“And thank you for your wise council.” He squeezed her hand before letting go. “All the very best with your writing now that you are back home. I wish I could write, but it looks like I shall be busy for some time dealing with the canal. And again, thank you .”
“Good-bye, for now, Robert.” And she watched him ride away .
Chapter 27
R obert rode directly toward Balfour , not returning to the river cottage. What had just happened? He was filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Diana had so simply and clearly made him see where he was in error in his thinking about the canal. And now, he felt a great relief. He could see the obvious benefit in the canal, and he also felt relieved that his secret would now be safe and he could continue to write—when his writer’s block was broken. However, it might take some time before that happened .
And then there was Diana. Once again, he was in turmoil over his feelings for her. But he still had to face the fact that she was unavailable. But was she? He could not help but notice and feel that she responded to him in ways that were beyond mere friendship. And however much he would love to linger in thoughts of her, he had reached home and needed to deal with other more pressing issues .
Robert strode into Amelia’s rooms before dinner .
“Robert, you missed tea,” Amelia said coolly, as she fingered her black moonstone bracelet .
“I have been pondering the Viscount’s blackmail .”
“Oh, Robert… really… such a crude characterization of his more than generous offer .”
Robert did not want to reveal his thoughts to her for the moment and said, “Can you arrange a meeting with the Viscount for tomorrow morning at eleven ?”
“May I tell him the purpose of the meeting?” she asked .
“Is it not obvious? I have but two days left in my week and I wish to conclude this farce .”
Amelia smiled slyly. “Then you are ready to agree to his terms ?”
“I did not say that .”
“Then you must have a strategy. How clever. Care to share it with me ?”
“Tomorrow at eleven. The library,” he said, then turned and left .
*
W hen Amelia and Ludlow entered the library the next morning they seemed surprised to see Ernest Cluett, the Mayor of Cambridge, already in attendance .
“Amelia, Berwick, you already know His Honor, the Mayor, no ?”
Ludlow nodded, “Ernest. I am surprised to see you here .”
“Urgent summons from His Lordship. Thought I should attend .”
Amelia stepped to the side of the room seemingly eager to observe the meeting .
Ludlow stepped forward. “Then you have an answer for me, Donnelly ?”
“I do .”
“Then it must be a yes since you have the Mayor in attendance .”
“I am willing to accept the proposal that the delegation presented to me, which is more generous than the one you originally gave me. And I have His Honor present to confirm what that offer was .”
The Mayor held up a paper. “I have it in writing .”
Both Amelia and the Viscount beamed .
“Excellent. Then we have a deal?” Ludlow said, extending his hand for a handshake .
Robert declined to take his hand and said, “I want your assurance that the other matter…” He did not want to mention his authorship in front of the Mayor. “The matter which involves the deadline. I want your written assurance that that matter is dead and buried. Never to be resurrected again .”
Ludlow hesitated, then responded. “No, Robert. I am not willing to bury that matter. It is far too valuable to me. However, I promise that it will lay dormant for now, once the sale of the land has gone through and we begin construction on the canal .”
Amelia frowned and came over to Ludlow, taking him aside and whispering heatedly with him .
He responded openly, saying, “No, my darling fiancé, I will fulfill my promises to you and I promise not to interfere in His Lordship’s business—for now. But I shall keep my sword—although I shall keep it sheathed .”
“That was not our agreement, Berwick,” Robert challenged, stepping forward aggressively .
Ludlow held up his hand. “Brother-in-law… Let us not argue. All will be well. After all, I will be taking your darling sister off of your hands, and we must remain congenial neighbors and relatives. Must we not ?”
Taking hold of Ludlow’s arm, she nodded to Robert, seeming to indicate that she would keep him in check. And Robert, knowing his sister, believed she would .
“Very well, then I shall leave the room to you and His Honor so that you may confer on the terms of the agreement. Then when all the papers are drawn up and you can present me with certified funds for the purchase of the land then I will sign.” Robert turned to the mayor and nodded. “And good day and good luck to you both .”
*
L ater that afternoon, Amelia was giddy with excitement about her marriage. True, Ludlow was not the most appealing man she had ever met, but at her age, she was in no position to reject any offer of marriage .
They had decided on a spring wedding for next year. She wanted it sooner, but Ludlow explained that he would be too caught up in beginning the work on the canal to have any time to deal with a wedding .
But that would not delay her ordering her wedding dress, and she was preparing to go to London for a week or so to confer with her dressmaker and begin the design and work on the gown .
Robert knocked on her door and came inside .
“So it is official? You are to be Her Ladyship, the Viscountess of Berwick?” he asked .
Amelia beamed—an unusual occurrence for her. “I am. And I am planning to head to London for a shopping visit .”
“And you have set a date for the wedding ?”
“April or May .”
“I am truly happy for you, Amelia. I hope the two of you will be very happy .”
“Thank you, Robert.” She paused in her packing preparations and asked. “Why did you decide to accept Ludlow’s offer? I thought for certain you would fight him tooth and nail until the bitter end .”
Robert smiled. “I took good advice from someone I trust and respect .”
“Oh? And that would be me ?”
“No, Miss Diana .”
“Miss Diana? You jest .”
“Not at all. She thought the project was most sensible and faulted me for holding a grudge against Ludlow which blinded me to the plan’s virtues .”
Amelia was truly stunned. Never in her wildest imaginings would she have figured that Diana could be her ally. That made her think for a moment, and then she said, “Miss Diana… hmm. I know I have been ruthlessly pressing pale daughters of the nobility upon you as prospective brides, but I may have misjudged. In an effort to find a suitable partner I have neglected to look at interesting women outside of the social elite. However, it seems to me you have an affinity for this young lady. Have you ever considered her as a prospective bride ?”
Robert appeared to be stunned into silence before his face lit up with the most radiant smile. “Of course I have. However, the young lady is already engaged to be married .”
Amelia forced a mock frown. “I have never known a small detail like that deter you from acting before. You are an Earl. And her young fiancé is …?”