“Very well, but remember, I have my work to do as well, and I need you to be responsible for what you need to give to the solicitors .”
“Oh, my… you are being cross with me. And I quite understand.” George suddenly seemed agitated and began turning in circles at his desk .
Diana went over to him and put one hand on his arm and one on his shoulder. “Father, dear… do not panic. We will sit down together soon and work out all the details step by step .”
George settled. “Oh, my dear, what would I do without you? We shall miss you so very much when you are married and whisked away from us .”
Diana sighed, for she knew her father was aging poorly and was suffering from memory loss and confusion from time to time. She would need to discuss the situation with her mother. Perhaps they would need to hire someone to assist him after she was gone .
“Father, please do not fret yourself. I am still here and shall be for some time yet. Let me just sit and read your chapter so that I may get back to my writing .”
Father kissed her cheek. “Very well, my dear. Make yourself comfortable and I shall leave you in peace .”
* * *
D iana had read her father’s chapter and given him her thoughts and comments, and now, finally, she was alone again at her desk even though it was late afternoon, and her Christmas story was calling to her once again .
Tommy ran off to see the butcher as he was closing shop .
“Please, sir, might you have some work for me ?”
“And who might you be, young fella?” the butcher asked .
“You asked me to help you unload a wagon not that long ago. And with Christmas coming I want to buy a chicken for my mum’s Christmas dinner. Might you have work for me, please sir? I would be ever so grateful .”
The butcher put his hand to his chin and thought about the request .
“You are bit of a young’un. What could you possibly do that would be of use to me ?”
“I could make deliveries for you .”
“I got me a delivery boy—my son. Do not need another .”
“I could empty your refuse bins, or sweep the shop, or wash your windows. Anything at all. And I am a very good worker—and punctual .”
The butcher thought about the offer and then said, “I tell you what. You work for me every day until Christmas. Be early and leave late and I will pay you with two pound a tripe. T’won’t be no chicken, but it will fill your Christmas stomachs .”
Tommy beamed. “Thank you, sir. I will do it. I will be here first thing tomorrow morning. What time, sir ?”
“Be here at five o’clock sharp and we will see how well you do .”
Meanwhile, Doris was walking the crowded streets going from one Christmas tree purveyor to another looking for a small tree. She had never told Tommy, but she had collected three shillings and sixpence from selling flowers she had found discarded each morning at the Covent Garden flower market. They were slightly damaged, but she wound them with ribbons from an old bonnet she found in the trash and sold them to ladies on the street .
“Excuse me, mister,” Doris said, tugging at a tree seller’s sleeve. “I have three shillings and sixpence and I would like to buy a Christmas tree,” she said with finality .
The tree seller laughed. “Three shillings and sixpence? That would barely buy you a branch—let alone a tree. Away with you .”
Doris teared up and walked away. She tried three or four different sellers and they all laughed at her and told her to skedaddle .
Finally, she ran home, threw herself on the bed she shared with Tommy and cried, still clutching her three shillings and sixpence .
Diana heard her mother calling from downstairs, “Diana, it is time to start supper. Can you please, lend me a hand ?”
Chapter 13
T he Viscount of Berwick was at his luncheon. He was enjoying a fine glass of hock with a salad from his hothouse and a pheasant cutlet that his chef prepared just as he liked it with capers and lemon .
He mostly lunched alone, seated at a small table in his private rooms, overlooking his gardens that spread out on either side of the allée of trees that led from the main road up to his estate house .
As he savored the last of the wine, he noticed a horse and rider coming up the driveway. And he could see it was a woman. As she approached, he recognized Amelia in her riding costume. He frowned slightly, as he remembered their last meeting at the disastrous dinner party where he drank far too much, flirted with Lady Hortense, and was sent home by Amelia in disgrace .
Had she come to scold him once again, or did she want something, he wondered? In any case, she would shortly be shown up to his rooms .
“Danton, I need another bottle of hock. I am expecting Miss Amelia who has just ridden up,” Ludlow addressed his butler who had been serving luncheon .
“Yes, Milord .”
“And show Miss Amelia up .”
“I seem to remember she knows her way, Milord .”
“As a matter of fact, she does .”
Danton nodded and left .
Shortly Amelia appeared, flushed from her ride .
“Luddy,” she greeted as she entered the room. “Am I disturbing your repast ?”
“Not at all. Quite finished. I have just asked for another bottle of hock. Do have a glass .”
“Sounds delightful,” she said as she flung herself across a divan near the Viscount’s table .
Danton appeared almost immediately with the wine and poured them each a glass .
“Out for a ride, are you?” Ludlow asked .
“That is what I told Robert, but, in fact, I wanted to see you. Things were a bit rough when I had to send you home .”
Ludlow chuckled. “Indeed they were. And I was very angry with you for so mismanaging my little meeting with Robert. You behaved very badly .”
