be .”
“Oh, no, we shall be fine. Father has an arrangement with a local stable owner to use his horse and small carriage whenever we need .”
“Then good-day, Miss Diana .”
“Good-day. And thank you for the lovely orchid. I believe I have a gardening book that will explain its care .”
“My pleasure,” Robert said, then turned and abruptly left .
Diana watched from the window as he walked down the garden path and turned onto the road toward the inn where he stabled his horse .
She felt a strange sadness. She was happy to accept his proposal, but she felt that once she mentioned her upcoming marriage, Robert suddenly cooled toward her. And the warm feelings he exuded when they first met seemed to be missing. Was it at all possible that he might have feelings for her, and when she announced that she was engaged, he was disappointed ?
She thought back to that first time when they went walking
in the meadow and had tea with the Sinclair twins. He was so open and almost boisterous. Now, he seemed guarded and shut down .
And she had to admit to herself, truthfully, that seeing Robert again stirred something within her that Adam did not when he was with her .
But she was engaged and, in any case, he was the Earl of Donnelly and she was but the daughter of a university professor. She had no title, no wealth, and nothing to offer a man like him—except her acceptance of his proposal .
She shook her head and dismissed any further thought about the Earl—if she could .
* * *
D iana’s mother and father agreed to accompany her to Balfour for the Earl’s dinner party on Friday. Mother seemed flustered about what to wear, and her father promised Diana he would not fall asleep after dinner when he usually snoozed by the fire with his pipe before bedtime .
Diana was not concerned about what she would wear until she started looking through her dresses. She noticed that her best dress had a nasty rip at the waist and any home repair would be noticeable. What to do? She decided to confer with Miriam to see if she had any suggestions .
As Diana left the house, she noticed that any number of plants were sending up their spring shoots, seeking the warmth of the early April sun. She also saw the dead growth from last season had not been cut away and she promised herself she would spend an afternoon gardening quite soon .
As she walked down the street toward the Sinclair’s house, she saw the stile that led to the meadow up ahead and thought about the delightful afternoon she had spent with Robert when he came to offer his publishing proposal. She was overcome with a moment of sadness as she realized her engagement to Adam cut off any prospect of getting to know Robert beyond their business relationship .
But she had a present task and she marched up to the Sinclair’s door and knocked .
The twins’ mother answered. “Good day, Diana. Are you looking for the terrible two ?”
“Good day, Mrs. Sinclair. Actually, I am looking for Miriam. I have a dress emergency and I need her help .”
“Then you are in luck, as she is here but Geoffrey is not. Come in. Miriam is in her room. You may go on up .”
“Thank you .”
Diana went up to Miriam’s room and knocked .
“Do not want tea. Do not want biscuits. Do not want to be disturbed, Mother .”
“And what if it is not your mother,” Diana asked through the door .
“Oh, Diana, you can come in. So sorry .”
The door flew open and Miriam ushered her inside .
“Mother has been pestering me all morning. Miriam do this… Miriam do that… She has suddenly got it in her bonnet to do spring cleaning and every time I see her she is shaking a dust rag at me .”
“Where is Geoffrey?” Diana asked .
“Oh, you will not believe… he is starting an actual job .”
“Geoffrey is working? Really ?”
“I know. A miracle, is it not? He has a clerk’s position at the University Press . Somehow, they think that because he is the son of a university lecturer he is somehow smart. But they will learn soon enough, will they not?” Miriam said giggling .
“My dear friend, you are too harsh. Geoffrey is quite capable, I am quite sure .”
Miriam flopped down on her bed and rested her head on her crooked arm and asked, “How is that adorably handsome Earl of yours ?”
Diana sat in a chair by the bed and lowered her eyes, before speaking. “He is quite well and I have tentatively agreed to be his surrogate author .”
“Well… and how do you feel about that ?”
“A little nervous, but his offer is so attractive I cannot refuse .”
“And Adam? Are you still enchanted to be marrying him ?”
Diana hesitated ever so briefly. “Of course .”
“Ah, I heard a hesitation. Does that mean there is trouble in paradise ?”
“Not at all,” Diana said, looking directly at Miriam to emphasize her resolve .
Miriam threw herself onto her back and spread her arms out across the bed .
“I am unconvinced. I believe that the handsome Earl has stolen your heart but you are too timid to break your promise to Adam .”
Of course, Diana knew Miriam was absolutely correct, but she had not told the Sinclairs about her family’s troubles over the leasehold and was not in a position to explain why she had agreed to marry Adam. Instead, she answered, “I must agree that the Earl is charming, but what we have is strictly a business relationship. And nothing more. And besides, I am not marriage material for a noble such as himself .”
