“We have any number of requests for interviews and Diana and I were just going to sort them out. Do you want to join us?” Sir Cecil asked .
Robert considered then said, “I think not. I have an urgent property issue I must deal with, but Diana, might we meet later before you return to your fiancé’s? I should like to hear about your experience with the launch in more detail. Tea perhaps ?”
“I am expected back for lunch shortly, but I could meet with you later. Say four o’clock ?”
“At Fortnum’s ?”
“That will be fine. Until then .”
Chapter 25
R obert stood at the back of the crowd at the book launch. He did not want to be too conspicuous or seem to be connected with the book in any way. He found himself to be surprisingly calm, even though it was his book that was being launched. The early reviews were good and he had high hopes that the book would have a solid readership. He did think that Sir Cecil went on a bit too long with the introduction, but he had always tended to be long-winded .
He was very proud of Diana. She was calm and steady, projecting a quiet confidence as she spoke about the book. She was so convincing, he almost believed she had written the book instead of him. He was so absorbed in the presentation he had forgotten that Amelia had agreed to meet him here until he felt her hand on his arm and heard her speak .
“Is it going well?” she asked .
He turned to her and was shocked to see the Viscount standing beside her, their arms linked together .
“Amelia… Ludlow,” Robert greeted, coolly .
“Your little protégé looks quite sweet and charming,” Amelia said as though she was sorting through soiled laundry .
“What are you doing here? I did not know your tastes ran to literature,” Robert said to the Viscount .
“Oh, my interests are varied,” he replied. “And I might ask the same question of you. Why the sudden interest in this fair damsel? Is she a new conquest ?”
Robert whipped around to face Ludlow. “You are crude and insulting to both me and the young lady .”
“Oh, Robert, do not be such a prude. I was only jesting .”
Robert was angry. “I must ask you to leave .”
Amelia intervened, reaching over and patting Robert’s shoulder. “Now, now, gentlemen, sheathe the swords. We are all friends here. No one is accusing anyone of anything.” Then she pulled Ludlow aside and had words with him which Robert could not hear .
Shortly they returned. By now Diana had finished speaking, and the crowd began to shift toward the drinks table or toward her. Robert wanted to go over to her and support her but Amelia restrained him, pulling him aside, and whispered, “You should be kinder to poor Luddy. He means well, but he tends to be indelicate in his speech .”
Robert looked at her askance, and then asked, “And what exactly is he doing here? What possible interest could he have in the book launch ?”
“He escorted me, and you know I came to support you,” she said soothingly, as she straightened his cravat .
Robert was unconvinced by her slithery manner. He knew her wiles too well. “I am, of course, happy that you attended the launch of the book, but you must excuse me now. I need to support my protégé, as Ludlow likes to call her. I will see you later back at the house for dinner .”
“Very well .”
Robert turned to leave but stopped. “Is he going to be there?” he asked, nodding his head toward the Viscount .
“I had thought to ask him, but if you would rather not …”
“I would rather not,” he said emphatically .
“As you wish,” she said, and then returned to the Viscount .
* * *
R obert was at Fortnum and Mason’s early enough to secure a nice table before Diana should arrive for tea. As part of his trip to London, he had arranged several meetings with his property managers and had spent the afternoon in discussions with one about several of his properties that needed repairs. He studied the proposals and bids as he waited for her .
Finally, she appeared .
“Good afternoon, Robert,” she greeted, as she took her place at the table. “Did you have a productive afternoon ?”
“It was—tedious, but necessary and relatively successful .”
Diana took a deep sigh, as she settled into her place. “What a day. Not only was the morning noteworthy, but I ended up in a deep discussion with Adam at lunchtime over the plans for our honeymoon. Really, he can be so difficult at times .”
“Forgive me for asking, but are there troubles?” he asked gently .
Diana seemed reluctant to speak about it, and Robert regretted his question almost immediately .
“I am sorry, that is none of my business. Please disregard my question .”
She seemed conflicted as she said, “No. I do not mind you asking. It is just… I did a terrible thing which I regret .”
“You?”
“I lied to Adam about the beautiful pearls you gave me. I told him they were my mother’s .”
“Diana…”
“I was in the middle of the book launch when he asked me about them and I did not want to get into a whole explanation about you giving them to me. I knew it would upset him .”
“I see now it was inappropriate for me to give you those. I never thought… I just wanted to show you my sincerest appreciation for all you have done… are doing for me .”
Just then the waiter approached the table. “What might I bring you this afternoon—sir, madam ?”
Robert was annoyed at being interrupted at just that moment. “Later,” he snapped .
The waiter retreated .
“Robert… that was unseemly .”
He shook his head. “Yes. Yes, it was. So sorry. It is just …”
“Have I upset you in some way,” she asked, leaning in sympathetically .
