Page 104 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

“Well, I have been so absorbed in mastering your book and preparing for the launch that I have had no time for my ownwork.”

Her answer was a disappointment to be certain, but he managed to reply, “Then you may instruct Sir Cecil to scold me for delaying your newbook.”

She smiled shyly, “I already have. But he doesn’t take my excuses lightly and returns all the blame back onme.”

Robert laughed. “However, I must tell you I am well into reading your secondbook.”

“And?”

“To be honest, it does not pull me in the same way your first bookdid.”

“Oh…”

“Not to say it is bad—it just does not speak to me as directly as yourfirst.”

“Perhaps because it is a more feminine book. It is filled with sisters and daughters and a host of otherwomen.”

“That may be it. Your first book did have more male characters, to besure.”

A silence fell over them momentarily. Then Robert asked, “Is your wedding to be held in Cambridge or inLondon?”

Diana looked up at Robert with almost an air of sadness. “Here in London at the Hardy family church, with a reception at a local hall they haverented.”

“And am I to be invited to thewedding?”

Diana appeared to be nervous as she answered. “Oh, Robert, that was one of the things that Adam and I were tasseling about at lunch. He insists that the guest list be familyonly.”

“Oh…”

“But I believe he is jealous of you and doesn’t want you invited because ofthat.”

He didn’t answer but justnodded.

“We have not settled the matter yet, however, and I am still struggling to have the guest list openedup.”

“No. He is right. It is best if you do not invite me. He should not be uncomfortable at his ownwedding.”

“But he has nothing to be jealous of,” Diana stated somewhat hesitantly, “Doeshe?”

Robert was not about to respond to that question, but he looked at her with intense love in his eyes. She would just need to answer that question forherself.

* * *

The next afternoon,Robert was with one of his property managers—a portly, red-faced man who wheezed when he breathed—in the library of his London house. They were discussing various properties that Robert owned outside ofLondon.

“Yes, you own a dozen or more properties in Cambridge—eight outright and six freeholds. Did you not remember that, sir?” the managerasked.

Robert answered, “I do recall something of the fact. But it has been so long since I had anything to do with them, I have mostly forgotten. Are there any issues with them that must beaddressed?”

The manager consulted the paper. “Well, the good news is that one of them has just had one of the leaseholds renewed. That will bring you a tidy profit as there is no upkeepinvolved.”

That set Robert to thinking and he asked, “And the name of the renewedleaseholder?”

“George Browning. I believe he is a professor at one of the colleges at theuniversity.”

Robert smiled. “Really? George Browning. I know the gentleman. Well, of allthings…”

There was a knock at the door and Amelia entered part way, saying, “Ludlow would like to have a word with you,Robert.”