R obert promised himself he would do all his errands before stopping to see Diana, but somehow his horse headed toward the inn just down the street from the Browning residence .
After stabling the horse, he headed toward the house but decided to stop by the gallery to say hello to Mrs. Browning and to check on his orchid .
“Good morning,” he said as he pushed open the door and rang the little bell .
“Robert?” Diana said. “Good morning .”
“Oh, it is you. I was expecting your mother,” Robert said .
“She is ill in bed. Nasty cold, so I am minding the gallery .”
“No chance for a stroll in our meadow?” he asked, but suspecting her response .
“I am afraid not. It is summer. We have a lot of tourists this time of year and the gallery must be watched all day .”
Robert went over and stuck his finger into the wood chips holding the orchid’s roots to check for moisture .
“And how is your writing going?” he asked as he turned back to her .
“Miserably. With mother ill, I am either running up and down the stairs to tend to her, or I am dealing with visitors to the gallery. Most frustrating .”
Just then the gallery doorbell jangled and they turned to see who had entered. It was the Goodwin sisters .
“Oh, hello—Kitty, Abigale. What a nice surprise. If you are looking for Mother she is laid up with a summer cold .”
“Yes, we know. Your father told us,” Kitty replied as she held her reticule close to her chest, seeing the stranger in the gallery .
“Are you with a customer?” Abigale asked .
“No, this is my friend Robert Donnelly .”
“Good morning,” the sisters greeted .
“Ladies.”
“Is there something I can do for you?” Diana asked .
“No, but there is something we can do for you,” Kitty said with a twinkle in her eye .
“Oh, yes ?”
“We are here to help you. Your father told us you have no time for your writing and we thought we might be able to watch the gallery for you so you can write. Would you like that ?”
Diana appeared to tear up. “Oh, my… That would be so lovely. You have no idea. Then you have forgiven me for my terrible treatment of you ?”
“Of course we have, my dear. And if you will just show us what we must do, we will be happy to help however we can .”
“And besides what else do we have to do at home, except feed the cat, water our aspidistra, and do our needlework?” Abigale added .
“Perhaps I should leave you now,” Robert offered. “I am sure you are anxious to get back to your writing .”
“Wait, one minute, please,” Diana pleaded .
Diana briefly instructed the sisters on what needed to be done to greet the visitors and asked them to come and fetch her if there was a sale. The sisters sat in chairs, pulled out their needlework, and were ready to take care of business .
“Come,” Diana asked Robert and they went outside .
“It was lovely to see you again,” Robert said. “I just wanted to say hello and check in with you about the fete .”
“I am free for that stroll through the meadow now, if you still have time,” Diana suggested shyly .
“But what if there is a sale? The sisters will not be able to find you .”
“We do not have sales all that often. We have many more browsers than buyers. I can take a few moments for a quick visit .”
“I should like that .”
“Let me first check on my mother and I shall be right back .”
“I will wait .”
Diana disappeared and Robert realized how good he felt just being in her presence .
Soon she returned, a shawl thrown around her shoulders .
“I am quite ready now,” she said, taking his arm as they headed down the street toward the stile .
“I am excited about the fete,” Diana said. “How are the preparations going for the event ?”
“All will be well. But with the addition of Her Majesty’s visit, it is putting quite a strain on our otherwise tranquil household .”
“It is quite an honor, is it not, to have Her Majesty in attendance ?”
“It is—but not unprecedented. We have hosted Their Majesties several times now. She seems to be particularly delighted with Balfour , and we are happy to have her .”
“And your writing? I suspect with all the activity around the royal visit you are not getting much writing done ?”
Robert laughed. “Absolutely none. But it is not just the visit—it is my writer’s block as well. But the visit, at least, gives me a grand cover for not writing. But I do have news for you .”
“Yes?”
“The galley proofs are ready and I am expecting them by post tomorrow. And I instructed Sir Cecil to send one directly to you as well, so you shall finally have the opportunity to see what a doltish author I am .”
“I doubt that Robert, or Sir Cecil would never have published you,” she said with a laugh .
“And he sent me a list of the book presentations where you will be expected to attend as the author. Have you received your copy of that yet? I received mine earlier this morning .”
“Not yet. Our first post comes late morning and I have not been at the house .”
Then when you get it, and have reviewed the dates, we can discuss if there are any problems for you where we need to make adjustments .”
“I shall do so .”
They were now halfway across the meadow as they fell into a moment of silence. Robert snuck a glance at Diana. And he had to ask himself, why did he keep coming to see her? Each time he was with her, she enflamed his passions. But he was a gentleman and knew that she was engaged. The last thing he wanted was to intrude upon her settled life and upset her, but as he had realized earlier that morning, he could not help himself. He longed—he yearned to be near her. He wanted to reach out and take her by both hands and pull her to him and kiss her as she was meant to be kissed .
But he turned away from her. These kinds of thoughts were dangerous and pointless. Perhaps it was best if they returned to the house. He must let her go. He must free himself from her charms. He must return to Balfour and prepare for the Queen’s visit .
He pulled out his pocket watch and consulted it—not for the time but as an excuse to end their walk .
“I really must be getting on. Shall we return now ?”
“If you like,” she said looking up at him with what he interpreted to be a look of longing .
He refused to take her arm on the way back to the cottage. And as they passed the Sinclair’s house he gave it no glance, not wanting to be tempted into a visit to prolong his time with Diana .
“It has been a charming stroll, Miss Diana,” he said as he led her to the cottage gate .
“Miss Diana? So formal. I thought we were past that, Robert .”
Robert’s heart contracted in longing, but he said, “We will soon be busy promoting the book and I just thought we ought to keep our interactions at a professional level .”
“Ah… I see,” Diana said. “Very well, then. I expect we will next meet at the fete .”
“And the carriage will collect your family promptly at ten o’clock. There is to be a reception with Her Majesty prior to the fete which starts at noon .”