“Not nearly as badly as you,” Amelia said, standing up and taking her glass of wine to sip at the window. “You were most indecent to our Lady Hortense. She was to be Robert’s main focus for the evening and you were all over her like a swarm of bees .”
“Then you should not have seated her across from me .”
“I did not. That was all Robert’s doing to thwart me .”
“Then he obviously did not wish to have Lady Hortense thrust at him—as you are wont to do .”
“Now, now, Luddy. You must be nice to me. I have come here to forgive you. You do not want me rushing off in anger again, do you ?”
“Ah… but will I forgive you?” he said coming up behind her and giving her a small kiss on the neck .
She moved away from him. “I do not believe I am ready to forgive you today, Luddy. You are still too unrepentant .”
“Ah, but there is still the seven and a half percent hovering out there—yet to be collected. Certainly, that should be incentive enough for you to forgive me, no ?”
Amelia wheeled around to face him .
“You see, you still need my help. You are powerless without me, are you not?” she gloated .
“You have your uses. And I suspect you came to me today because you still want me to make that deal with your brother .”
“But he refuses to see you. How can I set up an appointment between the two of you ?”
“Because he will not be setting up an appointment with me .”
“What?”
“I am putting together a most persuasive delegation to convince your brother of the great value our canal can be to the county .”
“A delegation? Who would be on it ?”
“I have several mayors, a bishop or two and a handful of most influential business leaders .”
Amelia smiled and sidled over to Ludlow and put her hand on his chest .
“Are you not the clever one? Most ingenious .”
Ludlow reached over and put his hands around her waist and drew her to him .
“And this time you will succeed in arranging a meeting ?”
“Most assur
edly,” she said and they leaned toward each other for a kiss .
* * *
“I promised I would collect the copies of your books,” Robert said as he stood at the Browning front door smiling .
Diana was surprised and briefly flustered for a moment, as she had not been expecting Robert to call .
“Do come inside, and I shall fetch the books for you .”
She led him down the hallway to the sitting-room. “I have already signed them, and they are sitting on my dresser just waiting for you to call .”
“I hope I am not disturbing you at your writing. But you said you wrote in the morning so I purposefully came late afternoon .”
“And you are correct. I am currently at the glorious task of peeling and chopping onions for our supper .”
Robert laughed. “Then I have interrupted your tears .”
“And a grateful interruption it is. I will just fetch the books .”
When she left Robert alone, he looked around and studied the pleasant room. How different her life was from his. This simple cottage with its quaint pleasures was so different from the huge estate house that he managed and inhabited with its large staff, spacious rooms, galleries, and individual suites. And once again, he reflected on the pleasures and virtues of the simple life of a university professor. How much he had enjoyed his brief years at university .
“Here you are,” Diana said as she reentered the room. “My humble offerings to the world of romance .”
“And I look forward to reading them .”
Diana seemed to hesitate but then asked. “Would you like some tea? I have some quite nice muffins that mother made for breakfast this morning .”
“Thank you, no. I do not wish to keep you from your chopping and tears .”
“Then come join me. I shall offer you a glass of sherry and you can sit at the kitchen table and criticize my chopping techniques .”
“For a short while, I still have some business to conduct in town before I return home .”
Diana led the way to the kitchen, poured Robert his sherry and resumed her food preparation .
“No sherry for you?” Robert asked .
“Not while I am still wielding a sharp knife,” she said laughing .
Robert once again found himself admiring this fine woman. She worked so unselfconsciously. He noticed she wore a simple dress and some of her hair had escaped pins and a few wisps fell about her face making her look so lovely and free .
“I hope your new dress suits you. Have you had an opportunity to wear it in public yet?” he asked .
She looked up from her work. “Not yet. But it is so lovely. I was thinking of wearing it at the launch of your—our—book in London .”
“Oh, no. This is for your use now. I was planning to outfit you with an entirely new wardrobe for the launch of the book .”
Diana looked surprised. “That is too much, Robert. I could not accept that .”
“Then you should re-examine your contract, for there is a clause in there that stipulates that you are to have a new wardrobe for all of the publicity events for the book .”
“Is that so?” she asked, truly surprised .
“Indeed it is .”
“Is that your doing? For Sir Cecil did not include that clause in my first contract .”
“I might have made a few suggestions .”
“Robert, you are far too good to me. It almost embarrasses me the way you pamper me .”
“Not at all. There is no one more deserving than you. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your participation in this publishing project. It could not be happening without your support .”
Diana gave him a look with a slight smile, “And how is your new book coming along? Are you getting work done on that, or are you still focused on the publishing of your first book ?”
Robert hesitated and played with his sherry glass before answering. “I am ashamed to say I have barely started the new book. It seems to be more difficult to begin the second than the first .”
“But was not your first book based on direct experience? Is that not so for your next book as well? Or is this new one purely fictional ?”
“Ah. You have precisely hit on the point. No, my next book is not based on direct experience, and I have to say that is why I am having trouble getting into it .”