Diana folded her hands in her lap and sat straight and proper to show her resolve .
Miriam appeared to be unimpressed. “It seems to me that your answer is too well thought out. You might be able to convince yourself with such an answer, but not me .”
Needing to divert this conversation Diana said, “But I have come for your help on another matter .”
“And that would be?” Miriam asked as she sat up on the edge of the bed .
“The Earl has invited our publisher to dinner on Friday and he wishes me and my family to attend a dinner party. After dinner, he plans for us to finalize the surrogate author agreements. But my lovely best dress has an unrepairable tear. I wanted to see what you might suggest .”
“Certainly, there is no time to make a new one.” Diana shook her head. “And you are certain it cannot be repaired ?”
“Not without taking the dress apart and remaking it. But I do not have any matching material even if I could .”
“I might have something you could wear,” she said standing up and going to her armoire. She began searching through her dresses and finally pulled one out. “What about this? I have only worn this once to a ball. Do you want to try it on ?”
Diana went over and took the dress, then held it up to examine it. “Oh, yes, this is lovely .”
Diana had just removed her dress and was slipping on Miriam’s dress when they heard clomping on the stairs. The door was thrown open and Geoffrey rushed to the bed and threw himself down on it, face down .
He let out a prolonged groan, as Diana scrambled to pull the dress down to cover herself up .
“Geoffrey, what are you doing home?” Miriam asked .
“I have been sacked .”
“What!”
“I spilled an entire bottle of ink and ruined a manuscript that took three years to write .”
“Oh, Geoffrey, what is to be done with you ?”
Geoffrey sat up and saw Diana. “Oh, hello. I did not see you before .”
“Hello, Geoffrey. I am sorry to hear about your misfortune .”
Miriam plopped down next to her brother and put her arm around his shoulder. “What is to be done now? Father will have a fit .”
Geoffrey groaned, “I know. He threatened to send me into the military if I cannot hold down a job. Can you imagine? Me in the army? Even the thought of fighting makes me faint. But actual combat would send me straight into the arms of Bedlam .”
“My poor darling,” Miriam crooned. “Maybe I can engage you as my man slave, then you would be gainfully employed .”
“What would I have to do ?”
“Serve me hand and foot for the rest of my life .”
“And what would you pay ?”
“I could only afford tuppence a week. But then Father would have no cause to send you away .”
Geoffrey sighed. “I somehow do not think that would signify as gainful employment in Father’s eyes .”
“Tant pis,” Miriam said, and then echoed Geoffrey’s sigh .
Chapter 9
A melia was shocked when she learned that her small dinner party had blossomed with the addition of four more guests—Sir Cecil, and that Cambridge author woman and her parents. What a disgrace to have them attending when the Viscount needed Robert to have a serious business discussion with him about the canal project. Not to mention her
plan to introduce Robert to Lady Hortense. She needed Robert’s attention focused on her protégé during dinner. Now he would be distracted by Sir Cecil and this author .
However, Amelia needed to be the charming hostess as drinks were being served in the Sterling parlor as the guests arrived before dinner .
Lady Hortense was already present, as she had arrived earlier that morning. Lord and Lady Booth were the first of the other guests to be shown into the parlor .
The Booths were elderly neighbors that Amelia needed to entertain from previous social obligations. She knew they would be early to arrive and early to depart. Their bedtimes were never past nine o’clock .
The Viscount was next. Amelia introduced Ludlow to the other guests currently present and then he pulled her aside .
“I am looking forward to my after dinner meeting with Robert. I hope all is well with that. And you will be able to attend, no ?”
Amelia frowned. “There has been a slight wrinkle in the plan .”
“What? You assured me …”
“Robert has invited a publisher and a Cambridge author and her parents for dinner without asking me. Of course, I am upset, but what can I do? He is master of the house .”
Ludlow took a glass of wine from the butler and turned back to Amelia .
“I am furious, Amelia. You absolutely promised me …”
“Not everything is always under my control, Luddy,” she pleaded as she stroked his arm .
“Damnation, woman. Can you not accomplish anything? I have people waiting. I need to make assurances and guarantees .”
She leaned to Ludlow and whispered, “And just remember—with Robert it is as easy for me to quash your project as it is for me to help your project. So be a nice boy, and behave yourself .”
“But remember seven point five percent of nothing is nothing .”
She turned away and went to welcome Sir Cecil who appeared with Robert, quickly followed by the Simpson-Wright sisters and the Brownings .
As she approached, Robert was introducing the Browning parents to Sir Cecil and Amelia was left to welcome and chat with the Simpson-Wright sisters .
“Bridget… Tabitha, how charming you both look this evening,” Amelia said, taking their hands in hers .
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