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 .