Robert stopped, put his hands on the table, and took a deep breath. “I think we are both a bit agitated by the events of the day. It has been an emotional time for both of us. You with your pending marriage and your new responsibilities with the book. And me with the book and…” He caught himself about to say something he might regret and stopped .
“What? What other than the book? Is it something to do with Amelia? Or your business interests in London ?”
Robert was right at the edge. If he took the next step there would be no going back. If he said what he wanted to say to her he might jeopardize his arrangement with Diana and throw the publication of his book in turmoil. But instead of speaking he signaled for the waiter to return .
“Forgive my outburst just now, my good man. We are ready to order .”
Robert ordered the tea and used the time to get a better hold of himself. If he revealed his feelings for Diana he knew he could ruin both of their lives. He must stop and not utter a single word to her about how deeply he cared for her .
After the waiter left with the order, Robert smiled and said, “You really were splendid at the book launch this morning. I can see that my faith in you was sound .”
Diana seemed somewhat disoriented by their sudden shift in conversation but said, “Yes, I, too, felt it went well. It was most satisfying to interact with my readers. I have not had the opportunity before to listen to their reactions to my other books. It was most gratifying .”
“And do you have a sense of how they might react to your new direction ?”
“I have to say they seemed somewhat puzzled as to why I would make such a change when what I was writing was already so well received .”
“And do you foresee a problem ?”
Diana was thoughtful before replying, “Our explanation for going in this new direction has always seemed to me to be a bit tenuous. I think we will just need to wait and see .”
The waiter pushed his cart forward and served the tea and accompanying cakes and sandwiches .
“Now that you are past the Queen’s visit, have you been able to do any writing?” Diana
asked .
“I can give you a dozen excuses—I have been preparing for the book launch—I have been attending to my properties—I have been doing research. But they would all be only excuses. And the simple answer is that I am completely blocked. I can see my limitations, and my belief is that I must adventure once again if I wish to write once again .”
Diana laughed and seemed to be more at ease than she was when she first arrived. “I do understand. And to be quite honest, I, too, have stalled on the Christmas chapter I am writing for Sir Cecil. However, I do have a legitimate excuse. You see---you are my problem,” she said teasingly .
However, Robert felt a jolt as his first response to what she said was that she might be battling with feelings for him, as he was battling with his feelings for her .
“However do you mean?” he finally managed to ask .
“Well, I have been so absorbed in mastering your book and preparing for the launch that I have had no time for my own work .”
Her answer was a disappointment to be certain, but he managed to reply, “Then you may instruct Sir Cecil to scold me for delaying your new book .”
She smiled shyly, “I already have. But he doesn’t take my excuses lightly and returns all the blame back on me .”
Robert laughed. “However, I must tell you I am well into reading your second book .”
“And?”
“To be honest, it does not pull me in the same way your first book did .”
“Oh…”
“Not to say it is bad—it just does not speak to me as directly as your first .”
“Perhaps because it is a more feminine book. It is filled with sisters and daughters and a host of other women .”
“That may be it. Your first book did have more male characters, to be sure .”
A silence fell over them momentarily. Then Robert asked, “Is your wedding to be held in Cambridge or in London ?”
Diana looked up at Robert with almost an air of sadness. “Here in London at the Hardy family church, with a reception at a local hall they have rented .”
“And am I to be invited to the wedding ?”
Diana appeared to be nervous as she answered. “Oh, Robert, that was one of the things that Adam and I were tasseling about at lunch. He insists that the guest list be family only .”
“Oh…”
“But I believe he is jealous of you and doesn’t want you invited because of that .”
He didn’t answer but just nodded .
“We have not settled the matter yet, however, and I am still struggling to have the guest list opened up .”
“No. He is right. It is best if you do not invite me. He should not be uncomfortable at his own wedding .”
“But he has nothing to be jealous of,” Diana stated somewhat hesitantly, “Does he ?”
Robert was not about to respond to that question, but he looked at her with intense love in his eyes. She would just need to answer that question for herself .
* * *
T he next afternoon, Robert was with one of his property managers—a portly, red-faced man who wheezed when he breathed—in the library of his London house. They were discussing various properties that Robert owned outside of London .
“Yes, you own a dozen or more properties in Cambridge—eight outright and six freeholds. Did you not remember that, sir?” the manager asked .
Robert answered, “I do recall something of the fact. But it has been so long since I had anything to do with them, I have mostly forgotten. Are there any issues with them that must be addressed ?”
The manager consulted the paper. “Well, the good news is that one of them has just had one of the leaseholds renewed. That will bring you a tidy profit as there is no upkeep involved .”
That set Robert to thinking and he asked, “And the name of the renewed leaseholder ?”
“George Browning. I believe he is a professor at one of the colleges at the university .”
Robert smiled. “Really? George Browning. I know the gentleman. Well, of all things …”
There was a knock at the door and Amelia entered part way, saying, “Ludlow would like to have a word with you, Robert .”
