“Ah, Milord. Exactly on time. Please come inside .”
Diana and Robert entered a large room that revealed itself to be an artist’s studio. There was a large north-facing window that was part of the roof but also continued down the side of the wall to give ample light for painting. The light flooded a dais with two throne-like chairs and a fabric backdrop .
“Diana, this is Sir William Sargent, perhaps our finest British portrait painter .”
“Miss Diana…” he said offering his hand .
“Sir William .”
“We are to have our wedding portrait painted,” Robert said, then turned to Diana. “Do you remember the dinner where we discussed your portrait ?”
Diana laughed. “And that is why you requested I wear this gown ?”
“It is. And you still look stunning in it. Perfect for your portrait—with no thought of scaring away the foxes .”
That set them both laughing .
Sir William led them to the dais where he sat them down and arranged their positions. Then he stood back and studied them .
“Excellent. Now, let us begin .”
*
“H ow could yo-o-o-u?” Geoffrey growled at Diana. “Not a word. Not a hint. Nothing .”
Miriam came screaming to the door and threw her arms around Diana. “YOU ARE GOING TO BE A COUNTESS!” And she began to cry. “Where have you been? We went looking for you and it was your mother who had to tell us. You are very naughty going away to London and not letting us know you are marrying Robert .”
They pulled her inside the house and sat her down on the sofa and sat opposite to grill her eye to eye .
“I know. I was naughty not to tell you, but I had to break off my engagement with Adam first. I am sure you can understand. I was very nervous and wanted to get it over with .”
“And did you?” Miriam asked .
“Yes. It is all done. And now I am going to marry Robert .”
“When is the wedding?” Geoffrey asked .
“On Christmas day .”
“Aw-w-w. That is perfect .”
“And his sister is getting married at the same time,” Diana added .
The twins looked at each other and said, “Well then …
“We need to get married too ?”
Diana laughed. “To each other ?”
“Might as well be …”
“No one else will have us .”
“I doubt that.” Then Diana addressed Miriam, “Adam is available now .”
Miriam scrunched up her nose. “No, thank you. He is a bit too… pallid for me .”
“Yes, I understand .”
“Not that he was not perfect for you … but well, he is a bit dry for my particular taste .”
Geoffrey reached over and took Diana’s hand. “We are going to miss you. You are going to ride off on Robert’s white horse and then you will forget about us peons living on a subsistence existence of grasses and roots .”
Diana was having none of his nonsense. “Stop. Right now. You know absolutely that I would never not see you again. But, if you misbehave, I will tell Robert and have him chop off your heads .”
Miriam turned to Geoffrey, “She is going to be a monster, is she not? Cruel, cunning, and ruthlessly suppressing the masses. I just know it .”
“But if you are very good I will invite you to the wedding .”
“What are the eats? Will it be worth our while to attend?” Geoffrey asked .
“It will be a scrumptious feast, I do believe .”
“Very well, then. We will be there .”
“How gracious of you .”
Miriam asked, “Tell us how he asked you. Was it very romantic ?”
Diana told the tale of his proposal in the meadow .
Geoffrey whispered to Miriam aside, loud enough that Diana could hear, “We need to get them a wedding present .”
“Not necessary. He has everything already. In fact, we have discussed having presents for the guests .”
“Oh, then we definitely will be there,” they said in unison .
*
D iana was getting absolutely no writing done, and probably would not until after the wedding. She was spending more and more time at Balfour Hall working with Amelia on planning the weddings. She actually spent more time with Amelia than she did with Robert, so he finally asked her if she wanted to have her own room at Balfour until the wedding, but she declined, saying she still needed to be with her parents, as it was particularly difficult for her mother to accept she would be gone .
One morning soon after Diana arrived to work with Amelia, Robert asked her into the library where she was surprised to see Sir Cecil seated by the fire with a number of documents spread out on a table before him .
“Good morning, Miss Diana, or, as I shall soon need to say, Your Ladyship .”
Diana laughed. “I shall always be Diana to you .”
Robert took Diana by the arm and led her to the table .
“I asked Sir Cecil here today because I have an issue I would like to discuss with both of you .”
Sir Cecil leaned back in the chair. “I am listening .”
Diana sat down opposite him .
Robert, as he was wont to do while thinking, began to pace. “Diana, I have been giving a lot of thought to our current arrangement regarding the publishing of my book .”
“I have wondered about that since we are soon to be married. I considered we might have to make some changes .”
“Yes, and what neither of you knows is that, even though he is soon to become my brother-in-law, The Viscount of Berwick still holds a threat over me. He has not agreed to never reveal that I am the author of my book. He seems to relish holding that power over me .”
“But you agreed to the canal,” Diana said .
“I did, but although he has agreed not to use that information right now, he could in the future, and I am no longer willing to offer him that power .”
“And how do you plan to deal with that?” Sir Cecil asked .
“By announcing publically that I am the proud author of my book. And after that, he can no longer threaten me .”
“Robert… I… is that wise?” Sir Cecil sputtered. “Your reputation… my reputation …”
“I know. I know. And that is why I have asked you both here today. You see, I have been thinking about this a great deal. We all know how ridiculous the idea is that a nobleman may not publish a work of fiction. The idea is outdated, outworn, and ready to be discarded. It just needs a courageous individual to take the risk and be out in the open. And that is exactly what I intend to do .”
“Oh, Robert…” Diana gasped. “What a stunning idea. Why have you not done this before ?”
“To be honest, I knew I would soon need to find a wife and I thought it might ruin any chance I had for happiness by driving all suitable prospects away. But now I have you .”
Diana smiled. “You certainly do .”
Sir Cecil still did not seem to be convinced. “It could ruin my publishing house, Robert. I do not think I could support this idea .”
“Then what about if I bought an interest in your publishing house and published the book myself under my own name ?”