“Then what do you plan to do about that ?”
“I am thinking I must travel again .”
“That sounds sensible. And I know you enjoy it, do you not ?”
“I do. And do you?” he asked .
Diana stopped and looked up as though she were watching clouds and finding images in their shapes. “It is something I have thought of often, but have never been able to do. However, Adam is arranging our honeymoon to either Italy or Greece, and finally, I shall be able to taste some of my longed for adventure .”
Robert did not like being reminded of Diana’s impending wedding, but said, “I feel certain either country will provide you with a delightful adventure .”
Diana smiled, but did not respond for a moment, but then asked, “And where might you go for your next adventure, Robert ?”
“I am somewhat attracted by the lure of India. But I do not much care to go as some government functionary as part of the Raj .”
“Then just be a traveler. Certainly, a gentleman of your status must have many contacts who could introduce you to numerous fascinating adventures .”
“But I am also considering Africa where my parents explored, or Burma, Japan, or even Indonesia .”
“How exciting. It sounds as though any of those places would provide you with ample places to explore,” Diana said, as she began cooking her chopped vegetables in a pot. Then she sighed. “Traveling through those countries would be so much more interesting than the quiet life I lead here in this little cottage .”
“Then you have a sincere interest in travel?” Robert asked .
Diana turned to look at him. “Oh, yes. Most assuredly .”
“Then perhaps you shall someday .”
Chapter 14
“I s that mildew, Stanson?” Robert asked, pointing to a white substance on the root system of a large cymbidium orchid sitting at the back of the bench .
“It is a fungus, Milord, and must be eliminated. Very perceptive of you to find that. My eyes are not what they were and I missed it entirely. So sorry .”
“And it can be treated successfully ?”
“Yes. I shall take the plant out, treat it, and replace it in a clean pot. It should be fine .”
Robert walked along the orchid bench and pointed to another quite beautiful dendrobium. “That is quite lovely. I should like to propagate that one .”
“Very well, I shall put it aside. Do you see any others you like ?”
Robert continued to study the orchids .
“Robert,” his sister’s voice rang out from across the conservatory. “Are you out here ?”
“Over here,” Robert called back .
Amelia came toward him, fanning herself with her hand .
“How can you stand to be out here? It is so hot and humid. I should faint quite away within five minutes,” she complained .
“Then do not stay .”
“But there are some gentlemen to see you .”
Robert looked up. “Gentlemen? What kind of gentlemen?” he asked suspiciously .
“They say they are a delegation come to see you about some civic matter .”
Robert was instantly suspicious of Amelia’s vague answer .
“And would the Viscount of Berwick be a part of the delegation, by any chance ?”
Amelia appeared to be completely innocent as she said, “Why no, not at all .”
Robert did not want to leave his orchids. And he was dressed in work clothes not suitable for meeting a delegation, but he said, “Very well, tell them I shall meet with them shortly. I must change out of these clothes first .”
Amelia smiled her phony sweet smile
that Robert recognized all too well .
“Thank you, my dear. I shall inform them and offer refreshments in the tapestry room in the meantime .”
Robert followed Amelia out of the conservatory but went to his rooms to change. He was not pleased with this unexpected and unplanned visit, but he had duties to the community that meant he must listen to what they had to say .
“Good morning, gentlemen,” Robert greeted as he entered the sitting-room and saw a cluster of seven men—one of which, he could tell by the clothing, was an Anglican bishop .
The men turned toward him and one man stepped forward .
“Good morning, My Lord. I am Ernest Cluett, Mayor of Cambridge, and this is my colleague, His Honor, Sherborne Banfield, the Mayor of Peterborough .
Then the bishop stepped forward. “The Right Reverend Erasmus Honeyfield,” he said, bowing slightly .
The rest of the gentlemen then introduced themselves as various business men of the county .
Robert wanted to be polite, but asked curtly, “And what might I do for you gentlemen this morning ?”
The two mayors appeared to be the spokesmen for the group and Mayor Cluett said, “We have come to discuss a matter of great importance to our county and for which we need your help .”
Robert became agitated and asked, “Does this have anything to do with that confounded project of the Viscount of Berwick ?”
“If you mean the canal, then yes it does,” added the Mayor of Peterborough .
“I feared as much.” Robert scowled at the men. “Then I am sorry you have wasted your morning by coming here. I have clearly stated to the Viscount that I have no interest, whatsoever, in dividing my property in half to accommodate a canal—however beneficial to the county .”
“But My Lord, do you have any idea of the scope of the benefits we would all enjoy from access countywide to the North Sea shipping potential?” one of the business men asked .
“Yes, the Viscount has conveyed all of that information to me already—many times. I have heard every conceivable argument for this blasted canal, but I am sorry, you must find some other route for your canal .”
“But there is no other possible route, My Lord,” the Cambridge Mayor insisted .
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