He looked up, annoyed. “Tell him I am busy .”
“He says it is important and urgent .”
Robert stood up from his desk. “Oh, Amelia… Really? Urgent? What can be so urgent he must disturb me at my work ?”
She inclined her head and said, “He promises not to take up a great deal of your time .”
Robert shuffled some papers on his desk as he tried to decide what to do. “Oh, very well.” He turned to his manager. “Will you excuse me for a moment? If you will just wait outside I will be with you again shortly .”
“Very good, Milord .”
Amelia had retreated and returned with the Viscount. As they came in, the manager left the room .
Robert was not about to modulate his displeasure of needing to deal with Ludlow. “And what is so urgent you must upset my day ?”
The Viscount took his time. Not seeming to be rushed even though he had stated the matter was urgent. Amelia hung back by the door, with an enigmatic smile .
“If this is more nonsense about your damned canal then just turn around and walk right back out,” Robert insisted .
“Well, it is and it is not,” was all Ludlow would say at first .
“Damn man, you are infuriating. What is it you want ?”
The Viscount took a turn about the room as if studying the shelves of books, before saying, “I am here about the canal, however, circumstances have changed and I believe I am now in a better position to elicit your agreement to my proposal .”
Robert was becoming restless and agitated. “And what do you think has changed that will make me change my mind about accepting your absurd proposal to buy my land for your canal ?”
“I have new and pertinent information that might help you see the value in my proposal .”
“And that would be what ?”
“I know you are the author of that ridiculous novel that you set your paramour up to claim as hers. What were you thinking? You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. If that information were to be made public, you would become the laughing stock of polite society. You would be run out of Lords and you would become a pariah amongst the eligible young daughters of the nobles of the realm. You could forget about ever marrying well. I think that might be sufficient reason to sell—if I agreed to keep the information about your hoax to myself,” Ludlow countered .
Robert was too furious to speak, but when he did it was directed at Amelia. “You traitor! You tell him this for what purpose ?”
Amelia seemed to be totally prepared for his tirade. She walked over and took Ludlow by his arm. “I see that you instantly assume it was me that told him.” She paused for effect. “Well, my darling brother, it was. Ludlow has agreed to marry me if the deal goes through. And I am to get seven and a half percent of the sale price upon closing .”
Robert felt too defeated to resist. He hung his head and stood with his arms lifelessly at his sides. He knew he had no leverage and no expedient way to fight back .
“You must give me time to think about this,” he said .
“One week. I am under a deadline myself. My money people are getting restless and they want to see a sales contract or they are going to pull their financing. One week. Understand me? One week .”
Chapter 26
D iana’s stay in London kept being extended because she had suddenly become the sensation of the literary elite. Robert’s book was selling extremely well, and she was asked to any number of dinner parties, salon readings, and to the opera, concerts, and the theater. Adam accompanied her on many occasions early on, but his tolerance for what he called the stuffy set was wearing thin, and she found it necessary to call upon Sir Cecil to accompany her to later events, as Robert had unexpectantly returned to Balfour without even saying good-bye just a few days ago .
F
inally, one morning Adam confronted her in the sitting room. Diana was reading a number of book reviews Sir Cecil had sent over for her .
“How much longer is this to go on?” Adam asked, standing rigidly in front of her as she read in the window seat .
She looked up, surprised by his strident tone. “Adam, what is the problem? You sound angry .”
“Because I am,” he commanded .
“Adam, this is unlike you. Tell me what is troubling you,” she said putting her reading aside and giving him her full attention .
“When is all this gallivanting around London going to cease? You are out almost every night at some event or other. Cab fares, new dresses—lunches, dinners, teas. It is costing a fortune and you are my fiancé, and I hardly ever see you anymore .”
Diana was shocked by the vehemence in his voice. “Adam, please sit down.” He sat opposite her. “First of all, Adam, the expenses are all covered by the publisher. Nothing is coming out of your or my pockets. And remember this is not going to last forever. There was a flurry of activity after the book was published but the activity is already starting to die down. In fact, I am planning to return to Cambridge in just a day or two. I have neglected my own writing long enough and I have informed Sir Cecil I must return home .”
“Oh…” He looked down sheepishly after his outburst .
“Now tell me, have you closed out your Cambridge rooms or do you need to go back to do that? Maybe we could go together if you want,” Diana suggested .
“No, I have already done that. I have no further business in Cambridge .”
“Then I shall go alone. That is not a problem .”
“I do not like the idea of you traveling alone, Diana .”
“Oh, Adam, I have traveled alone for quite a few years now. I think I can manage quite nicely .”
“That is as may be, but you are to be my wife, and I do not like the idea of that .”
Diana sighed. “Adam, truly, you seem so childish sometimes .”
“Is it childish to want your wife to be safe? To be a lady above reproach? To be …”
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