Diana looked up at him. “Of course, Robert. And I must admit I was partially to blame, as well .”
This shocked Robert, as he had no idea that she might have responded positively to the kiss. Even with all his new resolve to not be affected by Diana, what she had just said, again enflamed his passion, over which he seemed to have no control. He could not speak immediately. He rested his head against the seat back and took several deep breaths to calm himself. His mind was swirling with new thoughts about the possibility of having Diana in his life once again .
Then she said, “However, my slipup has led me to strengthen, even more, my commitment to marry Adam .”
This statement sent Robert back into despair and abolished his new and fragile hopes for a romance with her. Robert turned away and stared out the window at the passing landscape .
Diana opened her traveling bag and took out a book which she proceeded to read for the rest of the trip to London .
Robert got up from his seat without a word and left the compartment and headed to the dining car where there was a bar and he had two cognacs in quick succession. He leaned against the bar and began to calm down. Once again, he had been led astray by his feelings for Diana. He strengthened his resolve before heading back to their compartment .
“We will be approaching London shortly,” he said, as he examined the few hand bags they had carried into the compartment when they boarded .
“Might I drop you off at where you will be staying?” he asked without looking at her. “My London carriage will be waiting when we arrive and it will be much easier to have my footmen care for the luggage .”
“If it is not too much trouble. I do not want to take you out of your way .”
“It will be my pleasure. And we can make arrangements to meet tomorrow at Sir Cecil’s office before the book launch .”
Diana looked at him. “You must be very excited,” she said with her sincerely sweet smile. “I remember my first book launch. I was in such a fit. I was both so nervous and so excited .”
“I have to admit, I am somewhat excited but much more apprehensive,” he said as he opened the compartment door and offered his hand to lead Diana out of the compartment .
“Ah, but you will not be the one who is the focus of attention. It will be me,” she reminded him .
Robert chuckled. “Indeed it shall. And how grateful I am for your assistance in the launch of my book.” Robert looked around the train platform and saw his London footman with a trolley accepting their luggage from the baggage compartment. Robert waved at the man. “There is our luggage. Let us follow him to the carriage .”
For the next few minutes, all attention was focused on getting to the carriage, loading it, and preparing to leave the station .
As the carriage started toward Adam’s parents’ house where she would be staying, Diana said, “Then I expect we shall meet tomorrow morning with Sir Cecil before the launch .”
“Yes. I can pick you up if you wish .”
“No thank you. Adam will be accompanying me to the publishing house and he plans to stay for the launch .”
“I see,” Robert said solemnly .
The carriage moved haltingly through London’s congested streets. Robert had nearly resigned himself to the fact that Diana would be marrying Adam. He gazed at her as they neared their destination, but she was absorbed with the sights of London and was paying no attention to him until they pulled up in front of the house where she was staying. Then she turned to him .
“Thank you for the ride, Robert. It was most gallant of you .”
“Not at all, Miss Diana. The footman will take your luggage to the door and we shall wait until you are inside .”
“Then we will meet again tomorrow at the publishers .”
“We shall.” Robert tipped his hat and the footman opened the carriage door and assisted her to the sidewalk .
Chapter 24
A t first, Diana could not get used to the London noise from her room at the front of the Hardy house. It seemed to go on continually—both day and night—although at bedtime, while there were still sounds of passing carriages, the noise did seem to lessen somewhat .
“Mrs. Hardy, it is so welcoming of you to let me stay with you during my book launch,” Diana said at the breakfast table the next morning. Adam’s father had gone to work. Adam was not up yet so it was just the two of them .
“Oh, please, call me Jane or Mother. You are practically my daughter-in-law now,” she said with a giggle. “And Adam is just delighted to have you here. All he talks about is the wedding this, and the wedding that. And how he does go on about the honeymoon. You would think he was planning to launch a military campaign with all his maps, and schedules, and paperwork .”
“Yes, he does tend to be thorough when it comes to pre-planning, does he not ?”
Jane Hardy was a petite lady who had aged well but was pushing the limits by trying to look even younger still. She had rather small eyes and seemed to compensate by keeping them wide open, giving her a somewhat startled look. She wore her hair in ringlets tied with ribbons—part of her effort to look younger, and, unfortunately, when she turned her head they flopped around her face like large dog’s ears .
Just then Adam appeared in the dining room .
“Good morning, Mother… Diana. Did you sleep well?” he asked addressing Diana .
“Fairly well. I am not accustomed to the sounds of London just yet .”
“Yes, unfortunately, our only available bedroom faced the street. So sorry about that .”
“I am fine .”
“Are you nervous about the book launch?” he asked, as he served himself breakfast from the sideboard and the maid brought him a newly poured cup of tea .
“Somewhat, but, of course…” she stopped herself realizing she was speaking in front of Adam’s mother who did not know of her arrangement with Robert. “Of course, I have done this before,” she corrected herself .
Jane rose from the table. “You two lovebirds must excuse me. I have a dozen errands to run before lunchtime.” She turned her attention to Diana. “And all the very best of luck with your book launch .”
“Thank you,” she replied .
Alone with Adam, Diana felt a little nervous now that the actual time to leave for the publishers was approaching. “Oh Adam, am I doing the right thing with this book ?”
Adam looked at her with a frown of concern. “How is it for me to say? You made this arrangement before we were engaged. I cannot say it is something of which I approve. But it is done and we must live with the consequences .”
Diana looked at him, and asked, “You really believe that? You think it is a folly ?”
“I do. And I think that the Earl of Donnelly is taking advantage of you, if you want to know the truth .”