D iana and Robert went into the gallery .
“Mother, might you be able to close the gallery early today? I have something I urgently need to discuss with you and Father .”
Mother looked at her with some concern. “Is there anything I should worry about ?”
Diana laughed. “Not at all. But can you close now, please ?”
Mother checked the clock. I do not see why not. It has been a slow day. You go on and I will be right in .”
Diana took Robert’s hand and led them to the cottage .
“Father,” Diana called out as they entered .
“Yes, my dear,” he answered from the sitting room .
Diana led Robert to where her father was seated by the fire with a book .
“Oh, Milord,” Father said as he attempted to rise .
“No, please, stay seated,” Robert insisted .
“And to what do we owe the honor?” Father asked .
Diana went over to his chair and kneeled down beside him. “Father, Robert and I need to have a very important discussion with you and Mother. And she is on her way .”
“Oh, my, nothing serious, I hope,” he said anxiously .
“It is serious, Father, but not unpleasant .”
“That is a relief,” he said relaxing back into his chair .
“I can see you have not started supper yet,” Mother said a little irritably .
“No, Mother. But I will. Come sit. Robert and I need to speak to you both .”
Mother sat in the chair opposite her husband as Diana and Robert remained standing. Diana turned to Robert and indicated he should speak first .
“Professor and Mrs. Browning,” Robert began. “Your daughter and I have been working together many months. And over that time, we find that we have both developed deep feelings of affection for one another .”
Mother let out a little gasp. “Oh, Diana …”
“Of course, I understand that she is already engaged to Adam Hardy, but, nonetheless, I have asked Diana to be my wife and to become the Countess of Donnelly .”
Both her parents were stunned .
“And I know that this may come as a shock and a surprise, but Diana assures me the feelings are mutual and she would like to break off her engagement to the young man .”
Father spoke up, “Diana, is this so ?”
“Yes, Father it is .”
Father looked over at Mother. “Whoever would have thought… Mother, what do you think about this ?”
Mother was wringing the handkerchief in her hand. “I do not know, George. The wedding planning is well along. What do we do about that? And have you spoken to Adam?” she asked Diana .
“Not yet. Robert and I have only just now declared our love for each other .”
Father added, “But Diana, there is the loan, and you accepted his proposal because Adam helped us. Certainly, you do not forget that .”
“No, Father, I do not .”
Robert spoke up. “Sir, I would like to address that issue, if I may.” George nodded. “Do you have a formal agreement in writing stating that the loan was conditional to the marriage ?”
“No, it was more of an implication than a formal agreement .”
“Then, let me tell you a fact that you may not know. My family owns many properties in London. These are the basis of our income. However, I also own various other properties around the country and it seems I own a number of properties right here in Cambridge—and one of them happens to be the leasehold on your cottage .”
“Good heaven,” George spoke up, “Your name was not on the papers we signed when we renewed the leasehold .”
“No, they were in my company’s name. You had no way of knowing I was the owner of the freehold. And my thought is this. I will refund the amount you paid for the leasehold and turn the freehold title over to you as my wedding present to Diana. You can use that money to repay the loan to Adam’s father and then Diana can break off the engagement if she so wishes .”
“I do wish, Father, Mother .”
Father seemed troubled. “I do not know. That does not appear honorable to me. You made a commitment at the time, and even if we were to repay the loan, I think you must still honor that commitment .”
Now Mother spoke up, “George Daniel Browning, how can you say such a thing? You would jeopardize your daughter’s future happiness for such a trifle? Think again .”
Father was clearly chastised by Mother, and he said, “Well, when you put it like that …”
“I do. And speaking of honor, how honorable was it for the Hardy family to tie the loan to Diana agreeing to marry Adam. Was that not a bribe or even worse, blackmail? You are not going to convince me that our Diana should suffer a loveless marriage to satisfy some dubious case of honor .”
Mother sat upright in her chair, hands folded, and clearly relishing her moral high ground .
Robert then turned to Diana and said, “Then I shall ask again Diana Browning, will you marry me and be my wife ?”
“Oh, yes, Robert, I most certainly will .”
*
A fter the meeting with her parents, Robert said he wanted a private moment with her, and she led Robert out into the back garden for a stroll .
“Are you content?” he asked .
“I am. But I am still overwhelmed and anxious about breaking off the engagement with Adam .
“I can understand that. Is there any way I can help with that ?”
“No. I must do it myself .”
“Then let us forget all about that for this evening and go out for a celebratory dinner .”
“Oh, Robert, I cannot. I promised Mother I would start the dinner .”
Robert looked at her and smiled. “My darling… first of all, how happy I am to be able to say that now. My darling, we are to be married. You will be living with me at Balfour . I hope you do not plan to rush home each evening to start dinner for your parents .”
Diana laughed. “No. I think not. But I need to ease them into the fact that I will be leaving .”
“But not tonight. Tonight we are going to dine at the finest restaurant and drink endless champagne. We need to celebrate .”
“And to discuss the wedding,” she reminded him .
“And that .”
Diana went back inside to her parents and informed them that she would be dining with Robert this evening .
Mother pouted, but said, “Very well. I guess it is a special occasion. You may go .”
Diana smiled. “Mother, I do not need your permission .”
“No, I guess not .”
“Are we to address you as the Countess of Donnelly now?” Father asked wryly .
“No, please spare me that. I am still your daughter, Diana. And I always will be. And if I ever become haughty, then let me know immediately and I will come back down to earth .”
*
D iana had to smile as she and Robert were seated at the exact same table that she and Adam had sat when he brought her here for their celebratory dinner not all that long ago at the hotel restaurant .
“Champagne? Robert asked .
Diana laughed. “Yes, anything but Piper-Heidsieck .”
“And what do you have against that particular brand ?”
“Nothing really. But it has associations I would rather not revisit .”