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 .”