“Adam, I am sorry you feel that way. However, I believe I am doing the right thing, helping him. He is an honorable man in a difficult situation and I am happy to help. And besides, the share of the royalties I will be getting is certainly going to help facilitate us getting our own residence here in London .”
Adam did not respond but seemed to be troubled, then he looked up and said, “I never told you, but I did not go to the fete because of my dissertation, but because I did not want to see you prancing around with the Earl .”
She was shocked. “Prancing around? Adam. What a thing to say. How unlike you. How mistrusting of me .”
She stood up and threw her napkin on the table .
Adam looked up at her with a look of shame. “I am sorry. But that is how I felt at the time .”
“You lied to me .”
“I did not think you would understand if I told you the truth .”
Diana was hurt and didn’t know how to respond. “Can we talk about this another time, please? I must get myself ready for my meeting with Sir Cecil and Robert. Are you still coming with me, or have you decided that you do not want to see me prancing around again ?”
Adam hung his head. “I am sorry for that remark. Forgive me. Of course, I am coming with you. I want to support you in whatever you decide to do. However, I must meet you at the event as I have an unexpected errand I promised Father I would do first .”
“Very well, thank you .”
*
T he book launch was to be held in the lobby of the publishing house, and as Diana walked through, she could see the preparations being made for the ceremony. Chairs were being brought out and placed in rows in front of a lectern which was already in place. And at the far side, a table was being prepared for wine service .
Sir Cecil was conferring with a colleague and he came over to greet her as she approached .
“How lovely you look,” he said taking her hand. “Are you nervous ?”
“Somewhat. Not so much because of the crowd, or the event, but because I might blurt out the wrong thing and compromise Robert’s anonymity .”
“I am sure you will be fine,” Sir Cecil said patting her arm .
Robert was already in Sir Cecil’s office as they entered .
Robert nodded to Diana. “Good morning .”
Diana nodded back and was unexpectedly thrilled to see him. He looked so handsome, dressed up formally as he was in his navy-blue frock coat, starched white collar and teal green cravat. Her heart raced and she found it difficult to take her eyes off of him. Their eyes met and locked, but mercifully he was the first to look away .
Sir Cecil said, “Before you arrived, Robert and I were going over the schedule for the event. I am to speak first. Talk about the book and make note of some of the good early reviews the book has already received, and then I shall introduce you, Diana, as the author. Have you prepared what you wish to say ?”
“Yes, I have. I will introduce a brief description of the book and talk about why I have changed direction with my writing at this time. Talk about the restrictions of genre writing and say how I have longed to experiment with new directions and new voices .”
“Excellent. I think we should keep the formal part of the presentation brief and allow more time for fans and reviewers to meet with you privately to ask questions. That way they can ask more detailed questions .”
Diana nodded. “I am ready .”
“And you are fully familiar with the book by now ?”
“Yes.”
Sir Cecil turned to Robert. “Do you have anything you want to ask or say ?”
“Yes.”
Robert went over to Diana carrying a small black velvet box about the size of a dessert plate .
“This is to thank you for your great service to me.” He opened the box and took out a three-strand pearl necklace. “I thought of you when I looked through the family collection and found this. It goes so well with your milky skin .”
He then fastened it around her neck .
She put her hand to it and felt its smooth polished surface. “Oh, Robert, this is far too much.” But her heart was both racing and rejoicing. It was all she could do not to reach forward and embrace Robert. Only Sir Cecil’s close presence kept her from doing that. And she replied with a simple, “Thank you. You are most kind, and I am happy to help .”
“Very well, then,” Sir Cecil declared. He spread his arms as though he was about to herd a flock of geese, and said, “I think it is time for us to attend the ceremony .”
*
D iana had been surprised at the number of people attending the ceremony. There were far more people than chairs and a crowd had gathered at the back of those seated. She was pleased to see Adam come in and take a seat in an empty chair near the front .
The ceremony was brief but successful, and the guests soon dispersed into groups. Some went to the drinks table for a glass of wine, others chatted amongst themselves, and many came over to chat with Diana .
Diana could see Adam standing aside, allowing her to be the center of attention. But she kept her eye on him to gage his mood. He seemed to be content with a glass of wine in his hand and was even engaged in conversation with a number of the other guests .
But Diana’s attention was mostly on the various guests who wished to speak with her—either about a potential interview for their publication or from fans that had read her previous books and wanted to discuss why she had chosen to take her writing in this new direction .
Sir Cecil was close by and setting up appointments with journalists who wanted to interview her. But Diana was holding her own and was especially enjoying speaking with the fans of her other books .
She finally had a moment to look around the room for Robert. She spied him standing at the side of the lobby with his sister, Amelia, and a few others. However, he did not look at all pleased, and he appeared to be in some sort of an argument with a man who appeared to associate himself closely with Amelia .
Slowly the crowd began to drift away until there were only a few heavy drinkers skirting the wine table .
Adam came up to Diana who was now free, except for being in conversation with Sir Cecil .
He noticed the pearl necklace, seemed surprised, and asked, “Those pearls, I do not remember them .”
Diana hesitated, as she fingered the pearls, but said, “They are my mother’s. She lent them to me for the occasion .”
“They are lovely. Will you be ready to leave soon?” he then asked .
“I still have a number of things to go over with Sir Cecil. I have a lot of interviews lined up and we need to plan those out. Do you want to wait or do you need to leave ?”
He seemed torn, but answered, “I’d like to leave, but how will you get home ?”
Sir Cecil said, “I will have a carriage available to her when we finish. Feel free to leave if you like, young man .”
Adam turned to Diana .
“That will be fine, Adam,” she said. “I know this has been a long morning. Why not go home for lunch and I will join you as soon as I am able .”
“Very well.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “It seemed to go very well for you. Are you pleased ?”
“Yes, Adam, I am .”