M y Dearest Diana,
Tempers were high this morning during my visit. And I wish to let you know that I am partially to blame. I have not given enough consideration to your need to write undisturbed each morning, and I shall endeavor to keep my visits to the afternoons .
However, it is not always possible for me to give you advance warning of my arrival and I think that as your fiancé I must be given some liberty to call on you without notice each time I need to see you .
That is… if I am still your fiancé .
“Please regard this as notice that I shall call on you later tomorrow afternoon so that we may conclude our interrupted conversation from this morning .
Ever your devoted ,
Adam
O h, dear… she thought. He is still upset. She must make things right with him… and the Goodwin sisters. But first things first—Adam. She had made a conscious decision to marry him for the good of her family and she must not jeopardize that arrangement in any way. She must confirm the marriage and allow the loan to proceed .
Father spoke up. “Oh… I got the details of Adam’s father’s address when I saw Adam yesterday. There is no need for you to acquire that information too .”
“Thank you for letting me know, Father .”
As Diana was late coming down to breakfast her mother was already at the gallery. Shortly, her father finished his breakfast and rose. “Are you not eating any breakfast?” he asked .
“I shall. I did not sleep well and am still a little befuddled. I will make something for myself shortly .”
“Very well, my dear. I shall be working at home on my manuscript today. So, you may find me in my study if you need me .”
Father started to leave but asked, “Will you be writing today? I was thinking if not, you might want to review my last chapter. I think it will do, but I always value input from your examination .”
“I am not sure if I am of much use to any one today—to either myself or to you. However, if I feel up to it later I will stop by your study and take a look at the chapter .”
“Thank you, my dear .”
*
D iana sat at her desk staring at her manuscript. She read through what she had written recently but could not concentrate, so she decided to abandon any thought of work today and began to go through her clothes and see if any needed cleaning or if any were ready to be discarded if they were too worn or little used .
However, by ten-thirty, she was so tired she lay down on her bed and drifted off to sleep .
She awoke in time for lunch, much refreshed. She detected cooking aromas coming from downstairs and she went to investigate as she had skipped breakfast and was now hungry .
As she entered the kitchen she found her mother and Robert at the stove .
“Robert, what are you doing here?” she asked greatly surprised .
“No hello? Just Robert, what are you doing here?” he asked chuckling .
“He called at the gallery to see how his orchid was doing and I invited him to lunch,” Mother said .
Diana laughed. The first laugh and light moment she had experienced for several days .
“Well, to be honest, I did not come just to see the orchid. I thought if you were free we might have an opportunity to talk about the book so you could begin to familiarize yourself with its content .”
Diana already knew she was not going to get any of her own work done today, so that seemed appealing .
“No disrespect to your mother’s cooking, but I actually brought along a picnic and I thought we might take a punt down the Cam, find ourselves a nice spot, and have a leisurely lunch and talk,” Robert suggested .
“That sounds delightful, as long as you do not topple in the river as you punt .”
“Not a chance. I am an expert punter. Remember, I spent my undergraduate years here. At least half of which were spent being a truant on the river .”
Diana realized that her lifted spirits were not only due to her nap but also because of Robert’s presence and the opportunity to spend more time alone with him .
“Then I am ready when you are .”
Chapter 11
R obert had come with a horse and cart today hoping that Diana would accept his offer of the picnic .
He helped Diana into the cart after she had secured herself a sunhat and shawl as it was only early April and could still be chilly .
“Go on,” Robert instructed the horse and snapped the reins .
“Where are we headed?” Diana asked .
“I have a small house further down on the Cam and I keep a punt there .”
“Your own punt? My, how convenient .”
“I like to take a break from Balfour and my sister from time to time without going all the way to London .”
Diana cast a quick glance at Robert. “Your sister… she is older than you are ?”
“She is, and helped raise me after our parents died .”
“You must love her dearly .”
Now Robert gave her a quick glance. “I do. But… well, she can be difficult. We do not always see eye to eye on many issues and it has been difficult for her to transition from being in control of me to me being in control of her as the new head of the household .”
“I see .”
“But I do love her dearly and wish that she might find herself a husband .”
Diana laughed. “To take her away ?”
“Yes, I am ashamed to admit .”
“I observed at dinner the other evening that she seemed to be trying to set you up with Lady Wilton. Did I misread the situation ?”
“You did not. However, the rather rowdy and inebriated Viscount seemed to be demanding her attention—much to the chagrin of my sister I noticed .”
Diana laughed. “Ah, the best laid plans …”
Before long they arrived at the Earl’s house on the Cam, and Robert transferred the picnic basket from the cart to the punt .
And once Diana was settled comfortably in her seat, Robert pushed away from the dock and began poling their leisurely, late-morning way down the river .
As Robert punted, he observed Diana enjoying the view along the banks. She was so totally at ease and secure in herself. He knew they would be spending a lot to time together. Especially after the book was published and she would be attending many publicity functions which he also planned to attend .
Each time he was with her—particularly when they were alone together—he grew ever fonder of her, and regretted that she was engaged. Of course, that was very selfish, and he wished her all possible happiness. But he also sensed that, for some unknown reason, her engagement was not all that secure .”
“Ah, here we are. This is the spot where I love to picnic,” Robert said as he guided the punt to shore. He hopped off, secured the boat, and then helped Diana ashore, taking her warm hand and regretting letting go .
“Do you bring many of your lady friends here to picnic?” Diana asked teasingly .
“By the dozens. But not all at the same time,” he teased back .
They proceeded to spread out a blanket and prepare the picnic lunch .