Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

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 .

“That seems hard to believe,” Robert responded .

One of the businessmen unrolled a map and set it open on a table .

“Please, take a look at this map.” Robert went over to the table. “As you can see, there are ranges of hills on either side of this valley which connects this river to the Ouse. This is our only possible way to reach the North Sea. The hills are configured such that we cannot connect the two rivers except across your lands—there is no other way .”

“Please, My Lord, you must allow us to transverse your property,” another businessman spoke up .

Robert was riled. “Oh, I must, must I? Remember to whom you are speaking. I must honor my Queen. I must honor my God, but I will be damned if I must honor your insulting request .”

The men stepped back in shock .

The bishop stepped forward and said softly, “My Lord, if I might make a suggestion .”

“What?”

“If your concern is the bisection of your property, I feel certain we could build a bridge across the canal that would accommodate your need to connect your lands .”

“Oh yes, most certainly. Or several bridges if need be,” several of the businessmen spoke up .

Robert turned away from the men and paced the room as he contemplated their suggestion. Then he turned back to them .

“Gentlemen, I am sorry if I lost my temper with you just now, but I am absolutely resolute in my opposition to this plan. I shall never consent for this canal to be built across my lands .”

“But please, think of the welfare of the county. It would bring so much prosperity to all of our residents, both rich and poor. Every single citizen would benefit,” one of the businessmen pleaded .

The bishop came over to Robert and entreated, “We can pay very handsomely for the land. To what use are you putting that land at the present time ?”

“It is used for grazing and planting,” Robert answered .

The bishop turned to the delegation. “Perhaps we might work out some kind of royalty arrangement to compensate you further. It is my understanding that the canal is to charge a toll and I feel certain the Viscount would be open to assigning you a reasonable portion of that toll for your use .”

The others thought that a splendid idea and offered up a, “Hear, hear !”

Robert stood resolutely and answered, “Gentlemen, this meeting has ended.” And he strode out of the room .

As he charged through the statue gallery he was greeted by Amelia who had obviously been waiting for him. She held up her hand to signal him to stop .

“How did the meeting go?” she asked .

“You know about the content of the meeting?” he asked .

“I suspected,” she evaded .

“You suspected or you helped the Viscount to arrange this meeting?” he demanded .

“I might have had an inkling .”

“You can tell your Viscount that my decision has remained unchanged. There will be no canal across my property .”

Robert stepped around her and left her fuming .



*

“L uddy, I am so sorry, I did everything I could. I was ever so sweet to him and I stayed out of the way and gave no indication that I knew the delegation’s purpose in meeting with him. I truly thought he might respond to your delegation .

Ludlow stood at his bay window studying a flock of swallows swooping in the sky .

“Then I shall need to up the ante, I see,” he said with his back to her .

“Oh, Luddy… I am not sure …”

“When is his book being published ?”

Amelia was stricken. “How do you know about the book ?”

He turned to her. “You told me .”

“I could not have. I was sworn to secrecy. No one is to know he is the author .”

Ludlow laughed. “My darling, Amelia. You have no secrets from me. I know everything about you .”

Now Amelia was frightened for Robert. “What are you planning to do ?”

Ludlow tapped his lip as he contemplated. “You do not think I am going to tell you, do you? You would run off and tattle to your dear brother and then I should have no leverage .”

“Then I shall tell him you are planning something and to be on the lookout .”

Ludlow laughed. “Truly? And jeopardize your seven and a half percent? I think not .”



*

D iana had been correct. Robert was stymied in his writing by not being able to base his next book on a new adventure. But he was not able to travel just yet. His book would be launching in the autumn and he wanted to be present when it came out. Did this mean, then, that he was going to be a one book author? He certainly hoped not .

He went to his globe and spun it around as his father had done and used his finger to stop it—landing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Not a very promising destination. He spun it again and found himself in the wastelands of greater Russia. Also, not very appealing. It was clearly not the time to travel .

Frustrated and restless, he turned from the globe. Perhaps his orchids might calm him, but he was too agitated to concentrate on the simplicity of his plants. He needed something more vigorous. A ride to inspect his borders, perhaps? No. The agitation was in his mind not his body. He realized physical exercise would be insufficient to calm his present restlessness .

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